Apparatus and methods of forming selected portions of integral sheets of material are disclosed. Unformed portions of the sheets may remain undistorted during the forming process, allowing them to contain text, art work, or other desired information without material risk of the information being degraded or becoming unintelligible during the forming process. This result may be accomplished, moreover, with less trim than usually occurs in conventional forming processes.

Apparatus and methods of forming selected portions of integral sheets of material are disclosed. Unformed portions of the sheets may remain undistorted during the forming process, allowing them to contain text, art work, or other desired information without material risk of the information being degraded or becoming unintelligible during the forming process. This result may be accomplished, moreover, with less trim than usually occurs in conventional forming processes.

A single-layer 3D fabric of traditional camouflage synthetic fabric with outwardly extending random hollow tunnels therein with weldments in the fabric layer intermittently along the tunnels to hold the outwardly extending hollow tunnels in place. The tunnels have variable depth, typically ranging from between about 0.25 inches to about 2.0 inches. The 3D fabric is produced from a molding process that creates the outer dimensional layer. The 3D fabrics have unique visual properties which make them desirable for a variety of applications.

A method and system for producing a dental implant surgical guide is disclosed. A patient-specific virtual model is generated using image data specific to a patient and virtual dental implants. The virtual model aligns the image data with the virtual dental implants using modeling software. A virtual mold is generated from the virtual model, and a physical mold is generated from the virtual mold. The physical mold is covered with a thermoplastic sheet via a thermoforming process. Excess thermoplastic material is trimmed off after the thermoforming process to produce a thermoformed piece. Metal tubes corresponding to each the virtual dental implants are placed onto the physical mold denoting the position, trajectory, and depth of the one or more virtual dental implants. A dental implant surgical guide that contains the thermoformed piece with the one or more tubes is produced.

A structure comprising a decorative sheet having a surface layer and an adhesive layer containing a polymer having 25 to 100 mass % of propylene units, and a substrate containing a polymer having 25 to 100 mass % of propylene units. The decorative sheet and the substrate are integrated by vacuum-pressure forming or vacuum forming.

A structure comprising a decorative sheet having a surface layer and an adhesive layer containing a polymer having 25 to 100 mass % of propylene units, and a substrate containing a polymer having 25 to 100 mass % of propylene units. The decorative sheet and the substrate are integrated by vacuum-pressure forming or vacuum forming.

Methods of forming an optical element, and related devices, components, and systems are disclosed. One method comprises printing a mold element comprising at least one mold surface using an additive manufactured device. The method further comprises providing a plastic sheet over the mold element. The method further comprises vacuum thermoforming the plastic sheet such that at least a first portion of the plastic sheet conforms to the at least one mold surface of the mold element. This vacuum thermoforming of the plastic sheet forms an optical element from at least a second portion of the plastic sheet. One advantage of this method is that different optical elements may be quickly and inexpensively fabricated, thereby reducing the cost of development and production of the optical elements.

Methods of forming an optical element, and related devices, components, and systems are disclosed. One method comprises printing a mold element comprising at least one mold surface using an additive manufactured device. The method further comprises providing a plastic sheet over the mold element. The method further comprises vacuum thermoforming the plastic sheet such that at least a first portion of the plastic sheet conforms to the at least one mold surface of the mold element. This vacuum thermoforming of the plastic sheet forms an optical element from at least a second portion of the plastic sheet. One advantage of this method is that different optical elements may be quickly and inexpensively fabricated, thereby reducing the cost of development and production of the optical elements.

A highly flexible thermoformed stand-up dispensing package for a flowable material that is produced from one or more highly flexible heat-sealable polymeric sheets is formed with a trapezoidal front wall and opposing back wall and is dimensional and configured so that the corner of the package formed by the intersection of the top and the projecting side wall, or walls, that extend at an obtuse angle from the base is removable along a weakened tear line that is positioned upon removal to provide an integral pour spout for the controlled dispensing of the flowable material; and the container portion of the package is dimensioned to (1) maintain the center of gravity of the flowable material in the package over the base wall when the base wall of the filled package is in contact with a horizontal surface, and (2) to maintain the level of flowable material in the opened package is below the opened integral pour spout.

According to some embodiments, a case for a portable electronic device is described. The case can include a bottom wall and side walls that cooperate to define a cavity having a size and shape suitable for accommodating the portable electronic device. The side walls can include an edge that defines an opening that leads to the cavity and that allows passage of the portable electronic device into the cavity. At least one of the side walls has a protrusion that extends at an angle into the cavity, and where the protrusion (i) allows insertion of the portable electronic device through the opening and into the cavity, and (ii) hinders movements of the portable electronic device out of the cavity.