US4419304A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Method for forming seals with heat shrinkable materials
Assignee: AT&T Inc
•
Filing: 1980-07-15
•
Granted: 1983-12-06
•
Expires: 2000-07-15
Abstract
Abstract A sealing method and article of manufacture is disclosed wherein a heat-shrinkable sleeve having a partial transmittance to radiation is shrunk and fused to a plastic substrate by the application of radiant heat.
Inventors
- 👤 William H. Ficke
- 👤 Robert N. McIntyre
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-04 05:21
CPC Classifications
B; B29; B29C; B29C61/00; B29C35/00; B29C35/02; B29C35/08; B29C63/00; B29C63/38; B29C63/42; B29C65/00; B29C65/02; B29C65/14; B29C65/1403; B29C65/1412; B29C65/1429; B29C65/1435; B29C65/1464; B29C65/1467; B29C66/00; B29C66/01; B29C66/05; B29C66/10; B29C66/11; B29C66/112; B29C66/1122; B29C66/50; B29C66/51; B29C66/52; B29C66/526; B29C66/5261; B29C66/70; B29C66/73; B29C66/737; B29C66/7371; B29C66/73715; B29C66/7377; B29C66/73775; B29C66/73776; B29C66/739; B29C66/7392; B29C66/73921; H; H02; H02G; H02G1/00; H02G1/14; B29C35/0805; B29C2035/0822; B29K; B29K2995/00; B29K2995/0037; B29K2995/0049
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 12
Claim 1
Independent Claim
83 words
A method of hermetically sealing a sleeve about a plastic substrate which comprises the steps of: (a) mounting a heat-shrinkable plastic sleeve having a transmittance of between 50% and 95% to electromagnetic radiation within a selected infrared wavelength band about the plastic substrate; and (b) applying electromagnetic radiation within said selected wavelength band to the sleeve for a period of time sufficient to cause the sleeve to shrink upon the substrate and for the interfacing surfaces of the substrate and sleeve to fuse.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
83 words
A method of hermetically sealing a sleeve about a plastic substrate which comprises the steps of: (a) mounting a heat-shrinkable plastic sleeve having a transmittance of between 50% and 95% to electromagnetic radiation within a selected infrared wavelength band about the plastic substrate; and (b) applying electromagnetic radiation within said selected wavelength band to the sleeve for a period of time sufficient to cause the sleeve to shrink upon the substrate and for the interfacing surfaces of the substrate and sleeve to fuse.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
20 words
The sealing method of claim 1 wherein said heat-shrinkable plastic sleeve has a density less than 0.95 gm/cm 3 .
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
28 words
The sealing method of claim 1 wherein said heat-shrinkable plastic sleeve has a melting point substantially equal to or less than the melting point of the plastic substrate.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
38 words
The sealing method of claim 1 wherein step (b) radiation is applied to the sleeve for a period of time sufficient to cause mutual adjacent surfaces of the sleeve and substrate both to reach their respective melting point.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
19 words
The sealing method of claim 1 wherein said substrate has no substantial transmittance of radiation within said wavelength band.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
12 words
The sealing method of claim 1 wherein said substrate comprises ethylene plastic.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
17 words
The sealing method of claim 1 wherein said selected wavelength band is from 0.50 to 5.00 microns.
Claim 9
Independent Claim
114 words
A method of hermetically sealing a sleeve about a plastic substrate which comprises the steps of: (a) mounting about the plastic substrate a heat-shrinkable plastic sleeve having a crystalline melting point substantially equal to or less than the crystalline melting point of the plastic substrate with the sleeve being partially transparent to electromagnetic radiation within a selected infrared wavelength band; and (b) applying electromagnetic radiation within said selected wavelength band to the sleeve for a period of time sufficient to cause the sleeve to shrink upon the substrate and for the interfacing surfaces of the substrate and sleeve to fuse said transmittance being between 50% and 95% for radiation within the selected wavelength band.
Claim 10
Independent Claim
114 words
A method of hermetically sealing a sleeve about a plastic substrate which comprises the steps of: (a) mounting about the plastic substrate a heat-shrinkable plastic sleeve having a crystalline melting point substantially equal to or less than the crystalline melting point of the plastic substrate with the sleeve being partially transparent to electromagnetic radiation within a selected infrared wavelength band; and (b) applying electromagnetic radiation within said selected wavelength band to the sleeve for a period of time sufficient to cause the sleeve to shrink upon the substrate and for the interfacing surfaces of the substrate and sleeve to fuse said transmittance being between 50% and 95% for radiation within the selected wavelength band.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
20 words
The sealing method of claim 8 wherein said heat-shrinkable plastic sleeve has a density less than 0.95 gm/cm 3 .
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
20 words
The sealing method of claim 9 wherein said heat shrinkable plastic sleeve has a transmittance of between 50 and 95%.
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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) | 1986-12-05 | 1987-06-06 | 1987-12-06 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1990-12-05 | 1991-06-06 | 1991-12-06 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1994-12-05 | 1995-06-06 | 1995-12-06 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |