US4378393A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Heat-shrinkable article
Assignee: 3M Co
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Filing: 1981-03-12
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Granted: 1983-03-29
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Expires: 2001-03-12
Abstract
Abstract Heat-resistant pressure-sensitive adhesives are used to form the closure of a heat-shrinkable wrap-around sleeve. Suitable pressure-sensitive adhesives include silicone-based adhesives, thermosetting acrylic adhesives, and thermosetting rubber/resin adhesives. However, silicone-based adhesives are not claimed herein, but are claimed in my co-pending application, Ser. No. 944,887, filed Sept. 22, 1978, now U.S. Patent No. 4,268,559, issued on May 19, 1981.
Inventors
- 👤 Jack H. Smuckler
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-25 21:15
CPC Classifications
H; H02; H02G; H02G15/00; H02G15/08; H02G15/18; H02G15/1806; H02G15/1813; B; B29; B29C; B29C61/00; B29C61/06; B29C61/10; B29C65/00; B29C65/72; B29C66/00; B29C66/01; B29C66/05; B29C66/10; B29C66/11; B29C66/112; B29C66/1122; B29C66/12; B29C66/124; B29C66/1242; B29C66/12421; B29C66/128; B29C66/1286; B29C66/12861; B29C66/1288; B29C66/40; B29C66/41; B29C66/43; B29C66/432; B29C66/4322; B29C66/50; B29C66/51; B29C66/53; B29C66/532; B29C66/5326; F; F16; F16L; F16L47/00; F16L47/20; F16L47/22; F16L55/00; F16L55/16; F16L55/168; F16L55/17; B29C66/70; B29C66/71; B29C66/73; B29C66/737; B29C66/7371; B29C66/73711; B29C66/73715; B29C66/7375; B29C66/73755; B29C66/7377; B29C66/73775; B29C66/73776; B29C66/739; B29C66/7394; B29C66/73941; Y; Y10; Y10S; Y10S174/00; Y10S174/08; Y10T; Y10T24/00; Y10T24/14; Y10T24/1498; Y10T428/00; Y10T428/13; Y10T428/1328; Y10T428/24; Y10T428/24008; Y10T428/24273; Y10T428/24322; Y10T428/24331; Y10T428/24339; Y10T428/24777; Y10T428/28; Y10T428/2852; Y10T428/2878; Y10T428/2891; Y10T428/31504; Y10T428/31652; Y10T428/31663; Y10T428/31855; Y10T428/31935
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 12
Claim 1
Independent Claim
73 words
A heat-shrinkable article comprising a heat-shrinkable sheet having two edges adapted to form a closure, said edges being heat-stable, at least one of said edges having thereon a pressure sensitive adhesive adapted, after compression against the other of said edges to form a closure having a minimum lap-shear bond strength of greater than approximately 1.0 psi at 300° F., to maintain said closure at a temperature sufficiently high to shrink said heat-shrinkable sheet.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
73 words
A heat-shrinkable article comprising a heat-shrinkable sheet having two edges adapted to form a closure, said edges being heat-stable, at least one of said edges having thereon a pressure sensitive adhesive adapted, after compression against the other of said edges to form a closure having a minimum lap-shear bond strength of greater than approximately 1.0 psi at 300° F., to maintain said closure at a temperature sufficiently high to shrink said heat-shrinkable sheet.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
37 words
A heat-shrinkable article in accordance with claim 1, wherein said edges have mating portions so formed that, after formation of said closure and shrinking of said heat-shrinkable sheet, said closure is not significantly thicker than said sheet.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
18 words
A heat-shrinkable article in accordance with claim 1, wherein said edges contain a built-in aligning and holding device.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
17 words
A heat-shrinkable article in accordance with claim 1, wherein said pressure sensitive adhesive is a thermosetting adhesive.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
28 words
A heat-shrinkable article in accordance with claim 1, wherein said heat-shrinkable sheet has been irradiated to a dosage substantially greater than that required to impart heat-shrinkable properties thereto.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
20 words
A heat-shrinkable article in accordance with claim 4, wherein said pressure sensitive adhesive is a thermosetting acrylic pressure sensitive adhesive.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
19 words
A heat-shrinkable article in accordance with claim 4, wherein said pressure sensitive adhesive is a thermosetting rubber/resin pressure-sensitive adhesive.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
81 words
A process for making a heat-shrinkable article comprising the following steps: forming a heat-shrinkable sheet having two edges adapted to form a closure, said edges being heat-stable, and pressing against at least one of said edges a pressure-sensitive adhesive adapted, after compression against the other of said edges to form a closure having a minimum lap-shear bond strength of greater than approximately 1.0 psi at 300° F., to maintain said closure at a temperature sufficiently high to shrink said heat-shrinkable sheet.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
81 words
A process for making a heat-shrinkable article comprising the following steps: forming a heat-shrinkable sheet having two edges adapted to form a closure, said edges being heat-stable, and pressing against at least one of said edges a pressure-sensitive adhesive adapted, after compression against the other of said edges to form a closure having a minimum lap-shear bond strength of greater than approximately 1.0 psi at 300° F., to maintain said closure at a temperature sufficiently high to shrink said heat-shrinkable sheet.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
116 words
A process for ensleeving an article comprising the following steps: wrapping about an article to be ensleeved a heat-shrinkable article comprising a heat-shrinkable sheet having two edges adapted to form a closure, said edges being heat-stable, at least one of said edges having thereon a pressure sensitive adhesive adapted, after compression against the other of said edges to form a closure having a minimum lap-shear bond strength of greater than approximately 1.0 psi at 300° F., to maintain said closure at a temperature sufficiently high to shrink said heat-shrinkable sheet, compressing said two edges together so as to form a closure, and heating said heat-shrinkable article to a temperature sufficiently high to shrink said heat-shrinkable sheet.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
116 words
A process for ensleeving an article comprising the following steps: wrapping about an article to be ensleeved a heat-shrinkable article comprising a heat-shrinkable sheet having two edges adapted to form a closure, said edges being heat-stable, at least one of said edges having thereon a pressure sensitive adhesive adapted, after compression against the other of said edges to form a closure having a minimum lap-shear bond strength of greater than approximately 1.0 psi at 300° F., to maintain said closure at a temperature sufficiently high to shrink said heat-shrinkable sheet, compressing said two edges together so as to form a closure, and heating said heat-shrinkable article to a temperature sufficiently high to shrink said heat-shrinkable sheet.
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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) | 1986-03-28 | 1986-09-27 | 1987-03-29 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1990-03-28 | 1990-09-27 | 1991-03-29 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1994-03-28 | 1994-09-27 | 1995-03-29 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |