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:
Mar. 11, 2003
Filed:
Jan. 07, 2000
John A. Bearman, Hudsonville, MI (US);
Bret A. Hoeksema, Zeeland, MI (US);
J. R. Automation Technologies, Inc., Holland, MI (US);
Abstract
An apparatus for attaching a fibrous material to a plastic substrate involves positioning a fibrous material over a surface of a plastic substrate, directing a stream of heated air through the fibrous material to melt the surface of the plastic substrate, compressing the fibrous material against the melted surface of the plastic substrate, and allowing the melted surface of the plastic substrate to cool and resolidify, whereby fibers of the fibrous material become embedded in the resolidified plastic. The apparatus comprises a fixture for supporting the plastic substrate and a fibrous material over a surface of the plastic substrate, a tool supported adjacent the fixture for directing heated, pressurized air toward the plastic substrate and for compressing the fibrous material against the plastic substrate, and an actuator for reciprocating the tool.