Plastic article or earthenware shaping or treating: apparatus – Product or preform repair or restoring means – Hand manipulable tool
Reexamination Certificate
2001-12-29
2003-12-16
Davis, Robert (Department: 1722)
Plastic article or earthenware shaping or treating: apparatus
Product or preform repair or restoring means
Hand manipulable tool
C425S013000, C249S103000, C156S094000, C264S036210
Reexamination Certificate
active
06663371
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
Auto windshield repair; glass repair
2. Description of the Prior Art
Occasionally a descriptive term in this application may be shortened so as to recite only a part rather than the entirety thereof as a matter of convenience and to avoid needless redundancy. In instances in which that is done, applicant intends that the same meaning be afforded each manner of expression. Thus, the term extruding rod reference mark (
15
) might be used in one instance but in another, if meaning is otherwise clear from context, expression might be shortened to rod reference mark (
15
) or merely mark (
15
). Any of those forms is intended to convey the same meaning.
The term attach or fasten or any of their forms when so used means that the juncture is of a more or less permanent nature, such as might be accomplished by nails, screws, welds or adhesives. Thus, it is stated herein that the vacuum attachment conduit (
411
), by reason of an adhesive applied to its (
411
) threads, is attached to the vacuum container (
3
). A connection in which one object is easily removed from another is described by the word emplace, as where it is stated herein that a first end of the compression grommet (
5
) is emplaced within the end of the vacuum container (
3
). A connection in which two objects, although not attached could be separated only with considerable difficulty is referred to herein as one of rigid emplacement. The interthreading of the platform stabilizing pin (
63
) into the opening (
631
) dedicated to such purpose in the apparatus platform (
6
) is stated herein to be such a connection. Employment of the words connector or join or any of their forms is intended to include the meaning of any of those terms in a more general way. The meaning in the respective cases is clear from context, however. Accordingly, modifying words to clarify which of the two uses is the intended one seem unnecessary.
The word comprise may be construed in any one of three ways herein. A term used to describe a given object is said to comprise it, thereby characterizing it with what could be considered two-way equivalency in meaning for the term. Thus, it is stated that the vacuum producing assembly (
410
) comprises the apparatus which provides the vacuum used by the invention. The term comprise may also be characterized by what might be considered one-way equivalency, as when it is stated herein that vacuum attachment conduit (
411
) is disposed to comprise a radial interference projection (
41
) of the assembly, meaning that in the given instance, that object (
411
) is itself (
411
) the projection (
41
). This use of the word has a generic sense to it. That is, the vacuum attachment conduit (
411
) will always be a rotation track (
14
) but a radial interference projection (
41
) may be an attachment conduit (
411
) in one case but something else in another. However, the word comprise may also be used to describe a feature which is part of the structure or composition of a given object. Thus, the resin extrusion assembly (
10
) is stated to comprise, among other things, a compression grommet (
5
) as a component thereof. The meaning in the respective cases is clear from context, however. Accordingly, modifying words to clarify which of the three uses is the intended one seem unnecessary.
Terms relating to physical orientation such as top or bottom, upper or lower, refer to the positioning of the assembly in the manner it would be observed if repairs were being made upon a horizontally disposed substrate (
801
) such as a windshield laid out upon a workbench. This convention has been adopted as a matter of convenience in discussing orientation and as shown in the drawings, the turning knobs (
13
,
23
) are regarded as being at the top of the structures (
1
,
2
) which comprise them (
13
,
23
) and the applicating end of the extrusion assembly (
10
), at the bottom thereof (
10
). The use of the terms in this manner must, of course, be interpreted so as to be equally understood regardless of what attitude the assembly is positioned—such as, for example, if it were oriented horizontally outward such as for vertical repair to a plate glass window.
The term longitudinal refers to generally elongated configuration. Thus, the components of the extrusion assembly (
10
) are all stated to comprise what is described herein as longitudinal extension.
Certain words have been coined herein to simplify discussion. In some cases, a noun is converted to a verb or adjective. For example, the portion of the extruding rod (
1
) which by reason of its proximity to the damage site forces the resin (
802
) toward it through the extruding tunnel (
22
) is designated its applicating end (
101
), in convenient derivation from the noun application. Similarly, coengage and interthread are terms frequently applied to describe the relationship of several threaded objects considered herein which are merely screwed together in some manner. Their meanings are explained ante. References herein to pneumatic communication refer to a passageway either for vacuum or air.
In the historical development of devices addressing transparent substrate (
801
) repair such as that upon automobile windshields, liquified resin (
802
)—generally referred to merely as resin (
802
) herein—is transferred into the damage site. The resin (
802
) comprises refractive properties which, provided the repair is carefully made, afterwards make it unnoticeable within the site. It was early learned that resin (
802
) prematurely applied to the damage site tended to trap any moisture within it, contaminating the resin (
802
), altering its (
802
) refractive properties and weakening the repair. Best results were achieved if not only moisture but air was withdrawn from and kept out of the site. Various vacuum arrangements were contemplated and attempted. Ultimately, it was also learned that the application of heat—even from such as a hair dryer focused upon the damage from above or a cigarette lighter underneath—enhanced repair and speeded up the process. Shielding from ultra-violet rays inherent in sunlight—or, perhaps, working at night—also avoided curing the resin (
802
) prematurely. Other tricks also emerged, such as covering a large damaged area with adhesive tape or a plastic stencil-like template and making only a small opening in the covering so as to limit the repair site to a manageable area. Nonetheless, it was difficult to conceive and construct an assembly which would conveniently vacuum out a site, leave the vacuum in place to prevent the further intrusion of air, apply the resin (
802
) to the site and withdraw ever-present residual air from the emplaced resin (
802
) with, perhaps, additional vacuuming means. One need not cogitate at length to realize that once the initial vacuum has been established, it will likely be lost upon emplacing the resin (
802
). Preliminary emplacement of the resin (
802
) would also probably complicate creation of the vacuum without fouling up the entire mechanism. There are, of course, other objectives also worthy of consideration in transparent substrate (
801
) repair. The significance of what is focused upon here, however, is best understood in terms of the field's history.
U.S. Pat. No. 3,993,520 issued to Werner, et al operated without an external vacuum producing assembly (
410
) and accordingly, created no primary vacuum, as that terminology is used herein. The device essentially forced resin (
802
) into the damage site by means of an interthreading rod which at early stages was operated hydraulically as a ram and at later stages, pneumatically, such that it produced what is designated herein as a secondary vacuum upon its withdrawal.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,681,520 issued to Birkhauser, III, while wisely including certain pivot means to address platform support to accomplish repair proximate the curved part of a windshield, employed an external assembly operated by a toggle switch to merely shift functionality from vacuum producing to pneumatic pressurizing. U.S. Pat
Davis Robert
Del Sole Joseph S
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