Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 22
Claim 1
Independent Claim
234 words
A welding method comprising the steps of providing a pair of thermoplastic sheets each including opposite surfaces bridged by a terminal edge defining an edge portion, placing the edge portion of a first overlapping of the pair of sheets into overlapping relationship with the edge portion of a second overlapped of the pair of sheets and with the terminal edges thereof spaced a predetermined distance from each other and in generally parallel relationship to each other, applying a continuous linear strip of plastic welding material in thermoplastic state progressively and in generally parallel relationship to said terminal edges along a first of the opposite surfaces of the overlapping edge portion and a first of the opposite surfaces of the overlapped edge portion adjacent to the terminal edge of the overlapping edge portion and in bridging relationship thereto and with the terminal edge of the overlapping edge portion and being disposed between opposite terminal edges of the continuous linear strip of welding material, performing the overlapping of the overlapping and overlapped edge portions in the absence of overlapping any portion of the overlapping first sheet upon itself and in the absence of overlapping any portion of the overlapped second sheet upon itself, and securing the second surfaces of the overlapping and overlapped edge portions to each other prior to applying the strip of plastic welding material by sandwiching therebetween a strip of pressure sensitive adhesive.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
234 words
A welding method comprising the steps of providing a pair of thermoplastic sheets each including opposite surfaces bridged by a terminal edge defining an edge portion, placing the edge portion of a first overlapping of the pair of sheets into overlapping relationship with the edge portion of a second overlapped of the pair of sheets and with the terminal edges thereof spaced a predetermined distance from each other and in generally parallel relationship to each other, applying a continuous linear strip of plastic welding material in thermoplastic state progressively and in generally parallel relationship to said terminal edges along a first of the opposite surfaces of the overlapping edge portion and a first of the opposite surfaces of the overlapped edge portion adjacent to the terminal edge of the overlapping edge portion and in bridging relationship thereto and with the terminal edge of the overlapping edge portion and being disposed between opposite terminal edges of the continuous linear strip of welding material, performing the overlapping of the overlapping and overlapped edge portions in the absence of overlapping any portion of the overlapping first sheet upon itself and in the absence of overlapping any portion of the overlapped second sheet upon itself, and securing the second surfaces of the overlapping and overlapped edge portions to each other prior to applying the strip of plastic welding material by sandwiching therebetween a strip of pressure sensitive adhesive.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
233 words
A welding method comprising the steps of providing a pair of thermoplastic sheets each including opposite surfaces bridged by a terminal edge defining an edge portion, placing the edge portion of a first overlapping of the pair of sheets into overlapping relationship with the edge portion of a second overlapped of the pair of sheets and with the terminal edges thereof spaced a predetermined distance from each other and in generally parallel relationship to each other, applying a continuous linear strip of plastic welding material in thermoplastic state progressively and in generally parallel relationship to said terminal edges along a first of the opposite surfaces of the overlapping edge portion and a first of the opposite surfaces of the overlapped edge portion adjacent to the terminal edge of the overlapping edge portion and in bridging relationship thereto and with the terminal edge of the overlapping edge portion being disposed between opposite terminal edges of the continuous linear strip of welding material, performing the overlapping of the overlapping and overlapped edge portions in the absence of overlapping any portion of the overlapping first sheet upon itself and in the absence of overlapping any portion of the overlapped second sheet upon itself, and securing the second surfaces of the overlapping and overlapped edge portions to each other prior to applying the strip of plastic welding material by sandwiching therebetween a strip of double faced adhesive.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
233 words
A welding method comprising the steps of providing a pair of thermoplastic sheets each including opposite surfaces bridged by a terminal edge defining an edge portion, placing the edge portion of a first overlapping of the pair of sheets into overlapping relationship with the edge portion of a second overlapped of the pair of sheets and with the terminal edges thereof spaced a predetermined distance from each other and in generally parallel relationship to each other, applying a continuous linear strip of plastic welding material in thermoplastic state progressively and in generally parallel relationship to said terminal edges along a first of the opposite surfaces of the overlapping edge portion and a first of the opposite surfaces of the overlapped edge portion adjacent to the terminal edge of the overlapping edge portion and in bridging relationship thereto and with the terminal edge of the overlapping edge portion being disposed between opposite terminal edges of the continuous linear strip of welding material, performing the overlapping of the overlapping and overlapped edge portions in the absence of overlapping any portion of the overlapping first sheet upon itself and in the absence of overlapping any portion of the overlapped second sheet upon itself, and securing the second surfaces of the overlapping and overlapped edge portions to each other prior to applying the strip of plastic welding material by sandwiching therebetween a strip of double faced adhesive.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
225 words
A welding method comprising the steps of providing a pair of thermoplastic sheets each including opposite surfaces bridged by a terminal edge defining an edge portion, placing the edge portion of a first overlapping of the pair of sheets into overlapping relationship with the edge portion of a second overlapped of the pair of sheets and with the terminal edges thereof spaced a predetermined distance from each other and in generally parallel relationship to each other, applying a continuous linear strip of plastic welding material in thermoplastic state progressively and in generally parallel relationship to said terminal edges along a first of the opposite surfaces of the overlapping edge portion and a first of the opposite surfaces of the overlapped edge portion adjacent to the terminal edge of the overlapping edge portion and in bridging relationship thereto and with the terminal edge of the overlapping edge portion being disposed between opposite terminal edges of the continuous linear strip of welding material, performing the overlapping of the overlapping and overlapped edge portions in the absence of overlapping any portion of the overlapping first sheet upon itself and in the absence of overlapping any portion of the overlapped second sheet upon itself, and applying heat to the first opposite surfaces of the overlapped and overlapping edge portions prior to the application of the plastic welding material thereto.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
225 words
A welding method comprising the steps of providing a pair of thermoplastic sheets each including opposite surfaces bridged by a terminal edge defining an edge portion, placing the edge portion of a first overlapping of the pair of sheets into overlapping relationship with the edge portion of a second overlapped of the pair of sheets and with the terminal edges thereof spaced a predetermined distance from each other and in generally parallel relationship to each other, applying a continuous linear strip of plastic welding material in thermoplastic state progressively and in generally parallel relationship to said terminal edges along a first of the opposite surfaces of the overlapping edge portion and a first of the opposite surfaces of the overlapped edge portion adjacent to the terminal edge of the overlapping edge portion and in bridging relationship thereto and with the terminal edge of the overlapping edge portion being disposed between opposite terminal edges of the continuous linear strip of welding material, performing the overlapping of the overlapping and overlapped edge portions in the absence of overlapping any portion of the overlapping first sheet upon itself and in the absence of overlapping any portion of the overlapped second sheet upon itself, and applying heat to the first opposite surfaces of the overlapped and overlapping edge portions prior to the application of the plastic welding material thereto.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
35 words
The welding method as defined in claim 3 including the step of securing the second surfaces of the overlapping and overlapped edge portions to each other prior to applying the strip of plastic welding material.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
36 words
The welding method as defined in claim 3 including the step of spot welding the second surfaces of the overlapping and overlapped edge portions to each other prior to applying the strip of plastic welding material.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
42 words
The welding method as defined in claim 3 including the step of securing the second surfaces of the overlapping and overlapped edge portions to each other prior to applying the strip of plastic welding material by sandwiching therebetween a strip of adhesive.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
20 words
The welding method as defined in claim 3 wherein the application of the plastic welding material is performed by extruding.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
37 words
The welding method as defined in claim 3 including the step of applying pressure to the plastic welding material after the same has been applied to the first opposite surfaces of the overlapped and overlapping edge portions.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
20 words
The welding method as defined in claim 5 wherein the step of spot welding is performed by ultra-sonic spot welding.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
45 words
The welding method as defined in claim 3 wherein the application of the plastic welding material is performed by extruding, and pressure is applied to the plastic welding material after the application thereof to the first opposite surfaces of the overlapped and overlapping edge portions.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
225 words
A welding method comprising the steps of providing a pair of thermoplastic sheets each including opposite surfaces bridged by a terminal edge defining an edge portion, placing the edge portion of a first overlapping of the pair of sheets into overlapping relationship with the edge portion of a second overlapped of the pair of sheets and with the terminal edges thereof spaced a predetermined distance from each other and in generally parallel relationship to each other, applying a continuous linear strip of plastic welding material in thermoplastic state progressively and in generally parallel relationship to said terminal edges along a first of the opposite surfaces of the overlapping edge portion and a first of the opposite surfaces of the overlapped edge portion adjacent to the terminal edge of the overlapping edge portion and in bridging relationship thereto and with the terminal edge of the overlapping edge portion being disposed between opposite terminal edges of the continuous linear strip of welding material, performing the overlapping of the overlapping and overlapped edge portions in the absence of overlapping any portion of the overlapping first sheet upon itself and in the absence of overlapping any portion of the overlapped second sheet upon itself, and spot welding the second surfaces of the overlapping and overlapped edge portions to each other prior to applying the strip of plastic welding material.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
225 words
A welding method comprising the steps of providing a pair of thermoplastic sheets each including opposite surfaces bridged by a terminal edge defining an edge portion, placing the edge portion of a first overlapping of the pair of sheets into overlapping relationship with the edge portion of a second overlapped of the pair of sheets and with the terminal edges thereof spaced a predetermined distance from each other and in generally parallel relationship to each other, applying a continuous linear strip of plastic welding material in thermoplastic state progressively and in generally parallel relationship to said terminal edges along a first of the opposite surfaces of the overlapping edge portion and a first of the opposite surfaces of the overlapped edge portion adjacent to the terminal edge of the overlapping edge portion and in bridging relationship thereto and with the terminal edge of the overlapping edge portion being disposed between opposite terminal edges of the continuous linear strip of welding material, performing the overlapping of the overlapping and overlapped edge portions in the absence of overlapping any portion of the overlapping first sheet upon itself and in the absence of overlapping any portion of the overlapped second sheet upon itself, and spot welding the second surfaces of the overlapping and overlapped edge portions to each other prior to applying the strip of plastic welding material.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
19 words
The welding method as defined in claim 11 wherein the spot welding is along a plurality of spaced points.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
44 words
The welding method as defined in claim 11 including the step of securing the second surfaces of the overlapping and overlapped edge portions to each other prior to applying the strip of plastic welding material by sandwiching therebetween a strip of pressure sensitive adhesive.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
44 words
The welding method as defined in claim 11 including the step of securing the second surfaces of the overlapping and overlapped edge portions to each other prior to applying the strip of plastic welding material by sandwiching therebetween a strip of double faced adhesive.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
36 words
The welding method as defined in claim 11 including the step of applying heat to the first opposite surfaces of the overlapped and overlapping edge portions prior to the application of the plastic welding material thereto.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
36 words
The welding method as defined in claim 13 including the step of spot welding the second surfaces of the overlapping and overlapped edge portions to each other prior to applying the strip of plastic welding material.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
36 words
The welding method as defined in claim 14 including the step of spot welding the second surfaces of the overlapping and overlapped edge portions to each other prior to applying the strip of plastic welding material.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
36 words
The welding method as defined in claim 15 including the step of spot welding the second surfaces of the overlapping and overlapped edge portions to each other prior to applying the strip of plastic welding material.