Plastic and nonmetallic article shaping or treating: processes – Optical article shaping or treating – Composite or multiple layer
Reexamination Certificate
1999-07-23
2001-05-08
Vargot, Mathieu D. (Department: 1732)
Plastic and nonmetallic article shaping or treating: processes
Optical article shaping or treating
Composite or multiple layer
C052S786100, C156S107000, C156S109000, C264S252000, C264S261000, C264S263000, C264S328700, C264S328800, C428S034000, C428S194000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06228290
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Heretofore it has been common to house instrumentation in an instrument “can” which is closed by a bezel threaded to an upper threaded end of the instrument can. The bezel normally includes a transparent plastic sheet or panel bounded by a metallic rim, and it is through the transparent plastic panel that an instrument face of the instrument housed in the instrument can is viewed. Multiple spaced transparent plastic or glass panels, sheets or lens can be associated with a rim in an effort to create an “anti-fog” lens. Normally, these “stacks” utilize seals, adhesives and/or crimped metal between the rim and the transparent lens to create a chamber between the lens which is hermetically sealed against ambient moisture and fog, though most instrument covers thus manufactured fall short of this objective. Most conventional instrument covers do not use glass for the lens due to assembly problems and costs associated with the top or outermost lens falling out, cracking or otherwise being damaged. Thus, though glass lenses are highly coveted for instrument covers, the problems associated with assembly and repair dictate the utilization of transparent plastic for both the outer and inner lens of the instrument cover.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
In keeping with the foregoing, the primary object of the present invention is to provide a novel method of manufacturing an encapsulated, dual lens, sealed instrument cover by encapsulating a peripheral edge of a first piece of glass with synthetic polymeric/copolymeric material, preferably by injection molding in a first mold, removing the first piece of glass and the first encapsulation from the mold, inserting the latter in a second mold, assembling a second piece of glass in association with the first encapsulation, and injection molding a second peripheral encapsulation which unites the second glass lens to the first encapsulation in hermetic sealed relationship thereto, thus creating an anti-fog chamber between the two glass lenses.
In further accordance with the invention, the first injection molded encapsulation or border is provided with threads or similar conventional means for removably securing the lens cover to an associated instrument can.
Though the method just described is utilized for manufacturing an encapsulated, dual lens, sealed instrument cover, the present invention is particularly useful for manufacturing any product requiring the peripheral encapsulation of two pieces of glass, plastic or other material for a number of end use applications, such as windows and doors possessing increased thermal efficiency due to the sealed chamber between the glass panels. In such cases the chamber can be evacuated and/or charged with inert gas incident to the peripheral encapsulation of the second glass panel to the first encapsulation or border. Oven doors, microwave oven doors, computer screens, ski goggles, protective goggles, and many other end use products requiring two sheets of spaced glass or plastic peripherally sealed together can be economically, rapidly and efficiently manufactured in accordance with the present method.
REFERENCES:
patent: 3971841 (1976-07-01), Rubinstein
patent: 4909875 (1990-03-01), Canaud et al.
patent: 4951927 (1990-08-01), Johnston et al.
patent: 5073324 (1991-12-01), Beaudet
patent: 5344603 (1994-09-01), Jardin et al.
patent: 5997793 (1999-12-01), Lahnala
Daley Howard
Herrmann Bob
Peel Ron
Reames Gary
Diller Ramik & Wight
Gemtron Corporation
Vargot Mathieu D.
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