A system for forming a waterproof seam between to sewn materials. The seam is formed using an adhesive coated thread. A thin strip of adhesive is placed between the two materials at the seam line. As the coated thread is sewn into the seam heat and pressure are simultaneously applied, melting the adhesive coating thereby filling the needle punctures. The melted adhesive coating will also flow into the areas between the needle punctures and between the materials. The heat and pressure applied to the coated thread will also melt the adhesive strip, causing additional adhesive to flow into the needle punctures and the areas between needle punctures.

The invention relates to a connection comprising at least two components having the following features: a first component and a second component, of which at least the second component comprises reinforced plastic, a self-piercing connection element having a head and a shaft, the head thereof being supported on the first component and the shaft thereof running completely through the first and the second component, and a disc-shaped counter bearing to which the shaft is fastened such that the at least two components are fastened between the head and the counter bearing. The invention further relates to a method for the production of said connection.

A machine and method for making bags is described and includes a web, traveling from an input section to a rotary drum, to an output section. The rotary drum includes at least one seal bar, having a first sealing zone, and an adjacent weakening zone. The weakening zone may be a heated perforator, includes a heating wire, or be disposed to create an auxiliary sealed area. The heating wire can have, connected thereto, a source of power that is at an adjustable voltage or magnitude, and/or pulsed, and/or a feedback loop. The heating wire may be an NiCr wire and make intermittent contact with the web and be disposed in an insert. The weakening zone may create a line of weakness that is uniform or varies in intensity, is a separating zone, or includes a heat film, a toothed blade, a row of pins, a source of air, or a source of vacuum. The sealing zones may include temperature zones, cartridge heaters, cooling air, or heated air, or a source of ultrasonic, microwave or radiative energy.

A sterile needle guide for use during a biopsy procedure includes a planar plate having at least one tubular needle guide extending there through. Needle guide may be manufactured from a kit having plurality of guide tubes each paired with a drill bit. In practice, a drill bit and guide tube are coupled to a drilling machine and positioned relative to a planar blank at a location derived from previously recorded or real-time imaging data. Drilling through the plate causes the guide tube to extend through the plate and become thermally fused therewith. In one embodiment, a guide tube includes multiple needle guide passages enabling multiple, clustered insertion points in a single area from a single guide tube.

The present invention relates to breathable, vented, and insulating cold weather garments. More particularly, the present invention relates to garments with chambers to retain an insulating fill material. Perforations along the seams between the insulating chambers may achieve optimal evaporative moisture transfer from the inside (proximal to the body of a wearer) of the garment to the outside environment.

Weld seam, method and device for connecting plastic films (10) by thermal joining, wherein the plastic films (10) are connected between welding jaws (2, 4) along a weld seam (12). According to the invention, the device comprises a pair of unheated welding jaws (2, 4) between which the plastic films (10) are arranged parallel to each other for thermal joining. A device for impulse generation (30) applies an impact impulse to one of the welding jaws (2, 4) with a penetration time into the plastic films (10) of less than 10 ms with a first intensity (Fi1). The impact impulse acts on the plastic films (10), wherein a heating in the material caused by deformation is produced and the weld seam (12) is formed in an effective area of the welding jaws (2, 4); use of a blow-forging press.

A method and apparatus for sealing films. In one embodiment the sealing device comprises a horn and an anvil. The film has a standard portion and an increased portion. Increased energy is applied to the film in the increased portion compared to the energy applied to the standard portion. Such a method allows for sealing of varying number of layers.

The invention relates to a device for setting a setting element having a first plastic material in a component having a second plastic material, comprising a rotational advancing unit, by means of which the setting element can be rotated about an axis of rotation and simultaneously an axial force acting in the direction of the axis of rotation can be applied to the setting element in order to drive the setting element into the component, a friction welding joint thereby being produced between the setting element and the component, a differential-distance measuring apparatus for measuring the differential distance between a surface of the component and a surface of the driven setting element, and a control unit for controlling the rotational advancing unit in dependence on the measured differential distance.

A joining method includes punching respective laminated plate materials by a rivet shaft portion of a SPR, forming a crimp portion at the front end of the rivet shaft portion, and fastening and joining the laminated plate materials between the rivet head portion and the crimp portion. Washers are laid on and brought into contact with respective opposite surfaces relative to joining surfaces of the laminated plate materials, the washers each having an inner hole through which the rivet shaft portion is allowed to pass, the washers are used as jigs at the time of the punching, the punching by means of the rivet shaft portion is performed along the inner holes of the washers, and the joining is performed so that the washers left between the rivet head and the crimp portion and the opposite surfaces.

A heat assisted friction stir welding system and fastener for use therewith allows the joining a variety of dissimilar materials, including joining composites and plastics to metal, in which the fastener becomes part of the bond. The fastener can be constructed from multiple materials, allowing for the joining of dissimilar metals. Heating the materials to be joined reduces the clamping force and torque required by the friction stir weld process. The result is a bond that is stronger with less energy input.