US4115609A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Strip type coupling member
Assignee: Individual
•
Filing: 1977-01-26
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Granted: 1978-09-19
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Expires: 1997-01-26
Abstract
Abstract A coupling device particularly advantageous for use in connecting parts of unlike material comprising a flexible strip formed element having a resilient core. In preferred embodiment this core is covered or substantially sheathed in an envelope which is preferably of non-porous flexible material capable of heat transfer, the outer surface of which mounts a pressure or heat sensitive adhesive. The strip body is characterized in one form by the feature that on application of a predetermined range of heat it will self adapt in form and/or contained volume to the load of contacting parts, in the process of which the adhesive will bond to such parts and the body of the strip will form a seal between the parts in contact, irrespective of irregularities in the contacted surfaces. An aspect of the invention of considerable importance is the concept of controlled flow so that coupling devices, on deformation thereof under load, will inherently seek the proper direction of flow, self-dispersing in a manner to minimize and avoid surface contamination and effect optimal positioning of adhesive parts.
Inventors
- 👤 Stephen A. Denman
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-01 09:12
CPC Classifications
E; E06; E06B; E06B3/00; E06B3/54; E06B3/56; B; B05; B05B; B05B12/00; B05B12/16; B05B12/20; B05B12/24; B05B12/26; B05B12/265; B60; B60J; B60J10/00; B60J10/70; Y; Y10; Y10S; Y10S277/00; Y10S277/921; Y10T; Y10T428/00; Y10T428/23; Y10T428/28; Y10T428/2848; Y10T428/2852; Y10T428/2878; Y10T428/29; Y10T428/2913; Y10T428/2933; Y10T428/31504; Y10T428/31678; Y10T428/31826
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 21
Claim 1
Independent Claim
162 words
A coupling device comprising a core formed of resilient material the composition of which is such to condition said core to plastically deform in response to and to the extent of an applied load when said core is at a temperature in a range from about 250° to 500° F., the composition of said core being characterized by stability when the temperature thereof is within said range, means defining a sheath for at least a portion of said core, adhesive bonding material on the exterior surface portion of said sheath, and said sheath being constructed and applied in a form to provide a directed and controlled shift of a portion of said core when the core is subjected to a load on placement of said coupling device between surfaces of parts to be bonded and caused to reach a temperature in said predetermined range, whereby to produce a controlled change in the core configuration and a bond and seal between said parts.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
162 words
A coupling device comprising a core formed of resilient material the composition of which is such to condition said core to plastically deform in response to and to the extent of an applied load when said core is at a temperature in a range from about 250° to 500° F., the composition of said core being characterized by stability when the temperature thereof is within said range, means defining a sheath for at least a portion of said core, adhesive bonding material on the exterior surface portion of said sheath, and said sheath being constructed and applied in a form to provide a directed and controlled shift of a portion of said core when the core is subjected to a load on placement of said coupling device between surfaces of parts to be bonded and caused to reach a temperature in said predetermined range, whereby to produce a controlled change in the core configuration and a bond and seal between said parts.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
24 words
A coupling device as in claim 1 wherein said body has a strip-like form and said sheath means is made of an impermeable material.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
33 words
A coupling device as in claim 1 wherein said sheath means is formed to be non-continuous as to its coverage of said core and to expose a predetermined surface area of said core.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
30 words
A coupling device as in claim 1 wherein said sheath means is a flexible wrapping and said bonding material is applied to at least localized surface portions of said wrapping.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
58 words
A coupling device as in claim 4 wherein said wrapping is sheet-like in character and applied circumferentially of said core in a manner to have lateral extremities thereof overlapped and to shift, one relative the other, to accommodate the shift of a portion of said core during the plastic deformation thereof under the influence of an applied load.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
74 words
A coupling device as in claim 1 wherein said core is a strip-like element and said sheath means is applied circumferentially of said core, the length thereof, to have its lateral extremities, in a circumferential sense, circumferentially spaced whereby to provide an opening in said sheath for a directed shift of a portion of said core when the same is plastically deformed under the influence of an applied load, and to the extent thereof.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
55 words
A coupling device as in claim 1 wherein said core is formed to have a generally rectangular cross section and said sheath means envelopes substantially three sides of the core leaving one side portion thereof exposed to provide thereby for a directed shift of a portion of said core when the same is plastically deformed.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
20 words
A coupling device as in claim 7 wherein said exposed side portion of said core has a generally concave configuration.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
103 words
A coupling device as in claim 1 wherein said sheath means in applied in a sense circumferentially of said core to leave an elongate section of the surface of said core exposed whereby on plastic deformation of said core under an applied load on the reaching thereof of a temperature in said predetermined range a portion of the core is inherently displaced in the area of the exposed portion thereof and said sheath means includes a free extension adapted in application of a coupling device to be reversely overlapped on a portion of the parts intermediate of which said coupling device is positioned.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
63 words
A coupling device as in claim 9 wherein said core has a generally rectangular cross section, said sheath means envelopes substantially three side surface portions of said core and leaves one side surface portion thereof uncovered whereby to define an elongate opening in said sheath and one edge portion of said sheath means projects substantially beyond said opening and defines said free extension.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
47 words
A coupling device according to claim 1, wherein said core is compounded of Butyl rubber in an amount on the order of 35%, Polybutene in an amount on the order of 5% and Polyisobutylene in an amount on the order of 10%, with the balance inert fillers.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
47 words
A coupling device according to claim 1, wherein said core is compounded of Butyl rubber in an amount on the order of 40%, Polybutene in an amount on the order of 10% and Polyisobutylene in an amount on the order of 10%, with the balance inert fillers.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
24 words
A coupling device according to claim 1, wherein said bonding material is an adhesive coating coextensive with the outer surface of said sheath means.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
30 words
A coupling device according to claim 13, wherein said adhesive coating is compounded in major part of Butyl rubber and in lesser part of Polybutene, Polyisobutylene and a thermoplastic material.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
41 words
A coupling device according to claim 1 wherein said core incorporates means for applying heat to raise the temperature of said core and said sheath means is made of heat conductive material for ready transfer of heat to said bonding material.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
17 words
A coupling device according to claim 15 wherein said sheath means is fabricated of a metallic foil.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
49 words
A coupling device as in claim 1 wherein said sheath means fully envelopes said core and has a non-uniform wall thickness with the thinner portion thereof dictating the direction of shift of a portion of said core when subjected to plastic deformation under the influence of an applied load.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
35 words
A coupling device as in claim 1 wherein said core has an elongate strip form, said sheath means is applied in a sense circumferentially of said core and the ends of said core are exposed.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
38 words
A coupling device as in claim 1 wherein said sheath means is adapted to dissipate on being subjected to a temperature in said predetermined range to provide for a chemical union of a core and said bonding material.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
14 words
A coupling device as in claim 1 wherein said core is adhesive in character.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US3427776A
Cited
US3542375A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1981-09-18 | 1982-03-20 | 1982-09-19 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1985-09-18 | 1986-03-20 | 1986-09-19 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1989-09-18 | 1990-03-20 | 1990-09-19 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |