US3868285A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Methods and apparatus for the manufacture of cellular cushioning materials
Assignee: Individual
•
Filing: 1973-07-18
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Granted: 1975-02-25
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Expires: 1993-07-18
Abstract
Abstract Apparatus for making cellular cushioning materials in two primary steps. In the first step, two sheets of thermoplastic film integrally joined or otherwise sealed at their edges to form a tube are joined at spaced locations by crosswise heat seals to form a prefabricated structure suitable for shipping in dense roll form. In the second step, the spaces between the crosswise heat seals are filled with an elastic substance, such as air or other gas, and continuous seals are made lengthwise of the prefabricated structure, subdividing the filled spaces into individually sealed inflated cells.
Inventors
- 👤 Constantine T Troy
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-26 21:28
CPC Classifications
B; B32; B32B; B32B27/00; B32B27/06; B32B27/08; B29; B29C; B29C65/00; B29C65/02; B29C65/18; B29C65/22; B29C65/221; B29C65/224; B29C65/229; B29C66/00; B29C66/01; B29C66/02; B29C66/024; B29C66/0242; B29C66/05; B29C66/10; B29C66/11; B29C66/112; B29C66/1122; B29C66/20; B29C66/23; B29C66/232; B29C66/40; B29C66/41; B29C66/43; B29C66/431; B29C66/4312; B29C66/439; B29C66/80; B29C66/81; B29C66/814; B29C66/8141; B29C66/81427; B29C66/81431; B29C66/816; B29C66/8161; B29C66/8167; B29C66/818; B29C66/8181; B29C66/82; B29C66/822; B29C66/8221; B29C66/824; B29C66/8242; B29C66/83; B29C66/832; B29C66/8322; B29C66/834; B29C66/8341; B29C66/83421; B29C66/83423; B29C66/8351; B29C66/83511; B31; B31D; B31D5/00; B31D5/0039; B31D5/0073; B32B3/00; B32B3/26; B32B3/28; B29C35/00; B29C35/16; B29C2035/1616; B29C49/00; B29C49/02; B29C49/06905; B29C49/0691; B29C65/38; B29C66/432; B29C66/70; B29C66/71; B29C66/81411; B29C66/81421; B29C66/81423; B29C66/836; B29C66/84; B29C66/843; B29C66/8432; B29L; B29L2031/00; B29L2031/712; B29L2031/7138; B31D2205/00; B31D2205/0005; B31D2205/0011; B31D2205/0017; B31D2205/0023; Y; Y10; Y10T; Y10T156/00; Y10T156/17; Y10T156/1702; Y10T156/1712; Y10T156/1737; Y10T428/00; Y10T428/24; Y10T428/24628; Y10T428/24661
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 16
Claim 1
Independent Claim
131 words
A method for the manufacture of a closed-cell cushioning material from a prefab, said prefab comprising longitudinallyextending flat sheets of thermoplastic films with said sheets in superposed relationship to one another and defining exposed outer faces, said prefab having longitudinal marginal seals and transversely-extending spaced cross seals terminating relatively adjacent to but spaced from said marginal seals, the method comprising maintaining longitudinal tension on said sheets, longitudinally advancing said sheets while maintaining said marginal seals in predetermined relationship to each other, introducing a gas under pressure into the unsealed spaces between said sheets during said advancement to inflate the same and simultaneously limiting said inflation to a predetermined extent along spaced longitudinal lines of said sheets, and thereafter forming long seals by sealing said sheets together along said spaced longitudinal lines.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
131 words
A method for the manufacture of a closed-cell cushioning material from a prefab, said prefab comprising longitudinallyextending flat sheets of thermoplastic films with said sheets in superposed relationship to one another and defining exposed outer faces, said prefab having longitudinal marginal seals and transversely-extending spaced cross seals terminating relatively adjacent to but spaced from said marginal seals, the method comprising maintaining longitudinal tension on said sheets, longitudinally advancing said sheets while maintaining said marginal seals in predetermined relationship to each other, introducing a gas under pressure into the unsealed spaces between said sheets during said advancement to inflate the same and simultaneously limiting said inflation to a predetermined extent along spaced longitudinal lines of said sheets, and thereafter forming long seals by sealing said sheets together along said spaced longitudinal lines.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
37 words
A method according to claim 1 including the step of distorting said sheets to reduce the distance between said marginal seals prior to said step of maintaining said marginal seals in predetermined spaced relationship to each other.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
29 words
A method according to claim 1 wherein said advancement of said sheets is intermittent and said step of forming said long seals is performed while said sheets are stationary.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
41 words
A method according to claim 2 wherein said step of forming said long seals includes supporting said sheets at one exposed face thereof and applying heat and pressure to the other exposed face of said sheets along said spaced longitudinal lines.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
21 words
A method according to claim 4 including the step of subjecting said long seals to the action of a cooling medium.
Claim 7
Independent Claim
138 words
An apparatus for the production of closed-cell cushioning material from a prefab, said prefab comprising longitudinally-extending flat sheets of a thermoplastic material with said sheets in superimposed relationship to one another and defining exposed outer faces and said superimposed sheets having longitudinally-extending marginal seals and transversely-extending spaced cross seals terminating relatively adjacent to but spaced from said marginal seals, the apparatus comprising means for longitudinally advancing said sheets, means for maintaining said marginal seals in predetermined spaced relationship, means for introducing a gas under pressure into the unsealed spaces between said cross seals to inflate the same, means limiting the inflation of said spaces along spaced longitudinal lines of said sheets and means for thereafter bringing said sheets into contact with each other along said longitudinal lines and for sealing said sheets together on said lines of contact.
Claim 8
Independent Claim
138 words
An apparatus for the production of closed-cell cushioning material from a prefab, said prefab comprising longitudinally-extending flat sheets of a thermoplastic material with said sheets in superimposed relationship to one another and defining exposed outer faces and said superimposed sheets having longitudinally-extending marginal seals and transversely-extending spaced cross seals terminating relatively adjacent to but spaced from said marginal seals, the apparatus comprising means for longitudinally advancing said sheets, means for maintaining said marginal seals in predetermined spaced relationship, means for introducing a gas under pressure into the unsealed spaces between said cross seals to inflate the same, means limiting the inflation of said spaces along spaced longitudinal lines of said sheets and means for thereafter bringing said sheets into contact with each other along said longitudinal lines and for sealing said sheets together on said lines of contact.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
54 words
An apparatus as defined in claim 6 additionally including means for distorting said sheets to reduce the distance between said marginal seals and means supporting said distorting means for the performance of its said function prior to the performance of the function of said means for maintaining the marginal seals in predetermined spaced relationship.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
63 words
An apparatus as defined in claim 7 wherein said means for distorting said sheets comprises means spaced transversely of said sheets and engaging and pressing an exposed face of said sheets in one direction and means spaced transversely of said sheets and positioned intermediate said first mentioned pressing means engaging and pressing the other exposed face of said sheets in the opposite direction.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
23 words
An apparatus as defined in claim 8 wherein there is means for adjusting the pressures against said sheets exerted by said pressing means.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
24 words
An apparatus as defined in claim 6 wherein there is means cooperating with said sheet advancing means for maintaining longitudinal tension on said sheets.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
85 words
An apparatus as defined in claim 6 wherein said means limiting the inflation of said spaces along spaced longitudinal lines comprises a first set of forming elements extended longitudinally of said sheets in overlying relationship to one exposed face thereof and a second set of forming elements extending longitudinally of said sheets in opposed relationship to said first set of forming elements and in underlying relationship to the other exposed face of said sheets and means supporting said first and second elements in said positions.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
39 words
An apparatus as defined in claim 11 wherein said means supporting at least one of said sets of forming elements includes means for adjustment of the set of forming elements supported thereby toward and away from the other set.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
89 words
An apparatus as defined in claim 11 wherein said means for bringing said sheets into contact with each other along longitudinal lines and for sealing said sheets together on said lines of contact comprises a set of sealing elements in longitudinal alignment with one of said sets of forming elements and a set of pressure elements in longitudinal alignment with the other of said sets of forming elements and there is means supporting said set of pressure elements for movement toward and away from said set of sealing elements.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
55 words
An apparatus as defined in claim 13 wherein said sealing elements each include a linear heating means of a given width and said pressure elements each comprise linear insulating means in opposed relationship to a linear heating means, said insulating means defining a groove of less width than said given width of said heating means.
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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) | 1978-02-24 | 1978-08-26 | 1979-02-25 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1982-02-24 | 1982-08-26 | 1983-02-25 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1986-02-24 | 1986-08-26 | 1987-02-25 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |