Metal working – Method of mechanical manufacture – Combined manufacture including applying or shaping of fluent...
Reexamination Certificate
1999-12-17
2001-12-18
Echols, P. W. (Department: 3726)
Metal working
Method of mechanical manufacture
Combined manufacture including applying or shaping of fluent...
C427S261000, C427S406000, C428S632000, C428S687000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06330740
ABSTRACT:
TECHNICAL FIELD OF THE INVENTION
This invention pertains to a stamped, finished part, as exemplified by but not limited to an edge connector for a circuit board. According to this invention, the part has a textured surface having a finish simulating the colored, textured finish that the part would have if the part were to be stamped from a steel sheet so that the part would have a smooth, exterior surface and if the smooth, exterior surface were to be electrostatically coated with a black-colored, epoxy powder, which would be heat-cured. This invention pertains also to a process for making and finishing such a part.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Heretofore, it has been common to make a part, such as an edge connector for a circuit board, by stamping the part from a steel sheet so that the part has a smooth, exterior surface, causing the smooth, exterior surface to be electrostatically coated with a suitably colored, epoxy powder, and causing the epoxy powder coating the smooth, exterior surface to be heat-cured. Commonly, a black-colored, epoxy powder is employed. When the suitably colored, epoxy powder is cured, the exterior surface develops a similarly colored, textured finish, which is comprised of a multiplicity of minute elevations and a multiplicity of minute depressions.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
This invention provides a stamped, finished part, as exemplified by but not limited to an edge connector for a circuit board. The part is stamped from a steel sheet having a textured, exterior surface. The part is coated with a zinc layer, which is coated with a colored, chromate conversion layer. Although the chromate conversion layer can be yellow-colored or black-colored, a black-colored, chromate conversion layer is preferred.
The textured, exterior surface, as coated with those layers, has a finish simulating the colored, textured finish that the exterior surface would have if the part were to be stamped from a steel sheet so that the part would have a smooth, exterior surface and if the smooth, exterior surface were to be electrostatically coated with a black-colored, epoxy powder, which would be heat-cured.
This invention also provides a process for making and finishing such a part. The process comprises steps of providing a steel sheet having a textured surface, stamping the part from the steel sheet so that the part has an exterior surface comprised of at least some of the textured surface, coating the stamped part with a zinc layer, and coating the zinc layer with a colored, chromate conversion layer. Although the chromate conversion layer can be yellow-colored or black-colored, a black-colored, chromate conversion layer is preferred.
Those steps are performed so that the exterior surface of the part, as coated in the coating steps, has a finish simulating the colored, textured finish that the exterior surface would have if the part were to be stamped from a steel sheet so that the part would have a smooth, exterior surface and if the smooth, exterior surface were to be electrostatically coated with a similarly colored, epoxy powder, which would be heat-cured.
Preferably, the textured surface is produced by embossing the steel sheet. Alternatively, the surface texture is produced by etching, shot peening, or sand blasting the steel sheet.
As compared to the prior art of making and finishing a part by stamping the part from a steel sheet so as to have a smooth, exterior surface, by causing the smooth, exterior surface to be electrostatically coated with a suitably colored, epoxy powder, and causing the epoxy powder coating the smooth, exterior surface to be heat-cured, the process of this invention, as described above, provides cost savings.
These and other objects, features, and advantages of this invention are explained in the following description of a preferred mode for carrying out this invention, with reference to the accompanying drawings.
REFERENCES:
patent: 5495654 (1996-03-01), Goodhart et al.
patent: 5591534 (1997-01-01), Vigeant et al.
Echols P. W.
GAM Investments, L.L.C.
Rockey Milnamow & Katz Ltd.
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