US3808394A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Creating holes in flexible members
Assignee: ANJAC PLASTICS
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Filing: 1972-03-31
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Granted: 1974-04-30
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Expires: 1992-03-31
Abstract
Abstract A small hole may be located in a wall of a flexible member or structures such as a tube of a thermoplastic material and, if desired, in an internal wall within such a tube by contacting such a wall or walls with a laser beam serving to heat the area or areas where such a hole or holes are to be created for a time sufficient to enable such a beam to heat the material contacted to create such a hole or holes. Preferably the tube is held against a surface of a moving member as the beam is directed so as to engage only a single point on the surface of the tube.
Inventors
- 👤 D Mominee
- 👤 G Vance
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-22 17:03
CPC Classifications
E; E02; E02B; E02B13/00; B; B23; B23K; B23K26/00; B23K26/08; B23K26/083; B23K26/0838; B23K26/0846
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 10
Claim 1
Independent Claim
94 words
A process in which a laser beam is used to form a hole in a body in which the improvement comprises: continuously moving said body by holding a portion of said body in contact with a rotating wheel while concurrently reflecting said beam against a rotating mirror so that said beam is directed towards a specific point along the portion of said body in contact with said wheel, at a constant angle relative to said point, for a time period which is effective to cause said beam to form a hole in said body.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
94 words
A process in which a laser beam is used to form a hole in a body in which the improvement comprises: continuously moving said body by holding a portion of said body in contact with a rotating wheel while concurrently reflecting said beam against a rotating mirror so that said beam is directed towards a specific point along the portion of said body in contact with said wheel, at a constant angle relative to said point, for a time period which is effective to cause said beam to form a hole in said body.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
47 words
A process as claimed in claim 1 wherein: said body is a hollow, tubular body, and said time period is sufficiently short so that said beam only forms said hole in said tube and does not form any other hole leading to the exterior of said tube.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
151 words
A process for creating an exterior hole in an exterior wall of a tube without affecting said tube except where such an exterior hole is to be created, which process comprises rotating a wheel to move a portion of said tube into contact along the periphery of said wheel: directing a laser beam against an area of said exterior wall along a portion of the tube in contact with the periphery of said wheel from the outside of said tube by reflecting said beam off of a rotating mirror so that said beam engages said area of said exterior wall at an unchanging angle with respect to said exterior wall for a sufficient time for said beam to heat said area to form said exterior hole, said time being sufficiently short so that said beam does not heat the interior of said tube other than where said exterior hole is formed.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
151 words
A process for creating an exterior hole in an exterior wall of a tube without affecting said tube except where such an exterior hole is to be created, which process comprises rotating a wheel to move a portion of said tube into contact along the periphery of said wheel: directing a laser beam against an area of said exterior wall along a portion of the tube in contact with the periphery of said wheel from the outside of said tube by reflecting said beam off of a rotating mirror so that said beam engages said area of said exterior wall at an unchanging angle with respect to said exterior wall for a sufficient time for said beam to heat said area to form said exterior hole, said time being sufficiently short so that said beam does not heat the interior of said tube other than where said exterior hole is formed.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
37 words
A process as claimed in claim 3 wherein: a plurality of said exterior holes are formed in said exterior wall of said tube by so directing said beam against succesSive areas along the length of said tube.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
35 words
A process as claimed in claim 4 wherein: the dimensions of said exterior holes formed by so directing said beam against successive areas are varied by varying the energy so directed to such successive areas.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
103 words
A process as claimed in claim 3 wherein: said tube has an internal wall dividing the interior of said tube into segregated areas and when said bean is so directed against said area to form said exterior hole it is so directed against said area for an additional sufficient time so that said beam will pass through said hole so as to heat an area of said internal wall to form an internal hole in said internal wall, said additional time being sufficiently short so that said beam does not heat the interior of said tube other than where said holes are formed.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
57 words
A process as claimed in claim 6 wherein: said beam is so directed at said tube at an angle which is not perpendicular relative to said first mentioned area so that said internal hole in said internal wall will be offset with respect to said exterior hole in said exterior wall along the length of said tube.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
41 words
A process as claimed in claim 6 wherein: a plurality of said interior and exterior holes are formed in said interior and exterior walls of said tube by so directing said beam against successive areas along the length of said tube.
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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) | 1977-04-29 | 1977-10-29 | 1978-04-30 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1981-04-29 | 1981-10-29 | 1982-04-30 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1985-04-29 | 1985-10-29 | 1986-04-30 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |