US4388164A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Method of coating the surface of an elastic body with a continuous layer
Assignee: OC Oerlikon Balzers AG
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Filing: 1980-12-03
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Granted: 1983-06-14
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Expires: 2000-12-03
Abstract
Abstract With elastic, particularly rubber-elastic bodies, the problem arises that an applied coating becomes fissured upon later deformation and may easily be abraded. According to the invention, the surface to be coated, for example, an elastic implant, is held in a stretched state during the deposition of the layer, such as a metal. Then, in a state of normal use, the produced layer forms a kind of shrunken skin which remains continuous even if the body is later deformed.
Inventors
- 👤 Eberhard Moll
- 👤 Marcel Lardon
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-27 21:13
CPC Classifications
B; B29; B29D; B29D11/00; B29D11/00865; C; C23; C23C; C23C14/00; C23C14/06; C23C14/14; C23C14/20
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 10
Claim 1
Independent Claim
139 words
A method of coating the surface of an elastic implant which surface is deformable in use by a particular maximum amount, the coating being sufficiently ductile to deform with the surface without cracking, and the coating being a continuous layer of metal on the surface, which metal is not otherwise sufficiently ductile to deform with deformation of the implant surface in use without cracking, comprising: temporarily expanding the implant in at least one dimension to temporarily enlarge said surface to be coated by at least an amount equal to said maximum amount of deformation in use; then depositing said layer of metal on the surface which is enlarged by sputtering in a vacuum; and returning the implant to its non-expanded state; whereby the layer of metal on the surface will accept deformation of the implant in use, without cracking.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
139 words
A method of coating the surface of an elastic implant which surface is deformable in use by a particular maximum amount, the coating being sufficiently ductile to deform with the surface without cracking, and the coating being a continuous layer of metal on the surface, which metal is not otherwise sufficiently ductile to deform with deformation of the implant surface in use without cracking, comprising: temporarily expanding the implant in at least one dimension to temporarily enlarge said surface to be coated by at least an amount equal to said maximum amount of deformation in use; then depositing said layer of metal on the surface which is enlarged by sputtering in a vacuum; and returning the implant to its non-expanded state; whereby the layer of metal on the surface will accept deformation of the implant in use, without cracking.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
29 words
A method according to claim 1, wherein the surface to be coated is enlarged at least in one direction by at least 10% of its length in that direction.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
36 words
A method according to claim 1, wherein the implant is an elastic hollow body, and wherein, during the coating, the body is held in an expanded state by a gas filling the hollow body under pressure.
Claim 5
Independent Claim
139 words
A method of coating the surface of an elastic implant which surface is deformable in use by a particular maximum amount, the coating being sufficiently ductile to deform with the surface without cracking, and the coating being a continuous layer of material on the surface, which material is not otherwise sufficiently ductile to deform with deformation of the implant surface in use without cracking, comprising: temporarily expanding the implant in at least one dimension to temporarily enlarge said surface to be coated by at least an amount equal to said maximum amount of deformation in use; then depositing said layer of material on the surface which is enlarged, said layer of material being metal; returning the implant to its non-expanded state whereby the layer of metal on the surface will accept deformation of the implant in use, without cracking.
Claim 6
Independent Claim
139 words
A method of coating the surface of an elastic implant which surface is deformable in use by a particular maximum amount, the coating being sufficiently ductile to deform with the surface without cracking, and the coating being a continuous layer of material on the surface, which material is not otherwise sufficiently ductile to deform with deformation of the implant surface in use without cracking, comprising: temporarily expanding the implant in at least one dimension to temporarily enlarge said surface to be coated by at least an amount equal to said maximum amount of deformation in use; then depositing said layer of material on the surface which is enlarged, said layer of material being metal; returning the implant to its non-expanded state whereby the layer of metal on the surface will accept deformation of the implant in use, without cracking.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
11 words
A method according to claim 4, wherein said metal is titanium.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
23 words
A method according to claim 4, wherein the metal is cathode sputtered to produce a coating having a thickness of about 0.1 microns.
Claim 9
Independent Claim
142 words
A method of coating the surface of an elastic implant which surface is deformable in use by a particular maximum amount, the coating being sufficiently ductile to deform with the surface without cracking, and the coating being a continuous layer of material on the surface, which material is not otherwise sufficiently ductile to deform with deformation of the implant surface in use without cracking, comprising: temporarily expanding the implant in at least one dimension to temporarily enlarge said surface to be coated by at least an amount equal to said maximum amount of deformation in use; then depositing said layer of material on the surface which is enlarged, said layer of material being titanium oxide; and returning the implant to its non-expanded state whereby the layer of titanium oxide on the surface will accept deformation of the implant in use, without cracking.
Claim 10
Independent Claim
142 words
A method of coating the surface of an elastic implant which surface is deformable in use by a particular maximum amount, the coating being sufficiently ductile to deform with the surface without cracking, and the coating being a continuous layer of material on the surface, which material is not otherwise sufficiently ductile to deform with deformation of the implant surface in use without cracking, comprising: temporarily expanding the implant in at least one dimension to temporarily enlarge said surface to be coated by at least an amount equal to said maximum amount of deformation in use; then depositing said layer of material on the surface which is enlarged, said layer of material being titanium oxide; and returning the implant to its non-expanded state whereby the layer of titanium oxide on the surface will accept deformation of the implant in use, without cracking.
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) | 1986-06-13 | 1986-12-13 | 1987-06-14 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1990-06-13 | 1990-12-13 | 1991-06-14 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1994-06-13 | 1994-12-13 | 1995-06-14 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |