A jig assembly and method of use are provided for positioning and re-rounding pipes for welding. The jig assembly comprises a first jaw assembly and a second jaw assembly which position and move a coupling onto one pipe then the second pipe for subsequent welding.

Cartilage fibers and implants made therefrom are disclosed, with and without cartilage particles. Methods for making the cartilage fibers and the implants containing them are also disclosed. The implants may be pre-shaped, may be reshapable and, when implanted in a cartilage defect, the implants have good shape retention, little swelling, completely fill the cartilage defect and resist migration from the defect upon irrigation.

A method may produce an axially movable connection between two components with a plastic as a sliding material arranged therebetween. The method may involve providing the two components and either at least one of the two components has a plastic coating or a plastic sleeve is provided between the components, joining the two components to form a unit via a pressing force in an axial direction, clamping the unit in a device in which the two components are clampable and subjectable to a displacement force in the axial direction, pressing a sonotrode against an outer of the two components and bracing the outer component against a counter-holder, injecting an ultrasound signal into the sonotrode and moving the two components back and forth in the axial direction until a displacement force or a displacement velocity reaches a target, and ending the ultrasound signal and removing the unit from the device.

A method for joining two substantially planar fiber-composite structural components, includes stacking the two components on a support jig to overlap along a joining region. A lower component end section within the joining region borders a gap between the upper component and the jig, where the upper component is unsupported by the jig. The gap is bordered on an opposite side of the lower component end section by a filling portion of the upper component or a planar filler element supported by the jig. The lower component is joined to the upper component within the joining region by applying temperature and pressure to the components. A width of the gap allows the upper component to elastically deform along the gap under the pressure and bend down into the gap to abut the jig along the gap and thereby compensate thickness tolerances between the components during the pressure application.

A joint for a composite frame includes a first composite rod, a first shell abutting the first composite rod, a second shell abutting the first composite rod and disposed opposite the first shell relative to the first composite rod. The first and second shells are joined together such that composite rod is fixed therebetween. A method of forming joints of composite frame includes forming a composite frame by interconnecting a plurality of composite rods formed by an Automated Fiber Placement (AFP) manufacturing method around a mandrel, applying a first shell to the plurality of composite rods at a first location where composite rods are interconnected, applying a second shell at the first location opposite the first shell relative to the composite rods, and joining the first and second shells together with the composite rods at the first location disposed between the first and second shells.

A coupling assembly includes: a tubular compression collar having a tubular body made of a resiliently flexible polymeric material and having an interior surface and an opposing exterior surface; an end of a tube disposed within a throughway of the compression collar; and a tube fitting disposed within the passageway of the tube. The tube fitting includes: a tubular stem; a flange radially outwardly projecting from an exterior surface of the stem; and an annular barb encircling and radially outwardly projecting from the exterior surface of the stem, the annular barb including a frustoconical outside face that extends along and outwardly slopes away from the stem as the outside face extends toward the flange. The compression collar radially inwardly compresses the tube against the annular barb of the tube fitting so that a liquid tight seal is formed between the tube and the tube fitting.

A method for coupling a tube to a tube fitting includes radially outwardly expanding a tubular compression collar from a constricted state to an expanded state, the compression collar having a throughway extending there through and being made of a resiliently flexible material. An end of the tube is inserted within the throughway of the expanded compression collar, the tube bounding a passage. A tube fitting is inserted within the passage of the tube. The compression collar is allowed to resiliently rebound back towards the constricted state so that the compression collar pushes the tube against the tube fitting.

A floor may include a substrate having a top side and a bottom side. A top layer may be provided on the substrate. The top layer may consist of a printed thermoplastic film and a thermoplastic transparent or translucent layer provided on the printed thermoplastic film. The top layer may be directly adhered to the substrate by heat welding the printed thermoplastic film and the top side of the substrate, in the absence of a glue layer. The substrate may be a synthetic material board including a filler. The substrate at least at two opposite edges may include coupling means provided in the synthetic material board. The thermoplastic transparent or translucent layer may be provided with a structure.

Systems for positioning and bonding a nutplate to a substrate having an aperture include a nutplate engagement fixture and a temperature sensor retention fixture. The nutplate engagement fixture includes a rigid tube and an elastomeric tube engaged with the rigid tube, the elastomeric tube having an elongated tube sized to provide a friction fit with the aperture and retain the elastomeric tube within the aperture. The rigid tube is operable to engage the nutplate at one end and the elastomeric tube is configured to anchor the nutplate engagement fixture at the aperture and secure the nutplate in contact with the substrate. The temperature sensor retention fixture includes a fixture body sized and configured to engage with the nutplate and at least one passageway within the fixture body sized and configured to allow a temperature sensor to be inserted or embedded therein with an end proximal a surface of the nutplate.

A body assembly for a toy figurine comprising an inner plate having a plurality of openings, a first outer section coupled to a first side of the inner plate, and a second outer section coupled to a second side of the inner plate. The first outer section includes one or more first coupling members positioned on one side of the first outer section that are engaged with one or more of the openings on the inner plate. The second outer section includes one or more second coupling members positioned on one side of the second outer section that are engaged with one or more of the openings on the inner plate. The inner plate is thus enclosed between the first outer section and the second outer section. The inner plate further holds the first outer section and the second outer section together.