Panel suitable for assembling a waterproof floor or wall covering from a plurality of said panels, wherein the panel has a substantially planar top surface, and a substantially planar bottom surface, the panel having a laminated structure of layers which comprises: a flexible core layer which basically is composed of a material which is relatively low in density and is provided with voids in the form of air pockets, and a rigid top layer which comprises a support layer that is basically composed of a material that is relatively high in density and which is virtually devoid of air pockets, wherein the thickness of the core layer is smaller than the thickness of the support layer, preferably in a ratio of 0.5 or less, more preferably in a ratio between 0.5 and 0.10.

Provided is a composite sound-absorbing material that can exhibit sound absorption properties in a broad range of low frequencies, intermediate frequencies, and high frequencies even in a low-basis-weight region having low thickness. The composite sound-absorbing material according to the present invention is configured from two or more layers including a base material and a skin material, the skin material being positioned on the outermost layer, wherein the composite sound-absorbing material is characterized in that the ratio (skin material:base material) of the surface area (m.sup.2/m.sup.2) per unit area of the skin material and the surface area (m.sup.2/m.sup.2) per unit area of the base material is at least 1:5 and less than 1:40.

A method for manufacturing structural rods to make it easier to manufacture a structural rod for an aircraft and to improve performance. Each rod includes a rod body and two end portions disposed at either end of the rod body along a longitudinal central rod axis, each end portion comprising at least one mounting lug that protrudes from the rod body along the longitudinal axis. The method includes producing a sandwich panel including two skins gripping a cellular inner body, at least one of the two outer skins having a skin extension for forming a part of the at least one mounting lug of at least one of the two end portions of the rod, and cutting the panel along parallel cutting lines to obtain the structural rods.

Disclosed is a building board construction that provides enhanced acoustical properties. In one possible embodiment, the board is a gypsum board with opposing facing sheets and an intermediate set gypsum core. An opened celled polymeric sheet is formed within the gypsum core and gives the resulting board enhanced sound absorption. In an alternative embodiment, individual pieces of polymeric foam are used in stead of the polymeric sheet. Also disclosed are various manufacturing methods whereby boards with enhanced acoustical properties can be formed in an continuous process. The various components of the present disclosure, and the manner in which they interrelate, are described in greater detail hereinafter.

The present invention relates to a vacuum insulating panel (VIP). The VIP comprises an insulating core (2) having upper (3) and lower surfaces (4) and at least one substantially planar reinforcing member (5) arranged on the upper (3) or lower surface (4) of the core (2). The reinforcing member (5) is porous and substantially rigid. The VIP further comprises a barrier envelope, optionally in the form of a barrier film (6), arranged to envelop the insulating core (2) and the planar member (5). The present invention also relates to methods of manufacturing a vacuum insulating panel (VIP).

A wound dressing is provided. The wound dressing includes a moisture-transmissible backing layer having a first major surface, a second major surface, and a backing layer perimeter; an absorbent hydrophilic adhesive adhered to at least a portion of the second major surface of the backing layer, the absorbent hydrophilic adhesive comprising an absorbent hydrophilic adhesive perimeter; an antimicrobial agent disposed in the absorbent hydrophilic adhesive; a porous layer having a first side adhered to the absorbent hydrophilic adhesive, a second side, and a porous layer perimeter; and a second hydrophobic adhesive adhered to the second side of the porous layer. The second major surface has a first hydrophobic adhesive disposed thereon proximate the backing layer perimeter. 100% of the absorbent hydrophilic adhesive perimeter is overlapped by the backing layer. At least 50% of the porous layer perimeter is overlapped by the absorbent hydrophilic adhesive.

A glueless dustless composite flooring material system providing PVC-based flooring having layers providing different qualities of hardness, wear-resistance, sound deadening, and decorative patterns, avoiding the use of moisture-susceptible compressed dust filler, with layers fused together, avoiding the manufacturing complexity and delamination risks of using glue or adhesive, with a quickly-cured, UV-cured top coating providing long-lasting high performance and shortening and simplifying the manufacturing, which can be done in a sheet-form, essentially continuous-run manner, with an ability to quickly and simply change the optional design printing and texturing produced, and having an optional underlayment layer.

A glueless dustless composite flooring material system providing PVC-based flooring having layers providing different qualities of hardness, wear-resistance, sound deadening, and decorative patterns, avoiding the use of moisture-susceptible compressed dust filler, with layers fused together, avoiding the manufacturing complexity and delamination risks of using glue or adhesive, with a quickly-cured, UV-cured top coating providing long-lasting high performance and shortening and simplifying the manufacturing, which can be done in a sheet-form, essentially continuous-run manner, with an ability to quickly and simply change the optional design printing and texturing produced, and having an optional underlayment layer.

A hybrid core comprising a matrix and tubular structural reinforcements, such as a ductile matrix core reinforced with ductile hollow tubes, as well as panels which comprise such hybrid core. Embodiments of the invention manifest resistance to both interfacial debonding and ballistic penetration.

A cleaning device for removing marks from a surface includes a body of melamine foam sponge having a front side and a rear side opposed to the front side, and a holding layer secured to the rear side of the body of melamine foam sponge to prevent relative movement therebetween. The holding layer is preferably a cloth and more preferably natural or synthetic chamois which can be used to wipe and/or buff the surface after rubbing the body of melamine foam sponge on the surface to remove at least one surface mark. The body of melamine foam sponge can be pre-moistened with a liquid such as a disinfecting solution.