Stock material or miscellaneous articles – Web or sheet containing structurally defined element or... – Adhesive outermost layer
Reexamination Certificate
1999-05-27
2001-05-08
Zirker, Daniel (Department: 1771)
Stock material or miscellaneous articles
Web or sheet containing structurally defined element or...
Adhesive outermost layer
C428S040100, C428S041700, C428S195100, C428S202000, C427S207100, C427S208200
Reexamination Certificate
active
06228485
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to venting tape, and in particular to venting tape used to vent an enclosed article space to be filled with an expandable foam material.
Injected expandable foam materials are used to insulate numerous articles in a wide variety of applications, such as refrigerators, freezers, and the like. The expandable foam material is typically injected into the walls of the appliances between an outer housing and an inner casing, thereby providing a uniform thermal barrier therebetween.
The outer housing of these appliances are typically provided with holes and apertures for venting purposes during the injection of the foam material. These “vent holes” allow the manufacturer to provide an air-tight seal between the outer housing and the inner casing, while allowing air/gas to escape as the expandable foam fills the void therebetween. These holes must be temporary covered during the foam injection process to prevent the foam from escaping from between the inner casing and the outer housing. Heretofore, manufacturers have used foam pads to plug the holes. The pads are designed to allow gas to escape as the foam expands yet restricting the flow of foam through the holes. These pads must be specially cut and formed for each application thereby significantly adding to the cost of manufacture. Further, these pads are often difficult to install during the manufacturing process. In addition, the foam pads typically are supplied in the form of a large coil that is cumbersome to handle and control. Porous tapes have also been used to plug the holes. Several problems have been associated with these tapes including inadequate strength resulting in foam leakage, as well as inadequate air/gas flow resulting in non-uniform fill of the injected foam within the appliance. In addition, porous tapes often tear when the expandable foam actually contacts the tape, thereby allowing the foam to escape from within the appliance. Improper venting is often caused by the adhesives associated with the tapes plugging the holes therein and disrupting the air flow therethrough.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
One aspect of the present invention is to provide a venting tape for use in venting an article space to be filled with an injected expandable foam material, wherein the venting tape includes a polymeric film having a plurality of minute perforations formed therethrough. The perforations are sized to allow the passage of a gas therethrough yet prevent passage of expandable foam insulation. The venting tape further includes an adhesive layer on one side of the film in a pattern enabling a substantial portion of the minute perforations to remain uncovered by the adhesive layer.
Another aspect of the present invention is to provide a method for plugging the escape holes of an article space to be filled with an expandable foam material, the method including providing a polymeric film, and forming a plurality of perforations therethrough, wherein the perforations are sized to allow the passage of a gas therethrough yet prevent passage of expandable foam insulation. The method further includes applying an adhesive layer to one side of the film in a pattern, and adhering the film over the escape holes of the article.
The principle objects of the present invention are to provide a relatively simple, cost effective way to adequately cover the vent holes of an appliance by allowing the gas/air to escape while retaining the expandable foam insulation with the appliance. The present inventive venting tape is easier to apply than the foam pads currently in use. Further, the present inventive venting tape has a relatively increased strength that allows the tape to resist tearing and withstand the increased pressure created when the expandable foam contacts the tape. In addition, by applying the adhesive to the film in a pattern, the adhesive does not plug all the perforations, thereby allowing expandable foam to effectively fill the void between the outer housing and inner casing.
These and other advantages and objects of the present invention will be further understood and appreciated by those skilled in the art by reference to the following specification, claims, and appended drawings.
REFERENCES:
patent: 2861006 (1958-11-01), Salditt
patent: 3085572 (1963-04-01), Blackford
patent: 3143208 (1964-08-01), Sizemore, Jr.
patent: 4163822 (1979-08-01), Walter
patent: 4955675 (1990-09-01), Donaghy
patent: 5428209 (1995-06-01), Babu et al.
patent: 5492705 (1996-02-01), Porchia et al.
patent: 5560695 (1996-10-01), Pufpaff
patent: 5665446 (1997-09-01), Sundet
patent: 5749994 (1998-05-01), Sundet
U.S. application No. 09/302,979, Fredric J. Leiter, filed Apr. 30, 1999.
FlexiPak Distributin, LLC
Price Heneveld Cooper DeWitt & Litton
Zirker Daniel
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