Stock material or miscellaneous articles – Web or sheet containing structurally defined element or... – Adhesive outermost layer
Reexamination Certificate
1997-10-01
2001-05-29
Cole, Elizabeth M. (Department: 1771)
Stock material or miscellaneous articles
Web or sheet containing structurally defined element or...
Adhesive outermost layer
C428S346000, C428S352000, C156S273900, C156S275700, C156S329000, C156S332000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06238787
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND
Rubber molded parts or strips are often used to seal gaps and the like on automobiles, trucks and other vehicles and often also to enhance the aesthetics of such automobiles. For example, rubber molded strips are often applied around automobile door frames, window trunk frames and headlamps to provide a seal and prevent moisture, dirt and the like from passing inside the automobile or components of the automobile. Rubber molded parts may also be secured to the side panels or other components of the automobile for aesthetic, protective or other purposes.
It is important that such rubber molded parts be secured to the automobile in a manner such that the rubber molded parts remain secured to the automobile over a long period of time despite the wide range of weather conditions, such as, rain, snow or other moisture and the extreme cold and heat, usually encountered by automobiles during their useful lives. One heretofore known method of securing rubber molded parts to automobiles is by using two-sided tape. For example, it is known to use a tape, such as that sold by The Minnesota Mining and Manufacturing Company under the name Brand 5404, having an acrylic polymer adhesive on one side which can be bonded to the rubber molded strip by application of heat to the surface of the tape. The acrylic polymer adhesive is described in U.S. Pat. No. 4,569,879, which issued on Feb. 11, 1986 to Groves. The Brand 5404 tape has a pressure sensitive adhesive on its other side adapted to be secured to the automobile component upon application of pressure to the rubber molded part and the component. This method of securing rubber molded parts to an automobile has achieved limited success, however, because the rubber molded part often times separates from the tape, and thus, the automobile over time.
Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide a method of attaching a strip, tape or the like to a rubber molded part that provides a durable attachment or bond between the strip and rubber molded part. It is further object to provide such a method for use in connection with securing the rubber part to an automobile or other vehicle.
SUMMARY
In accordance with these and other objects, the present invention provides a method of attaching to a rubber molded part comprising radio frequency sensitive material a strip having an acrylic polymer adhesive on a portion of the strip adjacent the rubber molded part. The method includes the steps of applying radio frequency energy to the rubber molded part so that heat is generated within the rubber molded part causing the acrylic polymer adhesive to bond to the rubber molded part. The acrylic polymer adhesive desirably is an acrylic-silane interpolymer of primarily acrylic ester monomer interacted with an organosilane, which interpolymer has a T
g
(glass transition temperature) of about −10° to about 80° C.
Desirably, the strip also includes a pressure sensitive adhesive on another portion for securing the rubber molded part to a component of an automobile or other vehicle, such as, for example, a headlamp, by applying pressure to the rubber molded part and the component to cause the pressure sensitive adhesive to bond to the component. The strip may have any suitable shape or configuration, depending upon the shape, configuration or intended function of the rubber molded part or the component of the automobile. In a preferred embodiment, the strip is elongated and is desirably in the form of a tape that includes an acrylic foam core between the acrylic polymer adhesive and the pressure sensitive adhesive. In accordance with a preferred embodiment of the invention, the strip is the Brand-5404 tape sold by the Minnesota Mining and Manufacturing Company that includes the acrylic polymer adhesive described in U.S. Pat. No. 4,568,879, which is incorporated herein in its entirety by reference.
Application of radio frequency energy utilizes the dielectric properties of the rubber molded part to generate heat therein. In a preferred embodiment, the rubber molded part comprises vulcanized rubber, and includes a composition particularly well suited for facilitating the strong and durable bond. When the radio frequency energy is applied, the alternating electric field of the radiation causes an oscillatory displacement of the polar components of the rubber molded part, thereby resulting in a rise in the temperature of the rubber molded part. The temperature rise of the rubber molded part causes a temperature rise in the acrylic polymer adhesive, causing the acrylic polymer adhesive to melt bond to the rubber molded part. The amount of heat generated in the rubber molded part is based on the formula:
P=K∈tan&dgr;
where
P=heat generated;
K=constant dependent upon the frequency of the applied radiation, the electric field strength, the material dimensions, and the units used;
∈=dielectric constant of the material; and
tan&dgr;=loss tangent or dissipation factor of the material.
The rubber part also may have any suitable shape or configuration, depending upon the shape, configuration or intended function of the rubber molded part or the component of the automobile.
Application of radio frequency energy to the tape and rubber molded part in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the invention results in a bond between the tape and the rubber molded part that can withstand a wide range of weather conditions over a long period of time. Surprisingly, the bond is stronger, more durable and more uniform than the bond resulting from applying heat in a conventional manner to the acrylic polymer adhesive. Accordingly, the present invention is particularly well suited for use in connection with securing rubber molded parts to automobiles and other vehicles for sealing and aesthetic purposes.
REFERENCES:
patent: 3645817 (1972-02-01), Walker et al.
patent: 4444700 (1984-04-01), Fondren
patent: 4569879 (1986-02-01), Groves
patent: 4661299 (1987-04-01), Thorsrud
patent: 4764799 (1988-08-01), Malaviya
patent: 4790965 (1988-12-01), Thorsrud
patent: 4840758 (1989-06-01), Thorsrud
patent: 4941936 (1990-07-01), Wilkinson et al.
patent: 4969968 (1990-11-01), Leatherman
patent: 5182134 (1993-01-01), Sato
patent: 5283119 (1994-02-01), Shuttleworth et al.
patent: 5304409 (1994-04-01), Nozaki
patent: 5827392 (1998-10-01), Buckley et al.
patent: 5861211 (1999-01-01), Thakkar et al.
patent: 5922783 (1999-07-01), Wojciak
CRC Handbook of Chemistry and Physics, 80th Edition, p 10-212-10-213, 1999.*
Webster's Dictionary, 10th Edition, p 963, 1997.
Busch Edward John
Giles Sanford F.
Koshy Alex T.
Barnes & Thornburg
Cole Elizabeth M.
Park-Ohio Industries
Singh Arti R.
LandOfFree
Method of attaching a strip to a rubber molded part does not yet have a rating. At this time, there are no reviews or comments for this patent.
If you have personal experience with Method of attaching a strip to a rubber molded part, we encourage you to share that experience with our LandOfFree.com community. Your opinion is very important and Method of attaching a strip to a rubber molded part will most certainly appreciate the feedback.
Profile ID: LFUS-PAI-O-2466925