A method for joining a thermoplastic film to a metal component, at least comprising the following method steps: providing the metal component with a joining surface, incorporating microstructures and/or nanostructures into the joining surface of the metal component, arranging the thermoplastic film on the joining surface of the metal component, softening the thermoplastic film by heating to a temperature above the glass transition temperature of the thermoplastic film, pressing the softened thermoplastic film onto the joining surface of the metal component in such a way that part of the softened thermoplastic film penetrates into the microstructures and/or nanostructures in the joining surface of the metal component, and obtaining an interlocking connection between the thermoplastic film and the metal component after the thermoplastic film has cooled.

There is disclosed a method of applying activatable material to a member of an article of manufacture such as an automotive vehicle. According to the method, the activatable material is provided to an applicator followed by applying the activatable material to the member wherein the activatable material is attached by way of a mechanical interlock via one or more through-holes.

The present disclosure describes a three-dimensional object. The three-dimensional object includes a light polymerized body, at least one internal chamber residing within the light polymerized body, the at least one internal chamber having at least one frangible wall, and a curable component contained within the at least one internal chamber. The three-dimensional object may further include at least one channel extending inwardly from an outer surface of the light polymerized body toward the internal chamber and at least a portion of the at least one channel being adjacent to the at least one frangible wall of the at least one internal chamber. Methods of bonding an insertable object to a three-dimensional object and kits are also described.

A method for manufacturing a toothbrush having a bristle carrier made of a thermoplastic material with a front side and a rear side is provided. At least one recess formed as a blind hole in the bristle carrier extends from the front side in the bristle carrier, and holds at least one bristle. The at least one bristle is received in a receiving opening of a tool melted to form a thickening at its attachment-side end and inserted with its attachment-side end into the recess. The thermoplastic material is heated and, by pressing the tool against the front side of the bristle carrier, is deformed such that the thermoplastic material is displaced radially inwards into the recess, at least in the region of an edge surrounding the recess, for the form-fitting sealing of the thickening, in that a projection provided radially adjacent to the recess is pressed into the thermoplastic material.

A brush product, in particular a toothbrush, having a base body with a head part with a front and a rear side, which includes a bristle carrier with a longitudinal axis and a transverse axis and a bristle field protruding therefrom, wherein the bristle field is formed by at least one group of cleaning elements; a handle part; and a neck part connecting the head part and the handle part; wherein the bristle carrier is provided with bristles which are mounted without being anchored and wherein the bristle carrier includes substantially a central support area, an upper support area, a lower support area, a right support area and a left support area, in which the groups of cleaning elements are arranged. Also, a corresponding method and tool.

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.

A method of providing a covering element with a connection element for covering a hinge part of a roof window comprising the steps of engraving an interior surface of the covering element to provide an engraved surface with at least one cavity by subjecting the covering element to a laser beam at a polar angle, α1, and attaching the connection element to the covering element by introducing an anchor portion of the connection element into the least one cavity.

A system (10) for butt-joining two or more rubber strips (B1, B2) selected in accordance with a predetermined rubber mixture recipe in order to feed at least one extruder with a complex strip of rubber material (B12) made from the butt joined rubber strips is disclosed. The system includes at least one conveyor that transports the rubber strips from an inlet (12) of the system to an outlet (14) of the butt-joining system; a frame (18) that operationally supports the conveyor to allow the continuous transport of the rubber strips and also to allow the simultaneous butt-joining of the rubber strips fed to the system; and a roller system (20) that butt-joins the rubber strips without penetration. The invention also relates to a process for butt-joining rubber strips that is performed by the system.

A method for producing composite profiles comprises providing a first profile part extending in a longitudinal direction, made from a first plastics material, with a profile region produced from a second plastics material thermally plasticizable at a first temperature, providing a second profile part extending in a longitudinal direction, made from a material not thermally plasticizable at the first temperature, and with a receiving structure formed along the longitudinal direction of the second profile part, with which the profile region of the first profile part is connectible, bringing the profile region of the first profile part into contact with the receiving structure of the second profile part, plasticizing the second plastics material of the profile region by heating to the first temperature and deforming the plasticized profile region while forming a positive engagement between the profile region and the receiving structure while maintaining the geometry of the receiving structure.

A method for joining a first component with a second component includes providing a first component with a thermoplastic rivet; providing a second component having a rivet hole, wherein the rivet hole forms a rivet hole inlet in a first surface of the second component and a rivet hole outlet in a second surface of the second component, and wherein the second component forms in the second surface a structured rivet head accommodating portion disposed in a region of the rivet hole outlet; inserting a free end of the rivet via the rivet hole inlet into the rivet hole until a unilaterally abutting, inserted position of the rivet reaching through the rivet hole is reached; and heat staking the free end of the rivet in the inserted position while forming a rivet head, so that the rivet head is at least partially accommodated in the rivet head accommodating portion.