An example method of making a filter for a respirator is provided. An example filter includes a pleated filter element and a preformed filter mounting element for mounting the filter to a face piece or respirator. The method forms a filter having an air impermeable seal extending around a periphery of the filter, the air impermeable seal including and bonded by melted plastic material of the pleated filter element and melted plastic material of the preformed filter mounting element.

A decoupling underlayment membrane is described. The decoupling underlayment membrane includes: a set of mortar cavities; a set of through holes; and an adhesive layer coupled to an exterior surface of each mortar cavity in the set of cavities. A method of manufacturing a decoupling underlayment membrane includes: retrieving a membrane sheet; thermoforming a set of cavities into a top surface of the membrane sheet; pressing a set of through holes into the membrane sheet. A decoupling underlayment membrane includes: a set of starfish-shaped cavities arranged in a first repeating pattern and formed into a top surface of the membrane; a set of through holes arranged in a second repeating pattern; and a peel and stick adhesive layer coupled to a bottom surface of the membrane.

A method of manufacturing a product with skin includes: attaching a preformed base material to a vacuum forming die on a back surface of the base material, disposing a skin material as a material of the skin on a front surface of a base material, and sucking the skin material through the vacuum forming die and the base material to deform a main portion of skin material so as to be in close contact with the front surface of the base material; cutting a surplus portion of the skin material not being in close contact with the front surface of the base material with a trim blade so that a distal end portion remains around the main portion, thereby forming the skin having the distal end portion; and winding the distal end portion of the skin around the back surface of the base material by a winding mechanism.

The disclosure relates to forming shaped thermoplastic articles having smooth peripheries. Many thermoplastic articles have sharp edges formed upon molding or cutting the article from a feedstock sheet. Such sharp edges can damage thin plastic films or flesh which they contact, and smoothing the edges is desirable. Described herein are methods of forming a smooth periphery for such sharp-edged articles by rolling over the sharp edge. The smoothing operation is performed by forming a deflectable flange including a bend region separated from the potentially sharp peripheral edge by a spacer, deflecting a portion of the deflectable flange, and softening at least one bent portion of the deflectable flange to yield a smooth periphery upon cooling.

The disclosure relates to forming shaped thermoplastic articles having smooth peripheries. Many thermoplastic articles have sharp edges formed upon molding or cutting the article from a feedstock sheet. Such sharp edges can damage thin plastic films or flesh which they contact, and smoothing the edges is desirable. Described herein are methods of forming a smooth periphery for such sharp-edged articles by rolling over the sharp edge. The smoothing operation is performed by forming a deflectable flange including a bend region separated from the potentially sharp peripheral edge by a spacer, deflecting a portion of the deflectable flange, and softening at least one bent portion of the deflectable flange to yield a smooth periphery upon cooling. A liner sheet may be attached to the feedstock sheet prior to, during, or after forming and can be peelable therefrom.

A method of making an article of footwear may include applying an environmental pressure differential across a sheet of upper material to conform the sheet of upper material to a portion of a footwear last, thereby forming at least a portion of an upper of the article of footwear. In addition, the method may include assembling the article of footwear including fixedly attaching the upper of the article of footwear to a sole structure.

An apparatus for skin application of a thermoformable film (9) to a support (3), comprising a supporting element (4), defining a working chamber (6) for receiving a support (3), and a closing element (5), which has a lower heating face (8). The supporting element (4) and the closing element (5) are movable between a home position, in which the working chamber (6) is open, and a working position, in which the upper opening (7) is completely closed by the lower heating face (8). The supporting element (4) comprises a housing portion (15), defining a housing (19) for the support (3), a distancing portion (16), between the housing portion (15) and the upper opening (7) and defining a distancing space (21) interposed between the housing (19) and the upper opening (7), and cutting means (23) which surround the housing (19).

A method for forming an article includes providing a sheet of material, optionally conditioning the sheet with a surface of a roller, forming the sheet to provide a web, and separating an article from the web to provide the article. An apparatus adapted to form the article from a sheet is provided.

The disclosure relates to forming shaped thermoplastic articles having smooth peripheries. Many thermoplastic articles have sharp edges formed upon molding or cutting the article from a feedstock sheet. Such sharp edges can damage thin plastic films or flesh which they contact, and smoothing the edges is desirable. Described herein are methods of forming a smooth periphery for such sharp-edged articles by rolling over the sharp edge. The smoothing operation is performed by forming a deflectable flange including a bend region separated from the potentially sharp peripheral edge by a spacer, deflecting a portion of the deflectable flange, and softening at least one bent portion of the deflectable flange to yield a smooth periphery upon cooling.

The disclosure relates to forming shaped thermoplastic articles having smooth peripheries. Many thermoplastic articles have sharp edges formed upon molding or cutting the article from a feedstock sheet. Such sharp edges can damage thin plastic films or flesh which they contact, and smoothing the edges is desirable. Described herein are methods of forming a smooth periphery for such sharp-edged articles by rolling over the sharp edge. The smoothing operation is performed by forming a deflectable flange including a bend region separated from the potentially sharp peripheral edge by a spacer, deflecting a portion of the deflectable flange, and softening at least one bent portion of the deflectable flange to yield a smooth periphery upon cooling.