A thermoplastic film with a selective opacity contrast is provided, i.e., the thermoplastic film has selective areas with different opacities. Particularly, the opacity contrast is caused by a simple heating/pressure treatment on a selected portion of a voids-containing thermoplastic film. Additionally, a product packaging with a transparent or translucent window is provided so that products contained therein are visible through the window.

Various apparatuses are disclosed including those that have curvature arresting properties. According to one example, the apparatus can optionally include a flexible first film, a second film and a first plurality of features. The first plurality of features can be disposed between the first film and the second film At least some of the first plurality of features are spaced apart from one another by a gap when the first film is not subject to an applied bending force or is subject to the applied bending force below a predetermined magnitude in one or both of the transverse direction and the longitudinal direction, and at least some of the first plurality of features contact one another to arrest a curvature of the first film when the applied bending force is at or above the predetermined magnitude.

An intermediate member is a member which is directly or indirectly sandwiched between a first object and a second object. The intermediate member includes a plate-like supporting member having a lower surface which is one main surface opposed to the first object and a plurality of ceramic blocks fixed on an upper surface which is the other main surface of the supporting member in a state of being separated from one another. Thus, in a state where the plurality of ceramic blocks are collectively held by the supporting member having relatively high shape retention, by disposing the intermediate member between the objects, it is possible to easily arrange the plurality of ceramic blocks between the objects with high positioning accuracy.

An intermediate member is a member which is directly or indirectly sandwiched between a first object and a second object. The intermediate member includes a plate-like supporting member having a lower surface which is one main surface opposed to the first object and a plurality of ceramic blocks fixed on an upper surface which is the other main surface of the supporting member in a state of being separated from one another. Thus, in a state where the plurality of ceramic blocks are collectively held by the supporting member having relatively high shape retention, by disposing the intermediate member between the objects, it is possible to easily arrange the plurality of ceramic blocks between the objects with high positioning accuracy.

A composite structure for stab protection includes layers of flat structures placed on top of each other, and an embedding material, wherein, in at least some of the layers placed on top of each other, the flat structures of adjacent layers are offset relative to one another, the flat structures of the composite structure are at least partially embedded in the embedding material, and the composite structure includes separated connecting elements, wherein before they are separated, the separated connecting elements have connected at least some of the flat structures of adjacent layers with one another.

A composite structure for stab protection includes layers of flat structures placed on top of each other, and an embedding material, wherein, in at least some of the layers placed on top of each other, the flat structures of adjacent layers are offset relative to one another, the flat structures of the composite structure are at least partially embedded in the embedding material, and the composite structure includes separated connecting elements, wherein before they are separated, the separated connecting elements have connected at least some of the flat structures of adjacent layers with one another.

Embodiments described herein are directed to methods of manufacturing a multi-leaf membrane module for filtering product fluid flow (e.g., food products or wastewater) and such multi-leaf membrane modules. In an embodiment, a multi-leaf membrane module is disclosed. The multi-leaf membrane module includes a permeate fluid flow tube defining a permeate fluid flow channel for permeate, and a membrane sheet spirally wound about the permeate fluid flow tube. The membrane sheet includes two or more leaves. Each of the two or more leaves includes a feed spacer including at least one opening formed therein that at least partially defines a feed channel for product fluid flow therethrough and a permeate structure defining a permeate fluid flow channel. The permeate structure of each of the two or more leaves includes at least one membrane and at least one porous permeate spacer.

Embodiments described herein are directed to methods of manufacturing a multi-leaf membrane module for filtering product fluid flow (e.g., food products or wastewater) and such multi-leaf membrane modules. In an embodiment, a multi-leaf membrane module is disclosed. The multi-leaf membrane module includes a permeate fluid flow tube defining a permeate fluid flow channel for permeate, and a membrane sheet spirally wound about the permeate fluid flow tube. The membrane sheet includes two or more leaves. Each of the two or more leaves includes a feed spacer including at least one opening formed therein that at least partially defines a feed channel for product fluid flow therethrough and a permeate structure defining a permeate fluid flow channel. The permeate structure of each of the two or more leaves includes at least one membrane and at least one porous permeate spacer.

A splash resistant multi-layered structure is provided. The structure includes a specific arrangement of layers of material and a plurality of three-dimensional spacers that helps prevent penetration through the structure by a fluid that contacts an outer surface of the structure due to a state of forced separation that exists between two adjacent layers of the structure due to the presence of the plurality of three-dimensional spacers positioned between the layers. The plurality of three-dimensional spacers can be positioned on one of the adjacent layers of the structure such that a distance at least as large as the maximum height of the plurality of three-dimensional spacers separates the two layers from each other and can be present on a layer of material in a continuous or discontinuous pattern or can be present on a layer of material in a random fashion. The presence of the three-dimensional spacers can reduce the basis weight or eliminate one or more layers of the structure, which, in turn, can reduce thermal resistance, lower the pressure drop across the layers of the structure, and reduce the overall weight of the structure to enhance breathability and comfort.

A splash resistant multi-layered structure is provided. The structure includes a specific arrangement of layers of material and a plurality of three-dimensional spacers that helps prevent penetration through the structure by a fluid that contacts an outer surface of the structure due to a state of forced separation that exists between two adjacent layers of the structure due to the presence of the plurality of three-dimensional spacers positioned between the layers. The plurality of three-dimensional spacers can be positioned on one of the adjacent layers of the structure such that a distance at least as large as the maximum height of the plurality of three-dimensional spacers separates the two layers from each other and can be present on a layer of material in a continuous or discontinuous pattern or can be present on a layer of material in a random fashion. The presence of the three-dimensional spacers can reduce the basis weight or eliminate one or more layers of the structure, which, in turn, can reduce thermal resistance, lower the pressure drop across the layers of the structure, and reduce the overall weight of the structure to enhance breathability and comfort.