Tension bonding process

Claim 1

Process for forming an assembly by compressing a three-dimensional rigid member against a curable adhesive layer present between said member and the surface of a rigid flat support to which said member and an outer housing are to be simultaneously bonded by subjecting the adhesive layer to a curing cycle, which comprises applying at least one length of a strong, high tensile strength non-stretchable fibrous roving over said three-dimensional rigid member and through opposed openings in the rigid support, one at each side of the rigid member, securing each end of the length of roving in an adjustable tensioning member supported beneath the rigid support, tightening the tensioning member to provide a compressed unit having a predetermined compression pressure between said members and the curable adhesive layer, assembling said compressed unit with a housing having a flat surface containing a recess, having an inside surface, for receiving said three-dimensional rigid member, a layer of said curable adhesive being present between the flat surfaces of the housing and of the rigid flat support and between the outer surface of the rigid member and the inside surface of the recess, maintaining said compression while exposing the adhesive layer to a curing cycle to simultaneously cure the adhesive layer of the compressed unit and the adhesive layer between the compressed unit and said housing to form said assembly, and separating the ends of the roving from said tensioning member.