US3661683A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Patch press
Assignee: AIRLINE SYSTEMS Inc
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Filing: 1970-11-03
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Granted: 1972-05-09
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Expires: 1990-11-03
Abstract
Abstract The present invention relates to a patch press, particularly but not exclusively adapted to use in repairing airplane surfaces by adhesively patching a double plate over the damaged area. The patch press itself involves a longitudinally split rectangular frame that has clamped therein a cover member which may be heavy duty fabric such as canvas that extends across the framed area and beyond and which serves to carry a plurality of suction cups at the periphery thereof so that the press may be mounted on and adhered to the undamaged surface around the region to be patched with the patch inside the frame. Sealed inside the frame and secured thereto is an inflatable, suitably valved diaphragm into which air or other gas can be pumped. That portion of the cover member inside the framed area acts as an outside reinforcement for the inflatable diaphragm, so that the forces generated when inflatable diaphragm is inflated and beats against the patch are transmitted directly to the suction cups. The patch press is a portable, essentially self-contained unit which can be employed to hold a patch onto an airplane surface and to maintain the patch there under pressure long enough for the adhesive bond to cure.
Inventors
- 👤 Harry C Engel
- 👤 Edward J Ardolino
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-31 19:20
CPC Classifications
B; B29; B29C; B29C73/00; B29C73/24; B29C73/30; B29C73/32; B29C73/04; B29C73/10; B29C73/12; B63; B63B; B63B43/00; B63B43/02; B63B43/10; B63B43/16; B64; B64F; B64F5/00; B64F5/40
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 12
Claim 1
Independent Claim
184 words
A patch press comprising: a frame clamping a multiplicity of layers therein; a cover member clamped by said frame as the uppermost layer, said cover extending across the framed area and beyond said frame; a plurality of suction cups peripherally mounted adjacent the outer edges of said cover member, said suction cups serving as the support elements for the patch press with said frame being supported thereby generally parallel to and in spaced apart relation to the surface being patched; a fluid tight diaphragm extending across the framed area beneath said cover member, said diaphragm being clamped gas tight by said frame and being of a flaccid elastic material; and valve means for adding and removing fluid from the space between said cover and said diaphragm; whereby the patch press may be supported by the suction cup so as to position a patch element inside the framed area of the patch press so that when the space between the said diaphragm and cover member is filled with fluid under pressure, the diaphragm distends into full contact with the patch element applying pressure uniformly thereto.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
184 words
A patch press comprising: a frame clamping a multiplicity of layers therein; a cover member clamped by said frame as the uppermost layer, said cover extending across the framed area and beyond said frame; a plurality of suction cups peripherally mounted adjacent the outer edges of said cover member, said suction cups serving as the support elements for the patch press with said frame being supported thereby generally parallel to and in spaced apart relation to the surface being patched; a fluid tight diaphragm extending across the framed area beneath said cover member, said diaphragm being clamped gas tight by said frame and being of a flaccid elastic material; and valve means for adding and removing fluid from the space between said cover and said diaphragm; whereby the patch press may be supported by the suction cup so as to position a patch element inside the framed area of the patch press so that when the space between the said diaphragm and cover member is filled with fluid under pressure, the diaphragm distends into full contact with the patch element applying pressure uniformly thereto.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
16 words
A patch press as in claim 1 wherein said cover member is a metallic sheet member.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
28 words
A patch press as in claim 1 wherein valve means are disposed in said cover member for admitting fluid under pressure to the space between diaphragm and cover.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
41 words
A patch press as in claim 1 wherein a sealing ring coextensive with said frame and disposed between the diaphragm and cover member is clamped by said frame to provide the gas tight sealed space between said diaphragm and cover member.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
33 words
A patch press as in claim 4 wherein said cover member is a heavy duty inextensible fabric and a second fluid tight diaphragm is interposed between the inextensible fabric and the sealing ring.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
211 words
A patch press comprising: a longitudinally split frame clamping a multiplicity of layers therebetween; an inextensible sheet clamped by said frame as the uppermost layer clamped therein, said sheet extending across the framed area and beyond said frame; a plurality of suction cup assemblies mounted adjacent the outer edges of said inextensible sheet around the periphery thereof, said suction cup assemblies serving as the support elements for the patch press with saId frame being supported thereby generally parallel to and in spaced apart relation to the surface being patched; an upper and a lower fluid tight diaphragm extending across the framed area, said diaphragms being clamped together in a gas tight seal by said frame, and forming two of the layers clamped by said frame, the lower diaphragm at least being of a flaccid elastic material; and valve means for adding and removing fluid from the space between said diaphragms; whereby the patch press may be mounted over a patched surface with the patch element positioned inside the framed area and said suction cups seated on undamaged portions of the surface so that when the space between the said diaphragm is filled with fluid under pressure, the lower diaphragm distends into full contact with the patch element applying pressure uniformly thereto.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
211 words
A patch press comprising: a longitudinally split frame clamping a multiplicity of layers therebetween; an inextensible sheet clamped by said frame as the uppermost layer clamped therein, said sheet extending across the framed area and beyond said frame; a plurality of suction cup assemblies mounted adjacent the outer edges of said inextensible sheet around the periphery thereof, said suction cup assemblies serving as the support elements for the patch press with saId frame being supported thereby generally parallel to and in spaced apart relation to the surface being patched; an upper and a lower fluid tight diaphragm extending across the framed area, said diaphragms being clamped together in a gas tight seal by said frame, and forming two of the layers clamped by said frame, the lower diaphragm at least being of a flaccid elastic material; and valve means for adding and removing fluid from the space between said diaphragms; whereby the patch press may be mounted over a patched surface with the patch element positioned inside the framed area and said suction cups seated on undamaged portions of the surface so that when the space between the said diaphragm is filled with fluid under pressure, the lower diaphragm distends into full contact with the patch element applying pressure uniformly thereto.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
21 words
A patch press as in claim 6 wherein both diaphragms are rubber, and the inextensible sheet is a heavy duty fabric.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
38 words
A patch press as in claim 6 wherein a sealing ring coextensive with said frame and disposed between the diaphragms forms an additional layer clamped by said frame to provide a gas tight sealed space between said diaphragms.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
18 words
A patch press as in claim 6 wherein the upper diaphragm is adhesively attached to the inextensible fabric.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
73 words
A patch press as in claim 6 wherein each suction cup assembly comprises: a suction cup mounted at the base end of a threaded shank; and an internally threaded adjusting nut means to which the inextensible sheet is secured, said adjusting nut means being threaded on said shank whereby the spacing between the inextensible sheet and each suction cup may be adjusted so that the patch press can be fitted to curved surfaces.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US2960147A
Cited
US2987098A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1975-05-09 | 1975-11-08 | 1976-05-09 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1979-05-09 | 1979-11-08 | 1980-05-09 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1983-05-09 | 1983-11-08 | 1984-05-09 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |