A process for producing a textured laminate sheet includes a) positioning a substrate material adjacent a barbed face of a metal sheet. The barbed face has a plurality of barbs, and the metal sheet has an opposed face opposite the barbed face. The process further includes b) forcing the metal sheet and the substrate material together to impale the substrate material on the barbs and secure the substrate material and the metal sheet together as a laminate sheet, and c) debossing the opposed face to form a plurality of depressions in the laminate sheet and texture the laminate sheet.

A double ended hand tool created to pick up place and position flatback crystals, gems or other tiny items is disclosed. The tool contains a hollow, conical end which securely encases each crystal allowing the operator to easily position the crystal with no slip. The tool has a first end and a second end coupled by a shaft. The first end has a wax tip which allows the user to pick up crystals or other small items. The second end has a hollow narrow extended portion which allows the users to manipulate the crystal or other small items.

A process for producing a textured laminate sheet includes a) positioning a substrate material adjacent a barbed face of a metal sheet. The barbed face has a plurality of barbs, and the metal sheet has an opposed face opposite the barbed face. The process further includes b) forcing the metal sheet and the substrate material together to impale the substrate material on the barbs and secure the substrate material and the metal sheet together as a laminate sheet, and c) debossing the opposed face to form a plurality of depressions in the laminate sheet and texture the laminate sheet.

A double ended hand tool created to pick up place and position flatback crystals, gems or other tiny items is disclosed. The tool contains a hollow, conical end which securely encases each crystal allowing the operator to easily position the crystal with no slip. The tool has a first end and a second end coupled by a shaft. The first end has a wax tip which allows the user to pickup crystals or other small items. The second end has a hollow narrow extended portion which allows the users to manipulate the crystal or other small items.

The invention relates generally to semiconductor fabrication technology and, more particularly, to chemical vapor deposition (CVD) processing and associated apparatus for addressing temperature non-uniformities on semiconductor wafer surfaces. Embodiments include a wafer carrier for use in a system for growing epitaxial layers on one or more wafers by CVD, the wafer carrier comprising a top plate and base plate which function coordinately to reduce temperature variability caused during CVD processing.

The present invention relates to a step drive mechanism to be attached into the hollow body of a tool, making it possible to produce a thrust movement that can be easily carried out. To this end, the mechanism includes: a rack (2) that has a first (3) and a second (4) cog having back-slanted teeth (3a, 4a) arranged on an upper (2a) and a lower (2b) edge, respectively; a front end (2c); a pivotable lever (5) that comprises a hollow top end (5a) receiving a torsion spring (8), bearing against said hollow top end (5a) of the lever and against a thrust pawl (7) pivoting in the hollow body (1) in front of the hollow top end (5a) of the lever, and has a crosspiece (7a) inserted between the teeth (3a) of the first cog (3); and a pivotable locking pawl (8) provided with a crosspiece (8a) inserted between the teeth (4a) of the second cog (4). A compression spring (9) is arranged such as to bear against the locking pawl (8) and against an abutment (2d) located at a rear end (2e) of the rack (2).

The invention relates generally to semiconductor fabrication technology and, more particularly, to chemical vapor deposition (CVD) processing and associated apparatus for addressing temperature non-uniformities on semiconductor wafer surfaces. Embodiments include a wafer carrier for use in a system for growing epitaxial layers on one or more wafers by CVD, the wafer carrier comprising a top plate and base plate which function coordinately to reduce temperature variability caused during CVD processing.

The invention relates to a frame structure, such as a window sash or a frame for a window or door, comprising a core made from at least one core member made from expanded polystyrene (EPS) with a density of 80-200 kg/m.sup.3 and a shell of polyurethane (PUR) encasing the core. The core may include a plurality of core members, some of which may be made from a different material.

In a joining method for joining a first plate material and a second plate material b screwing a self-tapping screw from one direction in a state where the first plate material and the second plate material are put on top of each other, a recessed portion is formed in at least one of the first plate material and the second plate material, and in a state where the first plate material and the second plate material are put on top of each other such that the recessed portion is opened in a contacting face between the first plate material and the second plate material, the self-tapping screw is screwed from the one direction. When the self -tapping screw penetrates through the first plate material due to the screwing of the self-tapping screw, an excess part generated from the first plate material flows into the recessed portion.

A joining method is a method of joining a plate set composed by a plurality of stacked plate members including a first plate member and a second plate member by using a tapping screw. When the tapping screw is advanced into the plate set while the tapping screw is rotated in a state of applying a pressure onto the plate set so as to form through-holes in the first plate member and the second plate member, a first pressure applied onto the tapping screw is reduced down to a second pressure at the time when the tapping screw penetrates the first plate member.