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:
Dec. 27, 1994
Filed:
Feb. 26, 1993
Elliot J Younessian, Lafayette, CO (US);
Samsonite Corporation, Denver, CO (US);
Abstract
The inventive process forms a thermoformable preform by pressure laminating a layer of cloth fabric to one face of the thermoplastic substrate, preferably as the substrate is extruded and while still hot from the extrusion process. This fabric/thermoplastic laminated preform can be easily processed in a matched mold press. The fabric should be of a non-stretch type. This non-stretch characteristic, together with its intimate bonding to the thermoplastic substrate, prevents the substrate from thinning in the corner regions. Indeed, because the intimately bonded fabric drags or pulls the substrate from a number of directions as the corner regions are formed, the thermoplastic substrate accumulates and actually thickens in the corner regions, leading to a shell which is remarkably durable and aesthetically pleasing.