Sheet-like structure material and manufacturing method

• US 6,379,771 B1
• Filed: 10/14/1998
• Issued: 04/30/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 11/12/1997
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Komatsu Ltd.
• Original Assignee: Komatsu Ltd.
• Inventors: Oishi, Masayuki, Sato, Kanʼichi
• Primary Examiner(s): Ahmad, Nasser
• Application Number:
  US09/172,252
• Time in Patent Office: 1,294 Days
• Field of Search: 428/192, 428/68, 428/34, 428/81, 428/428, 428/437, 428/440, 522/045.95, 522/047.1, 523/08, 523/091
• US Class Current: 428/81
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 2045/14532 injecting between two sheets
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 45/14467 Joining articles or parts of a single article B29C45/14377, B29C45/14385, B29C45/14581, B29C45/14614 and B29C45/006 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 45/561 Injection-compression moulding
• CPC Class Codes: B32B 17/10036 comprising two outer glass sheets
• CPC Class Codes: B32B 17/10293 Edge features, e.g. inserts or holes
• CPC Class Codes: B32B 17/10917 between two pre-positioned glass layers
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 428/23 Sheet including cover or casing
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 428/24777 Edge feature
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 428/3163 Next to acetal of polymerized unsaturated alcohol [e.g., formal butyral, etc.]
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 428/31641 Next to natural rubber, gum, oil, rosin, wax, bituminous or tarry residue

Abstract

The invention discloses a sheet-like structure material and its manufacturing method. The sheet-like structure material has the advantages that impact imposed on its edge ends can be adsorbed to protect its adherends, and that the labor required for installing it and edge ends treatment can be significantly saved. The structure material comprises an outer peripheral structure which has elasticity and is integrally formed at the outer periphery of a sheet-like composite body comprising two glass sheets and an intermediate resin layer disposed between the glass sheets. The outer peripheral structure is formed from a resinous material used for forming the intermediate resin layer, by allowing the material to ooze from between the glass sheets.

Claims

1. A molded product having a substantially sheet configuration, comprising:

a composite body; and

at least a part of an outer peripheral structure having elasticity and being integrally formed at the outer periphery of the composite body, the composite body having a first adherend, a second adherend and an intermediate resin layer sandwiched between the entire inner surfaces of the first and second adherends, wherein the at least a part of the outer peripheral structure and the intermediate resin layer is of a molded single piece of resinous material, and surfaces of said outer peripheral structure are flush with outer surfaces of the first and second adherends.

2. A molded product according to claim 1, wherein the outer peripheral structure and the intermediate resin layer are made of the same resinous material.

3. A molded product according to claim 1, wherein the intermediate resin layer and the at least a part of the outer peripheral structure are made of the same resinous material, the resinous material being formed by a process comprising the steps of uniformly applying pressure to a whole molten resinous material such that the molten resinous material spreads.

4. A molded product according to claim 1, wherein the outer peripheral structure is composed of a part formed from the same resinous material as the resinous material of the intermediate resin layer and a part formed from a resinous material different from the resinous material of the intermediate resin layer.

5. A molded product according to claim 4, wherein the resinous material different from the resinous material of the intermediate resin layer is selected from the group consisting of neoprene rubber, wood, neoprene rubber foam, urethane foam, polypropylene foam and polyethylene foam.

6. A molded product according to any one of claims 1, 2, 3 and 4, wherein the resinous material of the intermediate resin layer is a thermoplastic resinous material having a tensile elastic modulus of 1,000 kg/cm² or less.

7. A molded product according to claim 6, wherein the thermoplastic resinous material is a thermoplastic elastomer (TPE).

8. A molded product according to claim 1, wherein the first and second adherends are formed from the same material or different materials selected from the group consisting of inorganic materials and silicon and organic materials.