High-frequency welding method for welding an accessory to a substrate by high-frequency welding machinery which includes a female mold, having a cavity formed by a profile having substantially the same shape and dimensions as the accessory, and a male mold, having a relief formed by a profile having substantially the same shape and dimensions as the accessory. The method includes: mounting the female mold on a movable upper plate of the machinery and the male mold on a fixed lower plate of the machinery, or vice versa, such that the profile of the cavity is aligned in a closure direction of the molds with the profile of the relief. The method further includes: positioning the accessory on the relief or in the cavity; positioning the substrate above the accessory; moving the upper plate towards the lower plate; supplying high-frequency welding energy to the upper plate and/or to the lower plate.

A method of joining overlapping thermoplastic membrane components in which a first thermoplastic membrane component and a second thermoplastic membrane component are positioned in overlapping relationship between a pair of complementary molding surfaces, with at least one of the complementary molding surfaces being defined by an electrically conductive metal susceptor. Heat is generated in the metal susceptor and transferred by thermal conduction from the metal susceptor to overlapping portions of the first and second thermoplastic membrane components to locally melt and coalesce at least a portion of the thermoplastic material of the first thermoplastic membrane component and at least a portion of the thermoplastic material of the second thermoplastic membrane component. The molten thermoplastic material of the first and second thermoplastic membrane components forms a zone of coalesced thermoplastic material that, upon cooling, forms a solid weld joint that fusion welds the first and second thermoplastic membrane components together.

A method of producing flexible polypropylene fabric bags with heat fused seams comprising providing fabric pieces, wherein each fabric piece has a coated side and an uncoated side; positioning fabric pieces so that a coated side of one fabric piece faces a coated side of another fabric piece; selecting an area of fabric to be joined for forming a seam or joint; applying heat to the area to be joined that is less than the melting point of the fabrics, for forming one or more seams or joints and wherein the heat fused seams or joints of a resulting polypropylene bag retains at least 85% of the fabric strength without using sewing machines.

A therapy wrap for treatment of at least a portion of an animate body having improved kink resistance. The therapy wrap may be selectively reinforced for improved kink resistance in only a portion of the wrap. The reinforcement may decrease the kink radius. The wrap may include a kink reducer in all or only a selected kink-prone region. The kink reducer may be selectively configured attachment points or spot welds. The therapy wrap may include a reinforcement layer of one or more discrete reinforcement members. The wrap may be formed by pre-tensioning the material layers while forming the fluid bladder and/or gas pressure bladder. The therapy wrap may be adapted to compensate for conditions that normally cause kinking of the wrap or buckling of the fluidic channels. Also disclosed are methods of manufacturing the wrap and methods of administering a temperature-controlled treatment to an anatomical body part.

A stitchless highly oriented polypropylene fabric bulk bag of the type that can hold 500 to 5000 pounds (226.7 to 2268 kilograms) of bulk material includes a highly oriented polypropylene fabric top, body and bottom, with a heat fused joint providing an air tight connection between the top and body, and another air tight heat fused joint connecting the body and bottom. A fill spout and discharge tube may also be provided with an air tight heat fused joint connecting the fill spout to the top and another air tight heat fused joint connecting the discharge spout to the bottom. Heat sealing machinery include heat seal bar assemblies that can self-align during heat-sealing to apply even pressure to all areas being heat sealed. A heating element is of single piece construction and can include end coupler portions as part of the single piece construction. Carrier plates used in a heat-sealing assembly line guide parts placement, provide quality checks for parts placement, and tooling set-up for machinery.