A low mass staking module includes a punch having a cavity on a first side, a contact surface on the second side opposite the first side, and a circular flange extending about an outer edge thereof, the punch formed of a thermally-conductive material, an annular housing engaged with the punch about the circular flange at a first end, and a heating element located inside the annular housing. The heating element has an output side in contact with the contact surface of the punch, the contact surface having a shape conforming to a shape of the output side of the heating element. The punch is desirably a low thermal mass punch, while the heating element may be a high power (watt) density, solid state, ceramic, resistant heating element (e.g., aluminum nitride or boron nitride heaters).

An improved meter base assembly supports the various meter forms used in modern electrical energy distribution systems. The disclosed assembly combines a customized design for each meter form with a universal base used in a plurality of meter forms to create a meter base assembly that is optimized for best performance while maintaining a reduced part cost. In addition, the concept allows the meter terminals to be attached to the meter base assembly without any hardware, may reduce assembly errors, allows for simplified assembly that may be automated, and speeds up the creation of future meter designs.

Provided is a thermal caulking method of melting, at one time, a plurality of bosses 33 of a second member 30 protruding toward an inner circumferential surface of a conical hollow portion 11 of a first member 10 while being fitted to a plurality of holes 132 provided in the inner circumferential surface of the hollow portion 11 of the first member 10 having the substantially conical hollow portion 11 so that the plurality of bosses are joined to the first member 10, in which the plurality of bosses 33 are melted at one time by using a heat chip 51 having a continuous shape in the circumferential direction of the hollow portion 11 along the inner circumferential surface and are joined to the first member 10 while the adjacent melted bosses 33 are connected to each other.

A manufacturing method of a composite structure includes: (a) preparing: a metallic sheet(s) having a through-hole(s) penetrating throughout the metallic sheet(s) in its thickness direction; (b) setting a prepreg(s), constituting a fiber reinforced plastic sheet(s), and the metallic sheet in a pair of dies, which have a recess(es) arranged at a position(s) opposed to one side opening(s) of the through-hole(s), the recess(es) having a larger diameter than the one side opening; (c) closing the dies, wherein, upon closing, (ca) the prepreg(s) and the metallic sheet are molded to the predetermined shape, while surface-contacting therebetween, (cb) at least one of the prepreg(s) and a patch member(s) is extruded into the through-hole(s), so that the shaft part is molded, and (cc) the patch member(s) forms at least part of a head part(s) in the recess(es), the head part(s) integrated with the shaft part(s) and engaging on the metallic sheet(s).

An ultrasonic welder includes, among other things, a sonotrode, a sleeve that is arranged at least partially around the sonotrode, and a biasing assembly that acts on the sleeve and is configured to urge the sleeve to an extended position relative to the sonotrode in response to a biasing force. The sleeve is configured to move from the extended position to a clamping position relative to the sonotrode in response to engagement with a workpiece which opposes the biasing force.

A disclosed screening apparatus includes a subgrid, and a screen element attached to the subgrid via laser welding at a plurality of attachment positions such that, under vibrational excitation, the screen element has a pre-determined profile of vibrational motion relative to the subgrid. The screen element may be attached at a maximal number of attachment locations to the subgrid to minimize relative motion of the screen element and the subgrid under vibrational excitation, or the screen element may be attached a sub-set of the maximal number of attachment locations to allow vibrational motion of the screen element relative to the subgrid. A disclosed method may include attaching a plurality of screen elements to a respective plurality of subgrids, attaching the plurality of subgrids to one another to form a screening pre-assembly, and cutting edges of the screening pre-assembly to form the screen assembly having a perimeter with a pre-determined shape.

A method of mechanically securing a first object including a thermoplastic material in a solid state to a second object with a generally flat sheet portion, with a perforation of the sheet portion, and with the sheet portion having an edge along the perforation is provided, wherein the first object is positioned relative to the second object so that the edge is in contact with the thermoplastic material and wherein mechanical vibration energy is coupled into the assembly including the first and second objects until a flow portion of the thermoplastic material due to friction heat generated between the edge and the thermoplastic material becomes flowable and flows around the edge to at least partially embed the edge in the thermoplastic material. After the mechanical vibration stops, the thermoplastic material is caused to re-solidify, whereby the re-solidified thermoplastic material at least partially embedding the edge anchors the first object in the second object.

An amalgamation plate for joining a first component to a second component has a planar body configured to be placed between the first component and the second component, and a plurality of first protrusions extending from a first side of the planar body. The first protrusions are radially dispersed from an axis of the planar body, and are configured to be embedded within either the first component and the second component. The amalgamation plate may also have a plurality of second protrusions extending from a second side, opposite the first side, of the planar body. The second protrusions are radially dispersed from the axis, and are configured to be embedded within the other of the first component and the second component via application of force substantially along the axis. The first protrusions and the second protrusions may be radially symmetric about the axis of the planar body.

A hair barrette is provided. The hair barrette has a decorative member defining an outwardly facing surface and an inwardly facing surface, and a closure device. The closure device includes a lever and first and second seat members arranged at opposite ends of the decorative member. One end of the lever is hingedly connected to the second seat member at which the lever is pivotably movably with respect to the decorative member. The closure device is provided with a bridge member raised from the inwardly facing surface of the decorative member and connecting the first and second seat members. The first and second seat members and the lever are made of a first plastic(s) material and the bridge member is made from a more flexible second plastic(s) material. The bridge member is made of polymeric material, has a hardness of Shore D30-70, and is extendible in length to 150-300%.

An apparatus and method for operating a staking assembly includes a housing defining a machining passage having a longitudinal axis, an actuator rod disposed for axial movement along the longitudinal axis in the machining passage, having a first end configured to connect to a linear-reciprocating source of movement and a second end having a tool configured to deform a boss, and an air source configured to selectively provide a source of heated air.