Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 11
Claim 1
Independent Claim
171 words
A method for joining a first laminated sheet with another surface, said laminated sheet having a carrier layer of foamed thermoplastic material and outer layers of a compact thermoplastic material on opposed sides thereof, said method comprising directing a jet of hot air toward and substantially at right angles to the edge surface of the laminated sheet, directly contacting said edge surface with said hot air, the jet of hot air having such force and temperature as to cause the carrier layer of the laminated sheet to shrink and retract from the edge thereof and cause the outer layers of compact thermoplastic material to soften and bend inwardly toward the retracted carrier layer and meet substantially at the center plane of the laminated sheet thereby forming an integral layer of softened, compact thermoplastic material along the edge surface of the laminated sheet pressing said layer of softened, compact thermoplastic material against said another surface and allowing said layer of softened, compact thermoplastic material to harden thereby forming a strong, tight seal.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
171 words
A method for joining a first laminated sheet with another surface, said laminated sheet having a carrier layer of foamed thermoplastic material and outer layers of a compact thermoplastic material on opposed sides thereof, said method comprising directing a jet of hot air toward and substantially at right angles to the edge surface of the laminated sheet, directly contacting said edge surface with said hot air, the jet of hot air having such force and temperature as to cause the carrier layer of the laminated sheet to shrink and retract from the edge thereof and cause the outer layers of compact thermoplastic material to soften and bend inwardly toward the retracted carrier layer and meet substantially at the center plane of the laminated sheet thereby forming an integral layer of softened, compact thermoplastic material along the edge surface of the laminated sheet pressing said layer of softened, compact thermoplastic material against said another surface and allowing said layer of softened, compact thermoplastic material to harden thereby forming a strong, tight seal.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
30 words
The method of claim 1 wherein said another surface is the heat softened, compact thermoplastic material on the edge surface of a second laminated sheet thereby forming a butt seal.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
29 words
The method of claim 1 wherein said another surface is the heat softened, compact thermoplastic material of an outer layer of a second laminated sheet thereby forming a T-seal.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
36 words
The method of claim 1 wherein the outer layers of compact thermoplastic material are of equal thickness and the axis of the jet of hot air is directed along the center plane of the laminated sheet.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
51 words
The method of claim 1 wherein the outer layers of compact thermoplastic material are of unequal thickness and the axis of the jet of hot air is directed along a plane parallel to the center plane of the laminated sheet and disposed laterally toward the thicker layer of compact thermoplastic material.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
30 words
The method of claim 1 wherein the jet of hot air has a thickness which is 1 to 3 times the thickness of the carrier layer of the laminated sheet.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
27 words
The method of claim 1 wherein the jet of hot air has a total thickness which is 1.5 to 4 times the thickness of the laminated sheet.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
19 words
The method of claim 1 wherein the jet of hot air has a thickness of 1 to 5 mm.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
19 words
The method of claim 1 wherein the jet of hot air has a temperature of from 350° to 450°C.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
20 words
The method of claim 1 wherein the jet of hot air has a velocity of from 6 to 12 m/second.