A shower pan and method of manufacture are described. Embodiments of the shower pan can include, but are not limited to, a solid surface top layer and a PET second layer that can be thermoformed, molded, and laminated in a single step. The solid surface top layer can be approximately ⅛″ to ¼″ thick and the PET second layer can be approximately ⅞″ to 1⅛″ thick. The shower pan may further include a third layer being fiberglass.

Multiple processes for preparing porous articles are described. The porous articles can be in a wide array of shapes and configurations. The methods include providing a soluble material in particulate form and forming a packed region from the material. The methods also include contacting a flowable polymeric material with the packed region such that the polymeric material is disposed in voids in the packed region. The polymeric material is then at least partially solidified. The soluble material is then removed such as by solvent washing to thereby produce desired porous articles. Also described are systems for performing the various processes.

A push-in earplug is provided. The push-in earplug comprises an elongate core comprising a core material. The push-in earplug also comprises an outer layer comprising a foam material, the outer layer covering at least a portion of an outer surface of the elongate core. The push-in earplug also comprises a channel extending through the elongate core from a first end of the elongate core to the second end of the elongate core.

A molding device produces a porous film from a molding material which is an emulsion. In a case where a volume of a dispersed phase is X1 and a volume of a continuous phase is X2, the molding material has a value of X1/(X1+X2) within a range of 0.5 or more and 0.9 or less. In the molding material, a specific gravity of the dispersed phase is greater than a specific gravity of the continuous phase. The molding material includes a water phase containing a curable compound as the continuous phase, and forms a liquid film on a support. Thereafter, the curable compound in the liquid film is cured. After curing, the dispersed phase is removed.

Thermoformed polymeric foam articles are described herein In some embodiments, the articles are made by a manufacturing method (e.g., a continuous process) which involves the extrusion and subsequent thermoforming of a blowing agent containing thermoplastic sheet. The thermoformed polymeric foam articles may have a lower density than the precursor sheet from which they are formed. In some but not all embodiments, the precursor sheet is a multi-layer sheet which includes at least one foam layer. In such embodiments, the thermoformed articles also include multiple layers and at least one foam layer.

The invention relates to a molding tool having a tool upper part (10) and a tool lower part (20), having a glass pane (30) arranged between tool upper part (10) and tool lower part (20) and at least one sheet metal insert part (32; 321, 322, 323, 324) that can be connected to the glass pane (30) by means of foam overmolding (36) made of plastic. For an increased process reliability when connecting sheet metal insert parts (32; 321, 322, 323, 324) to panes (30), the invention provides that at least one sensor (40) for detecting the position of the sheet metal insert part (32; 321, 322, 323, 324) is arranged on the tool upper part (10) and/or the tool lower part (20) on the side of the glass pane (30) that is located opposite the at least one sheet metal insert part (32; 321, 322, 323, 324).

This system and method provide for manufacturing a multi-material hybrid structure comprising a single- or multi-layer sheet or tube, which are made of metals, fabrics, polymer and their combinations, and at least one layer or body made of formed resin. The methods include a simultaneous forming-injection process that followed with an additional sequence to initiate the forming process along with curing and/or solidification and/or bonding processes. The additional sequence provides a pressure drop inside the cavity using tool movement and or additional deformation of one/or several layers of the sheet using any fluid pressure, suction and/or electromagnetic force. The injection process can be used for any kind of synthetic or bio-based resin with or without fiber reinforcement. It is also integrated with supercritical assisted technology.

A mold tool assembly includes a first tool having a protrusion for producing a respective hole in a foam body and a second tool configured to cooperate with the first tool to mold the foam body. The second tool defines a cavity corresponding to the protrusion. The mold tool assembly also includes a movable plunger for clearing flash corresponding to and located at least partially within the cavity in the second tool, and movable between a disengaged position when the first and second tools are separated, and an engaged position when the first and second tools are closed. The mold tool assembly also includes an actuator configured to move the movable plunger between the engaged position and the disengaged position. In the engaged position, the movable plunger contacts the protrusion to seal the cavity, and in the disengaged position, at least a portion of the movable plunger extends below a bottom surface of the second tool into the hole.

The invention relates to a container (30), in particular a bottle (30), for storing and optionally applying a liquid, solvent-containing compositions, having a multi-layer wall (20) comprising at least one side wall of the bottle, the bottom of the bottle and optionally a discharge region at the opening of the bottle, the multi-layer wall (20) comprising at least an inner layer (21), a barrier layer (22) and an outer layer (23), the barrier layer (22) being adapted to form a barrier for oxygen and/or water vapour, the inner layer (21) and/or the outer layer (23) having a microcellular structure (24), the microcellular structure (24) having fluid bubbles (25), and the fluid bubbles (25) being product of a physically and/or chemically introduced blowing agent. Moreover, the invention relates to a method for producing a container, in particular a bottle (30) for storing and optionally applying a liquid, solvent-containing composition, having a multi-layer wall (20), as well as use of a multi-layer wall (20) for producing the container (30).

An injection-molding system includes an extruding system configured to produce a mixture; a discharging channel communicable with the extruding system and including an outlet configured to discharge the mixture; and molding devices configured to receive the mixture. Each of the molding devices includes a hollow space, and a feeding port communicable with the hollow space and engageable with the outlet. An injection-molding method includes providing an extruding system configured to produce a mixture, a discharging channel including an outlet, and first and second molding devices; engaging the outlet with the first molding device; injecting the mixture into the first molding device; disengaging the outlet from the first molding device; moving the discharging channel away from the first molding device and toward the second molding device; engaging the outlet with the second molding device; injecting the mixture into the second molding device; and disengaging the outlet from the second molding device.