Apparatuses and methods are disclosed that may be used to bond materials using thermoset and thermoplastic polymer materials arranged with a thermoplastic strike layer on a surface of the material. Apparatuses and methods are also disclosed for manufacturing and configuring catheters and other tubular devices with a bonding surface or layer. These apparatuses and devices may have a strike layer of thermoplastic polymer material that melts or softens upon application of heat and bonds to other polymer materials upon cooling, thus avoiding the use of externally-applied adhesives in the construction of a bond between two surfaces, such as between an inner surface of a tubular catheter and an outer surface of a tubular catheter tip.

A method of assembling a vehicle structure is provided in which a laser system is used to expedite adhesive curing at a plurality of locations within an adhesive layer, where the adhesive layer bonds a first vehicle component to a second vehicle component. Once cured by laser irradiation and heating, the localized adhesive regions maintain the relative positions of the first and second vehicle components without the aid of a curing fixture, even though the remaining areas of the adhesive layer are uncured. This approach to tacking vehicle components together can be used to decrease fabrication time and cost.

A connector is formed by fixing two or more connector parts each made from a resin to each other by press fitting or with an adhesive. At least one weld part regulating thermal deformation between the connector parts is formed in a boundary portion between the adjoining connector parts.

Disclosed is a method of forming an article from a unidirectional (UD) tape comprising a continuous unidirectional fiber impregnated with polymer resin. The method includes winding a continuous section of cold UD tape to form a closed loop preform (38) comprising a plurality of stacked layers while discretely welding and consolidating the wound preform by heating and applying pressure.

A joint structure comprises a light-absorbable member having at least one opening portion and a light-permeable member superposed on the light-absorbable member so as to cover the opening portion, wherein an annular weld part is formed so as to enclose the opening portion and join the light-absorbable member and the light-permeable member, and the light-permeable member is formed into a thin sheet adhering to the light-absorbable member by deforming at a depressurized state of an interior of the opening portion before the formation of the annular weld part.

A joint structure comprises a light-absorbable member having at least one opening portion and a light-permeable member superposed on the light-absorbable member so as to cover the opening portion, wherein a first annular weld part is formed so as to enclose the opening portion and join the light-absorbable member and the light-permeable member, and a second dot-like weld part(s) joining the light-absorbable member and the light-permeable member is/are formed in a position adjacent to the first weld part.

Apparatus configured to enable the staking of an interfacing part to a base is provided. The apparatus includes a retainer configured to convey a stake and the interfacing part to the base. The apparatus is further configured to provide a heat and/or vibration to effect the simultaneous attachment of the stake to the base and the interfacing part to the base.

A method for preparing a composite body (1) comprising a support body (2) and at least one decorative element (3), preferably a gemstone (3a, 3b), the support body (2) comprising a thermoplastic material, the method being characterized by the steps of: arranging the decorative element (3) on the support body (2), heating the support body (2), pressing the decorative element (3) into the support body (2) by using a stamp (4) consisting of an elastically deformable material, the material of the stamp (4) being selected from the group of elastomers.

An inflatable game ball includes a cover formed from a plurality of panel segments attached along peripheral edges. Each panel segment an outer panel portion, having a first shape and a first size, and an inner panel portion, having the first shape and a second size, smaller than the first size. The outer panel portion is joined with the inner panel portion, such that peripheral edges of the outer panel portion are aligned, and parallel, with peripheral edges of the inner panel portion. An inflatable bladder is disposed within the cover and movable between deflated and fully-inflated conditions. When the inflatable bladder is deflated, an interior surface of the outer panel portions is separated from a top surface of the inner panel portions by a first distance. When the inflatable bladder is fully-inflated, the interior surface is in contact with the top surface of the inner panel portions.

An inflatable game ball includes a cover formed from a plurality of panel segments attached along peripheral edges. Each panel segment an outer panel portion, having a first shape and a first size, and an inner panel portion, having the first shape and a second size, smaller than the first size. The outer panel portion is joined with the inner panel portion, such that peripheral edges of the outer panel portion are aligned, and parallel, with peripheral edges of the inner panel portion. An inflatable bladder is disposed within the cover and movable between deflated and fully-inflated conditions. When the inflatable bladder is deflated, an interior surface of the outer panel portions is separated from a top surface of the inner panel portions by a first distance. When the inflatable bladder is fully-inflated, the interior surface is in contact with the top surface of the inner panel portions.