A layered panel in which strength of a hinge can be improved regardless of the kinds of substrates configuring a front wall and a rear wall of the layered panel is provided. A layered panel in accordance with the present invention is a layered panel rotatable about a hinge as a rotary axis, characterized by including a front wall, a rear wall, and an intermediate layer interposed between the front wall and the rear wall, the hinge including the intermediate layer.

A drape forming apparatus for use in forming a composite structure is provided. The apparatus includes a forming tool including an upper forming surface and a side forming surface extending from the upper forming surface. The forming tool receives a layer of composite material extending over the upper forming surface. The apparatus further includes a flange forming device including an upper plate, a lower plate, and a receiving slot defined therebetween. The receiving slot for receiving a flange portion of the layer of composite material, and wherein the flange forming device is translatable relative to the forming tool such that the flange portion of the layer of composite material is withdrawn from the receiving slot and draped over the side forming surface. The apparatus further includes a pressurized bladder configured to extend over the forming tool and the upper plate of the flange forming device. The pressurized bladder forces the flange portion against the side forming surface as the flange forming device translates relative to the forming tool.

A drape forming apparatus for use in forming a composite structure is provided. The apparatus includes a forming tool including an upper forming surface and a side forming surface extending from the upper forming surface. The forming tool receives a layer of composite material extending over the upper forming surface. The apparatus further includes a flange forming device including an upper plate, a lower plate, and a receiving slot defined therebetween. The receiving slot for receiving a flange portion of the layer of composite material, and wherein the flange forming device is translatable relative to the forming tool such that the flange portion of the layer of composite material is withdrawn from the receiving slot and draped over the side forming surface. The apparatus further includes a pressurized bladder configured to extend over the forming tool and the upper plate of the flange forming device. The pressurized bladder forces the flange portion against the side forming surface as the flange forming device translates relative to the forming tool.

Pouch folding methods and devices are disclosed. In some embodiments, a pouch folding method includes applying heat to a wing of a cell pouch to obtain a heated wing, and folding the heated wing of the cell pouch.

A method for removing matrix from a composite material comprising reinforcement embedded in a matrix and having a thickness bounded by the first surface and a second surface of the composite material. A laser is oriented with a beam axis of the laser approximately perpendicular to the first surface of the composite material. The laser travels over a region of the first surface of the composite material, wherein the laser removes a portion of or the entire thickness of the composite matrix at the region while leaving the reinforcement of the composite material intact.

A method for removing matrix from a composite material comprising reinforcement embedded in a matrix and having a thickness bounded by the first surface and a second surface of the composite material. A laser is oriented with a beam axis of the laser approximately perpendicular to the first surface of the composite material. The laser travels over a region of the first surface of the composite material, wherein the laser removes a portion of or the entire thickness of the composite matrix at the region while leaving the reinforcement of the composite material intact.

A hemmed structure includes a first member and a second member. The first member is a sheet-like member including a thermoplastic resin and includes an inner bent portion formed at a position at which an end portion of the first member is bent. The second member is a sheet-like member a metal material and includes an outer bent portion formed at a position at which an end portion of the second member is bent. The outer bent portion is disposed so as to wrap around the inner bent portion, and the end portion of the second member is disposed inside the inner bent portion. A brittle portion is formed on an inner surface of the inner bent portion.

Dental devices having folded material. A dental appliance may include a specialized region configured to impart one or more specialized forces to one or more particular areas of a patient's dentition. The specialized region may include a reinforcement structure including a rigid three- dimensional structure, where the rigid three-dimensional structure includes repeating geometric shapes defined by folds in a sheet of one or more polymeric materials. The folds may be folded along a pattern of lines according to the repeating geometric shapes. The rigid three-dimensional structure may have a greater thickness than the unfolded sheet so as to impart a greater rigidity to the specialized region compared to the unfolded sheet, thereby reinforcing the specialized region for imparting the one or more specialized forces to the one or more particular areas of the patient's dentition.

Dental devices having folded material. A dental appliance may include a specialized region configured to impart one or more specialized forces to one or more particular areas of a patient's dentition. The specialized region may include a reinforcement structure including a rigid three- dimensional structure, where the rigid three-dimensional structure includes repeating geometric shapes defined by folds in a sheet of one or more polymeric materials. The folds may be folded along a pattern of lines according to the repeating geometric shapes. The rigid three-dimensional structure may have a greater thickness than the unfolded sheet so as to impart a greater rigidity to the specialized region compared to the unfolded sheet, thereby reinforcing the specialized region for imparting the one or more specialized forces to the one or more particular areas of the patient's dentition.

A profiled press plate for forming a blank from two or more layers of sheet material in a platen press, comprising: a profiled press plate comprising a first profile portion on a surface thereof, the first profile portion being configured to compress the two or more layers of sheet material to form a seal therebetween about at least a portion of a periphery of the blank, the plate portion further comprising a second profile portion on a surface thereof, the second profile portion being located inwardly of the first profile portion and configured to compress the two or more layers of sheet material to form fold lines therein, wherein the profiled press plate includes one or more inlets in fluid communication with a source of fluid and one or more outlets in fluid communication with the one or more inlets via a fluid passageway in the first profile portion and/or the second profile portion,
and wherein a flow of fluid through the fluid passageway is configured to alter the temperature of the first profile portion and/or the second profile portion.