The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
May. 04, 1993
Filed:
Jul. 01, 1992
Kenneth J Gajewski, Woodhaven, MI (US);
John H Meyer, Milford, MI (US);
Ford Motor Company, Dearborn, MI (US);
Abstract
A method is disclosed for producing superior optically clear laminates having a sheet of semi-rigid material encapsulated in a thermoplastic interlayer between layers of rigid material such as glass. Pre-cooled laminate elements are assembled at reduced temperature, allowing positioning of the sheet of semi-rigid material in the interlayer of the assembly with minimal wrinkling, formation of air bubbles or entrapment of moisture. Thereafter, the laminate assembly is maintained under vacuum for an extended period of time, substantially eliminating wrinkling, air bubbles and moisture from between the laminate elements as well as pre-forming the semi-rigid sheet. Bonding heat and pressure is then applied, first heating the assembly to 'tack' the laminate elements together, and next applying heat and pressure for bonding the laminate elements. Superior optically clear laminates which result from the method are disclosed wherein a semi-rigid sheet of material is encapsulated in thermoplastic laminating material within an interlayer between sheets of rigid material such as glass.