A light, durable, and user friendly cover for a laptop computer that integrates the protective qualities of hard shell cases with the aesthetics of soft cut-and-sew covers is disclosed. The cover includes top and bottom panels configured to cover the display and keyboard portions, respectively. Each panel is independent and separate from the other and each is formed as a unitary component of a molded resilient polymer material, such as polycarbonate, that is configured to reversibly and retentively snap-fit over the outer surface of the laptop computer. Each panel includes a raised lip along its perimeter edge region that defines an internally extending recessed region on the panel's outer surface. Fabric and/or leather overlays are positioned, sized and adhesively coupled atop the recessed regions and are protected from delaminating, fraying, and/or peeling by the raised perimeter lip.

A method of manufacturing a closed cross-section structural member is disclosed. The closed cross-section structural member includes: a first panel and a second panel joined to each other to form a closed cross-section; and a fiber reinforced plastic (FRP) material bonded to the first panel. The method includes: attaching the FRP material to the first panel with an adhesive; curing the FRP material and the adhesive by heating the FRP material and the adhesive together with the first panel; and joining the second panel to the first panel in which the FRP material and the adhesive are cured.

A method for surface preparation of composite substrates prior to adhesive bonding. A curable surface treatment layer containing blocked isocyanate compounds is applied onto a curable composite substrate, followed by co-curing. The surface treatment layer may be a resin layer without fibers or a removal peel ply composed of resin-impregnated fabric. After surface preparation, the composite substrate is provided with a chemically-active, bondable surface that can be adhesively bonded to another composite substrate to form a covalently-bonded structure.

To provide a metal-fiber reinforced resin material (FRP) composite having a good appearance even when used as an automobile outer panel and not deformed even after a coating and baking process. The metal-FRP composite of the invention has a laminated structure of three or more layers, having at least a metal layer, a fiber-reinforced resin material layer holding a reinforced fiber material in a layer constituted by a matrix resin, and a resin layer located between the metal layer and the fiber-reinforced resin material layer. The resin layer is a layer constituted by a room temperature curing adhesive or by a predetermined resin and the room temperature curing adhesive. An elastic modulus E of the resin layer is more than 0.1 MPa and 1000 MPa or less, and a thickness of the resin layer is 0.005 times or more and less than 7.500 times a thickness of the metal layer.

Embodiments described herein generally relate to porous plugs having sealing layers for use in substrate support pedestals and methods for forming the same. In one or more embodiments, the sealing layer can be formed in-situ by applying a fluoroelastomer composition to at least one of the porous plug and the walls of a cavity of an electrostatic chuck. The fluoroelastomer composition can be cured in-situ to form the sealing layer between the porous plug and the wall of the cavity. The porous plug is positioned within the cavity to control the flow of gas through a gas flow passage. The sealing layer is positioned adjacent to the porous plug and is capable of forming one or more of a radial seal between the porous plug and the wall of the cavity and an axial seal between the porous plug and a cooling base.

A microwave heating system includes: a variable-frequency microwave source having a usable bandwidth about a center frequency; a waveguide with an input side connected to the source and an output side terminating in a launch structure; and, a metallic reflector plate facing the launch structure and perpendicular thereto and spaced therefrom at a distance of no more than twice the microwave wavelength at an operative frequency of the microwave source, the reflector plate including a recessed area of a selected size and shape located facing the launch structure so that a material to be treated may be placed between the launch structure and the recessed area for exposure to microwave energy. A related method is also disclosed.

Construction of a sealed connection between an elastomeric or synthetic polymer flexible pipe or hose and a metallic coupling member. The coupling member surrounds an armor layer at a free end of the flexible pipe or hose. A sealing area is defined by a recessed portion of the pipe coupling into which a sealing material is introduced. An inner liner layer of the flexible pipe or hose may extend into the sealing area where it is bonded to the sealing material. The sealing material and the inner liner layer may each be comprised of a semi-crystalline thermoplastic material. Furthermore, a reinforcement material may be provided in the inner liner layer.

A system of connected elements for a motor vehicle includes: a first element which has at least one depression on a surface; a second element which is arranged on the first element in such a manner that a surface of the second element and the depression of the first element form a cavity; a filling opening which forms an access to the cavity; and an adhesive which at least partially fills the cavity and thereby adhesively bonds the first element to the second element.

Unidirectional transparent projectile penetration resistant panels and bidirectional opaque projectile penetration resistant assemblies and systems and methods of forming and mounting the same relative to underlying support structures.

A method for joining moulded parts by electromagnetic welding. A joining inductor is moved along contact surfaces of the moulded parts, generating an electromagnetic field in an induction-sensitive component of the moulded part(s) to heat a thermally activated coupling means of the moulded part(s) to above a melting temperature of the coupling means. The strength of the electromagnetic field suitable for joining is determined by previously moving a sensing inductor along the contact plane, generating a relatively weak electromagnetic field to slightly heat the thermally activated coupling means to a sensing temperature, measuring the field strength generated by the sensing inductor in the moulded part(s), determining a discrepancy between the measured field strength of the sensing inductor and the field strength suitable for joining, and adjusting the field strength suitable for joining to close the discrepancy. A device for carrying out the method.