The present disclosure provides a steering wheel that includes a core assembly defining a body, at least one functional element wrapped about the body, and a cover arranged over the functional element. The cover includes a first end portion and a second end portion opposite the first end portion. The first and second end portions are joined and superimposed on the functional element at a notch such that the second end portion is positioned between the functional element and the first end portion. The functional element may be a heating element or a touch sensor. The steering wheel may include both a heating element and a touch sensor. In one form, the cover includes two zones and the notch extends along a diameter of the rim and/or along at least a portion of a front face of the steering wheel.

A cover (1), in particular a backrest cover or a lateral cover for a vehicle seat, is molded from a covering material layer (2), in particular from a covering material blank (2.1) and from a carrier material layer (4), in particular from a carrier material blank (4.1). An adhesive non-woven (3) or an adhesive layer is disposed between the covering material blank (2.1) and the carrier material blank (4.1).

A method for manufacturing hybrid-natural leather having excellent appearance quality and good durability such as light resistance, water resistance, elongation and abrasion resistance is provided. Particularly, the fiber layer having a similar structure to the natural leather is introduced to the natural leather and the natural leather and the fiber layer are bonded and fused with each other under a specific condition to manufacture hybrid-natural leather having excellent durability while preventing wrinkles, stretching, and the like from being generated.

Composites having a polymer or natural leather skin layer and a polyurethane foam layer are made in a molding process. The polyurethane foam layer is made from a foam formulation that includes certain polyester polyols. The presence of the polyester polyol improves flow characteristics of the foam formulation. The foam so produced has unexpectedly low quantities of VOCs.

A laminar composite comprising a transparent or translucent cover layer, a base layer, and a layer of reptile shed sandwiched between the base layer and the cover layer. The base layer, cover layer and/or reptile shed are provided on one side with an adhesive, such as a heat-activatable adhesive, to bond the three layers together to form a flexible laminar composite.

A helmet has inner and outer shells separated by a plurality of interconnected relatively soft columns or posts. The columns each have a middle post or pillar section, a capital that is of larger diameter than the post, and a base also of larger transverse dimension than the post. When an impact above a design threshold occurs on the outer shell, the columns, particularly the post sections thereof, near the impact location compress and buckle, dissipating impact kinetic energy, while columns spaced from the impact zone stretch and support more of the impact force. The applied force is therefore reduced and spread out over a relatively large area, and a resultant wave created within the column manifold disperses additional heat, further reducing the force and torque applied on the outer shell and transmitted to the inner shell and onto the skull of a helmet user. A method and mold for fabricating the column manifold are also disclosed.

Cards made in accordance with the invention include a decorative layer attached to a core layer, where the decorative layer is designed to provide selected color(s) and/or selected texture(s) to a surface of the metal cards. At least one of the decorative layers is a layer derived from plant matter (e.g., wood). The cards may be dual interface smart cards that can be read in a contactless manner and/or via contacts.

A laminar composite comprising a transparent or translucent cover layer, a base layer, and a layer of reptile shed sandwiched between the base layer and the cover layer. The base layer, cover layer and/or reptile shed are provided on one side with an adhesive, such as a heat-activatable adhesive, to bond the three layers together to form a flexible laminar composite.

Cards made in accordance with the invention include a decorative layer attached to a core layer, where the decorative layer is designed to provide selected color(s) and/or selected texture(s) to a surface of the metal cards. At least one of the decorative layers is a layer derived from animal matter (e.g. leather). The cards may be dual interface smart cards configured to be read in a contactless manner and/or via contacts.

A method for manufacturing hybrid-natural leather having excellent appearance quality and good durability such as light resistance, water resistance, elongation and abrasion resistance is provided. Particularly, the fiber layer having a similar structure to the natural leather is introduced to the natural leather and the natural leather and the fiber layer are bonded and fused with each other under a specific condition to manufacture hybrid-natural leather having excellent durability while preventing wrinkles, stretching, and the like from being generated.