US4834824A — Method of making a foamed-in-place gasket

Claim 1

Independent Claim 173 words

A method of making a foamed-in-place gasket comprising steps of: mounting and locating each of a plurality of coated release boards upon a robotic X-Y table, each release board being sufficiently stiff for packaging without distortion; robotically applying a respective, continuous sealant bead upon each release board in a predetermined pattern corresponding to a pattern of securing engagement of one work piece of a plurality of modular work pieces to a repective support; applying the respective sealant bead and connected release board to said one modular work piece with the respective sealant bead in snug securing engagement with said one modular work piece; packaging a plurality of assemblies of each said respective sealant bead in snug securing engagement with each said one modular work piece, by stacking said plurality of assemblies into a carton for storage and shipping; and successively stripping each release board from each respective sealant bead so as to leave said each respective sealant bead adhered to said each one modular work piece in substantially said pattern of securing engagement.

Claim 2

Independent Claim 173 words

A method of making a foamed-in-place gasket comprising steps of: mounting and locating each of a plurality of coated release boards upon a robotic X-Y table, each release board being sufficiently stiff for packaging without distortion; robotically applying a respective, continuous sealant bead upon each release board in a predetermined pattern corresponding to a pattern of securing engagement of one work piece of a plurality of modular work pieces to a repective support; applying the respective sealant bead and connected release board to said one modular work piece with the respective sealant bead in snug securing engagement with said one modular work piece; packaging a plurality of assemblies of each said respective sealant bead in snug securing engagement with each said one modular work piece, by stacking said plurality of assemblies into a carton for storage and shipping; and successively stripping each release board from each respective sealant bead so as to leave said each respective sealant bead adhered to said each one modular work piece in substantially said pattern of securing engagement.

Claim 3

Dependent Claim 53 words

In the method of claim 1, an additional step, before applying sealant bead to the work piece, of wiping selectively a solvent and sealer primer over the mating surface of the work piece so that adhesive of the sealant bead to the work piece is greater than its adhesion to said release board.

Claim 4

Dependent Claim 24 words

In the method of claim 1, said work pieces being a modular vehicle window assembly, including window glass, said support being a vehicle body.

Claim 5

Dependent Claim 39 words

In the method of claim 1, an additional step, before mounting the release board, of punching a series of accurately located holes through the release board to correspond with the position of locator mount studs upon the work piece.

Claim 6

Dependent Claim 16 words

In the method of claim 1, said sealant bead including a foamed hot melt sealant compound.

Claim 7

Dependent Claim 38 words

In the method of claim 1, the locating of said release board upon the robotic X-Y table including a pair of right angularly related fixturing stops adjustably positioned upon said table for movements along X and Y axes.

Claim 8

Dependent Claim 29 words

In the method of claim 1, an additional step, before mounting the release board, of adhering opposed resilient setting blocks to opposite sides of said release board centrally thereof.

Claim 9

Dependent Claim 43 words

In the method of claim 1, said release board having a coating so that the adhesion of the sealant bead to said board is less than its adhesion to said work piece, facilitating the stripping of said release board from said sealant bead.

Claim 10

Dependent Claim 15 words

In the method of claim 1, said release board being constructed of a carboard material.

Claim 11

Dependent Claim 58 words

In the method of claim 3, a step, before applying the respective sealant bead and connected release board to said one modular work piece, of adhering opposed resilient setting blocks to opposite sides of said release board centrally thereof, said setting blocks protectively and yieldably engaging the window glass of an adjacent stacked release board and window assembly.

Claim 12

Dependent Claim 87 words

In the method of claim 3, said vehicle body including a continuous mount flange having a plurality of spaced apertures therethrough; the further step of locating and applying the modular work piece to said mount flange with said sealant bead in continous registry with said mount flange and with said mount studs projected into the corresponding apertures of said vehicle body mount flange for securing thereto; said sealant bead peripherally sealing the modular window to the vehicle body through 360 degrees, excluding moisture, dirt and air transfer.

Claim 13

Dependent Claim 33 words

In the method of claim 4, the step of applying the sealant bead and release board including positioning the locator holes in the release board over corresponding mount studs upon the work piece.

Claim 14

Independent Claim 101 words

A method of making a foamed-in-place gasket comprising steps of: mounting and locating each of a plurality of coated release boards upon a robotic X-Y table, each release board being sufficiently stiff for packaging without distortion; robotically applying a respective, continuous sealant bead upon each release board in a predetermined pattern corresponding to a pattern of securing engagement of one work piece of a plurality of modular work pieces to repective support; and packaging a plurality of release boards with applied sealant beads, by stacking said plurality of release boards with applied sealant beads into a carton for storage and shipping.

Claim 15

Independent Claim 101 words

A method of making a foamed-in-place gasket comprising steps of: mounting and locating each of a plurality of coated release boards upon a robotic X-Y table, each release board being sufficiently stiff for packaging without distortion; robotically applying a respective, continuous sealant bead upon each release board in a predetermined pattern corresponding to a pattern of securing engagement of one work piece of a plurality of modular work pieces to repective support; and packaging a plurality of release boards with applied sealant beads, by stacking said plurality of release boards with applied sealant beads into a carton for storage and shipping.

Claim 16

Dependent Claim 39 words

In the method of claim 13, an additional step, before mounting the release board, of punching a series of accurately located holes through the release board to correspond with the position of locator mount studs upon the work piece.

Claim 17

Dependent Claim 66 words

In the method of claim 13, said work piece being a modular vehicle window assembly, said support being a vehicle body; said modular window assembly including a frame; and a planar flange upon the frame apertured to receive and retain a window glass, said mount studs defining a continuous attachment area upon said flange, said sealant bead being in a continuous registry with said attachment area.

Claim 18

Independent Claim 172 words

A method of making a foamed-in-place gasket comprising steps of: mounting and locating each of a plurality of coated release boards upon a first support, each release board being sufficiently stiff for packaging without distortion; applying a respective, continous sealant bead upon each release board in a predetermined pattern corresponding to a pattern of securing engagement of one work piece of a plurality of modular work pieces to a respective second support; applying the respective sealant bead and connected release board to said one modular work piece with the respective sealant bead in snug securing engagement with said one modular work piece; packaging a plurality of assemblies of each said respective sealant bead in snug securing engagement with each said one modular work piece, by stacking said plurality of assemblies into a carton for storage and shipping; and successively stripping each release board from each respective sealant bead so as to leave said each respective sealant bead adhered to said each one modular work piece in substantially said pattern of securing engagement.

Claim 19

Independent Claim 172 words

A method of making a foamed-in-place gasket comprising steps of: mounting and locating each of a plurality of coated release boards upon a first support, each release board being sufficiently stiff for packaging without distortion; applying a respective, continous sealant bead upon each release board in a predetermined pattern corresponding to a pattern of securing engagement of one work piece of a plurality of modular work pieces to a respective second support; applying the respective sealant bead and connected release board to said one modular work piece with the respective sealant bead in snug securing engagement with said one modular work piece; packaging a plurality of assemblies of each said respective sealant bead in snug securing engagement with each said one modular work piece, by stacking said plurality of assemblies into a carton for storage and shipping; and successively stripping each release board from each respective sealant bead so as to leave said each respective sealant bead adhered to said each one modular work piece in substantially said pattern of securing engagement.

Claim 20

Dependent Claim 25 words

In the method of claim 16, said work piece being a modular vehicle window assembly including window glass, said second support being a vehicle body.

Claim 21

Dependent Claim 39 words

In the method of claim 16, an additional step, before mounting the release board, of punching a series of accurately located holes through the release board to correspond with the position of locator mount studs upon the work piece.

Claim 22

Dependent Claim 87 words

In the method of claim 17, said vehicle body including a continuous mount flange having a plurality of spaced apertures therethrough; the further step of locating and applying the modular work piece to said mount flange with said sealant bead in continuous registry with said mount flange and with said mount studs projected into the corresponding apertures of said vehicle body mount flange for securing thereto; said sealant bead peripherally sealing the modular window to the vehicle body through 360 degrees, excluding moisture, dirt and air transfer.

Claim 23

Dependent Claim 65 words

In the method of claim 16, said work piece being a modular vehicle window assembly, said support being a vehicle body; said modular window assembly including a frame; and a planar flange upon the frame apertured to receive and retain a window glass, said mount studs defining a continuous attachment area upon said flange, said sealant bead being in continuous registry with said attachment area.

Claim 24

Dependent Claim 57 words

In the method of claim 17, a step, before applying respective sealant bead and connected release board to said one modular work piece, of adhering opposed resilient setting blocks to opposite sides of said release board centrally thereof, said setting blocks protectively and yieldably engaging the window glass of an adjacent stacked release board and window assembly.

Claim 25

Dependent Claim 33 words

In the method of claim 17, the step of applying the sealant bead and release board including positioning the locator holes in the release board over corresponding mount studs upon the work piece.

Claim 26

Dependent Claim 39 words

In the method of claim 19, an additional step, before mounting the release board, of punching a series of accurately located holes through the release board to correspond with the position of locator mount studs upon the work piece.

Annuity Stage	Window Opens	Payment Deadline	Surcharge Period Until	Estimated Fee	Status
3.5 Years (Year 4)	1992-05-29	1992-11-28	1993-05-30	$2000.00	Window Closed / Lapsed
7.5 Years (Year 8)	1996-05-29	1996-11-28	1997-05-30	$3760.00	Window Closed / Lapsed
11.5 Years (Year 12)	2000-05-29	2000-11-28	2001-05-30	$7700.00	Window Closed / Lapsed

Method of making a foamed-in-place gasket

Abstract

Inventors

Bibliographic Details

Claims Analysis

References Cited (Backward Citations)

USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows

Assigned Categories & Tags

Assign Category Tag