US3713930A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Process to form elements under pressure
Assignee: Individual
•
Filing: 1970-04-16
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Granted: 1973-01-30
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Expires: 1990-04-16
Abstract
Abstract The process concerns the realization of elements comprising sealed cavities filled with pressurized gas. Said process consists in arranging, in a pressurized chamber, sheets of plastic material; in forming, in at least one of said sheets, cavities which are filled with said pressurized gas; in closing and sealing said sheets according to a closed outline, in such a way as to form one or several closed cavities which, being situated in an ambient with normal pressure (atmospheric pressure) permits the expansion of the gas contained in said cavity or cavities.
Inventors
- 👤 T Levrini
- 👤 G Corti
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-05 21:18
CPC Classifications
B; B29; B29C; B29C65/00; B29C65/02; B29C65/18; B29C49/00; B29C49/0042; B29C49/02; B29C49/06905; B29C49/0691; B29C66/00; B29C66/001; B29C66/01; B29C66/05; B29C66/10; B29C66/11; B29C66/112; B29C66/1122; B29C66/40; B29C66/41; B29C66/43; B29C66/439; B29C66/80; B29C66/81; B29C66/814; B29C66/8141; B29C66/81427; B29C66/81433; B29C66/83; B29C66/834; B29C66/8341; B29C66/83411; B29C66/8351; B29C66/83511; B31; B31D; B31D5/00; B31D5/0039; B31D5/0073; B29C66/70; B29C66/71; B29C66/72; B29C66/723; B29C66/73; B29C66/739; B29C66/7392; B29L; B29L2031/00; B29L2031/712; B29L2031/7138; B31D2205/00; B31D2205/0005; B31D2205/0011; B31D2205/0017; B31D2205/0023; Y; Y10; Y10S; Y10S297/00; Y10S297/02; Y10S297/03; Y10T; Y10T156/00; Y10T156/10; Y10T156/1002; Y10T156/1039; Y10T156/1052; Y10T156/1054
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 22
Claim 1
Independent Claim
175 words
A process for forming articles having trapped gas pockets therein, comprising the steps of: providing at least two plate-like members having mutually engageable surfaces, at least one of said plate-like members being of a flexible material; positioning said plate-like members within a working chamber having a first ambient pressure substantially greater than atmospheric pressure; positioning said two plate-like members in substantially superimposed relationship for trapping some of the pressurized gas in said working chamber between said plate-like members; then maintaining said superimposed plate-like members within said working chamber and sealing said plate-like members together at selected locations while maintaining said first ambient pressure substantially greater than atmospheric pressure to result in formation of a plurality of closed spaces between said plate-like members containing trapped pressurized gases therein; and then exposing said sealingly connected plate-like members to a second ambient pressure which is substantially less than said first ambient pressure for causing the pressurized gases trapped within said spaces to expand to cause at least one of said plate-like members to deform into a definite shape.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
175 words
A process for forming articles having trapped gas pockets therein, comprising the steps of: providing at least two plate-like members having mutually engageable surfaces, at least one of said plate-like members being of a flexible material; positioning said plate-like members within a working chamber having a first ambient pressure substantially greater than atmospheric pressure; positioning said two plate-like members in substantially superimposed relationship for trapping some of the pressurized gas in said working chamber between said plate-like members; then maintaining said superimposed plate-like members within said working chamber and sealing said plate-like members together at selected locations while maintaining said first ambient pressure substantially greater than atmospheric pressure to result in formation of a plurality of closed spaces between said plate-like members containing trapped pressurized gases therein; and then exposing said sealingly connected plate-like members to a second ambient pressure which is substantially less than said first ambient pressure for causing the pressurized gases trapped within said spaces to expand to cause at least one of said plate-like members to deform into a definite shape.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
175 words
A process for forming articles having trapped gas pockets therein, comprising the steps of: providing at least two plate-like members having mutually engageable surfaces, at least one of said plate-like members being of a flexible material; positioning said plate-like members within a working chamber having a first ambient pressure substantially greater than atmospheric pressure; positioning said two plate-like members in substantially superimposed relationship for trapping some of the pressurized gas in said working chamber between said plate-like members; then maintaining said superimposed plate-like members within said working chamber and sealing said plate-like members together at selected locations while maintaining said first ambient pressure substantially greater than atmospheric pressure to result in formation of a plurality of closed spaces between said plate-like members containing trapped pressurized gases therein; and then exposing said sealingly connected plate-like members to a second ambient pressure which is substantially less than said first ambient pressure for causing the pressurized gases trapped within said spaces to expand to cause at least one of said plate-like members to deform into a definite shape.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
175 words
A process for forming articles having trapped gas pockets therein, comprising the steps of: providing at least two plate-like members having mutually engageable surfaces, at least one of said plate-like members being of a flexible material; positioning said plate-like members within a working chamber having a first ambient pressure substantially greater than atmospheric pressure; positioning said two plate-like members in substantially superimposed relationship for trapping some of the pressurized gas in said working chamber between said plate-like members; then maintaining said superimposed plate-like members within said working chamber and sealing said plate-like members together at selected locations while maintaining said first ambient pressure substantially greater than atmospheric pressure to result in formation of a plurality of closed spaces between said plate-like members containing trapped pressurized gases therein; and then exposing said sealingly connected plate-like members to a second ambient pressure which is substantially less than said first ambient pressure for causing the pressurized gases trapped within said spaces to expand to cause at least one of said plate-like members to deform into a definite shape.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
27 words
A process according to claim 1, wherein the sealingly connected plate-like members are exposed to atmospheric pressure to cause expansion of the gases trapped within said spaces.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
31 words
A process according to claim 1, comprising the further step of heating said plate-like members to a desired temperature after said plate-like members have been sealingly connected at the selected locations.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
34 words
A process according to claim 3, wherein the heating step is performed after the sealingly connected plate-like members have been exposed to said seconD ambient pressure causing expansion of the gases within said spaces.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
36 words
A process according to claim 3, wherein the heating step is performed simultaneously with the expansion of the gases within the closed spaces due to exposure of the sealingly connected plates to said second ambient pressure.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
38 words
A process according to claim 1, further including the step of maintaining said superimposed first and second plate-like members a predetermined distance apart prior to sealing said members for enabling the pressurized gases to remain between the members.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
27 words
A process according to claim 6, wherein the distance between the plate-like members previous to sealing of the members is obtained by means of external positioning rollers.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
34 words
A process according to claim 6, wherein the distance between the plate-like members is maintained by spacing means located between the members and located upstream of the location where the sealing step is performed.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
34 words
A process according to claim 6, further including the step of introducing between said plate-like members a continuous layer of material for maintaining said members said distance apart prior to sealing of said members.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
50 words
A process according to claim 6, further including the step of creating on at least one of said members imprints substantially corresponding to the pockets formed during expansion of the gases, said imprints causing said plate-like members to be maintained said predetermined distance apart prior to sealing of said plates.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
29 words
A process according to claim 6, further including the step of providing one of said plate-like members with projection means thereon for maintaining said members said predetermined distance apart.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
39 words
A process according to claim 6, further including the step of directing a gaseous stream between said two plate-like members for maintaining said plate-like members said predetermined distance apart prior to feeding said plate-like members to the sealing location.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
35 words
A process according to claim 1, further including the step of cutting said sealingly connected plate-like members into a plurality of individual elements with each element having at least one trapped gas pocket formed therein.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
55 words
A process according to claim 13, further including the step of introducing a plurality of said elements into a rigid housing at a pressure greater than the atmospheric pressure, and then exposing the housing to atmospheric pressure for causing expansion of the elements within the housing due to the trapped gases contained within the pockets.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
60 words
A process according to claim 3, including the steps of heating the sealingly-connected plate-like members to a temperature approximating the flow temperature of the material for causing partial expansion of the gases trapped within said spaces, then cooling said plate-like members to a temperature below said flow temperature, and then causing further expansion of the gases trapped within said spaces.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
46 words
A process according to claim 1, characterized in that it is a continuous process carried out in a pressurized container and by means of rollers designed to unwind the initial, plate-like materials, as well as by means of rollers to wind the finished materials into plates.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
42 words
A process according to claim 16, characterized in that one of the winding and unwinding rollers are situated at the exit of the pressurized container and provided with sealing means at such point where the materials are introduced to into the rollers.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
38 words
A process according to claim 16 characterized in that the sealing is done by a pair of rollers at least one of which has shaped projections designed to obtain the desired shape and arrangement of the sealing areas.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
39 words
A process according to claim 1, characterized in that the endless, finished material is conveyed into sealed chambers arranged in a row, each of said chambers having different pressures and/or temperatures, to realize a complete and continuous working cycle.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1976-01-30 | 1976-07-31 | 1977-01-30 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1980-01-30 | 1980-07-31 | 1981-01-30 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1984-01-30 | 1984-07-31 | 1985-01-30 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |