US4885820A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Plastic hinge, hinged material, and method for hinging
Assignee: JACKSON NATIONAL LIFE
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Filing: 1987-10-30
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Granted: 1989-12-12
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Expires: 2007-10-30
Abstract
Abstract A hinge for joining surfaces of sheet material comprises a strip of film/foam laminate positioned with a foam layer across the surfaces to be joined. The foam layer is tackified by heating and pressure is applied to the strip, thus heat sealing the strip to the surfaces. The hinge strip is preferably polyethylene film laminated to polyethylene foam and the surfaces to be joined may be polyethylene foam or a film/foam laminate. The joined surfaces are not damaged or destroyed by the heat lamination. The foam layer of the hinge sealing strip is partially or substantially melted and the film upper layer of the heat sealing strip forms a permanent waterproof bond with the surfaces which it joins.
Inventors
- 👤 Jack P. Erceg
- 👤 Tzong I. Yeh
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-08 16:14
CPC Classifications
E; E05; E05D; E05D1/00; E05D1/02; B; B29; B29C; B29C65/00; B29C65/48; B29C65/4805; B29C65/481; B29C65/4815; B29C65/50; B29C65/5007; B29C65/5021; B29C65/5042; B29C66/00; B29C66/01; B29C66/05; B29C66/10; B29C66/11; B29C66/114; B29C66/1142; B29C66/40; B29C66/41; B29C66/43; B29C66/70; B29C66/72; B29C66/723; B29C66/727; B29C65/02; B29C65/06; B29C65/0672; B29C66/71
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 20
Claim 1
Independent Claim
65 words
A hinge for joining surfaces of sheet material comprising: foam means for only partially or substantially collapsing during heat sealing providing an inner hinge surface for heat sealing to the surfaces of the sheet material to be hinged, and sheet means for providing an outer hinge surface, wherein said foam means and said sheet means comprise outer layers of laminated sheet material forming said hinge.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
65 words
A hinge for joining surfaces of sheet material comprising: foam means for only partially or substantially collapsing during heat sealing providing an inner hinge surface for heat sealing to the surfaces of the sheet material to be hinged, and sheet means for providing an outer hinge surface, wherein said foam means and said sheet means comprise outer layers of laminated sheet material forming said hinge.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
13 words
A hinge of claim 1 wherein the sheet means comprises plastic sheet material.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
13 words
A hinge of claim 1 wherein the sheet means comprises waterproof sheet material.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
17 words
A hinge of claim 1 wherein the foam means comprises a sheet of closed cell polyolefin foam.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
10 words
A hinge of claim 4 wherein the polyolefin is polyethylene.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
13 words
A hinge of claim 1 wherein the sheet means comprises polyolefin sheet material.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
12 words
A hinge of claim 6 wherein the sheet means comprises polyethylene film.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
15 words
A hinge of claim 6 wherein the sheet means comprises high density polyolefin scrim material.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
10 words
A hinge of claim 8 wherein the polyolefin is polyethylene.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
66 words
Hinged sheet material comprising adjacent sheet means for covering certain areas and hinge means for joining said sheet means, wherein said hinge means comprises an upper surface of sheet plastic material and a lower surface of foam material means for only partially or substantially collapsing during heat sealing, and wherein said lower surface of said hinge means is heat sealed across a joint between said surface.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
66 words
Hinged sheet material comprising adjacent sheet means for covering certain areas and hinge means for joining said sheet means, wherein said hinge means comprises an upper surface of sheet plastic material and a lower surface of foam material means for only partially or substantially collapsing during heat sealing, and wherein said lower surface of said hinge means is heat sealed across a joint between said surface.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
15 words
Hinged sheet material of claim 10 wherein said adjacent sheet means comprises polyolefin sheet material.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
14 words
Hinged sheet material of claim 11 wherein said polyolefin sheet material comprises polyethylene film.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
18 words
Hinged sheet material of claim 10 wherein at least one of said adjacent sheet means comprises polyolefin foam.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
18 words
Hinged sheet material of claim 13 wherein at least one of said sheet means comprises polyethylene film/foam laminate.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
17 words
Hinged sheet material of claim 10 wherein the foam material of the hinge means is partially collapsed.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
17 words
Hinged sheet material of claim 15 wherein the foam material of the hinge means is substantially collapsed.
Claim 19
Independent Claim
84 words
A method for hinging sheet material comprising: positioning strip material of film/foam laminate across a joint between edges of upper surfaces of sheet material to be joined, wherein a foam layer is positioned adjacent the upper surfaces of the sheet material to be joined, heating the strip material until said layer of foam becomes tacky, applying pressure along said strip material, wherein said layer of tacky foam partially or substantially collapses, thereby heat-sealing said strip material to said sheet material and forming a hinge.
Claim 20
Independent Claim
84 words
A method for hinging sheet material comprising: positioning strip material of film/foam laminate across a joint between edges of upper surfaces of sheet material to be joined, wherein a foam layer is positioned adjacent the upper surfaces of the sheet material to be joined, heating the strip material until said layer of foam becomes tacky, applying pressure along said strip material, wherein said layer of tacky foam partially or substantially collapses, thereby heat-sealing said strip material to said sheet material and forming a hinge.
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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) | 1992-12-11 | 1993-06-12 | 1993-12-12 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1996-12-11 | 1997-06-12 | 1997-12-12 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2000-12-11 | 2001-06-12 | 2001-12-12 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |