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:
Oct. 12, 1999
Filed:
Aug. 15, 1997
Clayton A George, Afton, MN (US);
Michael A Johnson, Stillwater, MN (US);
Peggy S Willett, Stillwater, MN (US);
3M Innovative Properties Company, St. Paul, MN (US);
Abstract
The present invention includes a method for sealing a discontinuity in the surface of a substrate comprises the steps of: (a) placing over the discontinuity an article comprising (i) a melt-flowable composition characterized by a first width, and (ii) a shaped, polymeric cap having a pre-selected, cross-sectional profile characterized by a second width and a shape in which the thickness of the cup across its width, the width of the cap, or both the width and thickness of the cap vary; (b) heating the article to cause the melt-flowable composition to flow and seal the discontinuity, where the cap controls the melt-flow behavior of the melt-flowable composition to substantially confine the melt-flowable composition to the area underneath the cap; and (c) allowing the article to cool while substantially retaining the pre-selected cross-sectional profile of the cap. The present invention also includes various articles for use in the method. The article and the method are particularly useful for sealing the joint in a motor vehicle roof ditch.