The invention relates to a method by which stitch openings in the area of a seam in a plastic skin (10), in particular a PVC or TPU skin, are sealed, said PVC or TPU skin being provided for a foamed part. Foamed parts of this type are used especially as interior fitting parts, e.g. as a dashboard, in the field of automobile manufacturing. The invention further relates to a PVC or TPU skin comprising a seam of said type.

A bonder and a method for bonding corrugated sidewalls to a thermoplastic belt at a splice joint. Two heating jaw assemblies with complementary and confronting corrugated vertical faces clamp a thermoplastic belt to a base of the bonder with a corrugated sidewall section separated from the belt across a splice joint received in a corrugated slot formed between the confronting vertical faces. Corrugated bonding strips at the bottoms of the corrugated vertical faces apply heat to melt the bottom of the sidewall section on opposite sides to bond the corrugated sidewall section to the base.

An adhesive layer applicator for a body-mountable device is disclosed. The applicator includes a housing defining a first opening through which a chamber is accessible, and a plurality of adhesive layers and a plurality of adhesive liners alternately stacked on a floor that is movable within the chamber. The size and shape of the opening corresponds to the size and shape of the body-mountable device. The housing is configured to receive at least a portion of the body-mountable device through the opening. A second opening is formed in each adhesive layer in the plurality of adhesive layers and a gel is accommodated within the second openings.

Techniques for providing universal interfaces between parts of a transport structure are disclosed. In one aspect of the disclosure, an apparatus for joining first and second parts of a transport structure includes an additively manufactured body having first and second surfaces. The first surface may connect to a first part such as, for example, a panel. The second surface may include a fitting for mating with a complementary fitting on a second part.

A method is disclosed that includes removing an adhesive layer from a lower housing of a monitoring device; aligning the monitoring device with an opening of an adhesive applicator; coupling an uppermost adhesive layer that is positioned within the adhesive applicator with the lower housing; and removing the monitoring device from the opening of the adhesive applicator. A shape of the lower housing of the monitor corresponds to the shape of the opening of the adhesive applicator; and aligning the monitoring device with the opening of the adhesive applicator comprises matching the orientation of the lower housing to the orientation of the opening in the adhesive applicator. The method also includes the monitoring device selectively entering a battery preservation mode.

An adhesive layer applicator for a body-mountable device is disclosed. The applicator includes a housing defining a first opening through which a chamber is accessible, and a plurality of adhesive layers and a plurality of adhesive liners alternately stacked on a floor that is movable within the chamber. The size and shape of the opening corresponds to the size and shape of the body-mountable device. The housing is configured to receive at least a portion of the body-mountable device through the opening. A second opening is formed in each adhesive layer in the plurality of adhesive layers and a gel is accommodated within the second openings.

A method of bonding a second object to a first object includes: providing the first object having a thermoplastic liquefiable material in a solid state; providing the second object having a surface portion that has a coupling structure with an undercut, so that the second object is capable of making a positive-fit connection with the first object; pressing the second object against the first object with a tool that is in physical contact with a coupling-in structure of the second object while mechanical vibrations are coupled into the tool; continuing to press and couple vibrations into the tool until a flow portion of the thermoplastic material of the first object is liquefied and flows into the coupling structures of the second object; and letting the thermoplastic material re-solidify to yield a positive-fit connection between the first and second objects by the re-solidified flow portion interpenetrating the coupling structures.

A lamination system includes a film supply, a non-woven material supply, and a laminator. The laminator causes a film from the film supply to be laminated to a sheet from the non-woven material supply to establish a laminated sheet.

A method for the production of a heat-generating element includes placing in which at least two electrical conductor elements, provided with through holes, onto a film provided with an adhesive mass, pressing the conductor elements against the films such that the mass is forced into the through holes. At least one PTC element is subsequently placed onto one of the conductor elements, and then the other of the conductor elements, together with the film adhering thereto, is placed opposite to the one of the conductor elements onto the PTC element. The invention further relates to a heat-generating element with a PTC element and electrical conductor elements connected thereto in an electrically conductive manner for energizing the PTC element with a different polarity and an electrical insulation that is provided on the outer side thereof with a film and an adhesive mass applied thereto. At least one of the conductor elements is provided with through holes and the mass is at least in part contained in the plane of the conductor element.

An internal tensioning structure for use in an inflatable product fulfills the basic function of maintaining two adjacent inflatable surfaces in a desired geometric arrangement when the inflatable product is pressurized. The tensioning structure is formed by connecting a pair of plastic strips sheets via spaced-apart strands, such as strings or wires. When pulled taut, the strands provide a high tensile strength between the two opposed plastic strips. At the same time, the plastic strips facilitate a strong, long-lasting weld between the tensioning structure and the inflatable product.