A method for joining two objects by anchoring an insert portion provided on one of the objects in an opening provided on the other one of the objects. The anchorage is achieved by liquefaction of a thermoplastic material and interpenetration of the liquefied material and a penetrable material, the two materials being arranged on opposite surfaces of the insert portion and the wall of the opening. Before such liquefaction and interpenetration, an interference fit is established in which such opposite surfaces are pressed against each other, and, for the anchoring, mechanical vibration energy and possibly a shearing force are applied, wherein the shearing force puts a shear stress on the interference fit.

Various embodiments disclosed relate to a sealed storage tank. The sealed storage tank includes a first polymeric layer. The sealed storage tank further includes a second polymeric layer continuously welded to the first polymeric layer to form the sealed storage tank. The sealed storage tank further includes an optional vent formed in the first polymeric layer or the second polymeric layer. The sealed storage tank can be configured to hold at least 13,000 liters of liquid.

A method for bonding composite substrates includes coupling a first co-cure prepreg layer having a first off-set amine to epoxide molar ratio onto a surface of a first composite substrate and coupling a second co-cure prepreg layer having a second off-set amine to epoxide molar ratio onto a surface of a second composite substrate. The first and second composite substrates are cured to the first and second co-cure prepreg layers, respectively, using a first cure cycle (including B-stage and cure temperatures) to form a first and a second co-cure prepreg layer portion. The method further includes coupling the first co-cure prepreg layer portion to the second co-cure prepreg layer portion and applying a second cure cycle to cure the first co-cure prepreg layer portion of the first composite substrate to the second co-cure prepreg layer portion of the second composite substrate to form a monolithic covalently bonded composite structure.

Disclosed herein are exemplary embodiments of linings or liners (e.g., liners with corner reinforcement, etc.), methods of providing a liner or lining for a tank, and methods and apparatus for providing additional protection and/or reinforcement at the corners of a liner or lining. In an exemplary embodiment, a method generally includes positioning and attaching one or more corner attachments at one or more corners of a liner that are formed between the bottom and the one or more sides of the liner. The one or more corner attachments may be configured to provide additional protection and/or reinforcement at the one or more corners of the liner.

An insulating device backpack may include an outer shell, a first sidewall defining a front portion of the insulating device backpack, and a second sidewall and a third sidewall defining side portions of the insulating device backpack, and a fourth sidewall defining a back portion of the insulating device backpack, an inner liner forming a storage compartment, an insulating layer positioned in between the outer shell and the inner liner, the insulating layer providing insulation for the storage compartment, and an opening configured to allow access to the storage compartment, and a closure adapted to seal the opening.

Multilayer Films have a first skin layer that is prepared from a high density polyethylene and a second skin layer (also referred to as the sealant layer) that is prepared from a linear low density polyethylene (LLDPE) having a density of from 0.90 to 0.92 g/cc and a Dilution Index, Yd, of greater than 0°. Seals can be prepared by placing two pieces of this film against each other such that the sealant layers are in contact with each other, then applying heat to at least one high density skin layer such that heat is transmitted/conducted through the multilayer film in a sufficient amount to melt the sealant layer and form a seal. The use of LLDPE having a Dilution Index of greater than 0° has been found to improve the sealing performance of multilayer films in comparison to multilayer films where the sealant layer is a conventional LLDPE having a Dilution Index of less than 0°.

A medical dressing including: a flexible base layer including a front surface configured to face a skin of a patient and a back surface opposite the front surface, wherein the flexible base layer includes a first opening; an adhesive layer on the front surface of the base layer; a flexible cover layer entirely covering the opening of the base layer; a flexible intermediate layer sandwiched between the base layer and the cover layer, wherein the base layer, cover layer and intermediate layer joined together along an annular pattern extending entirely around the first and second openings, wherein the annular pattern joints the base layer to the intermediate layer entirely around the first and second openings, and the annular pattern joins the layers around the first and second openings except at slots extending beyond an outer edge of the cover layer and ending before an outer edge of the intermediate layer.

A ultrasonic welding method of joining dissimilar-material workpieces, such as sheet materials, and the joined components formed thereby. The method includes applying ultrasonic energy to a thermoplastic piece to fill a hole of a dissimilar piece to form a weld point that is made up with polymer from the thermoplastic piece. In general, the geometry of the thermoplastic piece is not altered during the process. The dissimilar piece generally has a higher melting temperate and can be metal, thermoset polymers, or other thermoplastic material. The welded pieces can be arranged in a lap, laminate, or double lap configuration. In some embodiments, the hole of the dissimilar sheet material includes undercut features that improve the mechanical interlock between the dissimilar pieces. In some embodiments, the weld point has a mushroom cap to improve mechanical interlock.

The present disclosure relates to methods for making elastomeric laminates that may be used as components of absorbent articles. Aspects of the methods for assembling elastomeric laminates may utilize elastic strands supplied from beams that may be joined with first and second substrates, and may be configured to carry out various types of operations, such as bonding and splicing operations.

Disclosed is a method of resistance welding between composite articles. A conductive element is provided between faying surfaces, having a plurality of lower resistivity electrode portions spaced apart along the length of the contact area between the composite articles. The electrode portions can be used to spot weld across the electrode portions, and along a longitudinal portion of the conductive element between the electrode portions by application of an electrical current. Also disclosed are apparatus for use in the resistance welding methods and composite articles and structures and elements incorporating the conductive element.