A thermally shrinkable tube heating apparatus 10 includes a holding member 40A including an accommodation space S1 capable of accommodating a thermally shrinkable tube 5; and a hot air generation device 50 generating hot air. A wall 41W of the holding member 40A is provided around a predetermined axis Ax, extends in a direction of the axis Ax, and forms the accommodation space S1 inner thereto. An inlet flow path R3 includes a supply opening R3a opened to an outer surface of the holding member 40A and an inlet opening R3b opened to the wall 41W. A discharge flow path R1 includes an outlet opening Ria opened to the wall 41W and a discharge opening Rib opened to the outer surface of the holding member 40A. The hot air generation device 50 sends the hot air into the supply opening R3a.

There is provided a polarizing plate excellent in durability. A method of producing a polarizing plate according to an embodiment of the present invention includes: preparing a polarizing film laminate including a polarizer and a protective film arranged on at least one side of the polarizer; and shrinking the polarizing film laminate.

Embodiments relate to a heat shrinkable film and a process for regenerating a polyester container using the same. The heat shrinkable film comprises a copolymerized polyester resin comprising a diol component and a dicarboxylic acid component and has a heat shrinkage rate of 30% or more in the main shrinkage direction upon thermal treatment at a temperature of 80 C. for 10 seconds and a melting point of 190 C. or higher as measured by differential scanning calorimetry. It not only solves the environmental problems by improving the recyclability of the polyester container, but also is capable of enhancing the yield and productivity.

Embodiments relate to a process for regenerating a polyester container and regenerated polyester chips prepared therefrom. The process comprises preparing a polyester container provided with a heat shrinkable film; crushing the container provided with the heat shrinkable film to obtain flakes; and thermally treating the flakes to produce regenerated polyester chips, wherein when the flakes are thermally treated at a temperature of 200 C. to 220 C. for 60 minutes to 120 minutes, the clumping fraction is 5% or less, and the flakes comprise first flakes obtained by crushing the container and second flakes obtained by crushing the heat shrinkable film. It not only solves the environmental problems by improving the recyclability of the polyester container, but also is capable of enhancing the yield and productivity.

A nasal dilator and method of making nasal dilators are provided. The dilator may have a composite base element of at least two regions, the base element having an outer surface and an inner surface, the inner surface of the base element having a pressure-sensitive adhesive disposed thereon; the base element further including a spring element which imparts return memory into the base element so that the base element returns towards a planar conformation during use. The spring element has elastic memory effected by differential properties in the at least two regions.

A nasal dilator and method of making nasal dilators are provided. The dilator may have a composite base element of at least two regions, the base element having an outer surface and an inner surface, the inner surface of the base element having a pressure-sensitive adhesive disposed thereon; the base element further including a spring element which imparts return memory into the base element so that the base element returns towards a planar conformation during use. The spring element has elastic memory effected by differential properties in the at least two regions.

There is provided a polarizing plate excellent in durability. A method of producing a polarizing plate according to an embodiment of the present invention includes: preparing a polarizing film laminate including a polarizer and a protective film arranged on at least one side of the polarizer; and shrinking the polarizing film laminate.

A disclosed reinforcer includes a shrinkable layer able to shrink in a direction of shrinkage, under the effect of a heat-shrink heat treatment, from an initial state to a shrunk state, a first corrugatable layer, which includes a gridwork of filaments added against the shrinkable layer and connected to the shrinkable layer by connection lines spaced apart and extending transversely with respect to the direction of shrinkage, the first corrugatable layer exhibiting a shrinkage that is substantially zero or that is smaller than that of the shrinkable layer, so that, when the shrinkable layer is in the initial state, portions of the first corrugatable layer, each defined between two consecutive connection lines, are bent over and, when the shrinkable layer is in the shrunk state, the portions of the first corrugatable layer are curved.

Three-dimensional polymeric article (100) having first (101) and second (102) opposed major surfaces, a first dimension perpendicular to a second dimension, a thickness orthogonal to the first and second dimensions, and a plurality of alternating first (107) and second (109) polymeric regions along the first or second dimensions, wherein the first (107) and second (108) regions extend at least partially across the second dimension, wherein the first regions (107) are in a common plane (115) and wherein some of the second regions (108) project outwardly from the plane (115) in a first direction (generally perpendicular from the plane), and some of the second regions (108) project outwardly from the plane (115) in a second direction that is generally 180 degrees from the first direction, where the first regions (107) have a first crosslink density, wherein the second regions (108) have a second crosslink density, and wherein the second crosslink density of the second regions (108) are less than the first crosslink density of the first regions (107). Embodiments of the articles are useful for example, for providing a dual-sided, textured wrapping film such that greater grip is realized both on an item wrapped by the film and the wrapped item itself.

Three-dimensional polymeric article (100) having first (101) and second (102) opposed major surfaces, a first dimension perpendicular to a second dimension, a thickness orthogonal to the first and second dimensions, and a plurality of alternating first (107) and second (109) polymeric regions along the first or second dimensions, wherein the first (107) and second (108) regions extend at least partially across the second dimension, wherein the first regions (107) are in a common plane (115) and wherein some of the second regions (108) project outwardly from the plane (115) in a first direction (generally perpendicular from the plane), and some of the second regions (108) project outwardly from the plane (115) in a second direction that is generally 180 degrees from the first direction, where the first regions (107) have a first crosslink density, wherein the second regions (108) have a second crosslink density, and wherein the second crosslink density of the second regions (108) are less than the first crosslink density of the first regions (107). Embodiments of the articles are useful for example, for providing a dual-sided, textured wrapping film such that greater grip is realized both on an item wrapped by the film and the wrapped item itself.