Electrically conductive gasket with paint masking

• US 20060151962A1
• Filed: 12/02/2005
• Published: 07/13/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 12/15/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Jemic Shielding Technology Co.
• Original Assignee: Jemic Shielding Technology Co.
• Inventors: Hammaker, Clark S., Dietrich, John F.
• Granted Patent: US 7,732,714 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 277/653
• CPC Class Codes: F16J 15/027 and with a hollow profile
• CPC Class Codes: F16J 15/064 the packing combining the sealing function with other functions
• CPC Class Codes: F16J 15/104 characterised by structure
• CPC Class Codes: F16J 15/121 with metal reinforcement
• CPC Class Codes: H05K 9/0015 Gaskets or seals
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 277/92 Seal including electromagnetic shielding feature
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 277/924 Deformation, material removal, or molding for manufacture of seal

Abstract

An electrically conductive gasket for paint masking. In one embodiment of the present invention, the gasket includes a core, an electrically conductive cover that is applied to the core with adhesive. A film of material is attached to the outer surface of the electrically conductive cover which functions as a removable mask. The various embodiments of the gasket may be fabricated from materials capable of withstanding relatively high temperatures and may be provided in a variety of different shapes.

Claims

1. A gasket assembly comprising:

a core having a perimeter and an attachment face;

an electrically conductive cover member on at least a portion of said core perimeter; and

a masking material on at least a portion of said electrically conductive cover member on at least a portion of said core perimeter.

2. The gasket assembly of claim 1 wherein said core is fabricated from a material selected from the group of materials consisting of closed cell and open cell foams.

3. The gasket assembly of claim 1 wherein said core is fabricated from a material selected from the group of materials consisting of metal, rigid plastic, and rubber.

4. The gasket assembly of claim 1 wherein said core is substantially hollow.

5. The gasket assembly of claim 1 wherein said core has a cross-sectional shape selected from the group of cross-sectional shapes consisting of D-shapes, square shapes, rectangular shapes, P shapes, L shapes, U shapes, O shapes, and tear drop shapes.

6. The gasket assembly of claim 1 wherein said electrically conductive cover member is attached to said core by an adhesive.

7. The gasket assembly of claim 6 wherein said adhesive is electrically conductive.

8. The gasket assembly of claim 6 wherein said adhesive is selected from the group of adhesives consisting of pressure sensitive adhesives and hot melt adhesives.

9. The gasket assembly of claim 8 wherein said electrically conductive material extends around said core perimeter to form at least one electrically conductive end flap adjacent to said attachment face of said core.

10. The gasket assembly of claim 8 wherein said electrically conductive cover comprises material selected from the group of materials comprising electrically conductive plated fabric, electrically conductive coated rubber, electrically conductive woven wire, and electrically conductive wire mesh.

11. The gasket assembly of claim 1 wherein said electrically conductive cover is sprayed onto at least a portion of said core perimeter.

12. A method of applying an electrically conductive gasket to an electrically conductive object comprising:

applying an electrically conductive material to at least a portion of a perimeter of a core having an attachment face, the electrically conductive material further forming at least one end flap portion oriented adjacent to the attachment face of the core;

adhering the attachment face of the core to the electrically conductive object such that the at least one end flap portion of the electrically conductive material that is adjacent to the attachment face contacts the electrically conductive object;

applying masking material onto a first portion of the electrically conductive material on the at least a portion of the core perimeter;

applying a coating material to a second portion of the electrically conductive material and at least a portion of the masking material; and

removing the masking material to expose the first portion of the electrically conductive material.

13. The method of claim 12 wherein at least one of the at least one end flap portions is positioned between a portion of the attachment face and the electrically conductive object.

14. The method of claim 12 further comprising adhering at least one of the end flap portions to the electrically conductive object.

15. The method of claim 14 further comprising applying the coating material to the at least one end flap portion adhered to the electrically conductive object.

16. The method of claim 12 wherein said applying an electrically conductive material comprises applying the electrically conductive material to the core such that a first end flap portion and a second end flap portion are each oriented adjacent to the attachment face of the core.

17. The method of claim 16 wherein at least one of the first and second end flap portions is positioned between a portion of the attachment face and the electrically conductive object.

18. The method of claim 16 further comprising adhering at least one of the first and second end flap portions to the electrically conductive object.

19. The method of claim 16 further comprising applying the coating material to at least one of the first and second end flap portions.