Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 10
Claim 1
Independent Claim
189 words
A method of forming a product comprising a relatively thin facing sheet of flexible material supported by and bonded to a relatively thick rigid substrate structure, the said facing sheet having portions lying in respective non-parallel planes and connected by a respective curved portion of said facing sheet, the method comprising forming an intermediate product in which said facing sheet, in a substantially planar, state is bonded to respective planar surfaces of at least two rigid substrate members separated, in a direction parallel with the plane of the facing sheet, by a gap defined between opposing edges of said substrate members and spanned by said facing sheet, moving said rigid substrate members relatively to one another to place the respective portions of said facing sheet bonded to said substrate members in the respective desired non-parallel planes whilst curving (as herein defined) the facing sheet spanning said gap, then introducing into the gap defined between said rigid substrate members a synthetic resin in a liquid or flowable condition and causing or allowing said resin to harden to maintain said substrate members and said facing sheet in the desired relative positions.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
189 words
A method of forming a product comprising a relatively thin facing sheet of flexible material supported by and bonded to a relatively thick rigid substrate structure, the said facing sheet having portions lying in respective non-parallel planes and connected by a respective curved portion of said facing sheet, the method comprising forming an intermediate product in which said facing sheet, in a substantially planar, state is bonded to respective planar surfaces of at least two rigid substrate members separated, in a direction parallel with the plane of the facing sheet, by a gap defined between opposing edges of said substrate members and spanned by said facing sheet, moving said rigid substrate members relatively to one another to place the respective portions of said facing sheet bonded to said substrate members in the respective desired non-parallel planes whilst curving (as herein defined) the facing sheet spanning said gap, then introducing into the gap defined between said rigid substrate members a synthetic resin in a liquid or flowable condition and causing or allowing said resin to harden to maintain said substrate members and said facing sheet in the desired relative positions.
Claim 3
Independent Claim
49 words
A method according to claim I wherein the gap into which said resin is introduced is partly defined by the curved surface of said facing sheet in the region thereof spanning said slot, and is partly defined by at least portions of said opposing edges of said substrate members.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
87 words
A method according to claim I or claim 2 wherein, prior to introduction of the resin, the facing sheet and substrate members are supported so that said gap has the form of an upwardly open longitudinally extended horizontal channel, the bottom of which channel is defined by the curved portion of the facing sheet and the sides of which are afforded by the opposing edges of the substrate members, said channel being closed at its ends by closure members and the resin being cast into said channel.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
50 words
A method according to claim I or claim 2 wherein said edges of the substrate members are so formed, and the substrate members so arranged prior to the introduction of said resin, that said gap is closed by portions of said substrate members, except at the ends of said slot.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
59 words
A method according to claim or claim 2 wherein a filler member is fitted in the region of said gap in such a way that said gap is partially bounded by said filler member, and the arrangement is such that prior to the introduction of said resin, the said gap is closed except at the ends of said slot.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
78 words
A method according to claim 5 or claim 6 wherein prior to introduction of said resin into said gap, the ends of said gap are closed by respective end plates engaging in sealing engagement a respective set of co-planar end faces of the substrate members, and, if present, said filler member, and a respective co-planar edge of the facing sheet, and wherein said resin is introduced into said gap via a port in one of said end plates.
Claim 8
Independent Claim
29 words
A method according to any preceding claim wherein said resin is one which sets from an initially liquid or flowable condition to a hard condition by a chemical reaction.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
18 words
A method according to claim 7 wherein said end plates are heated to accelerate hardening of said resin.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
14 words
A product produced by the method of any one of claims I to 8.