A composite tube includes a first layer including a thermoplastic polymer having a Tg of not greater than about 160° C. and a second layer adjacent to the first layer, the second layer including an extruded silicone material. Further included is a method of forming the composite tube which includes providing a first layer including a thermoplastic polymer having a Tg of not greater than about 160° C.; receiving, by an extrusion system, a silicone material; forming, by the extrusion system, a second layer including the silicone material adjacent to the first layer; and irradiating the silicone material with a radiation source to substantially cure the silicone material.

A fixing apparatus includes an endless belt, and a pressing member including a base body and an elastic layer formed on the base body. A plurality of pore portions connected to each other are provided in the elastic layer. In a case where a binary image is generated from a three-dimensional image of the elastic layer, a threshold value X μm corresponding to opening processing with which a number of pores derived from the pore portions takes a maximum value is obtained, and then pores derived from the pore portions in the elastic layer are extracted by performing opening processing with a threshold value of 2X μm, an average value of angles θ is 120° or larger and smaller than 150°.

Disclosed is a grooved grip having a body configured to be grasped by a hand comprising a channel configured to relieve pressure on a median nerve on a palmar surface on a hand.

A lens for directing light from an LED light source. The lens is formed by a plurality of layers and has a light-receiving inner-surface defining a pair of cavities. A portion of the inner-surface which defines one of the cavities is at least partially formed by an innermost layer of the plurality of layers. At least a portion of another of the plurality of layers extends inwardly between the pair of cavities. Another aspect of this invention is an optic member including a plurality of the lenses for directing light received from a plurality of spaced apart LED light sources.

An injection molding machine with an injection system and a clamping system. The injection system may include a removable injection module defining a portion of the material flow path. The injection module may include all of parts that come in contact with the material between the material source and the mold. The injection module may include a valve arrangement movable between a fill position to load the injection module with material and an inject position to eject material from the injection module into the mold. The actuators for the injection module may be supported on the machine rather than the injection module. The clamping system may include a platen linear actuator to open and close the mold, and a hydraulic clamping system to apply clamping force to the closed mold. The hydraulic clamping system may include a free-float valve manifold assembly that selectively places the hydraulic cylinders in free-float mode.

A container comprising: a base and freestanding sides extending from the base to define a mouth opposite the base, wherein the mouth has first and second spouts opposite each other and first and second interior sides opposite each other between the first and second spouts; a first zipper member extending from the first interior side of the mouth from the first spout to the second spout; a second zipper member extending from the second interior side of the mouth from the first spout to the second spout, wherein the mouth is deformable between open and closed configurations and the first and second zipper members are disengagable when the mouth is open and engagable when the mouth is closed, wherein the base, sides, and zipper members are a unitary whole container without assembled parts, wherein the container comprises silicone.

A flask stand is configured to support a flask and includes a base ring and a plurality of legs. The base ring is configured to support a lower portion of the flask. Each leg is secured to the base ring and extends outward from the base ring. Each leg includes a body, a lattice, and an elastomeric foot. The body includes a first end portion that is secured to the base ring with the foot portion being opposite the first end portion. The lattice is formed within the foot portion and includes a plurality of members that form an open-mesh frame that defines a plurality of voids between adjacent members of the frame. The elastomeric foot is formed of an elastomer and is disposed about the lattice and within the voids of the lattice. The foot is configured to engage a surface to support the body relative to the surface.

A method for preparing a polishing pad includes: preparing a polishing pad transition structure formed with a plurality of grooves, openings of the plurality of grooves being all located on a same side surface of the polishing pad transition structure; filling the plurality of grooves of the polishing pad transition structure with inorganic nanoparticles; pouring a mixture of a liquid polymer and a curing agent on the polishing pad transition structure, and evacuating air in the liquid polymer and the plurality of grooves; and placing the polishing pad transition structure in an environment at a temperature higher than or equal to a first temperature threshold, and the cured liquid polymer and the polishing pad transition structure constituting the polishing pad.

The present application describes a system for curing moldable material. The system comprises an energy source, a mold, and/or other components. The mold comprises internal mold surfaces forming a mold cavity. The mold is formed from one or more materials configured to absorb electromagnetic radiation emitted by the energy source. The mold has a hot zone and a cold zone. The hot zone and the cold zone have the one or more materials thereof comprising at least one different physical characteristic so that the hot zone and the cold zone absorb the electromagnetic radiation at different rates and/or in different amounts. The hot zone absorbs more electromagnetic radiation than, and/or electromagnetic radiation faster than, the cold zone.

A mold for encapsulating an electrical component. The mold includes an encapsulation chamber and an air inlet. The encapsulation chamber is defined by a housing, an open top, and a solid bottom. The housing includes a solid outer wall, a permeable inner wall, and an air chamber between the solid outer wall and the inner wall. The air inlet is configured to introduce a gas into the air chamber. The encapsulation chamber is sized and shaped to receive the electrical component while leaving a gap for the introduction of encapsulant around the electrical component. The encapsulant may be silicone rubber. To remove an encapsulated electrical component, pressurized air may be introduced through the air inlet into the air chamber, passing through the permeable inner wall, separating the outer surface of the encapsulant from the housing, and allowing the combination casting to be removed from the mold.