A method of making personal protective equipment, such as a push-in earplug, is disclosed. The method includes the steps of covering a substrate with an outer layer that includes an unactivated foaming agent, positioning at least a portion of the outer layer in a mold, and activating the foaming agent such that a portion of the outer layer expands.

The present disclosure encompasses three-dimensional articles comprising flexible-composite materials and methods of manufacturing said three-dimensional articles. More particularly, the present system relates to methods for manufacturing seamless three-dimensional-shaped articles usable for such finished products as airbags/inflatable structures, bags, shoes, and similar three-dimensional products. A preferred manufacturing process combines composite molding methods with specific precursor materials to form fiber-reinforced continuous shaped articles that are flexible and collapsible.

A polymer sheet adapted to attach to a material body such as a ceiling of a geological cavity and provide protective cover. The sheet comprises: a webbing portion defining a plurality of primary openings; and two margin portions extending along opposite edges of the sheet on either side of the webbing portion along a length of the sheet, each margin portion defining a plurality of secondary openings, wherein the margin portions are angled relative to the webbing portion.

A ballistic resistant article includes a first layer that has first unidirectional fibers disposed in a first polymer matrix. The first polymer matrix is composed of a thermoset polyurethane. A second layer is laminated to the first layer. The second layer includes second unidirectional fibers disposed in a second polymer matrix. The second unidirectional fibers are cross-oriented with respect to the first unidirectional fibers.

A light, durable, and user friendly cover for a laptop computer that integrates the protective qualities of hard shell cases with the aesthetics of soft cut-and-sew covers is disclosed. The cover includes top and bottom panels configured to cover the display and keyboard portions, respectively. Each panel is independent and separate from the other and each is formed as a unitary component of a molded resilient polymer material, such as polycarbonate, that is configured to reversibly and retentively snap-fit over the outer surface of the laptop computer, Each panel includes a raised lip along its perimeter edge region that defines an internally extending recessed region on the panel's outer surface. Fabric and/or leather overlays are positioned, sized and adhesively coupled atop the recessed regions and are protected from delaminating, fraying, and/or peeling by the raised perimeter lip.

An earplug assembly and method of forming the same is described. The method includes uniaxially stretching a cord formed of copolymer including ethylene segments and vinyl acetate segments to form a cold-drawn cord. The cold drawn cord has an elongation to break of 250% or less. The method then includes fixing the cold drawn cord to an earplug.

The present disclosure provides a device to assist in confined space entry. The device includes a housing including a top surface, a bottom surface opposite the top surface, a first end positioned between the top surface and the bottom surface, and a second end opposite the first end and positioned between the top surface and the bottom surface. The device also includes a channel in the housing extending from the bottom surface in a direction towards the top surface, wherein the channel is between the first end and the second end. The device also includes a first roller rotatably coupled to the first end of the housing via a first pin, and a second roller rotatably coupled to the second end of the housing via a second pin.

The present disclosure can include a protective mask made of a monolithic piece of material. The mask can have a shield portion with a top portion and a bottom portion, the shield portion configured to protect from contaminants, a strap portion extending from the shield portion, the strap portion configured to be secured around a circumference, and a fold line extending laterally across the shield portion, the fold line near the top of the shield portion, wherein the monolithic piece is configured to be folded along the fold line to provide a curvature. A method of making a mask can include shaping a monolithic piece of material into a mask shape having a shield portion for protection, a strap portion for securing the shield portion, and a folding line on the shield portion for creating a curvature along a top portion of the shield portion.

A method of fabricating a polymer composite material by mixing a polymer material with a planar material, depositing the mixture on a substrate, and stretching the resulting thin film, is described. Polymer composite materials produced using said method and ballistic resistant materials comprising said polymer composite materials are also described.

An oral device may include a body. The body may have a main portion having an arch-shaped central portion, a first side portion extending from a first end of the central portion, and a second side portion extending from a second end of the central portion. The body may further include a first wedge portion provided on a bottom surface of the first side portion, and a second wedge portion provided on a bottom surface of the second side portion. Each of the first wedge portion and the second wedge portion may have a varying thickness.