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:
Jul. 16, 1996
Filed:
Sep. 01, 1994
Josh Kelman, Dover, NH (US);
Davidson Textron Inc., Dover, NH (US);
Abstract
A soft panel has a layer formed from thermoplastic fiber clusters comprised of a very high percentage of crooked matrix fibers and a very low percentage of crooked binder fibers with a lower melt temperature and wherein the fibers have a plurality of bends that entangle the fibers together in the clusters. The fiber clusters are blown onto a first foraminous screen that defines a retainer side of the fiber layer and through which air is being drawn. A layer of thermoplastic powder is sprayed onto a thermoplastic veil draped over the fiber cluster layer while the latter remains on the first screen and air is drawn through this screen and the veil to retain the powder layer in place. A hot shell skin tool is then applied to the powder to form a flexible skin fused to the fiber cluster layer. The fiber cluster layer with the flexible skin joined thereto is then adhered on its retainer side to a preformed rigid retainer to complete the panel. A soft panel is also formed by adhering the fiber cluster layer to a preformed flexible skin as well as to a preformed rigid retainer.