US3875373A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Vacuum-applied heating pad
Assignee: Boeing Co
•
Filing: 1974-02-14
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Granted: 1975-04-01
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Expires: 1994-02-14
Abstract
Abstract Disclosed is a disc-shaped, vacuum-applied, heating pad for applying heat and pressure during bonding of an object to a thermally conductive substrate using a thermosetting adhesive. The pad includes a flexible, resilient body having a generally flat bottom surface and a flexible vacuum lip depending downwardly from and around the periphery of the body. The lip terminates below the lower surface of the body such that the body and the lip define a shallow cavity on the underside of the pad. A flexible, metal foil electrical heating element is disposed on the underside of the body. The heating element is annular in shape, the aperture therein being positionable over the object to be bonded so that heat is transmitted from the heating element through the substrate and thence to the thermosetting adhesive disposed between the object and the substrate. Pressure is applied to the object being bonded by evacuating the cavity via a vacuum conduit communicating with the cavity and with the exterior of the pad. As the flexible pad is drawn down by the vacuum, the portion of the pad body within the aperture in the heating element contacts the object and applies pressure thereto.
Inventors
- 👤 Patrick A Lowery
- 👤 Richard L Egger
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-09 01:28
CPC Classifications
H; H05; H05B; H05B3/00; H05B3/20; H05B3/22; H05B3/26; H05B2203/00; H05B2203/002; H05B2203/016; H05B2203/017
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 8
Claim 1
Independent Claim
223 words
A heating pad for pressing an object against a support and simultaneously heating the object and the region of the support surrounding said object, comprising: a vacuum pad comprising a relatively thin body of resilient flexible material, said body defining a surface, and a flexible lip depending from and extending around the peripheral edge of said body so as to surround said surface and with said surface define a cavity, said vacuum pad including a passageway suitable for allowing air to be exhausted from said cavity; a flexible sheet-like, metal foil, heating element affixed to said surface of said body, said heating element defining an aperture spaced inwardly from the periphery thereof, and, electrical connecting means for connecting said heating element to a source of electricity; said vacuum pad and said heating element being formed in a manner such that when: (a) said lip is placed against a suitable support; (b) an object is located between said surface and said support in the region generally defined by said aperture; and (c) said cavity is evacuated, said object is pressed against said support and substantially all of said thin, sheet-like, flexible heating element is pressed toward said support around said object in a manner such that heat generated by said heating element causes said support to be heated in the region surrounding said object.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
223 words
A heating pad for pressing an object against a support and simultaneously heating the object and the region of the support surrounding said object, comprising: a vacuum pad comprising a relatively thin body of resilient flexible material, said body defining a surface, and a flexible lip depending from and extending around the peripheral edge of said body so as to surround said surface and with said surface define a cavity, said vacuum pad including a passageway suitable for allowing air to be exhausted from said cavity; a flexible sheet-like, metal foil, heating element affixed to said surface of said body, said heating element defining an aperture spaced inwardly from the periphery thereof, and, electrical connecting means for connecting said heating element to a source of electricity; said vacuum pad and said heating element being formed in a manner such that when: (a) said lip is placed against a suitable support; (b) an object is located between said surface and said support in the region generally defined by said aperture; and (c) said cavity is evacuated, said object is pressed against said support and substantially all of said thin, sheet-like, flexible heating element is pressed toward said support around said object in a manner such that heat generated by said heating element causes said support to be heated in the region surrounding said object.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
14 words
A heating pad as claimed in claim 1, wherein said surface is substantially planar.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
28 words
A heating pad as claimed in claim 1, wherein said heating element is annular in shape and wherein the area surrounded by said annular shape forms said aperture.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
31 words
A heating pad as claimed in claim 1, including a first temperature sensing means mounted in said body adjacent to said heating element for sensing the temperature of said heating element.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
38 words
A heating pad as claimed in claim 4, including a second temperature sensing means mounted in said body in the region generally defined by said aperture for sensing the temperature in the region generally defined by said aperture.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
44 words
A heating pad as claimed in claim 1, including a thin, flexible, sheet-like substrate located on the side of said heating element remote from said surface defined by said body of said vacuum pad, said substrate and said heating element forming a laminate structure.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
18 words
A heating pad as claimed in claim 1, wherein said heating element and said aperture are substantially concentric.
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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) | 1978-03-31 | 1978-09-30 | 1979-04-01 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1982-03-31 | 1982-09-30 | 1983-04-01 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1986-03-31 | 1986-09-30 | 1987-04-01 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |