Finish protector, and method

• US 20060134373A1
• Filed: 12/24/2005
• Published: 06/22/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 11/17/2003
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Joseph Paul Roberts, Kevin Mark Slota
• Original Assignee: Joseph Paul Roberts, Kevin Mark Slota
• Inventors: Slota, Kevin Mark, Roberts, Joseph Paul
• Application Number:
  US11/318,170
• Publication Number:
  US 20060134373A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 428/85
• CPC Class Codes: B32B 2255/02 on fibrous or filamentary layer
• CPC Class Codes: B32B 2255/26 Polymeric coating
• CPC Class Codes: B32B 2255/28 Multiple coating on one surface
• CPC Class Codes: B32B 2274/00 Thermoplastic elastomer material thermoplastic elastomer fibres B32B2262/0215, thermoplastic elastomer particles B32B2264/0221, thermoplastic elastomer foam B32B2266/0292
• CPC Class Codes: B32B 2305/18 Fabrics, textiles
• CPC Class Codes: B32B 2398/20 Thermoplastics
• CPC Class Codes: B32B 27/08 of synthetic resin
• CPC Class Codes: B32B 27/12 next to a fibrous or filamentary layer
• CPC Class Codes: B32B 27/302 comprising aromatic vinyl (co)polymers, e.g. styrenic (co)polymers
• CPC Class Codes: B32B 27/36 comprising polyesters
• CPC Class Codes: B32B 38/04 Punching, slitting or perforating
• CPC Class Codes: B32B 5/02 characterised by structural features of a fibrous or filamentary layer layer formed of metallic wires B32B15/02; layer formed of natural mineral fibres B32B19/02; layer formed of wood fibres B32B21/02
• CPC Class Codes: B32B 5/18 characterised by features of a layer of foamed material
• CPC Class Codes: B32B 7/06 permitting easy separation
• CPC Class Codes: B32B 7/12 using interposed adhesives or interposed materials with bonding properties
• CPC Class Codes: B32B 9/025 comprising leather
• CPC Class Codes: B32B 9/045 of synthetic resin
• CPC Class Codes: C09J 2301/122 the adhesive layer being present only on one side of the carrier, e.g. single-sided adhesive tape
• CPC Class Codes: C09J 2301/302 the adhesive being pressure-sensitive, i.e. tacky at temperatures inferior to 30°C
• CPC Class Codes: C09J 2400/263 in the substrate
• CPC Class Codes: C09J 7/29 : Laminated material metallised plastics C09J7/22
• CPC Class Codes: D06N 2209/1664 : Releasability adhesive allowing removal of the whole carpet D06N2213/066; releasability between at least two layers of a carpet, rug or synthetic lawn D06N2213/068
• CPC Class Codes: D06N 3/004 : using flocked webs or pile fabrics upon which a resin is applied; Teasing, raising web before resin application
• CPC Class Codes: D06N 3/0077 : Embossing; Pressing of the surface; Tumbling and crumbling; Cracking; Cooling; Heating, e.g. mirror finish
• CPC Class Codes: D06N 3/0093 : by applying resin powders; by sintering
• CPC Class Codes: D06N 3/10 : with styrene-butadiene copolymerisation products or other synthetic rubbers or elastomers except polyurethanes
• CPC Class Codes: G10D 3/02 : Resonating means, horns or diaphragms
• CPC Class Codes: G10D 3/22 : Material for manufacturing stringed musical instruments; Treatment of the material
• CPC Class Codes: G10G 7/00 : Other auxiliary devices or accessories, e.g. conductors' batons or separate holders for resin or strings
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 442/2754 : Pressure-sensitive adhesive

Abstract

The invention is a device for protecting a selected surface of a musical instrument, and a method of making such a device.

Claims

1. A device for protecting a surface of a musical instrument, the device including:

a pliable, planar sheet having

an inner face configured to engage the surface, and

an outer face; and

,

a fabric positioned on at least a portion of the outer face;

a thermoplastic elastomer positioned on at least a portion of the inner face and configured to removably adhere to the surface.

2. The device as in claim 1, further comprising

an intermediate layer of cushioning material positioned between the inner face and the outer face.

3. The device as in claim 1, wherein the instrument is one of

a guitar, bass, banjo, violin, ukulele, or mandolin.

4. The device as in claim 1, wherein,

thermoplastic elastomer engages within fibrous substrate of the fabric and substantially covers the entire inner face.

5. The device as in claim 1, wherein the inner face consists of the thermoplastic elastomer.

6. The device as in claim 1, the thermoplastic elastomer comprising styrene-ethylene/butylene-styrene block copolymer.

7. The device as in claim 6, the thermoplastic elastomer comprising mineral oil.

8. The device as in claim 1, wherein the fabric includes velveteen.

9. A method of making a finish protector for a musical instrument, the method comprising the steps of:

providing a fabric having a first face and a second face;

heating a pelletized thermoplastic elastomer;

applying a thin film of molten thermoplastic elastomer to the first face of the fabric to form a sheet;

cooling the sheet;

spreading the sheet flat;

stamping a selected pattern onto the sheet;

removing a stamped figure of the selected pattern from the sheet.

10. The method as in claim 9, further comprising the step of

removably adhering a backing to the first face of the fabric.

11. The method as in claim 9, further comprising the step of

providing an unwind roll containing the fabric rolled thereon;

positioning a rewind roll distal the unwind roll for receiving the sheet;

wherein,

the fabric is rolled from the unwind roll and the sheet is received on the rewind roll.

12. The method as in claim 11, further including the steps of

positioning a dye to spray the molten thermoplastic isomer onto the first face of the fabric;

and,

positioning a hot roll between the unwind roll and the rewind roll, the hot roll configured to engage the second face of the fabric.

13. The method as in claim 12, further comprising the step of

positioning the hot roll upstream of the dye, so that a portion of the fabric first engages the hot roll before molten thermoplastic isomer is sprayed onto the portion.

14. The method as in claim 11, further comprising the step of

positioning a chill roll between the unwind roll and the rewind roll so that the chill roll engages the thin film.

15. The method as in claim 9, further comprising the step of positioning the stamped figure on a selected surface of the musical instrument.

16. The method as in claim 15, wherein the musical instrument is one of a guitar, bass, banjo, violin, ukulele, or mandolin.

17. The method as in claim 9, wherein the fabric includes velveteen.

18. The method as in claim 9, the thermoplastic elastomer comprising styrene-ethylene/butylene-styrene block copolymer.

19. A method of making a finish protector for a musical instrument, the method comprising the steps of:

providing a velveteen fabric having a first face and a second face;

providing an unwind roll containing the velveteen rolled thereon;

heating a pelletized combination of mineral oil and styrene-ethylene/butylene-styrene block copolymer;

applying a thin film of molten combination to the first face of the fabric to form a sheet;

positioning a rewind roll distal the unwind roll for receiving the sheet;

positioning a hot roll between the unwind roll and the rewind roll, the hot roll configured to engage the second face of the fabric amid in a location upstream of the die, so that an area of the fabric first engages the hot roll before molten thermoplastic isomer is sprayed onto the area;

cooling the sheet by

positioning a chill roll between the unwind roll and the rewind roll so that the chill roll engages the thin film;

spreading the sheet flat;

removably adhering a backing to the sheet so that the thin film is between the backing and the fabric;

stamping a selected pattern onto the sheet;

removing a stamped figure of the selected pattern from the sheet;

positioning a rewind roll distal the unwind roll for receiving the sheet;

wherein,

the fabric is rolled from the unwind roll and the sheet is received on the rewind roll.