US3868288A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Producing an applique thermoplastic article
Assignee: Individual
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Filing: 1972-07-03
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Granted: 1975-02-25
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Expires: 1992-07-03
Abstract
Abstract To produce an applique article a layer of thermoplastic sheet material is placed onto a substrate so that a surface of the layer is exposed. The layer is thereupon heated and softened, and is then pressed at selected portions of the surface against and into bonding engagement with the substrate. The remaining portions of the surface of the layer are subjected to suction so as to lift them off the substrate and form them into a raised three-dimensional pattern.
Inventors
- 👤 Andrew Ercolano
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-01 05:56
CPC Classifications
B; B32; B32B; B32B27/00; B32B27/12; B29; B29C; B29C51/00; B29C51/26; B29C51/266; B29C51/267; B29C65/00; B29C65/02; B29C65/04; B29C65/74; B29C65/743; B29C65/7441; B29C66/00; B29C66/01; B29C66/05; B29C66/10; B29C66/11; B29C66/112; B29C66/1122; B29C66/40; B29C66/41; B29C66/43; B29C66/47; B29C66/472; B44; B44C; B44C3/00; B44C3/08; B44C3/087; B29C65/14; B29C65/1403; B29C65/1412; B29C66/432; B29C66/4326; B29C66/70; B29C66/71; B29C66/80; B29C66/83; B29C66/832; B29C66/8322; B29L; B29L2031/00; B29L2031/722; B32B2327/00; B32B2327/06; Y; Y10; Y10T; Y10T156/00; Y10T156/10; Y10T156/1052; Y10T428/00; Y10T428/27
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 5
Claim 1
Independent Claim
128 words
METHOD OF PRODUCING AN APPLIQUIE ARTICLE, COMPRISING THE STEPS OF PLACING A LAYER OF THERMOPLASTIC SHEET MATERIAL INTO A SUBSTRATE SO THAT A SURFACE OF SAID LAYER IS EXPOSED; HEATING AND SOFTENING SAID LAYER OF THERMOPLASTIC SHEET MATERIAL; PRESSING THE SOFTENED THERMOPLASTIC SHEET MATERIAL AT SELECTED PORTIONS OF SAID SURFACE AGINST AND BONDING IT TO SAID SUBSTRATE, ONE OF SAID SELECTED PORTIONS BEING A CIRCUMFERENTIALLY COMPLETE ANNULAR BONDING ZONE; SUBJECTING THE REMAINING PORTIONS OF SAID SURFACE OF THE LAYER OF SAID HEATED THERMOPLASTIC SHEET MATERIAL, WHILE SAID SELECTED PORTIONS ARE BONDED TO SAID SUBSTRATE, TO A SUCTION REQUISITE, FOR LIFTING SAID REMIAINING PORTI OFF SAID SUBSTRATE; VACUUM-FORMING A THREE-DIMENTIONAL PATTERN IN SAID REMIANING PORTIONS OF THE SOFTENED THERMOPLASTIC SHEET MATERIAL CONCOMITANTLY WITH THE STEP OF LIFTING SAID RE-
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
128 words
METHOD OF PRODUCING AN APPLIQUIE ARTICLE, COMPRISING THE STEPS OF PLACING A LAYER OF THERMOPLASTIC SHEET MATERIAL INTO A SUBSTRATE SO THAT A SURFACE OF SAID LAYER IS EXPOSED; HEATING AND SOFTENING SAID LAYER OF THERMOPLASTIC SHEET MATERIAL; PRESSING THE SOFTENED THERMOPLASTIC SHEET MATERIAL AT SELECTED PORTIONS OF SAID SURFACE AGINST AND BONDING IT TO SAID SUBSTRATE, ONE OF SAID SELECTED PORTIONS BEING A CIRCUMFERENTIALLY COMPLETE ANNULAR BONDING ZONE; SUBJECTING THE REMAINING PORTIONS OF SAID SURFACE OF THE LAYER OF SAID HEATED THERMOPLASTIC SHEET MATERIAL, WHILE SAID SELECTED PORTIONS ARE BONDED TO SAID SUBSTRATE, TO A SUCTION REQUISITE, FOR LIFTING SAID REMIAINING PORTI OFF SAID SUBSTRATE; VACUUM-FORMING A THREE-DIMENTIONAL PATTERN IN SAID REMIANING PORTIONS OF THE SOFTENED THERMOPLASTIC SHEET MATERIAL CONCOMITANTLY WITH THE STEP OF LIFTING SAID RE-
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
37 words
A method as defined in claim 1; and further comprising the step of interposing a layer of padding material between said substrate and said layer of thermoplastic sheet material prior to heating and softening of the latter.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
29 words
A method as defined in claim 1, wherein the step of subjecting said remaining portions of said layer to a suction comprises applying a vacuum to said remaining portions.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
76 words
A method as defined in claim 1, wherein the step of pressing said selected portions against said substrate comprises engaging said surface with a die having projecing ribs including at least one circumferentially complete annular rib which engage said selected surface portions, and recesses intermediate said ribs; and wherein the step of subjecting said remaining portions to a suction comprises applying a vacuum to said recesses so as to draw said intermediate portions into the latter.
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) | 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 |