US3933562A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Method of laminating a plastic sheet onto a surface of a hollow body
Assignee: United States Steel Corp
•
Filing: 1973-03-01
•
Granted: 1976-01-20
•
Expires: 1993-03-01
Abstract
Abstract A method of laminating a plastic sheet onto a surface of a hollow body is disclosed. The method of laminating a plastic sheet onto a surface of a hollow body includes the steps of loading the hollow body into the female die, securing the plastic sheet in a clamping means, heating the clamped sheet to its softening temperature, moving the clamped heated sheet into registry with a male die and the female die, sealing one die of the male die and the female die to one member of the clamping means and the clamped heated plastic sheet to define therewith a sealed chamber, moving the male die toward the clamped heated sheet to form the clamped heated sheet about the male die, moving the male die and the clamped formed heated sheet against the surface of the hollow body in the female die, and applying fluid pressure to the clamped formed heated hollow body to transfer the clamped formed heated sheet to the surface of the hollow body.
Inventors
- 👤 Ira G. Cruckshank
- 👤 Thomas J. Snodgrass
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-23 04:01
CPC Classifications
B; B29; B29C; B29C67/00; B29C67/0048; B29C51/00; B29C51/04; B29C51/10; Y; Y10; Y10T; Y10T156/00; Y10T156/10; Y10T156/1052
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 38
Claim 1
Independent Claim
166 words
A method of making a two-piece laminated article wherein a first plastic sheet is formed into the shape of and secured to the inner surface of a hollow article, said method including the steps of: a. loading said hollow article into a female die; b. securing said plastic sheet in a clamping means; c. heating said clamped sheet to its softening temperature; d. moving said clamped heated sheet into registry with a male die and said female die; e. sealing said female die in a sealed chamber one boundary of which is formed by said clamped sheet; f. moving said male die toward said clamped heated sheet to form said clamped heated sheet about said male die; g. moving said male die and said clamped formed heated sheet against said surface of said hollow article in said female die; and h. applying a fluid pressure differential to said clamped formed heated sheet to transfer said clamped formed heated sheet to said surface of said hollow article.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
166 words
A method of making a two-piece laminated article wherein a first plastic sheet is formed into the shape of and secured to the inner surface of a hollow article, said method including the steps of: a. loading said hollow article into a female die; b. securing said plastic sheet in a clamping means; c. heating said clamped sheet to its softening temperature; d. moving said clamped heated sheet into registry with a male die and said female die; e. sealing said female die in a sealed chamber one boundary of which is formed by said clamped sheet; f. moving said male die toward said clamped heated sheet to form said clamped heated sheet about said male die; g. moving said male die and said clamped formed heated sheet against said surface of said hollow article in said female die; and h. applying a fluid pressure differential to said clamped formed heated sheet to transfer said clamped formed heated sheet to said surface of said hollow article.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
30 words
The method recited in claim 1 including the step of opening said clamping means to release said plastic sheet after said plastic sheet has been transferred to said hollow article.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
65 words
The method recited in claim 1 including the step of heating said male die to maintain said plastic sheet at said softening temperature, and to selectively heat a first area of said formed heated sheet to weaken and thereby thin said first area during said forming operation on said male die or to maintain uniform thickness in a second area of said formed heated sheet.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
54 words
The method recited in claim 1 including the step of cooling said male die to selectively thicken and thereby reinforce an area of said formed heated sheet which area is subject to stress during the forming operation on said male die or to maintain uniform thickness in said area of said formed heated sheet.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
23 words
The method recited in claim 1 including the step of heating said female die to maintain said hollow article at a predetermined temperature.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
23 words
The method recited in claim 1 including the step of cooling said female die to selectively cool an area of said hollow article.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
34 words
The method recited in claim 1 including the step of reciprocating said male die toward said female die while said clamping means remained stationary with respect to said male die and said female die.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
20 words
The method recited in claim 1 including the step of reciprocating said female die with respect to said male die.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
32 words
The method recited in claim 1 including the step of applying a vacuum to the side of said plastic sheet adjacent said male die during said forming operation on said male die.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
37 words
The method recited in claim 1 including the step of applying a fluid pressure to said sealed chamber and said sheet during said forming operation on said male die to urge said sheet against said male die.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
19 words
The method recited in claim 1 including the step of side loading said hollow article into said female die.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
19 words
The method recited in claim 1 including the step of air floating said hollow article into said female die.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
31 words
The method recited in claim 1 including the step of applying a vacuum to said female die to apply said clamped formed heated sheet to said surface of said hollow article.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
20 words
The method recited in claim 1 including the step of applying an adhesive to said surface of said hollow article.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
24 words
The method recited in claim 1 including the step of applying an adhesive to the side of said plastic sheet adjacent said hollow article.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
35 words
The method recited in claim 1 and including the step of fluid floating by fluid pressure portions of said plastic sheet over an edge or projection of either said male die or said female die.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
27 words
The method recited in claim 1 including the step of selectively heating a first area of said plastic sheet before said plastic sheet engages said male die.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
26 words
The method recited in claim 1 including the step of selectively cooling an area of said plastic sheet before said plastic sheet engages said male die.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
46 words
The method recited in claim 1 and including the step of heating a selected portion of said plastic sheet before the application of fluid pressure to said plastic sheet to control thickness of said portion during the forming of said plastic sheet on said male die.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
29 words
The method recited in claim 1 including the step of applying a differential pressure to opposite sides of said heated sheet to urge said sheet against said male die.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
37 words
The method recited in claim 1 and including the step of cooling a selected portion of said plastic sheet to control the thickness of said portion during the forming of said plastic sheet on said male die.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
28 words
The method recited in claim 1 including the step of sealing said male die in a sealed chamber one boundary of which is formed by said clamped sheet.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
31 words
The method recited in claim 22 including the step of applying a vacuum to said sealed chamber during the forming operation on said male die to draw said heated sheet thereagainst.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
35 words
The method recited in claim 1 and including the step of gathering material of uniform thickness in a first cavity of said male die by applying a pressure differential to an area of said material.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
58 words
The method recited in claim 24 including the step of projecting said gathered material of uniform thickness into a hole or slot in said hollow body and a second cavity in said female die when said clamped formed heated sheet is applied to said surface of said hollow body by applying a pressure differential to said gathered material.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
26 words
The method recited in claim 25 wherein said gathered material of uniform thickness is projected by applying a vacuum to the wall of said second cavity.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
26 words
The method recited in claim 25 wherein said gathered material of uniform thickness is projected by fluid pressure applied thru the wall of said first cavity.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
42 words
The method recited in claim 1 and including the step of forming a hole or slot in said clamped formed heated sheet by a punching member during the application of said clamped formed heated sheet to said surface of said hollow article.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim
22 words
The method recited in claim 28 and including the step of removing the plastic from said hole or slot in said sheet.
Claim 31
Dependent Claim
42 words
The method recited in claim 28 and including the step of heating said punching member to melt said hole or slot in said plastic sheet or to coat the edge of the hole or slot in said hollow body with plastic material.
Claim 32
Dependent Claim
27 words
The method recited in claim 28 and including the step of reciprocating said punching member with respect to said male die to form said hole or slot.
Claim 33
Dependent Claim
21 words
The method recited in claim 28 and including the step of also forming a hole or slot in said hollow articles.
Claim 34
Independent Claim
201 words
A method of making a two-piece laminated hollow article wherein a first plastic sheet is formed into the shape of and secured to the inner surface of a hollow article, said method comprising the steps of: securing said first plastic sheet in a clamping means; heating said clamped sheet to its softening temperature; positioning said clamped heated sheet in registry between a male die and a female die; loading said hollow article into said female die; moving said male die and clamped heated sheet relatively closer to one another to form said sheet at least partially about said male die; creating a pressure differential on opposite sides of said clamped heated sheet to further form said sheet about said male member; moving said male and female dies together to place said sheet in juxtaposition to the inner surface of said hollow article and to place said male and female dies together to form a sealed chamber enveloping said sheet and hollow article; applying a pressure differential to the surface of said sheet to move said sheet into intimate secured relationship with said hollow article; separating said male and female dies; and removing said two-piece hollow laminated article from said female die.
Claim 35
Independent Claim
201 words
A method of making a two-piece laminated hollow article wherein a first plastic sheet is formed into the shape of and secured to the inner surface of a hollow article, said method comprising the steps of: securing said first plastic sheet in a clamping means; heating said clamped sheet to its softening temperature; positioning said clamped heated sheet in registry between a male die and a female die; loading said hollow article into said female die; moving said male die and clamped heated sheet relatively closer to one another to form said sheet at least partially about said male die; creating a pressure differential on opposite sides of said clamped heated sheet to further form said sheet about said male member; moving said male and female dies together to place said sheet in juxtaposition to the inner surface of said hollow article and to place said male and female dies together to form a sealed chamber enveloping said sheet and hollow article; applying a pressure differential to the surface of said sheet to move said sheet into intimate secured relationship with said hollow article; separating said male and female dies; and removing said two-piece hollow laminated article from said female die.
Claim 36
Dependent Claim
36 words
The method recited in claim 33 including the step of creating a zone of differential temperature in said heated plastic sheet to vary the thickness of said zone of said sheet in the resulting two-piece article.
Claim 37
Independent Claim
211 words
A method of making a two-piece laminated hollow article wherein a first plastic sheet is formed into the shape of and secured to the inner surface of a hollow article, said method comprising the steps of: securing said first plastic sheet in a clamping means; heating said clamped sheet to its softening temperature; positioning said clamped heated sheet in registry between a male die and a female die; loading said hollow article into said female die; moving said male die and clamped heated sheet relatively closer to one another to form said sheet at least partially about said male die; moving said male and female dies together to place said sheet in juxtaposition to the inner surface of said hollow article and to place said male and female dies together to form a sealed chamber enveloping said sheet and hollow article; applying a first pressure differential to opposite sides of said sheet to further form said sheet about said male member; applying a second pressure differential to the surface of said sheet to transfer said sheet into intimate secured relationship with said hollow article; and forming an opening in said transferred sheet by a punching member which passes through said sheet and through a corresponding pre-existing opening in said hollow article.
Claim 38
Independent Claim
211 words
A method of making a two-piece laminated hollow article wherein a first plastic sheet is formed into the shape of and secured to the inner surface of a hollow article, said method comprising the steps of: securing said first plastic sheet in a clamping means; heating said clamped sheet to its softening temperature; positioning said clamped heated sheet in registry between a male die and a female die; loading said hollow article into said female die; moving said male die and clamped heated sheet relatively closer to one another to form said sheet at least partially about said male die; moving said male and female dies together to place said sheet in juxtaposition to the inner surface of said hollow article and to place said male and female dies together to form a sealed chamber enveloping said sheet and hollow article; applying a first pressure differential to opposite sides of said sheet to further form said sheet about said male member; applying a second pressure differential to the surface of said sheet to transfer said sheet into intimate secured relationship with said hollow article; and forming an opening in said transferred sheet by a punching member which passes through said sheet and through a corresponding pre-existing opening in said hollow article.
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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) | 1979-01-19 | 1979-07-21 | 1980-01-20 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1983-01-19 | 1983-07-21 | 1984-01-20 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1987-01-19 | 1987-07-21 | 1988-01-20 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |