Method and apparatus for forming laminated structure of adhered materials

Claim 2

IN A METHOD OF LAMINATAING A MARKEDLY FLEXIBLE AND ELASTIC FOAMED FIRST MATERIAL TO A FLEXIBLE BACKING SECOND MATERIAL BY RENDERING A SURFACE OF THE MARKEDLY FLEXIBLE MATAERIAL ADHESIVE BY THE APPLICATION OF HEAAT PRIOR TO JOINING SAID MATERIALS, THE IMPROVEMENT COMPRISING PREHEATING THE CONFRONTING SURFACE OF SAID SECOND MATERIAL PRIOR TO ITS CONTACT WITH THE ADHERSIVE SURFACE OF SAID FIRST MATERIAL, SAID PREHEATING BEING CARRIED TO A POINT WHERE SAID SECOND MATERIAL IS TEMPERATURE CONDITIONED TO MINIMIZE CHILLING OF SAID ADHESIVE SURFACE.

Claim 3

IN A METHOD OF LAMINATING A MARKEDLY FLEXIBLE AND ELASTIC FOAMED FIRST MATERIAL TO A FLEXIBLE BACKING SECOND MATERIAL BY RENDERING A SURFACE OF TAHE MARKEDLY FLEXIBLE MATERIAL ADHESIVE BY THE APPLICATION OF HEAT PRIOR TO JOINING SAID MATERIALS, THE IMPROVEMENT COMPRISING DOWNWARDLY FEEDING SAID FIRST MATERIAL ONTO AND AT LEAST PARTLY AROUND THE PERIPHERY OF A HORIZONTAL ROTATING DRUM IN FRICTIONAL ENGAGEMENT THEREWITH, DIRECTING INTENSE HEAT IN A NARROW BAND ACROSS THE EXTENT OF SAID DRUM TO RENDER ADHESIVE ONLY THE OUTWARD SURFACE OF SAID FIRST MATERIAL DURING THE FIRST PART OF ITS PERIPHERAL TRAVEL AND AT A POSITION OUTWARDLY AND LOWER THAN THE FIRST POINT OF PRERIPHERAL CONTACT OF SAID FIRST MATERIAL, LAMINATING SAID FIRST AND SECOND MATEIRALS BY CONTACTING SAID PERIPHERAL SURFACE WITH THE SECOND MATERIALS DURING SAID PERIPHERAL TRAVEL, THE TWO MATERIALS BEING BROUGH INTO CONTACT ALONG A LINE ARCUATELY REMOVED FROM BAND OF APPLICATION OF HEAT TO SAID FIRST MATERIAL AND THEREAFTER MAINTAINING THE LAMINATED MATERIALS UNDER LONGITUDINAL TENSION TO URGE THE SAME AGAINST THE DRUM WHILE SAID MATERIALS ARE BECOMING ADJUSTED AND THE ADHESIVE IS SETTING.

Claim 4

IN A METHOD OF LAMINATING A MARKEDLY FLEXIBLE AND ELASTIC FOAMED FIRST MATERIAL TO A FLEXIBLE BACKING SECOND MATERIAL BY RENDERING A SURFACE OF TAHE MARKEDLY FLEXIBLE MATERIAL ADHESIVE BY THE APPLICATION OF HEAT PRIOR TO JOINING SAID MATERIALS, THE IMPROVEMENT COMPRISING DOWNWARDLY FEEDING SAID FIRST MATERIAL ONTO AND AT LEAST PARTLY AROUND THE PERIPHERY OF A HORIZONTAL ROTATING DRUM IN FRICTIONAL ENGAGEMENT THEREWITH, DIRECTING INTENSE HEAT IN A NARROW BAND ACROSS THE EXTENT OF SAID DRUM TO RENDER ADHESIVE ONLY THE OUTWARD SURFACE OF SAID FIRST MATERIAL DURING THE FIRST PART OF ITS PERIPHERAL TRAVEL AND AT A POSITION OUTWARDLY AND LOWER THAN THE FIRST POINT OF PRERIPHERAL CONTACT OF SAID FIRST MATERIAL, LAMINATING SAID FIRST AND SECOND MATEIRALS BY CONTACTING SAID PERIPHERAL SURFACE WITH THE SECOND MATERIALS DURING SAID PERIPHERAL TRAVEL, THE TWO MATERIALS BEING BROUGH INTO CONTACT ALONG A LINE ARCUATELY REMOVED FROM BAND OF APPLICATION OF HEAT TO SAID FIRST MATERIAL AND THEREAFTER MAINTAINING THE LAMINATED MATERIALS UNDER LONGITUDINAL TENSION TO URGE THE SAME AGAINST THE DRUM WHILE SAID MATERIALS ARE BECOMING ADJUSTED AND THE ADHESIVE IS SETTING.