Multi-layer bags may be formed to include first and second sidewalls joined along a first side edge, an opposite second side edge, and a closed bottom edge. The first and second layers may be non-continuously laminated together in discrete sections to include bonded regions in which the layers are bonded and unbonded regions in which the layers are not bonded. Such a bag may be described as a bag-in-a-bag type configuration in which the inner bag is non-continuously bonded to the outer bag. The inventors have surprisingly found that such configurations of non-continuous bonding provides increased and unexpected strength properties to the multi-layer films and bags.

Method and apparatus are disclosed for mechanically opening a heat-bonded connection site between two hollow, flexible, thermoplastic segments of a medical fluid flow path, the heat-bonded connection site having an axis. The connection site is compressed between two facing surfaces, and the facing surfaces are relatively moved to rotate the connection site about the connection site axis and to apply force to the connection site substantially perpendicular to the connection site axis.

A method and apparatus for sealing a plastic enclosure is provided. The apparatus includes a handle including elements pivotally coupled together at a first end. The apparatus also includes a heating element positioned along an inner surface of an element and connected to a power source where a longitudinal axis of the heating element is oriented parallel with a longitudinal axis of the element. Plastic material including first and second plastic layers is positioned at an interface between the second elements. Upon pivoting the first elements from an open position to a closed position the heating element increases a temperature at the interface to melt the plastic material and form a seal between the first and second plastic layers.

System, apparatus and method for opening a heat-bonded connection formed between two hollow, flexible thermoplastic conduits. A pressure difference is created between the inside of at least one of the conduits and the ambient atmosphere sufficient to cause expansion of a wall of the tubing conduit in the vicinity of a frangible portion at least partially blocking the connection to disrupt the frangible portion and reduce the blocking.

A method of manufacturing a sport ball includes providing a plurality of casing panels including a first panel and a second panel. The first panel has a first surface and an opposite second surface. The first panel includes a first flange area forming a first edge portion of the first panel. The second panel has a third surface and an opposite fourth surface. The second panel includes a second flange area forming a second edge portion of the second panel. The method includes turning the first flange area away from the first surface of the first panel, turning the second flange area away from the third surface of the second panel, abutting the first flange area and the second flange area, and joining the first panel to the second panel.

Systems and methods for handheld tubing welders are herein disclosed. In an embodiment, a handheld tubing welder can include a housing configured to be held by a user and a tubing retainer coupled to the housing. The tubing retainer can include a first and second retainer slot configured to receive and retain a first section of a first tubing and a second tubing, respectively. A tubing shifter can be positioned adjacent to the housing and the tubing retainer, the tubing shifter includes a first shifter slot and a second shifter slot that is configured to receive and retain a second section of the first tubing and a second section of the second tubing, respectively. A cutting element can be configured to be movable between the tubing shifter and the tubing retainer to cut the first and second tubing extending between the tubing shifter and tubing retainer. A heating element can be configured to heat the cutting element to a temperature range that allows the first section of the second tubing to thermally weld to the second section of the first tubing.

A non-continuously laminated structure of thermoplastic films comprises thermoplastic films with differing material compositions and differing functional benefits. In particular, one or more embodiments comprise thermoplastic films that are co-extruded separately and then combined together by a post-extrusion bonding process. The differing composition of the various films of the non-continuously laminated structure of thermoplastic films and the post-extrusion bonding process, provide the structures with the functional benefits of the individual films.

A method for the sterile connection of pipes, consisting of: providing a first and a second pipe; a separating area of the first and second pipes is heated; both pipes are mechanically separated by exerting traction and/or shear force onto the pipes so that both pipes are respectively separated in the heated separating area; after the pipes are separated, a mechanical contact between the end of the first pipe section of the first pipe formed by the separation of the first pipe is established with the end of the first pipe section of the second pipe, formed by the separation of the second pipe, and mechanical contact is established such that the ends of the pipe sections still have, following heating when they come into mechanical contact with each other, a temperature such that they form a material fit connection without additional heating after separation.

A vacuum packaging machine (1) is described, with internal and sous vide cooking chamber composed of a supporting and containing structure (3) comprising at least one decompression chamber (7) for vacuum packaging and/or cooking a product (6) inside at least one bag (8) or other suitable container, such chamber (7) being composed of at least one tank (2) adapted to be closed by at least one cover (9), the cover (9) being equipped with a welding system (13) of the initially open edges (10) of the bag (8) composed of at least one welding bar (15) and at least one membrane system (16), and comprising at least one bulkhead (17) adapted to be inserted inside the tank (2) of the chamber (7), such bulkhead (17) being equipped on its top with at least one abutment bar (19) of the welding bar (15).

A covering for an architectural feature having generally horizontal vane elements coupled to and located between generally front and rear generally vertical support members, which in preferred embodiments can adjust and control the amount and quality of light transmitted through the covering is described. In one embodiment the covering has three dimensional multi-layered, cellular vanes, which are aesthetically appealing and practically useful for privacy and shading purposes. In another embodiment, the one or more support members are formed of a dark color, and in one example, the support members may be black, grey and/or brown, and in a further example, the rear support member(s) may be formed of material that are darker than the front support member(s), or vise versa. In another embodiment, the support members, e.g., sheers, have an openness factor, preferably as low as about sixty-five percent (65%) to as large as about ninety percent (90%). Other embodiments include structure, assemblies and methods for controlling the closure of the covering as well as embodiments of bottom rail assemblies. Also provided is a method of manufacturing the covering.