A method for fabricating emulated wood with pores and fibers, comprising: immersing a plurality of synthetic fibers configured parallel in a plane into a resin so that the resin is coated on the surfaces of the plurality of synthetic fibers and in the gaps between the plurality of synthetic fibers; placing the plurality of synthetic fibers between two sheets, wherein the two sheets are planar sheets made from a uniform composition comprising a thermoplastic elastomer, a foaming agent, and a crosslinking agent; carrying out a heat-press process on the two sheets so that the foaming agent undergoes microcellular foaming and forms dense closed pores in the two sheets, and so that the composition on inner surfaces of the two sheets expands towards the plurality of synthetic fibers and penetrates through the gaps between the plurality of synthetic fibers; and cooling the two sheets to yield an emulated wood board.

A heel float therapeutic footwear for people that spend a large amount of time in bed. The heel float therapeutic footwear includes a lower leg support portion, a foot support portion, and a wing support structure. The foot support portion extends from the lower leg support portion and includes a foot support platform. The wing support structure is permanently or removably attached to the foot support platform. The wing support structure is adjustably fastenable to a side of the lower leg support portion to adjustably support a position and an angle of the foot support platform with respect to the lower leg support portion. A method of making a heel float therapeutic footwear is also disclosed.

Provided are a use of a thermoplastic polyurethane for forming an impact resistant layer and an impact resistant composite laminate. The thermoplastic polyurethane comprises a structural unit represented by Formula (I): ##STR00001## wherein each R independently is an alkylene group having 2 to 8 carbon atoms or CH.sub.2CH.sub.2OCH.sub.2CH.sub.2; n is a number from 2 to 13; and the structural unit has a Mn ranging from 700 g/mole to 2500 g/mole. In addition, the impact resistant layer has a thickness of larger than 1.5 mm. The impact resistant composite laminate comprises a base layer and the impact resistant layer disposed on the base layer.

The present invention provides articles and methods related to insulation panels made from aerogels, and specifically polyimide based aerogels. Such insulation panels have a wide variety of applications, including specifically in aerospace applications.

The present invention relates to a process for producing a fiber-foam composite (FSV1), wherein a first fiber material (FM1) is applied to a first foam body (SK1) to give a first structured fiber surface (FO1) to which a second foam body (SK2) is subsequently applied to give the fiber-foam composite (FSV1).

Components for articles of footwear and athletic equipment including a foam are provided. The foam portion of the components and articles include a composition which includes a thermoplastic copolyester, the composition having a foam structure. A polymer layer is provided on at least on surface of the foam portion. The polymer layer can control or reduce the water uptake of the foam portion. Methods of making the compositions, foams, and components are provided, as well as methods of making an article of footwear including one of the foam components. In some aspects, the foams and foam components can be made by injection molding, or injection molding followed by compression molding.

A structure to absorb, dissipate and measure a force includes a plurality of distinct layers. The layers include a first impact absorbing material having an outer face facing the direction of expected impact and an opposite inner face, an impact dissipating layer adjacent to the inner face of the first impact absorbing material and having a higher flexural rigidity than the first impact absorbing material, a second impact absorbing material having an outer face adjacent to the impact dissipating layer and an opposite inner face, and having a lower hardness than the impact dissipating layer, and a pressure sensor arranged across the inner face of the second impact absorbing material. An impact on the outer face is partially absorbed by that material, dissipated by the impact dissipating layer and further absorbed by the second impact absorbing material, with the remaining transmitted force being sensed by the pressure sensor.

The present invention provides articles and methods related to insulation panels made from aerogels, and specifically polyimide based aerogels. Such insulation panels have a wide variety of applications, including specifically in aerospace applications.

A method for bonding a fabric to a polyolefin elastomer. The method comprises applying to the fabric: (a) from 10 to 90 wt % of an aqueous dispersion of a thermoplastic polymer; and (b) from 90 to 10 wt % of an aqueous dispersion of a rosin, wherein percentages are based on total dry weight of thermoplastic polymer and rosin.

In a resin sandwich panel, the two resin skin material sheets have peripheral edge portions thereof joined to each other so as to form an internal hollow portion. The resin core material is disposed in the hollow portion. At least one of surfaces of the resin core material opposing the two resin skin material sheets has a groove portion extending across the entire surface, and a depression communicating with the groove portion. At least one of the two resin skin material sheets additionally has an atmosphere-opened through-hole provided in a thickness direction thereof. When the one of the surfaces of the resin core material and the corresponding resin skin material sheet are surface-to-surface adhered to each other in the hollow portion, air between the surfaces and the skin material sheet is guided to the depression via the groove portion, and exhausted out of the atmosphere-opened through-hole.