US3817671A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Apparatus for forming sheet material
Assignee: Individual
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Filing: 1972-08-02
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Granted: 1974-06-18
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Expires: 1992-08-02
Abstract
Abstract An apparatus and method are provided for forming sheet material having openings therein extending for substantially the entire length of the sheet. In one form, the sheet is formed of plastic and, while in a heat softened condition, openings are provided therein by the insertion of tooling into the sheet at spaced apart intervals which tooling displaces material of the sheet to form cavities or holes therein. In a particular form, the sheet is predeterminately expanded to form enlarged openings either while the tooling is retained within the sheet or thereafter while the sheet is in an expandable condition. The sheet may be post formed by suitable dies or rollers after it has been expanded to control or predetermine its shape.
Inventors
- 👤 J Lemelson
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-02 23:57
CPC Classifications
B; B29; B29C; B29C44/00; B29C44/34; B29C44/56; B29C44/5627; B29C44/5663; B26; B26F; B26F1/00; B26F1/24; B29C44/36; B29C44/46; B29C44/50; B29C44/505; B29C48/00; B29C48/001; B29C48/002; B29C48/03; B29C48/07; B29C48/15; B29C48/154; B29C48/16; B29C48/18; B29C48/21; B29C48/0013; B29C48/0014; B29C48/0018; B29C48/0022; B29C48/08; B29C48/13; B29L; B29L2028/00
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 9
Claim 1
Independent Claim
146 words
An apparatus for forming sheet material with interstices therein comprising: means for feeding a sheet of material, sheet forming means operable to receive said sheet as it is fed, said sheet forming means including a support having protrusions extending therefrom for forming openings in said sheet and means for driving said support to bring said protrusions into engagement with said sheet in a manner to penetrate and form openings in said sheet by displacing material of the sheet, means for rendering said sheet in a softened condition, and means operable to engage and apply a force to a portion of said sheet while said protrusions are penetrating said sheet and restrain the movement of said portion of said sheet so as to tension said sheet sufficiently to cause the sheet to be stretched and expanded whereby the openings formed by said protrusions are increased in size.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
146 words
An apparatus for forming sheet material with interstices therein comprising: means for feeding a sheet of material, sheet forming means operable to receive said sheet as it is fed, said sheet forming means including a support having protrusions extending therefrom for forming openings in said sheet and means for driving said support to bring said protrusions into engagement with said sheet in a manner to penetrate and form openings in said sheet by displacing material of the sheet, means for rendering said sheet in a softened condition, and means operable to engage and apply a force to a portion of said sheet while said protrusions are penetrating said sheet and restrain the movement of said portion of said sheet so as to tension said sheet sufficiently to cause the sheet to be stretched and expanded whereby the openings formed by said protrusions are increased in size.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
40 words
An apparatus in accordance with claim 1 wherein said sheet forming means comprises a drum having said protrusions extending radially therefrom and means for power rotating said drum in a manner to permit said sheet to be tensionally driven therefrom.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
22 words
An apparatus in accordance with claim 1 including means for roll forming said sheet after it has left said sheet forming means.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
55 words
An apparatus in accordance with claim 1 wherein said sheet forming means is a power rotated drum having protrusions extending outwardly therefrom, said means operable to engage and apply a force to a portion of said sheet comprising a roll forming means located downstream of said drum for compressing and forming said sheet to shape.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
29 words
An apparatus in accordance with claim 4 wherein said means for tensioning said sheet and said roll forming means comprises at least one set of opposed power rotated rolls.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
79 words
An apparatus in accordance with claim 1 including means for intermittently power operating said sheet forming means and controlling the operation of said means operable to engage and apply a force to a portion of said sheet while the protrusions of said sheet forming means are penetraTing said sheet so as to intermittently stretch-form said sheet and predeterminately expand the openings formed therein by said protrusions of said support each time said protrusions are made to penetrate said sheet.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
94 words
An apparatus in accordance with claim 1 wherein said means for feeding a sheet of material comprises an extruder for extruding said sheet of thermoplastic material in a softened and formable condition in which condition it is operated on by said forming means whereby said forming means may easily form and displace the material of said sheet with the protrusions thereof and means for rapidly transferring heat from said sheet to solidify same to retain said openings in said sheet in substantially their expanded condition defined by the tensioning and stretching of said sheet.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
39 words
An apparatus in accordance with claim 1 in which said means for feeding said sheet comprises an extruder for extrusion forming said sheet of self-expanding plastic which forms a cellular sheet of the extruded plastic after leaving said extruder.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1977-06-17 | 1977-12-17 | 1978-06-18 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1981-06-17 | 1981-12-17 | 1982-06-18 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1985-06-17 | 1985-12-17 | 1986-06-18 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |