At least one exemplary embodiment is directed to an earpiece having a balloon and a stent where the balloon is mounted on the stent and the stent incorporates two or more channels including at least an inflation channel and an acoustic channel. In some embodiments the stent is configured to pass audio signals through the acoustic channel where the acoustic channel is independent of the inflation channel of the balloon. Other embodiments are disclosed.

An apparatus is described for securing an edge of the material to a support surface. A guide surface is positioned adjacent the edge to be secured. A weld head engages the edge of the material in a plurality of locations. A drive mechanism advances the weld head on the guide surface. The weld head engages the edge of the material and transfers energy to secure the edge of material in the desired position on the support surface.

Systems and methods are provided for thermal inspection of tape layup. One embodiment is a method for performing inspection of a tape layup. The method comprises laying up tape onto a surface of a laminate, applying heat to tack the tape to the surface, and generating thermographic images of the tape as applied to the surface.

This specification discloses an article of manufacture. The article of manufacture has at least one structural blank and at least one guide. The structural blank has a plurality of oriented fiber plies in a thermoplastic matrix. The guide has a plurality of random dispersed fibers in a thermoplastic matrix. The guide is affixed to the structural blank by injection molding and over molding the guide onto the structural blank. The article of manufacture can take a number of forms for use in industries such as aircraft, automobiles, motorcycles, bicycles, trains or watercraft.

Fluid leak repair kits are described comprising a putty, self-amalgamating tape, and a composite material for use in encompassing the self-amalgamating tape. The composite material comprises a flexible sheet or tape and a matrix component for binding the flexible sheet or tape. The matrix component comprises a resin or water-activated matrix component which, when cured, forms an outer shell.

A composite structural component comprises an elongate member made of a polymer matrix composite material. The elongate member comprises a main portion extending along an axis A and an end portion with an inner surface extending from the main portion to an open end of the member. The composite structural component also comprises an end fitting forming a mechanical joint with the end portion, the end fitting comprising an internal portion positioned captive within the elongate member in contact with the inner surface of the end portion; an external portion positioned in contact with an outer surface of the end portion; and an adjustable fastener extending axially between the internal and external portions to clamp the end portion between the internal and external portions. The inner surface of the end portion in contact with the internal portion extends towards the axis A at an increasing angle to the axis A.

A molded plastic article having a bonded plastic portion 6 bonding a first body and a second body together; a connecting plastic portion 8, formed by solidifying the molten plastic flowing out from the plastic channel, having one end connected to the bonding plastic portion 6; and a flow tab plastic portion 7 formed by solidifying the molten plastic, connected to the other end of the connecting plastic portion 8 connected to the other end portion of the 8. A portion of reduced diameter 7a is provided to the flow tab plastic portion 7 on the connecting plastic portion side.

A partially polymerised thermohardenable connection part and to methods for producing and assembling such a connection part. The connection part for connecting two mechanical parts is thermohardenable and is partially polymerised in such a way as to be rigid at room temperature and able to be subjected to a subsequent polymerisation, the connection part being thus both sufficiently rigid to be able to be manipulated and brought into contact with at least one of the two mechanical parts which it is to interconnect and able to be subjected to a subsequent additional polymerisation in order to achieve its final polymerised state, the material of the connection part being rendered sufficiently soft during the additional polymerisation that it can adapt to the form of at least one of the mechanical parts to which the connection part must be connected.

A substantially paper-based composite container for an off-gassing product includes a paperboard can body having a substantially gas-impervious liner attached to an inner surface thereof, and a pair of substantially paper-based end closures attached to the opposite ends of the can body, each end closure defining a generally cylindrical sealing panel in contact with an inner surface of the can body. Heat-sealable materials are disposed on opposing surfaces of the sealing panel and can body. The sealing panels of the end closures are attached to the can body by heat seals. The heat seal for at least one of the end closures is discontinuous such that at least one vent channel extends through the heat seal so as to establish fluid communication between an interior of the composite container and the environment outside the composite container. The at least one vent channel is operable to vent excess gas pressure from the interior of the container.

A method of installing a liner assembly for pipeline repair or reinforcement includes: pulling a prepared liner assembly into position in the pipeline, the liner assembly including a tubular liner wetted with a curable compound; introducing fluid into the inflatable bladder to bring the tubular liner into firm contact with an interior surface of the pipeline; flowing the fluid continuously through the bladder and discharging the fluid into the pipeline, while maintaining the liner assembly in an inflated condition; measuring a flow rate and a temperature of the fluid entering the bladder; calculating a time period sufficient for the tubular liner to cure based on: an amount of heat required for curing, based on dimensional information of the liner, and the measured flow rate and temperature of the fluid; and maintaining the liner assembly in an inflated condition for the time period sufficient for the tubular liner to cure.