An energy absorber for interposition between a cover and a covered object includes a generally planar matrix of cells. Each of the cells includes a plurality of generally elongate micro-elements interconnected to form a cell micro-structure, with each cell having a respective energy absorption capacity such that an energy absorption capacity of the energy absorber varies across at least one direction. The cells are configured such that impulse of an object with the cover with the energy absorber sandwiched between the cover and the covered object causes a deceleration vs. time response in the object, beginning with a generally linear rise in the deceleration to a peak deceleration within 5 ms after the beginning of the impulse event, followed by a generally nonlinear decrease in the deceleration over a period of not greater than 15 ms to a final target deceleration of not greater than 10% of the peak deceleration.

In an embodiment, an energy-absorbing device can comprise: a polymer reinforcement structure, wherein the polymer reinforcement structure comprises a polymer matrix and chopped fibers; and a shell comprising 2 walls extending from a back and forming a shell channel, wherein the shell comprises continuous fibers and a resin matrix; wherein the polymer reinforcement structure is located in the shell channel.

A method of forming a plate for an article of footwear is disclosed. The method includes applying a first strand portion to a base layer including positioning adjacent segments of the first strand portion to form a first layer on the base layer. The adjacent segments of the first strand portion having a greater density across a width of the plate between a medial side and a lateral side at a forefoot region of the plate than at a midfoot region of the plate and at a heel region of the plate. The method also includes applying at least one of heat and pressure to the first strand portion and to the base layer to conform the first strand portion and the base layer to a predetermined shape.

A method of forming a cushioning sheet includes forming a plurality of first sockets in a first layer; forming a plurality of second sockets in a second layer, each of the second sockets aligned with a corresponding one of the first sockets; positioning a cushioning insert within a void defined between each corresponding pair of the first and second sockets; and coupling the first layer to the second layer to retain the plurality of cushioning inserts within the voids.

Disclosed herein is a device for reducing noise using a sound meta-material. The device for reducing noise includes a sound-absorbing layer configured to absorb noise generated from a sound source, a buffer layer configured to buffer an impact, and a meta-material panel layer disposed between the sound-absorbing layer and the buffer layer. The meta-material panel layer is configured with a unit cell formed by stacking one or more block cells, and one or more unit cells are disposed on a plane of the meta-material panel layer.

To improve strength, rigidity, vibration damping properties and achieve a weight reduction while suppressing an increase in cost.

A carbon fiber reinforced plastic composite metal plate for vehicles according to the present invention includes: a predetermined metal plate; and a mixed resin layer including: a plurality of carbon fiber reinforced plastic layers provided on at least a portion of one surface or both surfaces of the metal plate, the carbon fiber reinforced plastic layers containing a predetermined matrix resin and carbon reinforcing fibers present in the matrix resin; and a resin layer located at least between any layers of the carbon fiber reinforced plastic layers or at the interface between the carbon fiber reinforced plastic layer and the metal plate, the resin layer containing a resin having a Young's modulus of less than 1 GPa and a loss coefficient of 0.01 or more, which is different from the matrix resin.

A reinforcing vibration-damping material that includes a reinforcing material and a vibration-damping material disposed on the reinforcing material in a thickness direction of the reinforcing material. The vibration-damping material has a first portion that overlaps the reinforcing material in the thickness direction and a second portion that does not overlap the reinforcing material in the thickness direction. When the reinforcing vibration-damping material is attached to the object, the reinforcing material is adhered to the object and the second portion of the vibration-damping material is also adhered to the object so that the vibration-damping material suppresses the downward displacement of the reinforcing material.

Processes for making high-performance polyethylene multi-filament yarn are disclosed which include the steps of a) making a solution of ultra-high molar mass polyethylene in a solvent; b) spinning of the solution through a spinplate containing at least 5 spinholes into an air-gap to form fluid filaments, while applying a draw ratio DR.sub.fluid; c) cooling the fluid filaments to form solvent-containing gel filaments; d) removing at least partly the solvent from the filaments; and e) drawing the filaments in at least one step before, during and/or after said solvent removing, while applying a draw ratio DR.sub.solid of at least 4, wherein in step b) each spinhole comprises a contraction zone of specific dimension and a downstream zone of diameter Dn and length Dn with Ln/Dn of from 0 to at most 25, to result in a draw ratio DR.sub.fluid=DR.sub.sp*DR.sub.ag of at least 150, wherein DR.sub.sp is the draw ratio in the spinholes and DR.sub.ag is the draw ratio in the air-gap, with DR.sub.sp being greater than 1 and DR.sub.ag at least 1. High-performance polyethylene multifilament yarn, and semi-finished or end-use products containing said yarn, especially to ropes and ballistic-resistant composites, are also disclosed.

A display film includes a transparent glass layer having a thickness of 250 micrometers or less, or in a range from 25 to 100 micrometers. A transparent energy dissipation layer is fixed to the transparent glass layer. The transparent energy dissipation layer has a glass transition temperature of 27 degrees Celsius or less and a Tan Delta peak value of 0.5 or greater, or from 1 to 2.

The invention relates to a hail protection tarpaulin (2) for a vehicle (100). The tarpaulin comprises at least one ductile intermediate layer (22) with a low shrinkage rate, made up of at least one type of vibroabsorbent elastomer arranged in crystalline viscoelastic microcells, capable of absorbing and horizontally dispersing the shocks produced by the impact of the hail on the hail protection tarpaulin (2). The invention also relates to a storage mechanism (4) for a hail protection tarpaulin (2) as well as a hail protection system.