Patent EP0326015A2 successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
EP0326015A2
Expired / Lapsed
EP
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Substantially wrinkle-free, high modulus of elasticity, non-planar film and process for its manufacture
Assignee: CNA Holdings LLC
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Filing: 1989-01-19
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Granted: —
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Expires: 2009-01-19
Abstract
Abstract A substantially wrinkle-free, high modulus, thermoplastic film having at least one compound curve is disclosed. The substantially wrinkle-free film may form a part of a laminate which itself has utility in automotive glazing applications. An improved lamination process is also disclosed for the production of non-planar laminates from planar sheets of heat-shrinkable film through the use of a negative image mold of the non-planar article to be laminated. Heat-shrinkable films which may be used in the practice of the invention include polyester films, polyolefin films, polyamide films, polyurethane films, polycarbonate films, polyvinylchloride films, and polystyrenic films. The method is applicable to a wide range of non-planar articles and is particularly suitable to articles having at least one compound curve forming at least part of its surface. The improved lamination process of the present invention has specific utility in the manufacture of automotive glazing products such as windshields and rear windows.
Inventors
- 👤 Grover L. Farrar
- 👤 H. Wayne Swofford
- 👤 Jack M. Lazar
- 👤 Samuel M. Inman
- 👤 Stephen J. Gust
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
EP
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-08 16:02
CPC Classifications
B; B29; B29C; B29C71/00; B29C71/02; B32; B32B; B32B27/00; B32B27/36; B29C51/00; B29C51/14; B29C61/00; B29C61/02; B32B17/00; B32B17/06; B32B17/10; B32B17/10005; B32B17/10009; B32B17/1055; B32B17/10761; B32B17/10807; B32B17/10816; B32B17/10825; B32B17/10834; B32B17/10844; B32B17/10853; B32B17/10899; B32B17/10935; B32B27/06; B32B27/08; B32B7/00; B32B7/04; B32B7/12; B60; B60J; B60J1/00; B60J1/02; B32B2307/00; B32B2307/50; B32B2307/582; B32B2307/5825; B32B2367/00; B32B2605/00; B32B2605/006
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 14
Claim 1
Independent Claim
20 words
A high modulus thermoplastic film, characterized in that said film has at least one compound curve and is substantially wrinkle-free.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
20 words
A high modulus thermoplastic film, characterized in that said film has at least one compound curve and is substantially wrinkle-free.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
34 words
Film according to claim 1, characterized in that said film is selected from the group of films comprising polyolefin films, polyamide films, polyurethane films, polycarbonate films, polyvinyl chloride films, polystyrenic films, and polyester films.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
18 words
Film according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that said film is a biaxially stretched polyester film.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
57 words
A process for the manufacture of a substantially wrinkle-free conformed thermoplastic film comprising (i) placing a heat shrinkable, thermoplastic film over a negative-image mold of a non-planar article; (ii) conforming said film to the shape of said mold by heating said film to a temperature above its glass transition temperature while maintaining said film under dimensional restraint.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
57 words
A process for the manufacture of a substantially wrinkle-free conformed thermoplastic film comprising (i) placing a heat shrinkable, thermoplastic film over a negative-image mold of a non-planar article; (ii) conforming said film to the shape of said mold by heating said film to a temperature above its glass transition temperature while maintaining said film under dimensional restraint.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
21 words
Process according to claim 4, characterized in that said film is heated to a maximum conforming temperature of about 250 °C.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
45 words
The process of claim 4 or 5, characterized in that a mold release coating is interposed between said film and said mold prior to heating said film and is affixed to said film, said mold release coating additionally improving the abrasion resistance of said film.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
93 words
A process for the manufacture of a substantially wrinkle-free, non-planar pre-laminate comprising: (i) placing a heat-shrinkable, thermoplastic film over a negative-image mold of a non-planar article; (ii) conforming said film to the shape of said mold by heating said film to a temperature above its glass transition temperature while maintaining said film under dimensional restraint, thereby forming conformed film; (iii) placing an adhesive layer over said conformed film; (iv) conforming said adhesive layer to the shape of said conformed film by heating said adhesive layer under pressure, thereby forming a two layer pre-laminate.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
93 words
A process for the manufacture of a substantially wrinkle-free, non-planar pre-laminate comprising: (i) placing a heat-shrinkable, thermoplastic film over a negative-image mold of a non-planar article; (ii) conforming said film to the shape of said mold by heating said film to a temperature above its glass transition temperature while maintaining said film under dimensional restraint, thereby forming conformed film; (iii) placing an adhesive layer over said conformed film; (iv) conforming said adhesive layer to the shape of said conformed film by heating said adhesive layer under pressure, thereby forming a two layer pre-laminate.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
48 words
The process of claim 7, characterized in that said conformed film is cooled to below its glass transition temperature prior to placing an adhesive layer over said conformed film, said adhesive layer comprising a layer of polyvinylbutyral having a thickness effective to bond the conformed pre-laminate to glass.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
116 words
A process for the manufacture of a non-planar laminate comprising: (i) placing a heat-shrinkable, thermoplastic film over a negative-image mold of a non-planar article; (ii) conforming said film to the shape of said mold by heating said film to a temperature above its glass transition temperature while maintaining said film under dimensional restraint, thereby forming conformed film; (iii) aligning the exposed surface of said conformed film into image-wise relationship with the concave surface of said non-planar article; (iv) placing an adhesive layer between said conformed film, and said non-planar article, thereby forming a pre-laminate; (v) subjecting said pre-laminate to heat and pressure sufficient to laminate said conformed film, said adhesive layer, and said non-planar article together.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
116 words
A process for the manufacture of a non-planar laminate comprising: (i) placing a heat-shrinkable, thermoplastic film over a negative-image mold of a non-planar article; (ii) conforming said film to the shape of said mold by heating said film to a temperature above its glass transition temperature while maintaining said film under dimensional restraint, thereby forming conformed film; (iii) aligning the exposed surface of said conformed film into image-wise relationship with the concave surface of said non-planar article; (iv) placing an adhesive layer between said conformed film, and said non-planar article, thereby forming a pre-laminate; (v) subjecting said pre-laminate to heat and pressure sufficient to laminate said conformed film, said adhesive layer, and said non-planar article together.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
45 words
The process of claim 9, characterized in that any excess material is trimmed from said conformed film prior to placing said film into image-wise alignment with said non-planar article, said non-planar article being transparent and selected from the group consisting of glass, polycarbonate, and polyacrylate.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
No citation records indexed.
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