Method of forming a windowed unitary panel
First Claim
1. A method of forming a windowed unitary panel having a rigid frame of high modulus plastic material and a transparent windowpane having its peripheral edge integrally embedded within the rigid frame, comprising the steps of:
- heating a pane of transparent glazing to a preselected temperature;
positioning the preheated pane within a mold so that the peripheral edge portion protrudes into a mold cavity; and
injecting into the mold cavity the constituent ingredients of the high modulus plastic material causing the plastic material to exothermally rise to a molding temperature for forming the rigid frame and encapsulating the peripheral edge portion within the frame while the pane is in the preheated condition allowing both the pane and plastic material to cool from said temperatures such that the pane and plastic material contract at substantially the same rate to eliminate compressive forces and cause low tensile stresses to be imparted to the pane.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A method of forming a windowed unitary panel having a peripheral edge portion of a windowpane of glazing integrally embedded within a frame of high modulus plastic material includes heating the pane to a preselected temperature prior to its being positioned within a mold. The peripheral edge portion of the windowpane protrudes into the mold cavity so that the high modulus plastic material forming the frame encapsulates the peripheral edge portion. This prevents buckling of the windowpane since the preheated windowpane contracts simultaneously with the contraction of the rigid frame as it cools from the molding temperature to ambient.
63 Citations
7 Claims
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1. A method of forming a windowed unitary panel having a rigid frame of high modulus plastic material and a transparent windowpane having its peripheral edge integrally embedded within the rigid frame, comprising the steps of:
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heating a pane of transparent glazing to a preselected temperature; positioning the preheated pane within a mold so that the peripheral edge portion protrudes into a mold cavity; and injecting into the mold cavity the constituent ingredients of the high modulus plastic material causing the plastic material to exothermally rise to a molding temperature for forming the rigid frame and encapsulating the peripheral edge portion within the frame while the pane is in the preheated condition allowing both the pane and plastic material to cool from said temperatures such that the pane and plastic material contract at substantially the same rate to eliminate compressive forces and cause low tensile stresses to be imparted to the pane. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6)
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7. A method of forming a windowed unitary panel having a rigid frame of high modulus plastic material and a transparent windowpane having its peripheral edge integrally embedded within the rigid frame, comprising the steps of:
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expanding a pane of transparent glazing by heating the pane to a preselected temperature; positioning the preheated and expanded pane within a mold so that the peripheral edge portion protrudes into a mold cavity; and injecting into the mold cavity the constituent ingredients of the high modulus plastic material causing the plastic material to exothermally rise to a molding temperature while the pane is in the preheated and expanded condition for forming the rigid frame and encapsulating the peripheral edge portion within the frame allowing both the pane and plastic material to cool from said temperatures such that the pane and plastic material contract at substantially the same rate to eliminate compressive forces and cause low tensile stresses to be imparted to the pane.
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Specification