A method comprising providing a polymeric substrate having a melting point of from about 130° C. to about 190° C., and locating a material layer onto the substrate, wherein the material layer comprises one or more polymeric materials that liquefy upon exposure to temperatures of at least about 100° C., to blend with a softened portion of the polymeric substrate. Upon exposure of one or more of the substrate and the material layer to a stimulus, the temperature is increased in a predetermined temperature zone of one or more of the substrate and material layer to cause blending of the one or more polymeric materials of the material layer with the softened portion of the polymeric substrate.

A welding apparatus (1) for radio-frequency, RF, welding, comprises: a clamp (10) having two electrodes (100, 101; 100′, 101′) being movable with respect to one another for clamping one or more items (2; 2′) therebetween for a welding process; and an RF power supply (11) for providing an RF welding current to the electrodes (100, 101; 100′, 101′) of the clamp (10), the RF power supply being adapted to change the frequency of the RF welding current during the welding process.

A welding apparatus (1) for radio-frequency, RF, welding, comprises: a clamp (10) having two electrodes (100, 101; 100′, 101′) being movable with respect to one another for clamping one or more items (2; 2′) therebetween for a welding process; and an RF power supply (11) for providing an RF welding current to the electrodes (100, 101; 100′, 101′) of the clamp (10), the RF power supply being adapted to change the frequency of the RF welding current during the welding process.

A method of constructing an inflatable fluidic actuator. The method includes coupling a first interface to a tube configuration of membrane material at a first tube end by coupling the first interface to the tube configuration at the first tube end by generating at least one of: a first bond between the membrane material and one or more first sidewalls of the first interface and a first external face bond between membrane material at the first tube end onto a first external face of the first interface.

A method of constructing an inflatable fluidic actuator. The method includes coupling a first interface to a tube configuration of membrane material at a first tube end by coupling the first interface to the tube configuration at the first tube end by generating at least one of: a first bond between the membrane material and one or more first sidewalls of the first interface and a first external face bond between membrane material at the first tube end onto a first external face of the first interface.

An internal tensioning structure for use in an inflatable product fulfills the basic function of maintaining two adjacent inflatable surfaces in a desired geometric arrangement when the inflatable product is pressurized. The tensioning structure is formed by connecting a pair of plastic strips sheets via spaced-apart strands, such as strings or wires. When pulled taut, the strands provide a high tensile strength between the two opposed plastic strips. At the same time, the plastic strips facilitate a strong, long-lasting weld between the tensioning structure and the inflatable product.

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 flexible sealing tube is described that is adapted to be installed in and extend along a bore in the ground for use in a system for exchanging of energy with the ground. The flexible sealing tube has a first tube end to be installed at an inner part of said bore, and the flexible sealing tube is closed in the first tube end. The flexible sealing tube also has a first channel and a second channel extending in a longitudinal direction (L) of the flexible sealing tube, the first and second channels being in fluid connection with each other. The first and second channels are formed by the flexible sealing tube.

A system and method for bonding a first layer of material to a second layer of material includes a first electrically conductive plate, a second electrically conductive plate spaced apart from the first electrically conductive plate. The second electrically conductive plate is electrically grounded. A high frequency generator in electrical communication with the first electrically conductive plate supplies high frequency electrical signals to the first electrically conductive plate. An adhesive applied to one of the first and second layers of material has an electromagnetic susceptor material that when subjected to the electric field heats the adhesive to an adhesive curing temperature to bond the first layer of material to the second layer of material. A clamping mechanism applies pressure to one of the first and second layers of material to maintain contact between the first and second layers until an adhesive cure time has lapsed.

A dielectric welding film capable of achieving a tight welding through a short period of dielectric heating, and a welding method using the dielectric welding film are provided. The dielectric welding film is configured to weld a pair of adherends of the same material or different materials through dielectric heating, the dielectric welding film including a thermoplastic resin as an A component and a dielectric filler as a B component and satisfying the conditions (i) and (ii): (i) a melting point or softening point measured in accordance with JIS K 7121 (1987) is in a range from 80 to 200 degrees C.; and (ii) heat of fusion measured in accordance with JIS K 7121 (1987) is in a range from 1 to 80 J/g.