There is provided a vehicle seat core member that is superior in terms of a dimensional accuracy as well as integrity of a thermoplastic resin expanded beads molded body and a frame member. A vehicle seat core member (100) is formed as an integrally molded article of a thermoplastic resin expanded beads molded body (10) and a frame member (20), the thermoplastic resin expanded beads molded body (10) is formed of thermoplastic resin expanded beads (30) having through holes (32), and a porosity of the thermoplastic resin expanded beads molded body (10) is 10 vol % or more and 40 vol % or less.

A compression molding technique, assembly and method for producing an acoustic/environmental sealing component, such as for use in a vehicle pillar. A two part mold defines a negative impression cavity of the completed part and within which is deposited a compounded and expandable resin as any of loose beads, granules or a syrup. The resin is heated within the mold to a temperature below that necessary for it activation/expansion, concurrent with being compression formed. A pre-formed rigid substrate not limited to a nylon is incorporated into the mold and against which is compression formed the resin.

An in-mold foam molded article has a foam body made from olefin-based resin pre-expanded beads and an insert member having an elongated connecting portion and movement resisting portions provided apart from one another in the elongated connecting portion. The insert member is subjected to insert molding upon in-mold foam molding using the olefin-based resin pre-expanded beads. The foam body has a movement facilitating structure that facilitates relative movement between the insert member and the foam body during shrinkage of the in-mold foam molded article after release from a mold.

A therapeutic, fitness, and sports enhancement device which includes a cylindrically shaped body having a predetermined density and predetermined diameter, the body including a plurality of projections of a predetermined shape. One or more of the predetermined density and the predetermined diameter in combination with the predetermined shape of the projections optimize mobilization of soft tissue structures of the human body.

A method of making molded foam articles and the articles produced. A molded foam article is produced by heating or preheating the mold to a temperature at or above the glass transition or melt temperature of the particles to be molded. Foamed particles are then introduced into the mold. The particle filled mold is then subjected to a vacuum to stabilize the molded article, without application of any additional heating or cooling. The molded article is then removed from the mold at a temperature at or below the glass transition temperature of the particles, and the cycle repeated to form multiple molded articles.

A process of microcellular foaming an article includes the steps of opening a valve to convey a polyolefin material from a hopper to a mold; activating a pressurized device to increase pressure of the mold to a predetermined pressure by heating at a predetermined temperature; supplying SCF to the mold to effuse through the polyolefin material via a pipe, thereby generating SCF effused polyolefin material; after releasing the predetermined pressure, foaming the SCF effused polyolefin material in the mold in a ratio of 1 to 1; cooling the mold; opening the mold; and removing a finished foamed article out of the mold.

A long synthetic resin foam body composed of a thermoplastic resin expanded beads-molded substrate and a frame having displacement regulating sections provided at both ends in the longitudinal or lateral direction of the substrate and a connecting section that connects the displacement regulating sections to each other. The substrate has at least one joint forming portion that divides the substrate in a direction intersecting the connecting section into two or more substrate parts. The joint forming portion has a joint that connects the adjacent two substrate parts to each other and is deformable to permit a relative displacement between the adjacent two substrate parts when the substrate contracts or expands.

The present invention relates to a composite panel (1) made of pourable and settable material, preferably cementitious mortar. The panel comprises through elements (10) made of glass for transmitting light between two base surfaces (1,1) of the panel (1). The panel comprises a structure (5) made by sintering heat-expanding plastic material about said through elements (10) so that a central part (12) of said through elements (10) is incorporated into said structure (5). The panel further comprising a first main portion (23) and a second main portion (24), each of which incorporates an end part (13,14) of the through elements (10). The two main portions (13, 14) are connected by a plurality of through portions (25) in said base material which extend through the inner structure (5). The present invention further relates to a semi-finished product (8) for making said panel (1) and to a method for making said panel base on the use of said semi-finished product (8).

The invention relates to a method for producing a foam material body, as well as to a foam material body. A pourable starting granulate of expanded particles of a thermoplastic material is provided, which is subjected to a non-melting heat treatment. As a result, an intermediate granulate is formed with a bulk density higher than that of the starting granulate. The foam material body is then formed by materially connecting the volume-reduced particles of the intermediate granulate by heating the intermediate granulate to a temperature greater than a glass transition temperature of the thermoplastic material in the molding cavity of a molding tool and then solidifying the thermoplastic material by cooling. The foam material body exhibits an overall density between 80 kg/m.sup.3 and 600 kg/m.sup.3.

A therapeutic, fitness, and sports enhancement device which includes a cylindrically shaped body having a predetermined density and predetermined diameter, the body including a plurality of projections of a predetermined shape. One or more of the predetermined density and the predetermined diameter in combination with the predetermined shape of the projections optimize mobilization of soft tissue structures of the human body.