US4634207A
Expired / Lapsed
US
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Apparatus and method for protection of a substrate
Assignee: Tyco International Ltd Bermuda
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Filing: 1983-06-13
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Granted: 1987-01-06
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Expires: 2003-06-13
Abstract
Abstract An apparatus and method for protection of a substrate, e.g. an electrical contact. The apparatus comprises a support member and an encapsulant which has a cone penetration value of 100 to 350 (10 -1 mm) and an ultimate elongation of at least 200%, and preferably an elastic modulus of less than 10 7 dynes/cm 2 . The encapsulant and the substrate are pressed together so that the encapsulant is deformed into close and conforming contact with the substrate. Preferably at least part of the deformation is elastic deformation.
Inventors
- 👤 Christian A. Debbaut
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-26 09:10
CPC Classifications
H; H02; H02G; H02G15/00; H02G15/003; H01; H01B; H01B17/00; H01B17/56; H01B17/60; H01R; H01R4/00; H01R4/70; H02G15/02; H02G15/04; H02G15/043; H02G15/08; H02G15/10; H02G15/18; H01R4/22; H01R4/72; H05; H05K; H05K3/00; H05K3/22; H05K3/28; H05K3/284; Y; Y10; Y10T; Y10T29/00; Y10T29/49; Y10T29/49002; Y10T29/49117; Y10T29/49204; Y10T29/49208; Y10T29/4921
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 42
Claim 1
Independent Claim
62 words
Apparatus for protecting a substrate, comprising: a gel, the gel being cured prior to coming into contact with any part of a substrate to be protected, the gel having a cone penetration value of 100 to 350 (10 -1 mm) and an ultimate elongation of at least 200%; and means for deforming the gel into close and conforming contact with the substrate.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
62 words
Apparatus for protecting a substrate, comprising: a gel, the gel being cured prior to coming into contact with any part of a substrate to be protected, the gel having a cone penetration value of 100 to 350 (10 -1 mm) and an ultimate elongation of at least 200%; and means for deforming the gel into close and conforming contact with the substrate.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
18 words
Apparatus as claimed in claim 1, the deforming means maintaining the gel in compressive contact with the substrate.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
16 words
Apparatus as recited in claim 2, wherein the deforming means is secured to said support member.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
14 words
Apparatus as recited in claim 3 wherein the deforming means lies within the gel.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
28 words
Apparatus as recited in claim 4, wherein the support member is generally bell-shaped, and the deforming means is a split retaining member that has an internal threaded portion.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
14 words
Apparatus as claimed in claim 2, the maintaining means being a dynamic force means.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
9 words
The apparatus of claim 2, the gel being elastic.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
21 words
Apparatus as recited in claim 1 wherein the gel has an elastic modulus of less than 10 7 dynes/cm 2 .
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
18 words
Apparatus as recited in claim 8 wherein said elastic modulus is less than 10 6 dynes/cm 2 .
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
18 words
Apparatus as recited in claim 1 wherein said cone penetration value is 150 to 350 (10 -1 mm).
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
18 words
Apparatus as recited in claim 1, wherein said cone penetration value is 200 to 300 (10 -1 mm).
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
16 words
Apparatus as recited in claim 1, wherein said gel has an elongation of at least 500%.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
31 words
Apparatus as recited in claim 1, further comprising a release member which covers an otherwise exposed portion of said gel and which can be removed therefrom preparatory to covering the substrate.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
13 words
Apparatus as recited in claim 1 wherein the gel is an oil-extended polyurethane.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
78 words
Apparatus as recited in claim 14 wherein the gel has been prepared by gelling a liquid mixture comprising 20 to 40% of curable polyurethane precursor materials and 80 to 60% of a mixture of mineral oil and vegetable oil in which the raio by weight of mineral oil to vegetable oil is 0.7 to 2.4; the percentages being by weight based on the total weight of the polyurethane precursor materials and the mixture of mineral and vegetable oils.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
13 words
Apparatus as recited in claim 1 wherein the gel is a plasticized polyurethane.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
29 words
Apparatus as claimed in claim 1, properties of the gel being such that a plane of weakness is formed therein when deformed about the substrate by the deforming means.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
39 words
Apparatus as claimed in claim 1, further comprising a support member, the gel being located on the support member, the gel having an adhesive strength to the substrate which is less than an adhesive strength to the support member.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
34 words
Apparatus as recited in claim 18, wherein said support member comprises a plurality of individual open containers, which are connected to each other and each of which contains a separate mass of the gel.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
19 words
Apparatus as recited in claim 19, wherein the individual containers are connected to each other by a flexible connector.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
35 words
Apparatus as recited in claim 18, wherein said support member is composed of an organic polymeric material and is in the form of a housing that includes side walls, end walls and a bottom wall.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
16 words
Apparatus as recited in claim 18, wherein at least part of said support member is heat-recoverable.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
21 words
Apparatus as recited in claim 18 wherein the gel has an elastic modulus of less than 10 7 dynes/cm 2 .
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
18 words
Apparatus as recited in claim 23 wherein said elastic modulus is less than 10 6 dynes/cm 2 .
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
18 words
Apparatus as recited in claim 18 wherein said cone penetration value is 150 to 350 (10 -1 mm).
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
18 words
Apparatus as recited in claim 18 wherein said cone penetration value is 200 to 300 (10 -1 mm).
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
16 words
Apparatus as recited in claim 18 wherein said gel has an elongation of at least 500%.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
31 words
Apparatus as recited in claim 18 further comprising a release member which covers an otherwise exposed portion of said gel and which can be removed therefrom preparatory to covering the substrate.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim
13 words
Apparatus as recited in claim 18 wherein the gel is an oil-extended polyurethane.
Claim 31
Dependent Claim
78 words
Apparatus as recited in claim 29 wherein the gel has been prepared by gelling a liquid mixture comprising 20 to 40% of curable polyurethane precursor materials and 80 to 60% of a mixture of minearl oil and vegetable oil in which the ratio by weight of mineral oil to vegetable oil is 0.7 to 2.4; the percentages being by weight based on the total weight of the polyurethane precusor materials and the mixture of mineral and vegetable oils.
Claim 32
Dependent Claim
13 words
Apparatus as recited in claim 18 wherein the gel is a plasticized polyurethane.
Claim 33
Dependent Claim
106 words
A process for protecting a substrate, comprising the steps of: pressing together a substrate to be protected and an apparatus comprising a support member, a gel located on the support member, the gel being cured prior to coming into contact with any part of the substrate, the gel having a cone penetration value of 100 to 350 (10 -1 mm) and an ultimate elongation of at least 200%, and means for deforming the gel into close and conforming contact with the substrate, the apparatus and the substrate being pressed together so that the gel contacts the substrate and is deformed into close and conforming contact therewith.
Claim 34
Dependent Claim
106 words
A process for protecting a substrate, comprising the steps of: pressing together a substrate to be protected and an apparatus comprising a support member, a gel located on the support member, the gel being cured prior to coming into contact with any part of the substrate, the gel having a cone penetration value of 100 to 350 (10 -1 mm) and an ultimate elongation of at least 200%, and means for deforming the gel into close and conforming contact with the substrate, the apparatus and the substrate being pressed together so that the gel contacts the substrate and is deformed into close and conforming contact therewith.
Claim 35
Dependent Claim
21 words
A process as recited in claim 32 wherein at least a part of the deformation of the gel is elastic deformation.
Claim 36
Dependent Claim
26 words
A process as recited in claim 33 which comprises securing a force member to the substrate, thus maintaining the gel in compressive contact with the substrate.
Claim 37
Dependent Claim
25 words
A process as recited in claim 34 wherein the force member becomes secured to the substrate when the substrate and the apparatus are pressed together.
Claim 38
Dependent Claim
16 words
A process as recited in claim 32 wherein the substrate comprises at least one electrical contact.
Claim 39
Dependent Claim
34 words
A process as recited in claim 32 wherein the gel has an adhesive strength to the substrate which is less than its adhesive strength to the support member and less than its cohesive strength.
Claim 40
Dependent Claim
31 words
A process as recited in claim 32 wherein the gel is contained in at least one open container and has a cone penetration value of 200 to 300 (10 -1 mm).
Claim 41
Dependent Claim
17 words
A process as recited in claim 32 wherein the gel has an elongation of at least 500%.
Claim 42
Dependent Claim
31 words
A process as recited in claim 32 wherein at least a part of the support member is recoverable and the process includes a step in which the support member is recovered.
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) | 1990-01-05 | 1990-07-07 | 1991-01-06 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1994-01-05 | 1994-07-07 | 1995-01-06 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1998-01-05 | 1998-07-07 | 1999-01-06 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |