Patent USRE31470E successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US4093489A
Expired / Lapsed
US
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Process for laminating photographs and the like into molded articles of melamine-formaldehyde resin
Assignee: Individual
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Filing: 1976-09-22
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Granted: 1978-06-06
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Expires: 1996-09-22
Abstract
Abstract Photographs and other indicia-bearing opaque sheets of paper are laminated to molded articles by: (a) positioning the opaque sheet of paper betweeen two flexible sheets of uncured catalyst-containing thermosetting melamine-formaldehyde condensation product, to form a layup; (b) applying the layup to a surface of a shaped three-dimensional article formed of a partially cured catalyst-containing thermosetting melamine-formaldehyde molding resin, with the indicia-bearing surface of the opaque sheet facing away from said article; and (c) applying heat and pressure to the assembly to cure the condensation product and complete the cure of the partially cured resin.
Inventors
- 👤 Kwang Kil Hong
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-01 00:00
CPC Classifications
B; B32; B32B; B32B27/00; B32B27/06; B32B27/10; B44; B44C; B44C3/00; B44C3/02; B32B27/42; B44F; B44F7/00; B32B38/00; B32B2038/0052; B32B2038/0076; B32B2307/00; B32B2307/40; B32B2307/402; B32B2307/41; B32B2307/414; Y; Y10; Y10T; Y10T156/00; Y10T156/10; Y10T156/1002; Y10T156/1043; Y10T156/1044; Y10T156/1048; Y10T428/00; Y10T428/23; Y10T428/239; Y10T428/24; Y10T428/24628; Y10T428/24736
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 8
Claim 1
Independent Claim
158 words
A process for the production of a rigid molded decorative assembly comprising a decorative element embedded in melamine-formaldehyde resin, comprising the steps of: (a) sandwiching a decorative element, consisting of an indicia-bearing opaque sheet of paper, between two flexible cast, preformed, self-supporting uncured translucent resin films formed by drying a layer of a catalyst-containing aqueous solution of a thermosetting melamine-formaldehyde condensation product at below curing temperature, to form a layup; (b) overlaying the thus-produced layup onto a surface of a flexible three-dimensional molded article formed of a catalyst-containing partially-cured melamine-formaldehyde filled molding resin, with the indicia-bearing surface of the sheet of paper facing away from the molded article, to form an assembly; and (c) curing the melamine-formaldehyde condensation product completing the cure of the partially-cured molding resin, conforming the layup to the shape of the molded article and bonding the layup thereto by heating the thus-produced assembly under pressure in a mold, to produce the rigid decorative assembly.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
158 words
A process for the production of a rigid molded decorative assembly comprising a decorative element embedded in melamine-formaldehyde resin, comprising the steps of: (a) sandwiching a decorative element, consisting of an indicia-bearing opaque sheet of paper, between two flexible cast, preformed, self-supporting uncured translucent resin films formed by drying a layer of a catalyst-containing aqueous solution of a thermosetting melamine-formaldehyde condensation product at below curing temperature, to form a layup; (b) overlaying the thus-produced layup onto a surface of a flexible three-dimensional molded article formed of a catalyst-containing partially-cured melamine-formaldehyde filled molding resin, with the indicia-bearing surface of the sheet of paper facing away from the molded article, to form an assembly; and (c) curing the melamine-formaldehyde condensation product completing the cure of the partially-cured molding resin, conforming the layup to the shape of the molded article and bonding the layup thereto by heating the thus-produced assembly under pressure in a mold, to produce the rigid decorative assembly.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
14 words
The process of claim 1 wherein the indicia-bearing opaque sheet is a colored photograph.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
21 words
The process of claim 1 wherein the resin of the starting shaped article is cured to the extent of about 45-65%.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
15 words
A process according to claim 1 wherein the layer is dried at about room temperature.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
28 words
The process of claim 1, wherein the assembly is heated at about 120°-150° C. at a pressure of about 1-2 tons per square inch for about 3-10 minutes.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
33 words
The process of claim 1 wherein the curing catalyst in the partially cured melamine-formaldehyde resin of the starting article and in the starting flexible sheets of melamine-formaldehyde condensation product is NH 4 Cl.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
44 words
The process of claim 1 wherein the resin of the starting shaped article is cured to the extent of about 60%, and wherein the assembly is heated at 140°-145° C. at a pressure of about 1.33 tons per square inch for about 3-4 minutes.
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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) | 1981-06-05 | 1981-12-05 | 1982-06-06 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1985-06-05 | 1985-12-05 | 1986-06-06 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1989-06-05 | 1989-12-05 | 1990-06-06 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |