Reflexite Corporation

Kongsberg Actuation Systems Ii, Inc.

Orafol Americas Inc.

Leo Moreau

Rich Hahn

Michael Paulson

Arjen Schippers

A method of forming a hose assembly is disclosed. The hose assembly includes a multilayer tube having an inner layer comprising a first polymeric material and an outer layer comprising a second polymeric material and defining an outer peripheral surface. The hose assembly also includes a reinforcing layer comprising reinforcing fibers and disposed about and embedded in the outer peripheral surface of the multilayer tube. The method comprises the steps of extruding the multilayer tube, and disposing reinforcing fibers about the outer peripheral surface of the multilayer tube to form a reinforced multilayer tube. The method also includes the steps of heating the reinforced multilayer tube to a temperature which is greater than a peak melting temperature of the second polymeric material, and cooling the reinforced multilayer tube to solidify the melted outer layer and embed the reinforcing layer in the outer layer to form the hose assembly.

Method of forming a hose assembly

A method of forming a hose assembly is disclosed. The hose assembly comprises a tube formed from a polymeric material and defining an outer peripheral surface, and a reinforcing layer disposed about the outer peripheral surface of the tube. The reinforcing layer comprises reinforcing fibers and a binder formed from binding fibers. The method includes the steps of extruding the tube, forming a commingled braid from the reinforcing fibers and the binding fibers, and disposing the commingled braid about the outer peripheral surface of the tube to form a reinforced tube. The method also includes the steps of heating the reinforced tube to a temperature (T) equal to or greater than a peak melting temperature of the binding fibers to at least partially melt the binding fibers, and cooling the reinforced tube to solidify the melted binding fibers and form the hose assembly.

The present invention includes conformable retroreflective structures. In some embodiments, the conformable retroreflective structures are also shrink resistant. The conformable retroreflective structures include a transparent plasticized polyvinyl chloride film having a first side and a second side; a first transparent polymer layer overlying the first side of the plasticized polyvinyl chloride film; a second transparent polymer layer overlying the second side of the plasticized polyvinyl chloride film; an array of retroreflective cube-corner elements underlying the second transparent polymer layer; and a plasticizer resistant adhesive underlying the array of retroreflective cube-corner elements. In some embodiments, the first and second transparent polymer layers are transparent, radiation-cured polymer layers.

Conformable retroreflective film structure

Flame retardant and heat resistant retroreflective structures are disclosed. Generally, the retroreflective structure includes a transparent plasticized polyvinyl chloride film, an array of retroreflective cube-corner elements underlying the transparent plasticized polyvinyl chloride film, a flame retardant and heat resistant adhesive underlying the array of retroreflective cube-corner elements, and a flame retardant woven fabric bonded to the flame retardant and heat resistant adhesive.

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Broad Brook, CT, United States of America

Leo Moreau