US5279693A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Welding thermoplastic material with a laser
Assignee: LPS Industries Inc
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Filing: 1992-07-30
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Granted: 1994-01-18
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Expires: 2012-07-30
Abstract
Abstract An apparatus for forming a weld between first and second thermoplastic materials in which the softening temperature of the second thermoplastic material is lower than that of the first thermoplastic material. The apparatus includes a supplier for supplying the first thermoplastic material and the second thermoplastic material to the same weld position with the second thermoplastic material at a first side of the first thermoplastic material, and a projector for projecting a laser beam to the weld position from a second side of the first thermoplastic material.
Inventors
- 👤 John P. Robinson
- 👤 William R. Stadick
- 👤 Thomas L. Clawges
- 👤 John A. Zuvich
- 👤 Daniel Trigger
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-29 16:23
CPC Classifications
B; B29; B29C; B29C65/00; B29C65/02; B29C65/14; B29C65/16; B29C65/1629; B29C65/1635; B23; B23K; B23K26/00; B23K26/02; B23K26/06; B23K26/073; B29C65/1603; B29C65/1612; B29C65/1619; B29C65/1654; B29C65/1658; B29C65/1664; B29C65/78; B29C65/7858; B29C65/7888; B29C65/7894; B29C66/00; B29C66/001; B29C66/01; B29C66/02; B29C66/024; B29C66/0242; B29C66/03; B29C66/034; B29C66/0342; B29C66/05; B29C66/10; B29C66/11; B29C66/112; B29C66/1122; B29C66/40; B29C66/41; B29C66/43; B29C66/431; B29C66/47; B29C66/472; B29C66/4722; B29C66/474; B29C66/70; B29C66/71; B29C66/712; B29C66/73; B29C66/731; B29C66/7311; B29C66/73115; B29C66/739; B29C66/7392; B29C66/73921; B29C66/80; B29C66/81; B29C66/816; B29C66/8161; B29C66/83; B29C66/834; B29C66/8341; B29C66/83411; B29C66/83413; B29C66/84; B29C66/851; B29C66/8511; B29C66/90; B29C66/91; B29C66/914; B29C66/9141; B29C66/91411; B29C66/9161; B29C66/91641; B29C66/91643; B29C66/91645; B29C66/919; B29C66/9192; B29C66/91921; B29C66/0012; B29C66/0014; B29C66/00141; B29C66/73116; B29C66/843; B29C66/8432; B29C66/92; B29C66/924; B29C66/9241; B29K; B29K2101/00; B29K2101/12; B29L; B29L2005/00; B29L2031/00; B29L2031/712; B29L2031/7128
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 10
Claim 1
Independent Claim
123 words
A welding method comprising the steps of: continuously feeding a first sheet of a first polyethylene material past a weld station; continuously feeding a second polyethylene material comprising EVA past a weld station to contact a first side of said polyethylene sheet at the weld station; and projecting a laser beam to the weld station from a second side of said polyethylene sheet opposite said first side thereof to weld said materials together, wherein said projecting step comprises focusing the laser beam through a lens system into a generally elliptical shape, as seen in a focal plane substantially coincident with a contact point between said first and second materials, said elliptical shape elongated in the feed direction of said first and second materials.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
123 words
A welding method comprising the steps of: continuously feeding a first sheet of a first polyethylene material past a weld station; continuously feeding a second polyethylene material comprising EVA past a weld station to contact a first side of said polyethylene sheet at the weld station; and projecting a laser beam to the weld station from a second side of said polyethylene sheet opposite said first side thereof to weld said materials together, wherein said projecting step comprises focusing the laser beam through a lens system into a generally elliptical shape, as seen in a focal plane substantially coincident with a contact point between said first and second materials, said elliptical shape elongated in the feed direction of said first and second materials.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
25 words
The welding method of claim 1, wherein said contacting step comprises relatively guiding said first and second materials past a groove in a grooved member.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
60 words
The welding method of claim 1, wherein said contacting step comprises leading said first and second materials past a support plate and a guide wheel that are offset from one another in a direction longitudinally along a feed direction of said first and second materials in such a manner as to bring the materials into close contact with one another.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
29 words
The welding method of claim 1, further comprising the step the step of laterally adjusting the position of said first material relative to the position of said second material.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
23 words
The welding method of claim 1, wherein the second EVA polyethylene material is provided with between 0% and 20%, by weight, of EVA.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
21 words
The welding method of claim 1, wherein the second EVA polyethylene material is provided with approximately 10%, by weight, of EVA.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
41 words
The welding method of claim 1, wherein said first material is U-shaped, and said second material is an interlocking zipper strip, wherein said method further comprises the step of inserting said zipper strip between the legs of said U-shaped first material.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
28 words
The welding method of claim 7, further comprising the step of projecting a plurality of laser beams through both legs of said U-shaped sheet of said first material.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
21 words
The welding method of claim 7, wherein the weld station is offset toward the open end of said U-shaped first material.
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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) | 1997-01-17 | 1997-07-19 | 1998-01-18 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2001-01-17 | 2001-07-19 | 2002-01-18 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2005-01-17 | 2005-07-19 | 2006-01-18 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |