Adhesive bonding and miscellaneous chemical manufacture – Surface bonding means and/or assembly means therefor – With work cooling means
Reexamination Certificate
1999-12-01
2001-07-10
Ball, Michael W. (Department: 1733)
Adhesive bonding and miscellaneous chemical manufacture
Surface bonding means and/or assembly means therefor
With work cooling means
C118S504000, C118S069000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06257297
ABSTRACT:
TECHNICAL FIELD
The present invention relates to repair of paint imperfections, and more particularly to a method and apparatus for protecting from excessive heating of components on an object during exposure of a localized area of the object to a heat source for curing paint on the localized area.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention will be described for repairing paint imperfections on automobiles. However, the present invention may be used for repairing paint imperfections on any other articles of manufacture, as would be apparent to one of ordinary skill in the art from the description herein.
Referring to
FIG. 1
, when a paint imperfection
102
is spotted on an automobile
104
, the paint imperfection
102
is repaired. The paint imperfection
102
may be spotted in an inspection process during assembly of the automobile
104
in an manufacturing facility. Alternatively, the paint imperfection
102
may be spotted at an after-market automobile repair shop.
In any case, to repair the paint imperfection
102
such as a scratch or a dent in paint, the localized area on the automobile
104
having the paint imperfection
102
is typically sanded down and coated with the layers of paint and other forms of paint treatment as known in the paint repair industry. The coating of paint and treatment is then cured by exposing the localized area to a heat source
106
.
The heat source
106
heats up the localized area and may heat up other components on the automobile
104
. For example, if a paint imperfection is located near a rear window
108
of the automobile
104
, then the heat source
106
may heat up the rear window
108
. The rear window
108
and a rubber molding
110
are coupled to the frame of the automobile via a sealer. If the heat source
106
heats up the rear window
108
and the rubber molding
110
, the rubber molding
110
may melt and/or may deform in shape. Such melting and/or deforming of the rubber molding
110
degrades the appearance of the automobile
104
. In addition, excessive heating of the rear window
108
may result in deformation and degradation of appearance of the rear window
108
.
Thus, in the prior art, the rear window
108
and the rubber molding
110
are removed from the frame of the automobile
104
before curing of the paint by exposure to the heat source
106
. Depending on the components removed from the automobile
104
, such components may be discarded after removal. In that case, the removed components are replaced with new components. Unfortunately, such removal and replacement in the prior art results in higher cost and added labor during repair of paint imperfection on the automobile
104
. Nevertheless, components such as the rear window
108
and the rubber molding
110
that are located near the paint imperfection need protection from excessive heating during curing of paint by exposure to the heat source
106
.
In the prior art, protective covers attempt to shield the heat sensitive components from the heat source
106
. For example, U. S. Pat. No. 5,472,559 to Cayford et al. discloses a protective tape, and U.S. Pat. No. 5,306,347 to Semle at al. discloses a light weight, disposable enclosure for covering the components on the automobile to be protected during exposure to the heat source
106
. However, such protective coverings of the prior art may not be sufficient for preventing melting and/or deformation of the heat sensitive components. For example, if the paint imperfection
102
were substantially near the molding
110
, even with a protective covering of the prior art, heat from the localized area may sufficiently conduct to the molding
110
to melt and/or deform the molding
110
.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
Accordingly, in light of these disadvantages of the prior art, the present invention is an improved mechanism for protecting from excessive heating components on an object during curing of paint on the object by exposure to a heat source. The present invention circulates air including cold air near the components to be protected.
Generally, the present invention is a method and apparatus for protecting at least one component on an object from excessive heating during curing of paint on a localized area of the object by exposure of the localized area to a heat source. An air pocket is formed adjacent the at least one component to be protected. This air pocket has an inlet and an outlet. A cold air source is coupled to the inlet via a tubing that directs cold air from the cold air source into the air pocket. Heated air within the air pocket flows out through the outlet of the air pocket such that air circulates through the air pocket. In this manner, the temperature of the at least one component is maintained below a predetermined temperature when the localized area of the object is exposed to the heat source for curing of the paint at the localized area.
The present invention may be used to particular advantage when the air pocket is formed by covering the at least one component with a protective material such as by taping aluminum foil around the at least one component. Alternatively, the air pocket may be formed by parts already on the object. On a vehicle (such as an automobile) for example, the air pocket may be formed by a panel and an inner liner of the vehicle.
The cold air source may be a cold air gun having a vortex tube assembly. The tubing between the cold air source and the inlet of the air pocket may be a flexible vinyl manifold having a plurality of holes for directing the cold air from the cold air source into the air pocket.
While the cold air is circulating through the air pocket, the localized area is exposed to the heat source to cure the paint on the localized area of the object. After the curing step, the heat source is removed from the localized area of the object, and the object is cooled. The added components such as the tubing and/or the protective material forming the air pocket may be removed from the object either before or after the object is completely cooled down after the removal of the heat source from the object.
By circulating cold air near the components to be protected in the present invention, the components are not removed from the object for the curing of paint. Thus the high cost and added labor for removal and replacement of such components are avoided with the present invention. In addition, the circulation of cold air near the components to be protected ensures that the temperature at such components remains below a predetermined temperature.
These and other features and advantages of the present invention will be better understood by considering the following detailed description of the invention which is presented with the attached drawings.
REFERENCES:
patent: 4115600 (1978-09-01), Schroeder et al.
patent: 4487643 (1984-12-01), Ellett
patent: 5472559 (1995-12-01), Cayford et al.
Ball Michael W.
Choi Monica H.
Haran John T.
Honda of America Mfg. Inc.
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