An optical cable and method for forming an optical cable is provided. The cable includes a cable jacket including an inner surface defining a channel and an outer surface. The cable includes a seam within the cable jacket that couples together opposing longitudinal edges of a wrapped thermoplastic sheet which forms the cable jacket and maintains the cable jacket in the wrapped configuration around the plurality of optical fibers. The method includes forming an outer cable jacket by wrapping a sheet of thermoplastic material around a plurality of optical core elements. The method includes laser welding together portions of thermoplastic material of opposing longitudinal edges of the wrapped sheet such that a seam is formed holding the sheet of thermoplastic material in the wrapped configuration around the core elements.

Embodiments of the present disclosure are directed to a moldable input device. A moldable input device may comprise a thermoplastic polymer layer that is heatable to achieve a moldable condition that allows for a reconfiguration of the thermoplastic polymer layer. After heating, the thermoplastic polymer layer may then be placed on a rigid outer shell of an input device and molded by user engagement (e.g., a user's hand). After a certain period of time, the thermoplastic polymer layer will have cooled and hardened, capturing the molding impressions and imprints of the user's hand. The rigid outer shell may then be affixed to a base plate of an input device, and the rigid outer shell and the base plate may form an enclosed cavity, wherein circuitry for an input device is maintained and protected. In some examples, the thermoplastic polymer may be polycaprolactone or ethylene vinyl acetate.

A method for producing wound hollow profiles having variable curvatures and cross-sections. In this case, a core having at least one curvature or cross-sectional change is moved in a translatory manner relative to a system having at least a first and a second fibre feed which cause the formation of an axial fibre reinforcement and at least one first wound layer.

A performance footwear, apparel or medical accessory product for hot, cold, and all-weather conditions, the performance footwear, apparel or medical accessory product comprised of a series of material layers having: a first layer of a breathable, moisture transfer, antimicrobial inner lining, fabric or nonwoven material or a combination of fabric or nonwoven material; a second layer comprising a breathable, moisture transfer, absorbent, antimicrobial, mechanically bonded, antimicrobial, nonwoven material comprised of shaped, channeled, grooved and lobed synthetic polymer fibers, antimicrobial silver polymer fibers and natural and synthetic, thermal and cooling fibers wherein the fiber combinations naturally provide adjustable thermal regulation; and a third exterior layer comprised of a breathable, antimicrobial woven fabric, knitted fabric, spacer fabric, nonwoven material, leather material or a combination thereof.

A method and an article of manufacture are disclosed for reinforcing various structures, such as pipes, ducts, vessels, tanks, silos, chimneys, columns and the like, constructed from various materials including steel, concrete, masonry, wood, plastics, and the like. Some of the various structures may be used to transport water, gas, oil, and the like. Multiple layers of various material sheets, each sheet having substantially the same or different properties, may be wrapped around or be attached to the inside of a structure to be reinforced. The multiple layers together constitute a structure reinforcement wrap (SRW) and in an embodiment it may include a 3D fabric layer surrounded by other reinforcement layers to reinforce the structure against external and internal loads, such as weight, impact load, blast load, internal pressure, ballistic load, and the like. In some embodiment the SRW may only include 3D fabric layers.

A method can be used to attach a fabric member to a trim while forming a pattern in the fabric member. A trim has trim grooves formed in one side of the trim and a fabric member has a foam formed in one side of a skin material of the fabric member. A bonding member is coated to an outer surface of the foam and the fabric member is heated where the bonding member is coated. The heated fabric member is placed on the side of the trim where the trim grooves are formed. The fabric member is fixed to the trim by inserting edges of the fabric member into the trim grooves using insertion blades while pattern protrusions formed in a compression jig form a pattern by pressing the skin material of the fabric member.

The first aspect of the present invention provides a foamed structure, comprising: a first foamed body extending in a first direction; a second foamed body extending in the first direction and facing the first foamed body with a gap interposed therebetween; and a reinforcement disposed in the gap between the first foamed body and the second foamed body, the reinforcement having an elongated shape, wherein the first foamed body has a portion overlapping with the second foamed body in the first direction view.

Provided are systems and apparatuses for manufacturing aircraft support structures. An example robotic end effector comprises a rotatable reel with a flat strip of material wound around the reel. The end effector further includes a forming shoe including a forming surface contacting the strip of material. A first end of the forming surface corresponds to a start shape and a second end of the forming surface corresponds to an end shape. As the strip of material passes from the first end of the forming surface to the second end of the forming surface, the strip of material transitions from the first shape to the end shape and is deposited as a formed stringer ply onto an application surface. The forming shoe may further include a vacuum system to suction air through a plurality of ports along the forming surface to urge the strip of material against the forming surface.

A pressure vessel includes a vessel body including a cylindrical-shaped straight body portion with a spiral-shaped projection portion formed at an outer peripheral surface of the straight body portion, and a covering portion that comprises a fiber bundle wrapped onto the outer peripheral surface of the straight body portion in a spiral pattern running parallel to the projection portion so as to cover the outer peripheral surface of the straight body portion.

A method of manufacturing a composite vessel assembly includes the step of placing the composite vessel assembly in a pliable containment prior to curing of a resin of the composite vessel assembly. With the composite vessel assembly in the pliable containment, a vacuum is applied through an orifice in the pliable containment to evacuate air and compact the composite vessel assembly.