Polymerizing method and apparatus

Claim 1

IN THE METHOD OF GLOW DISCHARGE POLYMERIZATION IN WHICH GASEOUS MATERIAL TO BE POLYMERIZED IS INTRODUCED INTO A REACTION REGION AND PARTICLES THEREOF UNDER THE INFLUENCE OF A GLOW DISCHARGE ARE DEPOSITED UPON A MEMBER AND THERE POLYMERIZED TO FORM A FILM, THE STEPS OF ADVANCING THE SURFACE OF SAID MEMBER ALONG A PATH EXTENDING SPACED ACROSS A GLOW DISCHARGE ZONE FROM AN ELECTRODE WHILE PROGRESSIVELY VARYING THE SEPARATION BETWEEN SAID PATH AND SAID ELECTRODE ACROSS SAID GLOW DISCHARGE ZONE SO THAT THE SEPARATION N BETWEEN SAID ELECTRODE AND EACH SUCCESSIVE PORTION OF SAID SURFACE DECREASES AND SUBSQUENTLY INCREASES AS EACH OF SAID PORTIONS PASSES THROUGH SAID GLOW DISCHARGE ZONE, INTRODUCING A POLYMERIZABLE GASEOUS MATERIAL INTO SAID GLOW DISCHARGE ZONE, APPLYING A GLOW-DISCHARGE-SUSTAINING POTENTIAL TO SAID ELECTRODE WITH RESPECT TO SAID SURFACE, AND SELECTIVELY POSITIONING THE GLOW DISCHARGE ALONG SAID SURFACE BY CONTROLLING SAID POTIENTIAL AND THE VALUE OF THE PRODUCT OF THE PRESSURE OF SAID GASEOUS MATERIAL BY SAID SEPARATION.