US4110499A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Fired clay pillows and structures made therewith
Assignee: 3M Co
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Filing: 1977-01-21
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Granted: 1978-08-29
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Expires: 1997-01-21
Abstract
Abstract Unique fired clay pillows are described which are useful for a variety of purposes. They have particular utility in structural applications when they are first rendered impervious, mixed with a hardenable binder, and then cast into a mold or form of desired size and configuration where the binder is hardened, thereby producing a consolidated pillow structure having a high degree of void space. The consolidated pillow structure is fire-resistant, weather-resistant, rot-proof, and exhibits good sound absorption and thermal insulation properties.
Inventors
- 👤 George C. Harrison
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-04 00:15
CPC Classifications
E; E04; E04B; E04B1/00; E04B1/62; E04B1/74; E04B1/88; C; C04; C04B; C04B14/00; C04B14/005; C04B18/00; C04B18/02; C04B18/023; C04B18/025; E04C; E04C5/00; E04C5/07; E04C5/073; E04B1/82; E04B2001/8245; E04B1/84; E04B2001/8414; E04B2001/8423; E04B2001/8428; E04B2001/8442; E04B2001/8452; Y; Y10; Y10T; Y10T428/00; Y10T428/13; Y10T428/131; Y10T428/1317; Y10T428/1321; Y10T428/24; Y10T428/24628; Y10T428/25; Y10T428/252; Y10T428/26; Y10T428/29; Y10T428/2982; Y10T428/2991
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 44
Claim 1
Independent Claim
100 words
An article comprising a fired clay pillow having a tubularly-shaped body section whose ends are flattened closed, wherein the external surface of said pillow has been rendered impervious by means of a non-tacky coating; wherein the outside diameter of said body section is in the range of about 3 to 10 millimeters and the wall thickness of said body section is about 0.2 to 1 millimeter; wherein the length of said pillow is about 2.5 to 4 times as great as said outside diameter, and wherein said flattened ends are flared outwardly so as to project beyond said body section.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
100 words
An article comprising a fired clay pillow having a tubularly-shaped body section whose ends are flattened closed, wherein the external surface of said pillow has been rendered impervious by means of a non-tacky coating; wherein the outside diameter of said body section is in the range of about 3 to 10 millimeters and the wall thickness of said body section is about 0.2 to 1 millimeter; wherein the length of said pillow is about 2.5 to 4 times as great as said outside diameter, and wherein said flattened ends are flared outwardly so as to project beyond said body section.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
23 words
The article of claim 1 wherein said clay has been fired at a temperature in the range of about 2000° to 2500° F.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
27 words
The article of claim 1 wherein said outside diameter of said body section is about 5 millimeters and the length of said pillow is about 15 millimeters.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
12 words
The article of claim 1 wherein said coating comprises a polyurethane resin.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
15 words
The article of claim 1 wherein said coating comprises epoxy resin cured with amine catalyst.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
28 words
The article of claim 4 wherein the amount of said polyurethane resin is in the range of about 0.5 to 2% based on the weight of said pillow.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
13 words
The article of claim 1, wherein particulate material is adhered to said coating.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
11 words
The article of claim 7, wherein said particulate material is sand.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
121 words
An article comprising a plurality of fired clay pillows whose external surface has been rendered impervious by means of a non-tacky coating, said pillows being bonded together at their points of contact by means of a binder, said pillows each having a tubularly-shaped body section whose ends are flattened closed and flared outwardly so as to project beyond said body section; wherein the outside diameter of said body section is in the range of about 3 to 10 millimeters and the wall thickness of said body section is about 0.2 to 1 millimeter; and wherein the length of said pillows is about 2.5 to 4 times as great as said outside diameter; said article having at least about 40% void space.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
121 words
An article comprising a plurality of fired clay pillows whose external surface has been rendered impervious by means of a non-tacky coating, said pillows being bonded together at their points of contact by means of a binder, said pillows each having a tubularly-shaped body section whose ends are flattened closed and flared outwardly so as to project beyond said body section; wherein the outside diameter of said body section is in the range of about 3 to 10 millimeters and the wall thickness of said body section is about 0.2 to 1 millimeter; and wherein the length of said pillows is about 2.5 to 4 times as great as said outside diameter; said article having at least about 40% void space.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
14 words
An article in accordance with claim 9, wherein said binder comprises water-insoluble organic resin.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
25 words
An article in accordance with claim 9, wherein said binder is present in an amount of about 1 to 8% by weight of said article.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
25 words
An article in accordance with claim 9, wherein said pillows have been fired at a temperature in the range of about 2000° to 2500° F.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
30 words
An article in accordance with claim 9, wherein the outside diameter of said body section is about 5 l millimeters, and the length of said pillows is about 15 millimeters.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
14 words
An article in accordance with claim 10, wherein said binder comprises a polyurethane resin.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
14 words
An article in accordance with claim 10, wherein said binder comprises a phenolic resin.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
13 words
An article in accordance with claim 9, further comprising reinforcement means extending therethrough.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
14 words
An article in accordance with claim 16, wherein said reinforcement means comprises metal rod.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
19 words
An article in accordance with claim 9, wherein at least one face thereof is adhered firmly to a substrate.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
23 words
An article in accordance with claim 18, wherein said substrate is selected from the group consisting of wood, metal, concrete, ceramic, and plastic.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
12 words
An article in accordance with claim 19, wherein said substrate is metal.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
12 words
An article in accordance with claim 19, wherein said substrate is wood.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
17 words
An article in accordance with claim 9, wherein at least one face thereof is finished with plaster.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
18 words
An article in accordance with claim 9, wherein at least one face thereof has decorative sheeting adhered thereto.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
83 words
An article comprising a fired clay pillow having a tubularly-shaped body section whose ends are flattened closed; wherein the outside diameter of said body section is in the range of about 3 to 10 millimeters and the wall thickness of said body section is about 0.2 to 1 millimeter; wherein the length of said pillow is about 2.5 to 4 times as great as said outside diameter, and wherein said flattened ends are flared outwardly so as to project beyond said body section.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
83 words
An article comprising a fired clay pillow having a tubularly-shaped body section whose ends are flattened closed; wherein the outside diameter of said body section is in the range of about 3 to 10 millimeters and the wall thickness of said body section is about 0.2 to 1 millimeter; wherein the length of said pillow is about 2.5 to 4 times as great as said outside diameter, and wherein said flattened ends are flared outwardly so as to project beyond said body section.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
23 words
The article of claim 24 wherein said clay has been fired at a temperature in the range of about 2000° to 2500° F.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
20 words
The article of claim 24 wherein said clay has been fired at a temperature of about 1000° to 1300° F.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim
27 words
The article of claim 24 wherein said outside diameter of said body section is about 5 millimeters, and the length of said pillow is about 15 millimeters.
Claim 31
Independent Claim
141 words
A method for making a consolidated structure comprising: (a) providing a plurality of fired clay pillows whose external surface has been rendered impervious by means of a non-tacky coating, said pillows each having a tubularly-shaped body section whose ends are flattened closed; wherein the outside diameter of said body section is in the range of about 3 to 10 millimeters and the wall thickness of said body section is about 0.2 to 1 millimeter; and wherein the length of said pillow is about 2.5 to 4 times as great as said outside diameter; (b) admixing said pillows with a binder in an amount of about 1 to 8% based on the weight of said pillows; (c) arranging said plurality of pillows into a desired configuration; and (d) hardening said binder whereby said pillows become bonded together at their points of contact.
Claim 32
Independent Claim
141 words
A method for making a consolidated structure comprising: (a) providing a plurality of fired clay pillows whose external surface has been rendered impervious by means of a non-tacky coating, said pillows each having a tubularly-shaped body section whose ends are flattened closed; wherein the outside diameter of said body section is in the range of about 3 to 10 millimeters and the wall thickness of said body section is about 0.2 to 1 millimeter; and wherein the length of said pillow is about 2.5 to 4 times as great as said outside diameter; (b) admixing said pillows with a binder in an amount of about 1 to 8% based on the weight of said pillows; (c) arranging said plurality of pillows into a desired configuration; and (d) hardening said binder whereby said pillows become bonded together at their points of contact.
Claim 33
Dependent Claim
23 words
The method of claim 28, wherein said clay has been fired at a temperature in the range of about 2000° to 2500° F.
Claim 34
Dependent Claim
12 words
The method of claim 28, wherein said binder comprises water-insoluble organic resin.
Claim 35
Dependent Claim
12 words
The method of claim 30, wherein said binder comprises a polyurethane resin.
Claim 36
Dependent Claim
12 words
The method of claim 30, wherein said binder comprises a phenolic resin.
Claim 37
Dependent Claim
11 words
The method of claim 30, wherein said binder comprises epoxy resin.
Claim 38
Dependent Claim
22 words
An article in accordance with claim 24, wherein said clay has been fired at a temperature sufficient to render the clay inpervious.
Claim 39
Dependent Claim
69 words
An article comprising a fired clay pillow, having a tubular-shaped body section whose ends are flattened closed; wherein the wall thickness of said body section is not greater than three millimeters; wherein the length of said pillow is about 2.5 to 4 times as great as the outside diameter of said body section, and wherein said flattened ends are flared outwardly so as to project beyond said body section.
Claim 40
Dependent Claim
69 words
An article comprising a fired clay pillow, having a tubular-shaped body section whose ends are flattened closed; wherein the wall thickness of said body section is not greater than three millimeters; wherein the length of said pillow is about 2.5 to 4 times as great as the outside diameter of said body section, and wherein said flattened ends are flared outwardly so as to project beyond said body section.
Claim 41
Dependent Claim
24 words
The article of claim 35 wherein said clay has been fired at a temperature in the range of about 2000° to about 2500° F.
Claim 42
Dependent Claim
22 words
The article of claim 35 wherein the external surface of said pillow has been rendered impervious by means of a nontacky coating.
Claim 43
Dependent Claim
29 words
The article of claim 35 wherein the outside diameter of said body section is at least 3 to 10 times as great as the thickness of said body section.
Claim 44
Dependent Claim
22 words
An article in accordance with claim 35 wherein said clay has been fired at a temperature sufficient to render the clay impervious.
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) | 1981-08-28 | 1982-02-27 | 1982-08-29 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1985-08-28 | 1986-02-27 | 1986-08-29 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1989-08-28 | 1990-02-27 | 1990-08-29 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |