A method of manufacturing a refrigerator appliance includes a providing step of providing a liner and a refrigerator component. The liner defines a compartment for storing food items and includes a liner contact structure. The refrigerator component includes component contact structure. The method further includes a staging step that includes arranging the liner and refrigerator component such that the liner and component contact structures are in direct contact with each other under pressure, thereby forming a staged assembly. Moreover, the method includes a welding step that includes applying ultrasonic energy to the staged assembly to weld the liner and refrigerator component together at their interface, thereby forming a liner assembly. The method further includes a cabinet assembly step that includes arranging the liner assembly within an outer shell, and then injecting an insulating foam into a space between the liner assembly and outer shell.

A method of manufacturing a refrigerator appliance includes a providing step of providing a liner and a refrigerator component. The liner defines a compartment for storing food items and includes a liner contact structure. The refrigerator component includes component contact structure. The method further includes a staging step that includes arranging the liner and refrigerator component such that the liner and component contact structures are in direct contact with each other under pressure, thereby forming a staged assembly. Moreover, the method includes a welding step that includes applying ultrasonic energy to the staged assembly to weld the liner and refrigerator component together at their interface, thereby forming a liner assembly. The method further includes a cabinet assembly step that includes arranging the liner assembly within an outer shell, and then injecting an insulating foam into a space between the liner assembly and outer shell.

A system for refilling a stick product, such as lipstick or deodorant, in a propel-repel dispenser allows the reuse of the propel-repel mechanism. The stick product refill is shaped and dimensioned to be inserted into the open end of the dispenser and to attach to the receptacle that holds the stick product after the used product has been removed. Attachment of the refill to the stick receptacle is by an attachment component on the outer surface of an anchor cap enclosing the distal end of the refill and/or on the receptacle itself. Once secured to the receptacle, the refill can be advanced and retracted by the propel-repel mechanism so that it protrudes when in use and is withdrawn with the dispenser to protect it when not in use.

A method of forming and assembling a foldable plastic utility enclosure using molds to form sides of the enclosure, preferably using glass fiber-reinforced thermoplastic composite. The molds are constructed to form a central hole in hinge members which are formed on ends of the sides. The central hole of the hinge member is molded with two molding parts, wherein one or both of the molding parts have a solid central portion that forms the central hole. The sides are removed from the molds after curing and the sides are assembled to form the utility enclosure while the sides are still hot from the molding process. Hinge pins are inserted into the central holes of the hinge members to form hinges and to prevent the sides from warping during cooling. Assembling the sides and inserting hinge pins to form the utility enclosure is completed within approximately 10 minutes after removing the sides from the molds.

A composite can include cellulose fiber; and foam binding the cellulose fiber. A method for manufacturing a composite can comprise mixing a plurality of ingredients to form a pre-foam mixture; foaming the pre-foam mixture to produce a foam; mixing the foam with cellulose fiber to form a composite material; and curing the composite material.

A thermal interface material is disclosed. The material includes: a sheet extending between a first major surface and a second major surface, the sheet including: a base material; and a filler material embedded in the base material. The base material may include anisotropically oriented thermally conductive elements. In some embodiments, the thermally conductive elements are preferentially oriented along a primary direction from the first major surface towards the second major surface to promote thermal conduction though the sheet along the primary direction. In some embodiments, the base material is substantially free of silicone. In some embodiments, the thermal conductivity of the sheet along the primary direction is at least 20 W/mK, 30 W/mK, 40 W/mK, 50 W/mK, 60 W/mK, 70 W/mK, 80 W/mK, 90 W/mK, 100 W/mK, or more.

A method of forming and assembling a foldable plastic utility enclosure using molds to form sides of the enclosure, preferably using glass fiber-reinforced thermoplastic composite. The molds are constructed to form a central hole in hinge members which are formed on ends of the sides. The central hole of the hinge member is molded with two molding parts, wherein one or both of the molding parts have a solid central portion that forms the central hole. The sides are removed from the molds after curing and the sides are assembled to form the utility enclosure while the sides are still hot from the molding process. Hinge pins are inserted into the central holes of the hinge members to form hinges and to prevent the sides from warping during cooling. Assembling the sides and inserting hinge pins to form the utility enclosure is completed within approximately 10 minutes after removing the sides from the molds.

Resilient cores preferably for inflatable bodies having resilient slabs that define a plurality of generally columnar holes or resilient arrays of generally columnar solids, methods for making such slabs and arrays, and articles incorporating the same wherein the cores further includes thermal transmission mitigation means for improving a core's resistance to heat transfer beyond the core's innate insulative properties. Non-exclusive and non-exhaustive examples of such thermal transmission mitigation means in slab core embodiments include consideration to hole or bore geometric cross section, frequency, pattern and orientation, the introduction of a thermal barrier at or within at least some holes or bores, and/or slab material selection/treatment. Non-exclusive and non-exhaustive examples of such thermal transmission mitigation means in array core embodiments include consideration to the geometric cross section, frequency (density), pattern and orientation of the solids, the introduction of thermal barriers within inter-solid spaces and/or solid material selection/treatment.

A method for the production of a suction jet pump delivering fuel into or out of a fuel tank, wherein the suction jet pump has a flow channel and a nozzle, and wherein the flow channel forms a feed line to the nozzle and the flow channel is formed in one piece with the nozzle, the method including, in the following order: placing a mold core into a matrix to produce the suction jet pump by injection molding and form a cavity between the mold core and the matrix; encapsulating the mold core and filling the cavity formed between mold core and matrix with a plastic; removing the mold core through an installation opening, arranged opposite the nozzle, in the flow channel; and closing the installation opening by thermal deformation, in the edge region of the installation opening, of the plastic used for the production of the suction jet pump.

A method for the production of a suction jet pump delivering fuel into or out of a fuel tank, wherein the suction jet pump has a flow channel and a nozzle, and wherein the flow channel forms a feed line to the nozzle and the flow channel is formed in one piece with the nozzle, the method including, in the following order: placing a mold core into a matrix to produce the suction jet pump by injection molding and form a cavity between the mold core and the matrix; encapsulating the mold core and filling the cavity formed between mold core and matrix with a plastic; removing the mold core through an installation opening, arranged opposite the nozzle, in the flow channel; and closing the installation opening by thermal deformation, in the edge region of the installation opening, of the plastic used for the production of the suction jet pump.