A device includes an electromagnetic radiation delivery system such as a laser of light emitting diode infrared emitter configured for delivery of electromagnetic radiation within a sealed canal such as an ear canal, a fiber optic cable configured for delivering or capturing the electromagnetic radiation within the sealed canal, and a photo detector coupled to the fiber optic cable forming a portion of a voice communication system. Other embodiments are disclosed.

An intermodal container includes a supporting frame having a rectangular base; a first pair of upright posts extending upwardly from the rectangular base; and a first cross-beam coupling the first pair of upright posts. A second pair of upright posts extends upwardly from the rectangular base proximate an opposite end thereof, and a second cross-beam couples the second pair of upright posts. A longitudinally extending connector beam has a first end coupled to the first cross-beam, and a second end coupled to the second cross-beam. The intermodal container further includes a plurality of panels, and each panel is made of fiber reinforced plastic and insulation foam that have been integrally molded together. The panels are coupled to the supporting frame and serve as side walls, end wall, roof, and floor of the container. A method for constructing an intermodal container is also disclosed.

The disclosure features structural tiles and methods for forming such tiles, the tiles including a tile body featuring one or more polystyrene materials, and a coating featuring an epoxy resin and an aggregate material, disposed on at least one surface of the tile body, where the structural tile has a dry coefficient of kinetic friction of at least 0.75 and a wet coefficient of kinetic friction of at least 0.70, and where the dry coefficient of kinetic friction is larger than the wet coefficient of kinetic friction by 0.05 or less.

An article of sanitary ware includes a hollow shell. A filler material is disposed within the shell, the filler material forming a continuous structure within the shell. The shell includes a first surface adapted to provide a water collection surface and a second surface opposed to the first surface. The second surface includes a pattern of recesses with ribs therebetween, and the depth of the recesses varies with position in such a way that the minimum distance between the water collection surface and bases of the recesses is maintained substantially constant.

The invention relates to a method for producing a multi-material composite and to a multi-material composite.

Due to the stepwise change of material properties at the interface between different materials, in particular metallic and polymeric materials, cracks often develop in multi-material composites, whereby the service life being shortened.

The method according to the invention is based on a gradual adaptation of the material properties of the materials of a multi-material composite at the interface. A composite is formed from at least one metal layer, at least one fibre-reinforced or unreinforced first polymer layer and at least one fibre-reinforced or unreinforced second polymer layer formed from the polymer of the first polymer layer and nanoparticles, said second polymer layer being at least partially disposed between the metal layer and the first polymer layer, under the influence of elevated temperature or elevated temperature and elevated pressure, wherein nanoparticles of the second polymer layer diffuse into the first polymer layer so that a gradient layer is formed in which the nanoparticle concentration decreases in the direction of the first polymer layer.

The multi-material composite produced by the method according to the invention has a particularly long service life and can be used, for example, in drive shafts for the aviation, automotive, or shipping industry.

A device includes an electromagnetic radiation delivery system such as a laser of light emitting diode infrared emitter configured for delivery of electromagnetic radiation within a sealed canal such as an ear canal, a fiber optic cable configured for delivering or capturing the electromagnetic radiation within the sealed canal, and a photo detector coupled to the fiber optic cable forming a portion of a voice communication system. Other embodiments are disclosed.

A device includes an electromagnetic radiation delivery system such as a laser of light emitting diode infrared emitter configured for delivery of electromagnetic radiation within a sealed canal such as an ear canal, a fiber optic cable configured for delivering or capturing the electromagnetic radiation within the sealed canal, and a photo detector coupled to the fiber optic cable forming a portion of a voice communication system. Other embodiments are disclosed.

A device includes an electromagnetic radiation delivery system such as a laser of light emitting diode infrared emitter configured for delivery of electromagnetic radiation within a sealed canal such as an ear canal, a fiber optic cable configured for delivering or capturing the electromagnetic radiation within the sealed canal, and a photo detector coupled to the fiber optic cable forming a portion of a voice communication system. Other embodiments are disclosed.

The disclosure features structural tiles and methods for forming such tiles, the tiles including a tile body featuring one or more polystyrene materials, and a coating featuring an epoxy resin and an aggregate material, disposed on at least one surface of the tile body, where the structural tile has a dry coefficient of kinetic friction of at least 0.75 and a wet coefficient of kinetic friction of at least 0.70, and where the dry coefficient of kinetic friction is larger than the wet coefficient of kinetic friction by 0.05 or less.

A device includes an electromagnetic radiation delivery system such as a laser of light emitting diode infrared emitter configured for delivery of electromagnetic radiation within a sealed canal such as an ear canal, a fiber optic cable configured for delivering or capturing the electromagnetic radiation within the sealed canal, and a photo detector coupled to the fiber optic cable forming a portion of a voice communication system. Other embodiments are disclosed.