According to one embodiment, a gripping tool includes a gripper. The gripper is flexible. A granular material is provided in an interior of the gripper. The gripping tool grips a workpiece by depressurizing the interior of the gripper in a state in which the gripper is caused to contact the workpiece. The gripper includes a first portion contacting the workpiece, a second portion opposing the first portion, and a fibrous membrane having a plurality of pores and being provided between the first portion and the second portion. A diameter of at least a portion of the pores is smaller than a diameter of the granular material. The granular material is provided between the fibrous membrane and the second portion.

A sandwich panel includes a reinforcement member having a recess formed to extend in a longitudinal direction over a predetermined length and open laterally. The thermoplastic resin core material has a rectangular flat board-like shape, and includes a protrusion which is disposed on a peripheral side surface portion thereof and which is capable of being laterally press-fit with respect to the recess. The protrusion has opposing surfaces respectively opposing mutually opposed inner surfaces of the recess, the opposing surfaces being oriented so as to protrude from the peripheral side surface portion. At least one of the opposing surfaces is provided with a plurality of protuberances disposed at an interval in the longitudinal direction. Each of the protuberances has a predetermined height from the opposing surfaces enabling the protuberances to tightly contact the inner surfaces of the recess at the time of press-fitting.

A controller is configured to adjust, by increasing or decreasing an amount of a lubricant mixed with the powdery material, an amount of a lubricant applied to an inner circumference of a die bore and tips, or a time to mix the lubricant to be mixed with the powdery material and the powdery material, in accordance with whether or not the molded product has defectiveness, a pressure applied to the lower punch pushing the molded product out of the die bore, a temperature of the die bore, the upper punch, or the lower punch, a temperature of the powdery material, or a humidity of the powdery material.

Waterproof, breathable garments and methods of making are provided. The garments may include a laminate of a seamless ePTFE membrane and at least one textile. The garment is conformable over a range of sizes, and may be shaped to fit numerous sizes and shapes of forming molds. The ePTFE membrane may shrink to fit, or, alternatively, be stretched to fit, a mold having a desired size to form a garment. Such a conformable ePTFE membrane may allow for forming multiple sizes of garments with various sizes and shapes of molds. In embodiments where the ePTFE membrane is seamless and continuous, the garment eliminates the need for a waterproof seam tape, which is conventionally used to make garments waterproof.

In a method of producing a hybrid structure, a fiber material is formed three-dimensionally during a pressing process through extrusion in a press tool to produce a functional component. The fiber material is hardened at least in part and directly joined in the press tool with a metal component. Forming of the functional component of fiber-reinforced plastic and joining with the metal component is implemented in a single method step.

A form fit therapy boot along with methods of fabricating the boot for animals (including zoo animals, domestic animals and farm animals)to treat foot and/or hoof injuries is described. Embodiments of the boot permit the maintenance of a clean, reasonably sterile environment surrounding a wound or infection.

A removable component for use with an earphone is disclosed. As an example, the removable component can be an ear tip. According to one aspect, an improved ear tip can be provided for use with a headphone. The ear tip is suitable for in-ear operation and can have a cosmetic deformable outer member. The deformable outer member can enable the ear tip to readily conform to a user's ear. The ear tip can also include an inner member to structurally support the outer member and to facilitate attachment to a headphone. Methods for forming such ear tips are also disclosed.

A method for producing a laminated moulded part comprises a pressure moulding of a blank to form a moulded part in a moulding cavity between a first moulding tool unit and a second moulding tool unit, introducing of a laminating element into the moulding cavity after the pressure moulding of the blank, and a bonding of the moulded part with the laminating element in the moulding cavity.

An apparatus includes a matched die mold including a male die mold and a female die mold wherein the male die mold includes a first contoured surface and the female die mold includes a second contoured surface. The apparatus further includes a frame which defines an opening wherein the frame is positioned between the male die mold and the female die mold such that the frame is adapted to position a film layer across the opening and the opening is positioned in alignment with at least one of the first contoured surface and the second contoured surface.

A sandwich structure which is configured of skin layers each including at least one layer selected from among a metal layer, a fiber-reinforced resin layer (X) that includes continuous fibers and a matrix resin (A), and a fiber-reinforced resin layer (Y) that includes discontinuous fibers and a heat-curable matrix resin (B) and of a core layer including a flowable core layer that includes discontinuous fibers and a matrix resin (C), wherein the skin layers are constituted of a material which has a flexural modulus higher than that of the core layer, and a through part has been formed in a region that lies in at least some of the skin layers. In the sandwich structure, an upright part which projects in an out-of-plane direction of skin layer and which has high strength and a complicated shape such as a rib is obtained by an easy method.