Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 19
Claim 1
Independent Claim
168 words
An apparatus for coating an article with a coating material by vapor deposition under vacuum conditions, comprising: (a) a deposition chamber comprising: (i) a base having a top side, a bottom side, a first opening through said base and a second opening through said base; and (ii) a cover having an inner surface with a side wall, a top end, and a bottom end having an opening therein, wherein said cover is adapted to be removable from said base and positionable on the top side of said base such that the opening in the bottom end of said cover is in communication with the first opening and the second opening in said base; (b) means for creating a vacuum in said deposition chamber by applying a suction to the first opening in said base; and (c) means for introducing the coating material through the second opening in said base into said deposition chamber to create a generally upward flow pattern of the coating material in the deposition chamber.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
168 words
An apparatus for coating an article with a coating material by vapor deposition under vacuum conditions, comprising: (a) a deposition chamber comprising: (i) a base having a top side, a bottom side, a first opening through said base and a second opening through said base; and (ii) a cover having an inner surface with a side wall, a top end, and a bottom end having an opening therein, wherein said cover is adapted to be removable from said base and positionable on the top side of said base such that the opening in the bottom end of said cover is in communication with the first opening and the second opening in said base; (b) means for creating a vacuum in said deposition chamber by applying a suction to the first opening in said base; and (c) means for introducing the coating material through the second opening in said base into said deposition chamber to create a generally upward flow pattern of the coating material in the deposition chamber.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
13 words
An apparatus according to claim 1 wherein said cover has a cylindrical shape.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
13 words
An apparatus according to claim 1 wherein said cover has a conical shape.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
13 words
An apparatus according to claim 1 wherein said cover has a domal shape.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
15 words
An apparatus according to claim 1 wherein said cover has a square or rectangular shape.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
28 words
An apparatus according to claim 1 wherein the ratio of the surface area of the article to the inner surface area of the cover is greater than 1:1.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
28 words
An apparatus according to claim 1 wherein the ratio of the surface area of the article to the inside surface area of the cover is greater than 5:1.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
28 words
An apparatus according to claim 1 wherein the ratio of the surface area of the article to the inside surface area of the cover is greater than 10:1.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
12 words
An apparatus according to claim 1 wherein the coating material is parylene.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
27 words
An apparatus according to claim 1 wherein the opening in said cover is in direct communication with the first opening and the second opening in said base.
Claim 12
Independent Claim
214 words
An apparatus for coating an article with parylene by vapor deposition under heated, vacuum conditions, comprising: (a) a deposition chamber comprising: (i) a base having a top side, a bottom side, a first opening through said base and a second opening through said base; and (ii) a cover having an inner surface with a side wall, a top end, and a bottom end having an opening therein, wherein said cover is adapted to be removable from said base and positionable on the top side of said base such that the opening in the bottom end of said cover is in communication with the first opening and the second opening in said base; (b) a vacuum pump connected to the bottom side of said base and in communication with the first opening in said base; (c) a heated pyrolysis chamber connected to the bottom side of said base and in communication with the second opening in said base and positioned such that parylene monomer can pass upward through the pyrolysis chamber in a generally vertical direction and be introduced into the deposition chamber to create a generally upward flow pattern; and (d) a heated vaporization chamber connected to said pyrolysis chamber and positioned such that vaporized parylene dimer can be introduced into said pyrolysis chamber.
Claim 13
Independent Claim
214 words
An apparatus for coating an article with parylene by vapor deposition under heated, vacuum conditions, comprising: (a) a deposition chamber comprising: (i) a base having a top side, a bottom side, a first opening through said base and a second opening through said base; and (ii) a cover having an inner surface with a side wall, a top end, and a bottom end having an opening therein, wherein said cover is adapted to be removable from said base and positionable on the top side of said base such that the opening in the bottom end of said cover is in communication with the first opening and the second opening in said base; (b) a vacuum pump connected to the bottom side of said base and in communication with the first opening in said base; (c) a heated pyrolysis chamber connected to the bottom side of said base and in communication with the second opening in said base and positioned such that parylene monomer can pass upward through the pyrolysis chamber in a generally vertical direction and be introduced into the deposition chamber to create a generally upward flow pattern; and (d) a heated vaporization chamber connected to said pyrolysis chamber and positioned such that vaporized parylene dimer can be introduced into said pyrolysis chamber.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
21 words
An apparatus according to claim 11 which further comprises a support fixture positioned within said deposition chamber for holding said article.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
25 words
An apparatus according to claim 11 which further comprises a baffle positioned within said deposition chamber to direct the parylene monomer into the deposition chamber.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
20 words
An apparatus according to claim 11 which further comprises parylene recovery means interposed between said vacuum pump and said base.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
15 words
An apparatus according to claim 14 wherein said recovery means comprises a cryogenic condensation trap.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
60 words
An apparatus according to claim 14 wherein said recovery means comprises a bundle of tubular members aligned axially within a tube having a first end and a second end, said first end being connected to the bottom of said base and in communication with the first opening in said base, and said second end being connected to said vacuum pump.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
60 words
An apparatus according to claim 14 wherein said recovery means comprises a bundle of tubular members aligned axially within a tube having a first end and a second end, said first end being connected to the top side of said base and in communication with the first opening in said base, and said second end extending into said deposition chamber.