A method and apparatus is presented. A portion is cut from a thermoplastic sheet of a first thermoplastic material based on a three dimensional model. The portion is secured to a mold. The portion and the mold are heated under vacuum to form a structure. The structure may take the form of a protective covering. In some illustrative examples, the mold may be formed of a second thermoplastic material based on the three dimensional model using additive manufacturing.

A method of manufacturing a sole structure includes providing a plate within a cavity of a mold. The plate includes a base and a rib, and the base includes a first surface and a second surface. The first surface faces the upper, the second surface faces away from the first surface, and the rib projects from the second surface of the base. Moreover, the method includes providing a preform bladder member within the cavity of the mold, wherein the preform bladder member including a first member and a second member. The method additionally includes forming a bladder from the first and second members using the mold. Also, the method includes attaching the first member to the plate using the mold. Attaching the first member to the plate includes shaping the first member according to surfaces of the rib.

A packaged product has a product surrounded by a vacuum skin package. The vacuum skin package has a support member and an implosion-resistant thermoplastic top web. The top web conforms with both the upper surface of the product, and an uncovered portion of the upper surface of the support member. The thermoplastic top web comprises an ethylene/-olefin copolymer in an amount of from 55 wt % to 85 wt %, based on total weight of top web, and/or a blend of ethylene/-olefin copolymer and cyclic olefin copolymer. Also disclosed is a vacuum skin package containing the implosion-resistant top web.

A packaged product has a product surrounded by a vacuum skin package. The vacuum skin package has a support member and an implosion-resistant thermoplastic top web. The top web conforms with both the upper surface of the product, and an uncovered portion of the upper surface of the support member. The thermoplastic top web comprises an ethylene/-olefin copolymer in an amount of from 55 wt % to 85 wt %, based on total weight of top web, and/or a blend of ethylene/-olefin copolymer and cyclic olefin copolymer. Also disclosed is a vacuum skin package containing the implosion-resistant top web.

A method for manufacturing keycaps of a capped keyboard apparatus is disclosed. The proposed method includes: (a) providing a cover layer and plural keycap main bodies, wherein the cover layer includes plural units, and each the unit has an upper surface with a character; (b) putting the plural keycap main bodies on a fixture; (c) shaping the cover layer on the fixture and attaching each the unit to a corresponding one of the plural keycap main bodies; and (d) cutting the cover layer to obtain plural keycaps independent of one another.

The invention relates to a workpiece having a shape produced by thermoforming from at least one sheet (3) of plastic material, such as polycarbonate, and at least one applied element (6, 8; 7, 9) that is applied to the at least one sheet and secured there, characterised in that the securing of the at least one applied element to the at least one sheet takes place at least partially by means of crimping.

The invention relates to a workpiece having a shape produced by thermoforming from at least one sheet (3) of plastic material, such as polycarbonate, and at least one applied element (6, 8; 7, 9) that is applied to the at least one sheet and secured there, characterised in that the securing of the at least one applied element to the at least one sheet takes place at least partially by means of crimping.

The present disclosure is directed to a system for vacuum forming a component. The system includes a base and a plurality of mold segments positioned on the base. The plurality of mold segments are removably coupled together to define a mold cavity configured for forming the component. The base and one or more of the plurality of the mold segments collectively define a corresponding vacuum chamber of a plurality of vacuum chambers of the system. At least one of vacuum chambers is fluidly isolated from the other vacuum chambers. One or more of the plurality of the mold segments further define a plurality of vacuum passages fluidly coupling the mold cavity and the corresponding vacuum chamber.

The present disclosure is directed to a system for vacuum forming a component. The system includes a base and a plurality of mold segments positioned on the base. The plurality of mold segments are removably coupled together to define a mold cavity configured for forming the component. The base and one or more of the plurality of the mold segments collectively define a corresponding vacuum chamber of a plurality of vacuum chambers of the system. At least one of vacuum chambers is fluidly isolated from the other vacuum chambers. One or more of the plurality of the mold segments further define a plurality of vacuum passages fluidly coupling the mold cavity and the corresponding vacuum chamber.

The present disclosure is directed to a mold assembly for vacuum forming a component. The mold assembly includes plurality of support plates and a plurality of mold plates removably coupled to the plurality of support plates. The plurality of mold plates is stacked and removably coupled together to form a mold configured for forming the component. Each mold plate including a first surface partially defining a top surface of the mold, a second surface spaced apart from the first surface, a third surface extending from the first surface to the second surface, and a fourth surface spaced apart from the third surface and extending from the first surface to the second surface.