Patent US5208080A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US5208080A
Expired / Lapsed
US
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Lamination of semi-rigid material between glass
Assignee: Automotive Components Holdings LLC
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Filing: 1992-07-01
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Granted: 1993-05-04
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Expires: 2012-07-01
Abstract
Abstract A method is disclosed for producing superior optically clear laminates having a sheet of semi-rigid material encapsulated in a thermoplastic interlayer between layers of rigid material such as glass. Pre-cooled laminate elements are assembled at reduced temperature, allowing positioning of the sheet of semi-rigid material in the interlayer of the assembly with minimal wrinkling, formation of air bubbles or entrapment of moisture. Thereafter, the laminate assembly is maintained under vacuum for an extended period of time, substantially eliminating wrinkling, air bubbles and moisture from between the laminate elements as well as pre-forming the semi-rigid sheet. Bonding heat and pressure is then applied, first heating the assembly to "tack" the laminate elements together, and next applying heat and pressure for bonding the laminate elements. Superior optically clear laminates which result from the method are disclosed wherein a semi-rigid sheet of material is encapsulated in thermoplastic laminating material within an interlayer between sheets of rigid material such as glass.
Inventors
- 👤 Kenneth J. Gajewski
- 👤 John H. Meyer
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-04 18:28
CPC Classifications
B; B32; B32B; B32B37/00; B32B37/02; B32B17/00; B32B17/06; B32B17/10; B32B17/10005; B32B17/10009; B32B17/10036; B32B17/1055; B32B17/10761; B32B17/10807; B32B17/10816; B32B17/10825; B32B17/10834; B32B17/10844; B32B17/10853; B32B17/10981; B32B29/00; B32B29/06; B32B37/10; B32B37/1018; C; C09; C09K; C09K2323/00; C09K2323/05; C09K2323/057; Y; Y10; Y10S; Y10S428/00; Y10S428/917; Y10T; Y10T428/00; Y10T428/16; Y10T428/162; Y10T428/163; Y10T428/164; Y10T428/18; Y10T428/183; Y10T428/187; Y10T428/19; Y10T428/192; Y10T428/197; Y10T428/23; Y10T428/239; Y10T428/24; Y10T428/24174; Y10T428/24752; Y10T428/24802; Y10T428/24851; Y10T428/24868; Y10T428/24942; Y10T428/2495; Y10T428/31504; Y10T428/31507; Y10T428/31551; Y10T428/31627; Y10T428/3163; Y10T428/31786; Y10T428/31797; Y10T428/31855; Y10T428/31909; Y10T428/31928
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 27
Claim 1
Independent Claim
98 words
A safety laminate having encapsulated semi-rigid material, said laminate comprising: first and second layers of thermoplastic laminating material; an interlayer including at least one sheet of semi-rigid material, said semi-rigid material capable of bending and flexing and tending to crease and fold thereby, said semi-rigid material encapsulated within said first and second layers of said thermoplastic laminating material substantially without creasing and folding; and first and second rigid transparent layers bonded to said first and second layers of laminating material, respectively, whereby one surface of each of said rigid transparent layers is an outer surface of said laminate.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
98 words
A safety laminate having encapsulated semi-rigid material, said laminate comprising: first and second layers of thermoplastic laminating material; an interlayer including at least one sheet of semi-rigid material, said semi-rigid material capable of bending and flexing and tending to crease and fold thereby, said semi-rigid material encapsulated within said first and second layers of said thermoplastic laminating material substantially without creasing and folding; and first and second rigid transparent layers bonded to said first and second layers of laminating material, respectively, whereby one surface of each of said rigid transparent layers is an outer surface of said laminate.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
21 words
A laminate as recited in claim 1 wherein at least one of said first and second rigid transparent layers is glass.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
22 words
A safety laminate as recited in claim 1 wherein at least one of said first and second rigid transparent layers is polycarbonate.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
15 words
A laminate as recited in claim 1 wherein said thermoplastic laminating material is polyvinyl acetate.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
15 words
A laminate as recited in claim 1 wherein said thermoplastic laminating material is polyvinyl butyral.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
13 words
A laminate as recited in claim 1 wherein said semi-rigid material is polyester.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
14 words
A laminate as recited in claim 1 wherein said semi-rigid material includes electroluminescent material.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
15 words
A laminate as recited in claim 1 wherein said semi-rigid material includes liquid crystal material.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
20 words
A laminate as recited in claim 1 wherein said semi-rigid material is bonded to said layers of thermoplastic laminating material.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
25 words
A laminate as recited in claim 1 wherein said rigid transparent layers and said layers of thermoplastic laminating material are of substantially the same size.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
44 words
A laminate as recited in claim 1 comprising: a plurality of layers of thermoplastic laminating material; and a plurality of interlayers including at least one sheet of semi-rigid material encapsulated within one or more of said plurality of layers of said thermoplastic laminating material.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
27 words
A laminate as recited in claim 11 wherein at least one of said rigid transparent layers, said layers of thermoplastic laminating material and said interlayers is translucent.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
27 words
A laminated as recited in claim 11 wherein at least one of said rigid transparent layers, said layers of thermoplastic laminating material and said interlayers is opaque.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
28 words
A laminate as recited in claim 1 wherein at least one of said first or second layers of said thermoplastic laminating material is thicker than said semi-rigid material.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
48 words
A laminate as recited in claim 1 wherein the shape of said laminate defines an outer perimeter and said laminate further comprises a coating on at least one of said layers of thermoplastic laminating material, said rigid transparent layers and said interlayer near the perimeter of said laminate.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
31 words
A laminate as recited in claim 1 further comprising at least one electrical connection adhering to the surface of at least one of said layers near the perimeter of said laminate.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
27 words
A laminate as recited in claim 1 wherein at least one of said rigid transparent layers, said layers of thermoplastic laminating material and said interlayer is translucent.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
27 words
A laminate as recited in claim 1 wherein at least one of said rigid transparent layers, said layers of thermoplastic laminating material and said interlayer is opaque.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
171 words
A safety laminate having encapsulated semi-rigid material, said laminate comprising: a first rigid transparent layer; a second rigid transparent layer; an interlayer between said first and second rigid transparent layers including a sheet of extruded plastic having a layer of semi-rigid material sandwiched between at least two layers of thermoplastic laminating material, said sheet of extruded plastic having a length and width less than said first and second rigid transparent layers, said semi-rigid material capable of bending and flexing and tending to crease and fold thereby, and said semi-rigid material sandwiched between said at least two layers of thermoplastic laminating material substantially without creasing and folding, and one or more spacers of said thermoplastic laminating material surrounding the periphery of said sheet of extruded plastic between said first and second rigid transparent layers; and wherein one surface of each said first and second rigid transparent layers is bonded to said interlayer, and one surface of each of said first and second rigid transparent layers is an outer surface of said laminate.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
171 words
A safety laminate having encapsulated semi-rigid material, said laminate comprising: a first rigid transparent layer; a second rigid transparent layer; an interlayer between said first and second rigid transparent layers including a sheet of extruded plastic having a layer of semi-rigid material sandwiched between at least two layers of thermoplastic laminating material, said sheet of extruded plastic having a length and width less than said first and second rigid transparent layers, said semi-rigid material capable of bending and flexing and tending to crease and fold thereby, and said semi-rigid material sandwiched between said at least two layers of thermoplastic laminating material substantially without creasing and folding, and one or more spacers of said thermoplastic laminating material surrounding the periphery of said sheet of extruded plastic between said first and second rigid transparent layers; and wherein one surface of each said first and second rigid transparent layers is bonded to said interlayer, and one surface of each of said first and second rigid transparent layers is an outer surface of said laminate.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
20 words
A laminate as recited in claim 19 wherein at least one of said first and second transparent layers is glass.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
15 words
A laminate as recited in claim 19 wherein said thermoplastic laminating material is polyvinyl acetal.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
13 words
A laminate as recited in claim 19 wherein said semi-rigid material is polyester.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
31 words
A laminate as recited in claim 19 wherein said one or more spacers of thermoplastic laminating material in said interlayer is at least as thick as said sheet of extruded plastic.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
118 words
A safety laminate having encapsulated semi-rigid material, said laminate comprising: a first rigid transparent layer; a second rigid transparent layer; and one or more interlayers positioned between said first and second rigid transparent layers, each of said interlayers including: layers of thermoplastic laminating material alternating with layers which are comprised of a sheet of semi-rigid material surrounded on its periphery by one or more spacers of thermoplastic laminating material, said semi-rigid material capable of bending and flexing and tending to crease and fold thereby; said first and second rigid transparent layers bonded to adjacent layers of said thermoplastic laminating material respectively, and said semi-rigid material positioned to be encapsulated in said laminating material substantially without creasing and folding.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
118 words
A safety laminate having encapsulated semi-rigid material, said laminate comprising: a first rigid transparent layer; a second rigid transparent layer; and one or more interlayers positioned between said first and second rigid transparent layers, each of said interlayers including: layers of thermoplastic laminating material alternating with layers which are comprised of a sheet of semi-rigid material surrounded on its periphery by one or more spacers of thermoplastic laminating material, said semi-rigid material capable of bending and flexing and tending to crease and fold thereby; said first and second rigid transparent layers bonded to adjacent layers of said thermoplastic laminating material respectively, and said semi-rigid material positioned to be encapsulated in said laminating material substantially without creasing and folding.
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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) | 1996-05-03 | 1996-11-02 | 1997-05-04 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2000-05-03 | 2000-11-02 | 2001-05-04 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2004-05-03 | 2004-11-02 | 2005-05-04 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |