Embodiments of the present invention are directed to improved designs of railroad spikes and improved methods of manufacturing the same. According to one exemplary embodiment, a method for manufacturing a railroad spike may have the steps of: preparing a metal blank having a substantially circular cross-section; subjecting the metal blank to at least one cold heading process and at least one cold extrusion process to form a railroad spike having (a) a circular head with a fillet at its bottom side that is angled to engage a railroad tie plate or rail base and (b) a non-threaded shank with a substantially square cross-section and a chiseled tip; and coating the railroad spike with an anti-corrosion material.

The present invention relates to a polyurethane ballast layer, the method for preparing the same and a railway comprising the polyurethane ballast layer. The polyurethane ballast layer provided in this invention comprises a polyurethane-filled ballast layer and a polyurethane external protective layer, wherein the polyurethane-filled ballast layer comprises ballasts and polyurethane foam filled in the space among the ballasts. The polyurethane ballast layer provided in this invention can reduce the probability of ballast crashing, shifting and cracking under heavy load, and separate the ballast track from the outside environment to prevent rain, snow and wastes from entering into the internal space of the ballast track bed. Furthermore, the polyurethane ballast layer can keep the polyurethane foam filled in the ballasts layer away from water in the outside environment to avoid hydrolysis. The polyurethane ballast layer presented in this invention can be used in the railway ballast track bed to extend the track bed maintenance cycle, and save maintenance cost significantly.

A hook bolt for fastening rails to hollow sleepers, in particular steel sleepers, including an engagement element made of cast metal, which has a hook-shaped insertion section and a contact section, which has a receiving space for receiving a threaded element, wherein the threaded element has a threaded bolt and a receiving shoe and the receiving shoe is dimensioned in such a way that the receiving shoe can be inserted into the receiving space of the contact section in a form-fit manner.

A rosin composition includes a gum rosin, an emulsifier, a randomizing additive and a bonding agent. This rosin composition may be used as a temporary or permanent adhesive for the soldering of components. The rosin composition may be temporary as it is easily removed from a surface without damaging the surface.

An electrical insulator for use with a rail fastening clip comprises a contact member providing on one side a substantially flat rail contact surface for contacting a foot of a rail and on the opposing side a clip contact surface for contacting a rail bearing surface of a bearing portion of the clip, the insulator also having retaining means for retaining the insulator on the clip in such a way as to allow rotation of the insulator about a longitudinal axis of the bearing portion of the clip. The insulator has stop portions for limiting such rotation about the longitudinal axis of the bearing portion of the clip to a desired extent. The clip contact surface of the insulator is convex, in a vertical plane which is perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the bearing portion of the clip, such that, when the insulator is attached to a clip having a flat rail bearing surface, a contact region between the flat rail bearing surface of the clip and the clip contact surface of the insulator is linear. The insulator is rockable about the linear contact region within the extent defined by the stop portions such that, when the rail contact surface of the insulator contacts the surface of a rail foot, the angle of the rail contact surface can conform to the angle of the rail foot surface. A rail fastening clip, suitable for use with the insulator and of the kind driven onto a rail in a direction which is parallel to a longitudinal axis of the rail, has a bearing portion having a flat rail bearing surface, wherein a detent, extending laterally with respect to the longitudinal axis of the bearing portion, is formed in the flat rail bearing surface, at a location spaced from a free end of the bearing portion of the clip, for engaging a corresponding abutment surface of the insulator to be retained on the rail bearing portion of the clip.

A rail support block assembly includes a resilient member and a molded block having a top, a bottom and peripheral wall. The block is adapted for fastening one or more rails on the top. The prefabricated resilient member has an outer tray and inner tray arranged within the outer tray, and includes a resilient intermediate structure between the trays. The block is molded in a block mold into with the moldable material is introduced and allowed to harden. The block is fixed in the inner tray to extend under the bottom of the block and along a lower region of the peripheral wall. The resilient member may form a part of the block mold, so that a mold member combined with the resilient member delimit the mold for the block. The moldable material is introduced and adheres directly to the inner tray of the prefabricated resilient member.

Disclosed is a guide plate for the lateral guidance of a rail and to a rail fastening system with such a guide plate. The guide plate has a contact area, on which the guide plate stands in the completely assembled state, and a support portion, which is associated with the counter bearing, with a support face, with which the guide plate 1 is supported, in the completely assembled state, on a counter bearing.

A joint between connected ends of two rails of different height is provided with a connector/juncture bar member which is configured to fit with and engage corresponding surfaces formed on the rails when the rails are connected together. The joint so formed is one with increased strength, with ease and accuracy of alignment during assembly.

An assembly for securing at least one rail to a substrate has a longitudinally extending rail plate extending across and secured underneath the rail and having a pair of opposite ends. Respective end restraints at the ends of the rail plate each have a jaw fixed to the respective end of the rail plate and each formed with a vertically throughgoing passage. A respective rigid anchor hood is fixed to the substrate in each of the passages with an outer surface of the anchor hood spaced inward from an inner surface of the respective passage and forming an annular space therewith. A respective rubber bumper mass fills each of these spaces so that forces transverse to the rail are transmitted through the bumpers to the anchor hoods.

A system for fastening a rail to a solid foundation, and a method for renovating a rail-fastening point. The system and the method allow a fastening point for a rail to be easily and economically renovated in such a way that a permanently reliable function of the renovated fastening is then ensured again while the worn support section remains. The system for fastening a rail to a solid ground foundation includes: a layer formed by a compensating mass applied to the support section; a base plate resting on the layer and extending over the support section, upon which the rail is supported in the finally installed state; a spring element for exerting a resilient elastic retention force on the rail; and a clamping element that can be anchored in the solid foundation for clamping the spring element.

A method of making an electrical connection to a railroad rail includes fastening a wire bonding assembly to a railroad rail, the wire bonding assembly including first and second spaced apart washer plates contacting the rail and a metal bar supported by the washer plates. The metal bar is electrically connected with the rail with a first conductive lead contacting a selected point on the rail and a selected point on the metal bar. A second conductive lead is connected to another selected point on the metal bar for establishing an electrical connection to the rail from an electrical device.

A track set for toy vehicles is provided herein, the track set having: a first track segment coupled to a first curved track segment; a second track segment coupled to a second curved track segment; a third curved track segment having an inlet end and an outlet end, the inlet end being wider than the outlet end, the inlet end being configured to receive the toy vehicles traveling on the first curved track segment and the second curved track segment; and a snare trap mechanism located at the outlet end of the third curved track segment, wherein the snare trap mechanism is configured to capture a first one of the toy vehicles traveling through the outlet end of the third curved track segment.

A mounting plate fixed to a longitudinally extending rail is secured by a plurality of bolts in a substrate. The mounting plate is formed at each bolt with an array of ridges. An adjuster plate formed with a vertically throughgoing transversely elongated slot through which the respective bolt extends has a lower face formed with an array of downwardly projecting generally complementary to the ridges of the mounting plate and an upper face formed with a central recessed seat defined between two longitudinally extending and parallel edges at a predetermined transverse spacing. A gauge plate formed with two parallel outer edges spaced apart by a distance substantially equal to the transverse spacing of the seat edges and with an eccentric circular hole of a diameter substantially equal to an outer diameter of the shank of the respective bolt that extends vertically through the circular hole fits in the seat.

A ballast anti-flight sleeper characterized by having on the upper face two surfaces endowed with sufficient inclination as to prevent the accumulation of ballast over this side of the sleeper, with this geometric topology being the main claim; the fundamental elements in the same figure: track (1), ballast anti-flight sleeper (2), ballast (3) and the elements to anchor and secure the track (4).

Automated banking machines operate to cause financial transfers responsive to data read from data bearing records. Each of the automated banking machines includes a card reader that is operative to read data from user cards corresponding to financial accounts. Transactions are authorized responsive at least in part to correspondence between card data and stored data corresponding to authorized users. Entities responsible for operating the automated banking machines may receive messages that include information or update code items for software or firmware usable in the banking machines for which they have operational responsibility.

A system for fastening a rail to a substrate has an anchor in the substrate, a fastener having a shank secured in the anchor and a head above the substrate, an angle guide plate vertically traversed by the shank, an annular part between the head of the fastener and the guide plate, and a spring clip engaged between the head and the part and shiftable transversely of the rail and of the shank between a preinstallation position horizontally offset from and not engaging the rail and a final installation position bearing vertically downward on the rail. A seal ring engages in both the preinstallation position and the final installation position around the shank and compressed between the part, the angle plate, and the shank so as to prevent water from traveling down the shank into the anchor.

A trackbed liner which has a particular utility in a railway trackbed, as well as in other trackbeds such as tram trackbeds. The trackbed liner may include an upper support layer; a lower support layer; and at least one middle filtration layer of a material having a plurality of pores and which is normally impermeable to liquid water. In use and under the load of a vehicle acting on the trackbed, the filtration layer permits passage of liquid water upwardly therethrough but restricts the passage of solids materials, so as to restrict pumping erosion of material located beneath the liner. The trackbed liner may be used to renovate a trackbed comprising ballast contaminated with clay particles. The method includes removing contaminated ballast; laying the trackbed liner; and locating fresh ballast on an upper surface of the liner to provide a renovated trackbed.

An assembly to hold a rail boot to a rail during embedded track construction comprising: a cover having a bottom surface, a first portion of the bottom surface generally conforming to a length of a top surface of a rail head; the bottom surface having a second portion defining a convex shape adjacent to and generally parallel to the length of the top surface of the rail head; the bottom surface further defining a hook to engage a gauge side of the rail boot; and a clip having first and second ends, wherein the first end engages a gauge side of the cover; and the second end engages a field side of the cover and/or the rail boot.

Systems and related methods involving isolation tubs are provided. In this regard, a representative system includes: an isolation tub formed of fiberglass reinforced plastic resin, the tub defining a reservoir; concrete positioned within the reservoir; and rails extending across the tub and being supported by the concrete, the rails being spaced from each other to form a special trackwork (STW) assembly.

A bonded, direct fixation fastener as supportive structure for a rail on a railroad tie or bed comprising: a rail plate, wherein the rail plate has a generally horizontal center portion having a lower face and an upper face and defining a rail plate horizontal plane, and wherein the rail plate center portion extends at a first angle from opposing sides as rail plate tongues above the rail plate horizontal plane, the rail plate having a rail securing device; a bed plate comprising a generally horizontal center portion, an upper bed plate face defining a bed plate horizontal plane, and a pair of opposing bed plate tongues extending from opposing sides of the bed plate horizontal center portion disposed at a second angle above the bed plate horizontal plane; a horizontal elastomeric portion of relatively lower durometer hardness encapsulating at least a portion of the bed plate and at least a portion of the rail plate; and vertical elastomeric portions of relatively higher durometer hardness encapsulating at least a portion of each bed plate tongue and at least a portion of each rail plate tongue, and surrounding the upper face of the rail plate; and wherein each vertical elastomeric portion is physically continuous with the horizontal elastomeric portion.

The invention relates to a system for securing a rail, including a guide plate for providing lateral support for the rail to be secured, a spring element supported on the guide plate and having at least one spring arm exerting an elastic retaining force on the base of the rail, and tensioning means for tensioning the spring element. Such a system allows an optimally secure support of the rail even in the case of a level ground having no indentations or stop shoulders, whilst being easy to handle and having only a small number of components to be mounted in each case, by providing a support angle which may be connected to the solid ground and which has a bearing surface against which the guide plate rests on the side facing away from the rail base. According to the invention the support angles are made from a plastic material, in order to facilitate assembly and improve the function of the support angles in practical use.

The present invention provides a surface covering for enabling a surface, e.g. of the uneven, muddy, marshy, or sandy ground type, to be crossed by a vehicle, said surface covering including a double-ply textile core having two covered faces, each covered with at least one polymer layer, and a plurality of through tubular pockets extending substantially transversely through the thickness of the core between the two layers, and enabling respective stiffener bars to be inserted into each tubular pocket so as to make it possible, in particular, to increase the drivability and the load-bearing capacity of the surface when the surface covering is positioned on said surface.

A closure assembly for a container having a housing with a fluid passage, a retaining ring attached to an inner surface of a wall of the housing and having a sloping centering flange, and a valve positioned in the housing and sealing the fluid passage.

A zipper for use in a reclosable bag including an elongated groove profile having two arms which form a general U-shape to define an opening to a channel, and an elongated rib profile opposing the groove profile. A plurality of first segments of the rib profile alternate with a plurality of second segments of the rib profile to create a structural discontinuity along a length thereof. The first segments have larger cross-sections and shorter lengths than the second segments such that interlocking the groove and rib profiles creates the audible clicking sound when the groove and rib profiles are engaged.

A self opening bag includes front and real walls joined at their respective first and second side and bottom edges. The bag is folded at least once parallel to its side edges. At least one attaching feature is located on the outer surface of the bag adjacent the upper end and between the folded walls. The bag is releasably attached to a subsequent bag. The at least one attaching feature causes the bag to open as the bag is pulled from the subsequent bag. The once folded bag may be sealed at the bottom edges after folding to form a star-sealed bag bottom. The bags may be removably attached to each other at a perforation line and wound onto a compact roll for use with a bag dispenser. The bags may have an upper seam, a U-shaped cut and a pair of bag handles. The bags may be corona treated.

A polymeric woven bag has a first panel and a second panel and an open end of the bag to be pinched closed. A first layer of heat activated adhesive material is on a portion of the bag to form an adhesive-to-adhesive seal by contact with a second layer of heat activated adhesive material on a portion of the bag, wherein a chemical family of the adhesive layers comprises polyolefin thermoplastic components, and wherein the first adhesive layer and the second adhesive layer have respective heat activation temperatures below the softening point temperature of the polymeric bag material.

A bulk material product bag has an adhesive closure strip fixedly secured thereon. As a result of the adhesive closure strip being oriented transversely across the normally open end region of the bulk material product bag so as to be adhesively bonded to both the back and front sides of the bulk material product bag, the adhesive closure strip effectively closes and seals the open end region of the bulk material product bag. Handle structure can also be integrally incorporated within the adhesive closure strip.

An easy-open and reclosable package includes a pouch including a discrete laminate including a base strip, a panel section, and a die cut defining a die cut segment; a first and second anchor seal; the base strip including a sealing segment, backing segment, and intermediate layer including a pressure sensitive adhesive; and a product disposed in the pouch. The die cut segment is so arranged that when the package is opened, the sealing segment is partially removed from the base strip, the pressure sensitive adhesive is partially exposed, and the package can thereafter be reclosed by adhering any of the first side panel, second side panel, and panel section to the pressure sensitive adhesive. Methods of making the package, and a pouch, are also disclosed.

A sorbent container includes a plurality of sealed pockets connected in a strip. At least one of the pockets is a filled pocket containing a quantity of sorbent material. A pocket adjacent to the filled pocket is empty.

Disclosed herein is an adapter for use with ordinary lawn and leaf bags and a method for manufacture of such adapter. The adapter has a cavity that has four sides and four corners, and a lower portion consisting of four flaps. The use of a frame, side and/or corner fasteners create an adapter where the flaps lie inside the bag and the cavity remains outside the bag to create a large surface area for filling the bag and also prevents the mouth of the bag from closing due to wind or other forces.

A gastight valve strip for a reclosable container. The valve strip includes opposing first and second film layers adapted to be disposed over a container aperture through a sidewall of the reclosable container. The first film layer is attached to the second film layer by a first thermal seal disposed around the periphery of the first film layer. An attachment surface of the second film layer is adapted to be sealed to the sidewall of the reclosable container. Opposing surfaces of the first and second film layers form a substantially gastight seal therebetween upon contact of the film layers. Offset first film layer and second film layer apertures extend through the first and second film layers, respectively, the first film layer aperture being in fluid communication with an exterior side of the valve strip and the second film layer aperture being configured to be in fluid communication with the container aperture.

The present invention relates to the description of machine-assisted production assemblies and to the optimization thereof, said assemblies having, built therein, a patented device for folding into deep coated folds, thus making it possible to create paper packaging for fast food, said assemblies all comprising a folded element from a folded paper strip 31. Said machines are modular and all comprise, upstream, an assembly of modules 5, 6, and 7 that supply a folded paper strip 31 that is then converted in a specific finishing module 8 for making, from said lidded paper strip, a packaging for a sandwich or loose product such as fries or chicken pieces.

A stopper for being sealed between two sheets of a reservoir, including a body defining a front face, rear face, internal edge, and external edge. The body forms a dispenser orifice that passes through from the rear face to the front face, the front and rear faces defining front and rear heat-sealing zones for the sheets. The front face defines a fluid collection zone at the orifice and the rear face defines a fluid delivery channel that extends from the dispenser orifice to the internal edge of the body. A closure lid is provided, the lid connected to the base body via a hinge. The body defines tapering side edges where the front and rear heat-sealing zones are contiguous, and the front and rear faces are convex, to define a maximum thickness where the dispenser orifice, the delivery channel, and a fraction of the collection zone are formed.

Provided are pouches with rigid handles and/or internal supports and methods of making such pouches. In one aspect, a pouch with internal support includes a flexible pouch including a fitment coupled to a flexible pouch body and at least one inner support piece coupled to the fitment and extending into the inside of the pouch through the interior of the fitment. The fitment includes a fitment inner engagement feature and the at least one inner support piece includes an inner support engagement feature and at least one inner support extending from the inner support engagement feature. The fitment inner engagement feature and inner support engagement feature are interlocked to keep the at least one inner support piece from falling into or out of the flexible pouch body.

A reclosable bag or pouch configured to store, and to easily pour, material. The reclosable bag is configured with an integral pour spout having a reclosable fastener to facilitate the pouring of material from the bag, and subsequent resealing. By locating the pour spout along an upper side of the bag, material is focused downward from the bag, and not outward, when poured. Bags configured in this manner thus provide end users with enhanced control over the dispensing rate and direction of their contents. In some embodiments, the bag is also configured as a self-supporting bag capable of resting generally upright upon its bottom end.

An insulated container includes a first laminated structure having a metal layer and a second laminated structure having a metal layer. The metal layer of the first laminated structure faces the metal layer of the second laminated structure. The insulated container also includes a foam material layer disposed between the first laminated structure and the second laminated structure. The metal layer of the first laminated structure is bonded to the metal layer of the second laminated structure at a plurality of locations.

A cylindrical stopper for closing a medical system and a method for closing a medical system, and to the medical system itself, closed with the stopper of the invention.

In the case of a package (1) for single-dose films (2) containing active substances, comprising an upper packaging material element (3) and a lower packaging material element (4) which are connected together by a peripheral seal area or respectively sealing seam (5) such that a cavity (6) for holding the film (2) is formed, said cavity being enclosed on all sides, wherein the upper packaging material element (3) and the lower packaging material element (4) each have at least one cut (7, 8) in the region of the seal area or respectively, the sealing seam (5), said cuts being congruent, andat least one cut (7, 8) is crossed by a folding or bending line (10), the folding or bending line (10) is formed in a weakened manner.

A pet waste disposal kit includes a kit bag with an impermeable lining that can be worn around the waist or over the shoulder of the pet handler. The kit bag serves as the secondary container for filled waste collection bags, and it also serves to store the other materials contained in the kit. The kit also includes a supply of lightweight, impermeable, biodegradable plastic gloves, which can be made of biodegradable polyethylene, and a supply of waste collection bags made of lightweight, impermeable, biodegradable plastic, containing a disinfecting-deodorizing mixture. The disinfecting-deodorizing mixture contains a highly alkaline compound, a desiccant and a deodorizer. The waste collection bags have re-sealable zip-locks or twist ties. The kit also includes a supply of antiseptic hand wipes or a liquid hand sanitizer.

An inflatable structure may be formed from a single piece of flexible film using a provided method of manufacturing. The inflatable structure may include quilting seals which divide the inflatable chamber. The inflatable structure may also include an external valve opening extending through multiple layers of the flexible film. The external valve opening may further be partially defined by edge portions of the flexible film formed by folding the flexible film. The external valve opening may be configured to align with an opening in a container or an inflation aperture in a pouch so that the inflatable structure can be inflated while inside the container/pouch. A corresponding inflation device fills the inflatable structure with air and may do so without requiring heat sealing or contact between the inflatable structure and outlet of the inflation device. A hinged plate apparatus may assist in directing air into the external valve opening.

A sleeve has an open top and side edges. One or more handles are defined by perforations that extend inward from the side edges and can terminate with a stress concentration-reducing shape. The handles may be tapered. The handles may include a reinforcing weld formed by an extension of the bottom seal of adjacent, oppositely oriented sleeves.

In an embodiment of the disclosed technology, a bag is used for transporting and organizing items. The bag is generally formed of a removably attachable upper and a lower portion. The upper portion forms at least a portion of one side of the bag and is attached to the lower portion by a fastening mechanism. The lower portion forms the bottom and at least a portion of the sides of the bag. The upper portion is detachable to provide a hanging accessory organizer, having pockets and suspension device. In embodiments of the disclosed technology, access to the bag may be provided by an additional fastenable opening. Zippers may be used as the fasteners, and may run parallel to one another, completely or partially surrounding the perimeter of the upper portion.

The present disclosure provides a multiple chamber container that includes a container body sealed around a peripheral edge and having an outlet. The container also includes a first peel seal having a projecting portion and a second peel seal that isolates the outlet. The second peel seal may also include a projecting portion. The first and second peel seals may be configured to define a symmetrical chamber. The chamber may include an axis of symmetry extending between the first and second projecting portions. The chamber geometry of the container ensures a correct sequential opening of the first and second peel seals.

A reclosable pouch includes a body portion having first and second opposing sidewalls and a first web having a first portion attached to the first sidewall and a first unattached portion. The first web is disposed on an internal side of the first sidewall. The reclosable pouch further includes a second web having a second portion attached to the second sidewall and a second unattached portion. The second web is disposed on an internal side of the second sidewall. Additionally, the reclosable pouch includes a first closure mechanism having first and second closure profiles with the first closure profile disposed on the first web at the first attached portion and the second closure profile disposed on the second web at the second attached portion. Furthermore, the reclosable pouch includes a second closure mechanism having third and fourth closure profiles with the third closure profile disposed on the first web at the first unattached portion and the fourth closure profile disposed on the second web at the second unattached portion.

A flexible storage bag defines an inner storage area within which is provided a flexible barrier. A user can select a first storage mode wherein the flexible barrier is positioned to one side such that only a single storage zone is available for storing products; or a dual storage mode wherein the barrier divides the storage area into first and second storage zones. The bag preferably includes an upper closure assembly having a loop extending therefrom to aid a user in sealing the bag, as well as potentially hanging the bag from a hook. The bag optionally includes a lower closure assembly on the flexible barrier for selectively sealing one of the multiple storage zones. Offset tabs may be provided to aid a user in opening the bag. In some embodiments, the bag includes a graphical image puzzle constituting multiple graphic images that combine to form a completed image.

The present disclosure relates to a one piece multi-rib fastener including at least two groups of ribs, each rib with one or more hooks, wherein the groups are separated by a space less than the width of the maximum number of ribs within one of the groups.

A closure having two profile strips for an at least partially flexible container for connecting a first container to a second container in a manner sealed against the environment in a such a way that a closed docking position can be obtained. Further the closure provides for conducting a flow in a sealed manner against the environment in a flow direction through the closure from the first container into the second container in such a way that an open docking position can be obtained. According to the described system, the second container facing the first container is designed with an identical closure that engages in the closure of the first container in the open docking position and forms a channel for the flow in the flow direction together with the closure.

The present invention regards a package (1) for food products comprising a flexible container (2) having a first wall (5) and a second wall (6) opposite each other and peripherally sealed along at least the respective side edges (5a, 6a, 5b, 6b), a space (8) inside said walls containing, optionally in sterile conditions, a food product (73), and a gusset element (10) extended between the upper edges (5c, 6c) of said first wall (5) and of said second wall (6), said gusset element (10) defining a pocket (14) turned towards the interior of said flexible container (2), characterized in that it comprises an opening and closing device (3) housed in said pocket (14) and constrained to said flexible container (2), said opening and closing device (3) comprising a pourer body (15) associated with an opening and closing cap (16), and cutting means (42) suitable to perforate said flexible container (2) at the time of the first opening of said packaging (1). The invention also regards a method for packaging a food product, in particular in sterile conditions, in a package of the aforesaid type, a flexible container for a package of the aforesaid type as well as a method for producing such container.

A packaging device allowing for the distribution, storage and cooking of various food products, such as perishable or frozen food product(s). The packaging device includes a plurality of micro-perforations that may promote the extended shelf-life of the perishable food product and the maintenance of the quality of the perishable food product or be configured to maintain the integrity of a frozen food product. The packaging device also includes a venting system that allows the cooking of the perishable or frozen food products within the packaging device.

The plastic bag may include flexible thermoplastic sidewalls that have a pattern imparted onto them. The wrinkle pattern may be a plurality of linear ribs formed into the sidewall that may be arranged adjacent and parallel to one another. To impart the pattern to the sidewall, a thermoplastic web used to make the sidewall may be directed between a first cylindrical roller and a second cylindrical roller, each of which may have a plurality of spaced ridges extending about their peripheries. When the web is directed between the first and second rollers, the meshing of the ridges may form ribs into the web.