Method of affixing a pre-formed gasket and gasket used therefor

• US 20040209087A1
• Filed: 04/16/2003
• Published: 10/21/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 04/16/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Pilkington North America Incorporated (Pilkington PLC)
• Original Assignee: Pilkington North America Incorporated (Pilkington PLC)
• Inventors: Hicks, Thomas S., Ash, Charles E.
• Granted Patent: US 6,899,935 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 428/441
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 63/0034 the strip material being folded
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 65/00 Joining or sealing of preformed parts , e.g. welding of plastics materials; Apparatus therefor general aspects of processes or apparatus for joining preformed parts B29C66/00; using porous material formed by internal pressure generated therein for joining preformed parts B29C44/1228, B29C44/326
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 65/48 using adhesives , i.e. using supplementary joining material; solvent bonding
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 65/4815 Hot melt adhesives, e.g. thermoplastic adhesives
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 65/4825 Pressure sensitive adhesives
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 65/483 Reactive adhesives, e.g. chemically curing adhesives
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 65/5021 being multi-layered
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 65/5057 positioned between the surfaces to be joined B29C65/5035 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 65/7847 using vacuum to hold at least one of the parts to be joined vacuum work holders in general B25B11/005
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 66/026 Chemical pre-treatments B29C66/028 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 66/1122 Single lap to lap joints, i.e. overlap joints B29C66/45, B29C66/472, B29C66/52272 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 66/1222 comprising at least a lapped joint-segment
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 66/1224 comprising at least a butt joint-segment
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 66/24244 forming a rectangle
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 66/474 said single elements being substantially non-flat
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 66/532 Joining single elements to the wall of tubular articles, hollow articles or bars
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 66/61 Joining from or joining on the inside for making tubes by bending sheets and joining from the inside B29C53/387
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 66/71 characterised by the composition of the plastics material of the parts to be joined welding bar compositions B29C65/125
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 66/73152 of different hardness, i.e. the hardness of one of the parts to be joined being different from the hardness of the other part
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 66/7465 Glass
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 66/82421 : using an inflatable element positioned between the joining tool and a backing-up part
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 66/8266 : using fluid pressure directly acting on the parts to be joined
• CPC Class Codes: B29K 2021/00 : Use of unspecified rubbers as moulding material
• CPC Class Codes: B29K 2023/12 : PP, i.e. polypropylene
• CPC Class Codes: B29K 2027/06 : PVC, i.e. polyvinylchloride
• CPC Class Codes: B29K 2309/08 : Glass
• CPC Class Codes: B29K 2995/007 : Hardness
• CPC Class Codes: B29L 2031/265 : Packings, Gaskets
• CPC Class Codes: B29L 2031/778 : Windows profiled elements for making window frames B29L2031/005, windscreens B29L2031/3052
• CPC Class Codes: B60J 10/34 : using adhesives
• CPC Class Codes: B60J 10/70 : specially adapted for windows or windscreens
• CPC Class Codes: F16J 15/061 : with positioning means F16J15/0831 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: F16J 15/062 : characterised by the geometry of the seat
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 428/162 : Transparent or translucent layer or section
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 428/24198 : Channel-shaped edge component [e.g., binding, etc.]
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 428/24983 : Hardness
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 428/31645 : Next to addition polymer from unsaturated monomers
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 428/31855 : Of addition polymer from unsaturated monomers
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 428/31924 : Including polyene monomers
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 428/31938 : Polymer of monoethylenically unsaturated hydrocarbon

Abstract

A method of affixing a specialized dual durometer gasket to a substrate is disclosed. The method utilizes a fixture having a channel formed therein, into which the dual durometer gasket is inserted and held in place by, for example, a vacuum. Alternatively, a removable form may be inserted into the channel, and the elastomeric member/gasket is inserted into the removable form. A suitable substrate is precisely positioned on the fixture above the channel containing the gasket. An adhesion promoting primer may be applied to the substrate, and an adhesive is applied to the gasket, or to the substrate, so that upon application of a lifting force, the gasket is raised from the channel into bonding contact with the substrate

Claims

1. A method of making a window and gasket assembly comprising:

providing a positioning fixture having a channel of predetermined configuration formed therein, wherein said channel contains one or more apertures allowing gaseous communication with a source of a gas, or a mixture of gases, under positive or negative pressure;

inserting an elastomeric member into said channel;

placing a substrate material onto said fixture positioned above said elastomeric member;

applying an adhesive material to at least a portion of (a) said elastomeric member while said member is in said channel or (b) said substrate, while said substrate is positioned above said elastomeric member;

moving said elastomeric member from said channel by positive gaseous pressure to urge said surface of said elastomeric member into bonding contact with one or more peripheral portions of said substrate material; and

removing said assembly from said fixture.

2. The method of making a window and gasket assembly of claim 1 wherein said predetermined configuration of said channel formed in said positioning fixture comprises the shape of the periphery of a vehicle window.

3. The method of making a window and gasket assembly of claim 2 wherein a means of applying a vacuum to retain said elastomeric member in said channel is provided, and a vacuum is applied to said elastomeric member upon placement of said elastomeric member into said channel.

4. The method of making a window and gasket assembly of claim 3 wherein said preformed elastomeric member comprises a gasket.

5. The method of making a window and gasket assembly of claim 4 wherein said substrate material comprises glass.

6. The method of making a window and gasket assembly of claim 4 wherein said substrate material comprises plastic.

7. The method of making a window and gasket assembly of claim 1 wherein an adhesion-promoting primer is applied to at least a portion of a peripheral portion of the substrate.

8. The method of making a window and gasket assembly of claim 7 wherein said adhesion-promoting primer is comprised of a silane material.

9. The method of making a window and gasket assembly of claim 4 wherein said adhesive material applied to said gasket comprises a multi-component urethane adhesive.

10. The method of making a window and gasket assembly of claim 4 wherein said adhesive material comprises a double sided tape.

11. The method of making a window and gasket assembly of claim 3 wherein application of said vacuum to said gasket is terminated, and a positive air pressure sufficient to lift said gasket from said channel is applied to said gasket.

12. The method of making a window and gasket assembly of claim 3 wherein application of said vacuum to said gasket is terminated, and an inflatable bladder located in at least a portion of said channel is inflated to lift said gasket from said channel.

13. A method of affixing a gasket to a vehicle window comprising:

providing a positioning fixture having a channel formed therein, said channel being in the shape of the periphery of a window;

inserting a preformed elastomeric gasket into said channel;

applying a vacuum to said gasket through one or more apertures in said channel;

placing a glass vehicle window, having an adhesion-promoting primer disposed on a surface thereof;

onto said fixture positioned above said elastomeric gasket;

applying an adhesive to at least a portion of said gasket;

terminating application of said vacuum, and applying a positive air pressure through said one or more apertures to said gasket at a pressure sufficient to lift said gasket from said channel and into bonding contact with one or more peripheral portions of said vehicle window; and

removing said assembly from said fixture.

14. The method of affixing a gasket of claim 13 wherein the preformed elastomeric gasket is manually inserted into said channel.

15. The method of affixing a gasket of claim 13 wherein the preformed elastomeric gasket is inserted into said channel by an electromechanical device.

16. The method of affixing a gasket of claim 13, wherein the vehicle window is manually placed onto said fixture.

17. The method of affixing a gasket of claim 13, wherein the vehicle window is placed onto said fixture by an electromechanical device.

18. The method of affixing a gasket of claim 13, wherein the adhesive applied to said gasket comprises a double-sided adhesive tape.

19. The method of affixing a gasket of claim 13, wherein the adhesive applied to said gasket comprises a multi-component urethane.

20. The method of affixing a gasket of claim 13 wherein said vehicle window to which said gasket has been affixed is manually removed from said fixture.

21. The method of affixing a gasket of claim 13, wherein said vehicle window to which said gasket has been affixed is removed from said fixture by an electromechanical device.

22. A gasket and window assembly made by the method of claim 13 comprising:

a glass window, said glass having solar control properties; and

a preformed gasket made from a thermoplastic elastomer material.

23. A method of making a window and gasket assembly comprising:

providing a positioning fixture having a channel of predetermined configuration formed therein;

inserting an elastomeric member to which an adhesive material has been applied into said channel; and

placing a substrate material, onto at least a portion of which an adhesion promoting primer has been disposed, onto said fixture, positioned above said elastomeric member;

lifting said elastomeric member upward from said channel to urge said surface of said elastomeric member to which said adhesive material has been applied, into bonding contact with one or more peripheral portions of said substrate material; and

removing said assembly from said fixture.

24. A method of making a window and gasket assembly comprising:

providing a positioning fixture having a channel of predetermined configuration formed therein;

inserting an elastomeric member into said channel; and

placing a substrate material onto at least a portion of which an adhesive material has been disposed, onto said fixture, positioned above said elastomeric member;

moving said elastomeric member from said channel to urge said surface of said elastomeric member into bonding contact with one or more peripheral portions of said substrate material to which said adhesive material has been applied; and

removing said assembly from said fixture.

29. The elastomeric member of claim 24 wherein the rigid polymeric portion has a durometer in the range of 80 Shore A to 40 Shore D, and a flexible polymeric portion having a durometer in the range of 40 to 70 Shore A.

25. A single elastomeric member comprising a rigid polymeric portion and a flexible polymeric portion.

26. The elastomeric member of claim 25 wherein the rigid polymeric portion comprises a thermoplastic elastomer material, and the flexible polymeric portion comprises an extrudable polymeric material.

27. The elastomeric member of claim 26 wherein the rigid polymeric portion comprises one selected from the group further comprising polyvinyl chloride, polyethylene and polypropylene.

28. The elastomeric member of claim 27 wherein the extrudable, flexible polymeric portion comprises one selected from the group further comprising Alcryn, TPE and TP Vucleanates, PVC.