US4699818A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Weatherstripping including method and apparatus for the manufacturing thereof
Assignee: Amesbury Group Inc
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Filing: 1984-08-14
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Granted: 1987-10-13
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Expires: 2004-08-14
Abstract
Abstract A method of manufacturing weatherstripping comprises forming a row of pile fiber on a substrate, compressing the row widthwise between a pair of dies, heating the row while so compressed, and cooling the heated row. In this way the sides of the row can be heat set for appearance, or formed into a continuous film, or the whole row converted into a barrier fin in the form of a film, depending upon the degree of compression and the temperature. Preferably the row is formed by tufting and the dies disposed immediately downstream of the tufting station. Pile fiber of conjugate polyethylene and polypropylene is advantageous in forming such films which are integrally attached to the substrate by pile fiber roots extending from the base of the film into the substrate.
Inventors
- 👤 Robert D. Evans
- 👤 Robert C. Blezard
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-02 18:33
CPC Classifications
B; B29; B29C; B29C71/00; B29C71/02; B29C67/00; E; E06; E06B; E06B7/00; E06B7/16; E06B7/22; E06B7/23; E06B7/2305; E06B7/2314; B29L; B29L2031/00; B29L2031/26; Y; Y10; Y10T; Y10T428/00; Y10T428/23907; Y10T428/23929; Y10T428/23936; Y10T428/23957; Y10T428/23979; Y10T428/23986; Y10T428/23993
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 27
Claim 1
Independent Claim
47 words
A weatherstripping product, comprising: a substrate strip; a barrier fin upstanding from and attached to said substrate strip; and said barrier fin comprising a film formed from pile fiber, the film being attached along its length to said substrate strip by fiber extending integrally from said film.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
47 words
A weatherstripping product, comprising: a substrate strip; a barrier fin upstanding from and attached to said substrate strip; and said barrier fin comprising a film formed from pile fiber, the film being attached along its length to said substrate strip by fiber extending integrally from said film.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
38 words
The weatherstripping product of claim 1, wherein said fiber extending from said film passes through said substrate and is integral with other such fiber extending from said film and through said substrate at an adjacent but separate location.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
23 words
The weatherstripping product of claim 2, further comprising a row of pile fiber adjacent said barrier fin and attached to said substrate strip.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
25 words
The weatherstripping product of claim 3, further comprising a second such barrier fin, said row of pile fiber being disposed between the two barrier fins.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
16 words
The weatherstripping product of claim 1, wherein said fiber comprises conjugate filaments of polypropylene and polyethylene.
Claim 7
Independent Claim
98 words
A method of manufacturing weatherstripping, comprising the steps of: forming a lengthwise row of pile fiber on a substrate; passing said row lengthwise between a pair of dies by relative movement between said row and said dies; compressing said row widthwise with said dies while passing therebetween; heating at least one of said dies to heat at least one side of said row; and forming the pile fiber at least on said one side of said row into a film by said compressing and said heating in conjunction with said relative movement between said row and said dies.
Claim 8
Independent Claim
98 words
A method of manufacturing weatherstripping, comprising the steps of: forming a lengthwise row of pile fiber on a substrate; passing said row lengthwise between a pair of dies by relative movement between said row and said dies; compressing said row widthwise with said dies while passing therebetween; heating at least one of said dies to heat at least one side of said row; and forming the pile fiber at least on said one side of said row into a film by said compressing and said heating in conjunction with said relative movement between said row and said dies.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
14 words
The method of claim 6, wherein said row is subsequently cooled by ambient air.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
12 words
The method of claim 6, wherein said row is formed by tufting.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
22 words
The method of claim 8, wherein tufts formed by said tufting are cut to form cut pile before said row is compressed.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
12 words
The method of claim 6, wherein said pile fiber comprises conjugate filaments.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
18 words
The method of claim 10, wherein said conjugate filaments comprise a polypropylene core surrounded by a polyethylene sheath.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
22 words
The method of claim 6, wherein the material of said pile fiber comprises polypropylene containing a UV stabilizer and a silicone additive.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
16 words
The method of claim 6, wherein said pair of dies are stationary and said row moves.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
26 words
The method of claim 6, wherein both of said dies are heated and opposite sides of said row are both heated by contact with said dies.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
51 words
The method of claim 6, wherein said row comprises in the widthwise direction a plurality of individual rows of tufts, and said heating step comprises heating at least the outer side of an outer row of tufts, to form at least the outer portion of that outer row into a film.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
67 words
The method of claim 6, wherein said row is formed by tufting a multi-filament yarn comprising polypropylene into said substrate, and immediately thereafter passing said substrate past said both dies with said row moving therebetween, said dies being heated to a temperature in the range of 220° F. to 325° F., and allowing the heated row to cool in ambient air as said substrate continues to move.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
27 words
The method of claim 16, wherein said temperature is in the range of 310° F. to 325° F. and said row is completely transformed into a film.
Claim 20
Independent Claim
93 words
A method of manufacturing weatherstripping, comprising the steps of: forming a lengthwise row of pile fiber on a substrate; passing said row lengthwise between a pair of dies by relative movement between said row and said dies; compressing said row widthwise with said dies while passing therebetween; heating said dies to heat opposite sides of said row during said compressing thereof; forming said row of pile fiber into a continuous film by said compressing and said heating in conjunction with said relative movement between said row and said dies; and cooling said film.
Claim 21
Independent Claim
93 words
A method of manufacturing weatherstripping, comprising the steps of: forming a lengthwise row of pile fiber on a substrate; passing said row lengthwise between a pair of dies by relative movement between said row and said dies; compressing said row widthwise with said dies while passing therebetween; heating said dies to heat opposite sides of said row during said compressing thereof; forming said row of pile fiber into a continuous film by said compressing and said heating in conjunction with said relative movement between said row and said dies; and cooling said film.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
41 words
The method of claim 18, further comprising the step of contacting a top surface of said row with a die during said compressing and heating of said row to form a smooth straight surface along a top edge of said film.
Claim 23
Independent Claim
86 words
A method of manufacturing weatherstripping, comprising the steps of: forming a lengthwise row of pile fiber on a substrate; passing said row lengthwise between a pair of dies by relative movement between said row and said dies; compressing said row widthwise with said dies while passing therebetween; heating at least one of said dies to heat outside fibers on at least one side of said row to heat set said outside fibers and cause them to stand upright neatly; and cooling said heat set outside fibers.
Claim 24
Independent Claim
86 words
A method of manufacturing weatherstripping, comprising the steps of: forming a lengthwise row of pile fiber on a substrate; passing said row lengthwise between a pair of dies by relative movement between said row and said dies; compressing said row widthwise with said dies while passing therebetween; heating at least one of said dies to heat outside fibers on at least one side of said row to heat set said outside fibers and cause them to stand upright neatly; and cooling said heat set outside fibers.
Claim 25
Independent Claim
132 words
An apparatus for producing weatherstripping, comprising: a tufting machine having a reciprocating needle bar; means for moving a primary backing fabric through the tufting machine in a lengthwise direction; pairs of dies disposed across the width of said tufting machine downstream of said needle bar, each pair of dies being disposed to contact opposite sides of a row of tufted pile inserted in said primary backing fabric by said needle bar; means, located adjacent said pairs of dies but on the opposite side of said primary backing fabric to said dies, for urging said primary backing fabric towards each said pair of dies as said row of tufted pile passes therebetween; and means for heating each said row as the opposite sides thereof are contacted by a said pair of said dies.
Claim 26
Independent Claim
132 words
An apparatus for producing weatherstripping, comprising: a tufting machine having a reciprocating needle bar; means for moving a primary backing fabric through the tufting machine in a lengthwise direction; pairs of dies disposed across the width of said tufting machine downstream of said needle bar, each pair of dies being disposed to contact opposite sides of a row of tufted pile inserted in said primary backing fabric by said needle bar; means, located adjacent said pairs of dies but on the opposite side of said primary backing fabric to said dies, for urging said primary backing fabric towards each said pair of dies as said row of tufted pile passes therebetween; and means for heating each said row as the opposite sides thereof are contacted by a said pair of said dies.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
46 words
The apparatus of claim 21, wherein said urging means comprises an endless belt, the distance between each pair of dies is adjustable, said heating means comprises heaters located in said dies, and further comprising means for controlling the temperature to which said heaters heat said dies.
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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) | 1990-10-12 | 1991-04-13 | 1991-10-13 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1994-10-12 | 1995-04-13 | 1995-10-13 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1998-10-12 | 1999-04-13 | 1999-10-13 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |