Aspects disclosed herein relate to forming on a substrate fastener elements suitable for use in touch fastener by employing vibration forming methods. The processes described provide for a greater flexibility in manufacturing than prior methods and overcome certain limitations in prior forming techniques. Further, the product made can embody a variety of different configurations suitable for a given application. Employing vibration forming methods, such as ultrasonic forming methods, allows for the use of a wider variety of substrate material than materials used with convention methods of touch fastener formation.

The application relates to a nonwoven composite containing a plurality of solid regions and a plurality of porous regions. The solid and porous regions form a repeating pattern on the surface of the composite. The solid regions contain a solid region nonwoven layer, an optional solid region polymer-fiber infused layer, and a solid region cap layer. The solid region nonwoven layer contains a plurality of first staple fibers and less than about 5% by volume of a first polymer. The solid region cap layer contains the first polymer and less than about 5% by volume of the first staple fibers. The porous regions contain a porous region nonwoven layer and a porous region polymer-fiber infused layer. The porous region nonwoven layer contains a plurality of the first staple fibers and less than about 5% by volume of a first polymer. The porous region polymer-fiber infused layer contains a plurality of pores.

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 (B.sub.12) 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.

The present disclosure relates to a method of designing a spherical microstructure mold (604-614) module to be incorporated into a calendering roller (600) for generating a microstructure (108) on a planar surface (104), comprising calculating a first curvature (204) on a cross-sectional planar surface (202) for a first microstructure point of the spherical microstructure mold module, calculating a second curvature (210) of a spherical surface (102) of the spherical microstructure mold module, measuring a radius (214) of the spherical surface (102), the radius (214) being from the center of the spherical surface (102) to the first microstructure point, and determining a location of the microstructure (108) on the planar surface (104), the location being derived from the first curvature (204), the second curvature (210), and the radius (214).

A laminate, including a substrate having a microstructure on a surface thereof; and a coating layer formed on the substrate and encapsulating the microstructure of the substrate. A glass transition temperature T.sub.1 of the substrate is higher than a glass transition temperature T.sub.2 of the coating layer. A method of producing an ophthalmic lens, including deforming the laminate into a shape of the ophthalmic lens by applying heat and/or pressure at a temperature of lower than T.sub.1.

The present invention provides a method for manufacturing a cushion body with a concave-convex structure and a mold for manufacturing the cushion body with the concave-convex structure. A first elastic sheet is pasted on a second elastic sheet. The first elastic sheet is a closed-hole elastic material. The second elastic sheet is an opened-hole elastic material. The first elastic sheet and the second elastic sheets are combined and heated. Finally, the first elastic sheet and the second elastic sheet that are heated are sucked using the mold under a negative pressure from one side of the second elastic sheet and cooled at the same time, so that the first elastic sheet and the second elastic sheet can be deformed using the concave-convex structure of the mold and cooled to be shaped, thereby obtaining the cushion body with the concave-convex structure.

A vehicle trim element is formed by a method that includes the steps of: applying a film on the front face of a layer of ligneous material, with the applied film having at least one engraved pattern; placing the layer of ligneous material together with the applied film in a forming tool, with the front face of the layer being turned towards a wall of the forming tool; pressing the layer of ligneous material together with the applied film against the wall such that the layer adopts the shape of the trim element to be produced and such that, during the pressing of the layer and applied film, the engraved pattern is transferred to the front face of the layer; and removing the film after the pressing of the layer of ligneous material in order to obtain the trim element having a front face with the engraved pattern.

A method of forming a corrugated fluoropolymer tube is disclosed. The method comprises the step of providing a tube comprising extruded fluoropolymer without corrugations or convolutions disposed on a mandrel. The mandrel has a first cylindrical portion and a flaring portion that extends to a second cylindrical portion, the second portion having an outer diameter which is larger than an outer diameter of the first portion. The method also includes the step of moving the tube on a longitudinal axis along the mandrel thereby forcing an outer surface of the tube into flights disposed at a pitch angle on a plurality of thread rollers which are rotating, the plurality of thread rollers adjacent to and circumferentially distributed around the flaring portion and/or second cylindrical portion of the mandrel, wherein external force is exerted on the outer surface of the tube to form corrugations having adjacent peaks and roots.

An optical structure includes a multilayer relief that has a first surface having an uneven shape, and a reflection layer that is formed on the first surface and reflects visible light. The multilayer relief includes a first resin layer that contains a non-radiation curable resin as a main component and constitutes the first surface, and a second resin layer that contains a radiation curable resin as a main component and is adjacent to the first resin layer. The first resin layer has a thickness smaller than an unevenness difference of the uneven shape.

Aspects disclosed herein relate to forming on a substrate fastener elements suitable for use in touch fastener by employing vibration forming methods. The processes described provide for a greater flexibility in manufacturing than prior methods and overcome certain limitations in prior forming techniques. Further, the product made can embody a variety of different configurations suitable for a given application. Employing vibration forming methods, such as ultrasonic forming methods, allows for the use of a wider variety of substrate material than materials used with convention methods of touch fastener formation.