The present disclosure generally relates to devices and methods for furniture protection. More particularly, the present disclosure relates to foam-film sheets configured to protect furniture from damage. An exemplary foam-film sheet as disclosed herein includes a sheet of foam material having a first lateral edge and a second lateral edge; a sheet of film material having a first lateral edge and a second lateral edge; a first seal between a portion of the foam material proximate its first lateral edge and a portion of the film material proximate its first lateral edge; and a second seal between a portion of the foam material proximate its second lateral edge and a portion of the film material proximate its second lateral edge, wherein the film and foam are substantially unsealed along the entire transverse width between the first and second sealed portions near the lateral edges of the foam material.

The present disclosure generally relates to devices and methods for furniture protection. More particularly, the present disclosure relates to foam-film sheets configured to protect furniture from damage. An exemplary foam-film sheet as disclosed herein includes a sheet of foam material having a first lateral edge and a second lateral edge; a sheet of film material having a first lateral edge and a second lateral edge; a first seal between a portion of the foam material proximate its first lateral edge and a portion of the film material proximate its first lateral edge; and a second seal between a portion of the foam material proximate its second lateral edge and a portion of the film material proximate its second lateral edge, wherein the film and foam are substantially unsealed along the entire transverse width between the first and second sealed portions near the lateral edges of the foam material.

A welding apparatus is suitable for welding polymeric materials, and particularly but not exclusively those that may be thin or brittle. A welding apparatus is provided for welding polymeric materials along a weld zone of the polymeric material. The welding apparatus has a carrier for supplying heat to the weld zone to cause melting of the polymeric material, wherein the heating element is arranged to reciprocate relative to the carrier between a retracted and an extended configuration, such that as the element moves from the retracted to the extended configuration the heating element melts and penetrates the surface of the polymeric material. The carrier also has a trailing contact surface trailing the heating element along the weld zone arranged to constrain molten polymeric material in the weld zone. The heating element is also arranged to reciprocate relative to the trailing contact surface.

A welding apparatus is suitable for welding polymeric materials, and particularly but not exclusively those that may be thin or brittle. A welding apparatus is provided for welding polymeric materials along a weld zone of the polymeric material. The welding apparatus has a carrier for supplying heat to the weld zone to cause melting of the polymeric material, wherein the heating element is arranged to reciprocate relative to the carrier between a retracted and an extended configuration, such that as the element moves from the retracted to the extended configuration the heating element melts and penetrates the surface of the polymeric material. The carrier also has a trailing contact surface trailing the heating element along the weld zone arranged to constrain molten polymeric material in the weld zone. The heating element is also arranged to reciprocate relative to the trailing contact surface.

Disclosed are systems and methods for manufacturing compression collars for reinforcing sealed connections between a length of piping and a plumbing fitting. Specifically, compression collars and related methods of making include extruding a hollow tube having one or more ridges which are then partially removed or trimmed to provide positioning tabs on one end of the compression collar. The compression collars can be cut to the desired length from the extruded hollow tube. In this way, compression collars with features for enhancing the strength and reliability of an interference fit, as well as their ease of use, can be manufactured rapidly with little material waste through modifications to the extrusion process.

Disclosed embodiments provide an electrofusion pipe coupler with mechanical support. The electrofusion pipe coupler comprises a coupler housing. A wire is configured and disposed within the housing. Electrodes are affixed to the coupler housing and in electrical contact with the wire. A threaded pattern is formed in an outer surface of the coupler housing. Gripping wedges are affixed to the coupler housing. Each gripping wedge extends from the coupler housing. A nut is attached to the coupler housing, engaging with the threaded pattern, and compressing the wedges against the connecting pipes. This serves to provide axial load transfer from the connecting pipes to the coupler housing via the wedges, thereby providing improved mechanical stability for such pipe assemblies.

Disclosed embodiments provide an electrofusion pipe coupler with mechanical support. The electrofusion pipe coupler comprises a coupler housing. A wire is configured and disposed within the housing. Electrodes are affixed to the coupler housing and in electrical contact with the wire. A threaded pattern is formed in an outer surface of the coupler housing. Gripping wedges are affixed to the coupler housing. Each gripping wedge extends from the coupler housing. A nut is attached to the coupler housing, engaging with the threaded pattern, and compressing the wedges against the connecting pipes. This serves to provide axial load transfer from the connecting pipes to the coupler housing via the wedges, thereby providing improved mechanical stability for such pipe assemblies.

A laser welding system is directed to simultaneously joining respective layers of a first bag and a second bag. The system includes a first film layer adjacent to a second film layer for forming the first bag, and a third film layer adjacent to a fourth film layer for forming the second bag, each layer of the plurality of film layers being made of a thermoplastic material that absorbs laser radiation having a wavelength of about 2 microns. A non-absorbing carrier film layer is positioned between the second film layer and the third film layer, the non-absorbing carrier film layer being made of a material that transmits substantially all energy of the laser radiation. A laser source applies the laser radiation toward portions of the plurality of film layers to be joined, forming the first bag generally simultaneously with the second bag.

A laser welding system is directed to simultaneously joining respective layers of a first bag and a second bag. The system includes a first film layer adjacent to a second film layer for forming the first bag, and a third film layer adjacent to a fourth film layer for forming the second bag, each layer of the plurality of film layers being made of a thermoplastic material that absorbs laser radiation having a wavelength of about 2 microns. A non-absorbing carrier film layer is positioned between the second film layer and the third film layer, the non-absorbing carrier film layer being made of a material that transmits substantially all energy of the laser radiation. A laser source applies the laser radiation toward portions of the plurality of film layers to be joined, forming the first bag generally simultaneously with the second bag.

A method for manufacturing a crosslinked polyolefin separator and a separator are provided. The method includes putting a polyolefin and a polyolefin elastomer into an extruder first, and putting an alkoxy silane containing a carbon-carbon double bond functional group, an initiator and a crosslinking catalyst to form the separator. The crosslinked polyolefin separator has high meltdown temperature and low shutdown temperature.