A method for joining a metal material element to a plastic material element, in particular a composite material including a plastic matrix reinforced with fibers for use in the construction of motor-vehicle components. The method involves providing one or more slots in a portion of the plastic material element. For each slot, a corresponding tab is provided in the metal material element, having a shorter width and length than a width and length of the slot. The metal material and plastic material elements are arranged in a position of mutual coupling where each tab is inserted through the corresponding slot and has an end portion protruding beyond said portion of the plastic material element. A laser beam is directed above the protruding end portion, so as to locally melt the metal material of each tab and create an enlarged head on each tab that is welded above the plastic material element.

A method for curing an adhesive composition includes: arranging an adhesive composition that transmits laser light of a first wavelength in contact with a surface of a first adherend that contains, at least at its surface, a first light-to-heat conversion material that generates heat by absorbing laser light of the first wavelength; and curing the adhesive composition by irradiating the adhesive composition and the first adherend with laser light of the first wavelength. In a method for manufacturing a bonded structure, a first bonded structure is manufactured by bonding the adhesive composition to the first adherend by using the method for curing an adhesive composition.

A system and a method for securing a first composite panel to a second composite panel include a latch assembly having one or more latches. The latch assembly is configured to be secured to one of the first composite panel or the second composite panel. One or more strikes are configured to retain at least a portion of the one or more latches. The one or more strikes are configured to be secured to the other of the first composite panel or the second composite panel.

A respiratory apparatus may employ ultrasonic welds. The ultrasonic welding may be used to join a variety of headgear, mask and accessory components. This process may enhance comfort, fit and/or performance of the joined components and/or overall mask assembly. A component may be a single layer component such as a textile or fabric, or a composite or multiple layer component such as fabric and foam composites, or outer fabric layers and inner spacer fabrics. Further, a component may be a strap, some other headgear component, a mask component, an accessory component or the like.

A system and a method for securing a first composite panel to a second composite panel include a latch assembly having one or more latches. The latch assembly is configured to be secured to one of the first composite panel or the second composite panel. One or more strikes are configured to retain at least a portion of the one or more latches. The one or more strikes are configured to be secured to the other of the first composite panel or the second composite panel.

A system for depositing a composite filler material into a channel of a composite structure includes an end-effector configured to extrude a bead of the filler material into the channel. The filler material can comprise a first group of relatively long fibers, a second group of relatively short fibers and a resin. A drive system is configured to move the end-effector relative to the channel, and a position sensor is configured to detect the position of the bead relative to the channel. A controller is configured to operate the drive system in response to the detected position and to operate the end-effector to heat and compress the filler material so as to orient the longer fibers in a substantially longitudinal direction relative to the channel and the shorter fibers in substantially random directions relative to the channel when the bead is extruded into the channel.

A method for manufacturing a composite structure. The method includes depositing a plurality of thermoplastic particles onto at least one of a surface of a filler member and a surface of a structural member. The method further includes assembling the filler member with the structural member such that the plurality of thermoplastic particles are disposed proximate an interface between the filler member and the structural member.

A welding structure of a T-shape welding joint in which a second base material is welded in a T-shape to a first base material may include the first base material including a first flat portion, a second flat portion, and curved portions formed between the first flat portion and the second flat portion; the second base material in which a bent portion is formed at an end of a main body portion such that the bent portion is disposed to face the curved portions of the first base material; and a bead disposed between the curved portions of the first base material and the bent portion of the second base material.

A bonder and a method for bonding corrugated sidewalls to a thermoplastic belt at a splice joint. Two heating jaw assemblies with complementary and confronting corrugated vertical faces clamp a thermoplastic belt to a base of the bonder with a corrugated sidewall section separated from the belt across a splice joint received in a corrugated slot formed between the confronting vertical faces. Corrugated bonding strips at the bottoms of the corrugated vertical faces apply heat to melt the bottom of the sidewall section on opposite sides to bond the corrugated sidewall section to the base.

The sealing device includes a heatable base plate that cooperates with a heatable split plate to simultaneously form three intersecting seal lines. The split plate includes an alpha plate and a beta plate. The alpha plate and the beta plate each include a first heated surface that cooperate with the base heated surface to form a pair of co-linear seal lines. In addition, the alpha plate and the beta plate each include a second heated surface that cooperate together to form a third seal line that extends in a direction perpendicular to the co-linear seal lines and intersects the co-linear seal lines. A method of forming a complex seal joint is also described.