Stock material or miscellaneous articles – Layer or component removable to expose adhesive – Halogen containing compound
Reexamination Certificate
1994-09-27
2001-07-03
Ahmad, Nasser (Department: 1315)
Stock material or miscellaneous articles
Layer or component removable to expose adhesive
Halogen containing compound
C144S329000, C144S332000, C428S050000, C428S105000, C428S106000, C428S187000, C428S321100, C428S322200, C428S537100, C428S542600
Reexamination Certificate
active
06254951
ABSTRACT:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
This invention relates to wood processing and is particularly directed to an improved method of processing wood veneer to provide a highly flexible product which can be used as a fabric and to products produced by this method.
PRIOR ART
Wood working and forming are among the oldest of the useful arts and the bending of wood has always presented challenges to workers. Thousands of years ago, workmen learned to use soaking and heat to bend timbers for shipbuilding and architecture. Later, similar techniques were used to bend smaller boards for making furniture and the like. More recently, it has been found that thin sheets or veneers of wood could be bent more easily to fit around curves for interior decoration of automobiles and the like. Also, the use of such thin veneers allowed furniture makers, model builders and the like to use less valuable woods for structural purposes and to cover the structural wood with veneers of rarer or more expensive woods for appearance. Unfortunately, such veneers are quite brittle and, even with very thin veneers, the radius of curvature which can be achieved is quite limited. Efforts to form sharper comers causes splitting or splintering of the veneer, which creates sharp, uneven and unsightly edges and which can produce painful injury to persons brushing against such edges. Numerous prior art attempts have been made to overcome these limitations. Thus, when processing veneers to thicknesses in the range of {fraction (1/32)}-{fraction (1/64)} inch, it has become common practice to apply a rigid backing material, such as wood fiber paper or multiple plys of paper, foil, fabric or the like, in order to maintain structural integrity. A mechanical process called “stress relieving” has also been employed to significantly reduce the natural brittleness of the veneers and backing. However, even when this process is used, it is satisfactory only when the veneer is atttached to a rigid or “stable” substrate or surface, such as walls, furniture and the like. Thus, even when treated with the “stress relieving” process, the resulting veneer is still extremely brittle when compared to cloth, leather and other fabrics and is unsatisfactory where mechanical movement of the substrate is desired. Thus, none of the prior art wood softening processes have been entirely satisfactory.
BRIEF SUMMARY AND OBJECTS OF INVENTION
These disadvantages of the prior art are overcome with the present invention and an improved method of processing wood veneers is provided which renders the veneer comparable with cloth, leather and other fabrics in flexibility, permitting application to an unstable substrate which is subject to mechanical movement and, thus, permits the use of wood in producing a wide variety of products which could not, heretofore, be produced from wood.
The advantages of the present invention are preferably attained by providing an improved wood treatment method comprising treating a sheet of wood veneer with a conventional stress relieving process, Pre-treating the sheet with glycerine, saturating the treated veneer with oil and sealing the saturated veneer to retain the entrained oil. It is found that this treatment renders the veneers significantly more flexible, with the ability to be attached to an unstable substrate which is subject to mechanical movement, and allows wood veneers to be used in forming hinges, wallets, purses, draperies, shoes, clothing and other products which could not previously be made from wood.
Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide an improved method of treating wood.
Another object of the present invention to provide an improved method of treating wood which renders the wood significantly more flexible whilt maintaining its structural integrity when attached to an unstable substrate which is subject to mechanical movement.
An additional object of the present invention is to provide an improved method of treating wood to produce a wood fabric having sufficient flexibility and structural integrity to permit attachment to an unstable substrate for mechanical movement.
A further object of the present invention to provide an improved method of treating wood which allows the use of wood to produce a wide variety of products which could not previously be made from wood.
Another object of the present invention to provide an improved method of treating wood which provide wood veneers with flexibility comparable with cloth, leather and other fabrics.
An additional object of the present invention is to provide a plurality of products made from wood which could not previously be made from wood.
A specific object of the present invention to provide an improved method of treating wood comprising treating a sheet of wood veneer with a conventional stress relieving process, saturating, then, treating the veneer with oil and sealing the saturated veneer to retain the entrained oil. It is found that this treatment renders the veneers sufficiently flexible to maintain structural integrity of the veneer when undergoing mechanical movement to allow wood veneers to be used in forming hinges, wallets, purses, draperies, shoes, clothing and other products which could not previously be made from wood, together with a plurality of products made with this process.
These and other objects and features of the present invention will be apparent from the following detailed description, taken with reference to the figures of the accompanying drawing.
REFERENCES:
patent: 327549 (1885-10-01), Harwood
patent: 3837634 (1974-09-01), Cobb
patent: 4668324 (1987-05-01), Burns
Ahmad Nasser
Sperry Robert M.
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