Embodiments of the present disclosure are directed to apparatuses and methods for fabricating tubular structures from a combination of fibrous materials for use in, for example, tissue engineering scaffold applications. These materials may also be useful in other biological or non-biological applications in which such tubular fibrous structures may be applicable, examples including conventional medical devices, filters, fiber optics, cable wraps, geotextiles, batteries, fuel cells, armor, and other diverse applications.

A firearm holster and a method of making the firearm holster is disclosed. The firearm is wholly or partially molded of ballistic material in such a way that a bullet that is discharged into the holster is retained within the holster or deflected so that it doesn't cause damage to the user of the firearm or other persons or property.

An apparatus to produce a letterbox using a strip of material includes: a bender to receive and bend the strip of material into a desired shape of a letterbox including flanges and notches, and the bender to bend at least one end of the strip of material slightly to produce a slight bent; a processor to measure a first plurality of hole positions on a first end of the strip of material and a second plurality of hole positions on flanges of the strip of material, wherein the first plurality of hole positions on the first end are measured to match a first plurality of holes on a second end of the strip of material, wherein the second plurality of hole positions on the flanges are measured to match a second plurality of holes on a base plate; and a puncher to punch the first plurality of holes on at least one of the first end and the second end of the strip of material according to the first plurality of hole positions, and the puncher to punch the second plurality of holes on the flanges according to the second plurality of hole positions.

An apparatus to produce a letterbox using a strip of material includes: a bender to receive and bend the strip of material into a desired shape of a letterbox including flanges and notches, and the bender to bend at least one end of the strip of material slightly to produce a slight bent; a processor to measure a first plurality of hole positions on a first end of the strip of material and a second plurality of hole positions on flanges of the strip of material, wherein the first plurality of hole positions on the first end are measured to match a first plurality of holes on a second end of the strip of material, wherein the second plurality of hole positions on the flanges are measured to match a second plurality of holes on a base plate; and a puncher to punch the first plurality of holes on at least one of the first end and the second end of the strip of material according to the first plurality of hole positions, and the puncher to punch the second plurality of holes on the flanges according to the second plurality of hole positions.

Method and device for manufacturing a profile member of composite material, the cross-section of which has three branches, including the steps of: —moving together two opposite edges of a panel (2) of sheet material in such a manner that these two opposite edges are juxtapositioned in one juxtapositioning direction; translating a pair of jaws (20) in a direction perpendicular to the juxta-positioning direction in such a manner that the pair of jaws (20) is positioned on either side of the opposite juxtapositioned edges, this translational movement of the pair of jaws (20) being carried out in the direction of a base (25); —simultaneously pressing the sheet material between the two jaws (20), on the one hand, and between the jaws (20) and the base (25), on the other hand; —finishing the profile member of composite material by hardening with a matrix with which the sheet material is impregnated.

A duct that, in cross section, has one or more rounded portions is disclosed together with a method and a machine for producing it. The duct can be made from rigid foam panels with a facing on at east one side of the panels. A crimping element is used to form several substantially parallel indentations or crimps on a faced side of a panel, without breaching the facing, so that the crimped panel can be manipulated to form a section of duct with the crimps extending longitudinally. Depending on the number of crimps, the duct will appear more or less round in cross section although the crimped foam panels can be manipulated to have cross sections of different shapes such as oval. Adjacent duct sections may be joined, for example, with tape or bands, several of which are described.

A duct that, in cross section, has one or more rounded portions is disclosed together with a method and a machine for producing it. The duct can be made from rigid foam panels with a facing on at east one side of the panels. A crimping element is used to form several substantially parallel indentations or crimps on a faced side of a panel, without breaching the facing, so that the crimped panel can be manipulated to form a section of duct with the crimps extending longitudinally. Depending on the number of crimps, the duct will appear more or less round in cross section although the crimped foam panels can be manipulated to have cross sections of different shapes such as oval. Adjacent duct sections may be joined, for example, with tape or bands, several of which are described.

A non-compliant fiber-reinforced medical balloon comprises a first fiber layer and a second fiber layer embedded in a continuous matrix of thermally-weldable polymer material defining a barrel wall, cone walls and neck walls. The fibers of the first fiber layer run substantially parallel to one another and substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis. The fibers of the first fiber layer have a pattern of different lengths and are divisible into a first group and a second group based on length.

A method for bending a vinyl floor plank to form a stair nose plank. A first bending gap is established between two blending blocks and a second bend gap is established between two second bending blocks. Heat is applied to a vinyl floor plank along a first bend location. The vinyl floor plank is then placed into the first bend gap. A user presses downward on the vinyl floor plank to form a first right angle bend. Heat is applied to a vinyl floor plank along a second bend location. The vinyl floor plank is then placed into the second bend gap. The user presses downward on the vinyl floor plank to form a second right angle bend. The first right angle bend and the second right angle bend combine to form a U-shaped bend to form a stair nose plank. In a preferred embodiment the stair nose plank includes a locking mechanism along its edges. In a preferred embodiment heat is applied by utilization of an acrylic bending machine.

Cap wrinkling in a contoured composite hat stringer is reduced by constraining the cap as the hat stringer is being formed from a flat composite charge. The cap is constrained by an inflatable bladder placed in a tool set used to form the composite charge.