Mark W Rogers

US Patent:

6776948, Aug 17, 2004

Filed:

Jul 26, 2001

Appl. No.:

09/915442

Inventors:

Richard T. Arvidson - Fairport NY
Mark A. Rogers - Nottingham NH

Assignee:

Ultrafab, Inc. - Farmington NY

International Classification:

B29C 6720

US Classification:

264321, 264 48, 264344, 427316

Abstract:

In order to make weather seals from closed cell elastomer foam material, molten plastic is extruded over a substrate of the foam material. Surface reactions during extrusion are avoided by continuously pulling the substrate through an oven chamber to degas (and remove moisture from) the material at least on its outside to a limiting thickness of the order of 10-30 mil to form a skin or crust. The extrusion of the over-coating is carried out to form a sleeve while the substrate is still hot. Since the skin is a degassed region on the outside of the foam substrate, reactions which may cause blistering and prevent the extrusion of a smooth and firmly adhering skin are avoided. The substrate material is preferably a thermosetting EPDM rubber closed cell foam, and the over coating material is a thermoplastic elastomer (TPE).

US Patent:

20040208997, Oct 21, 2004

Filed:

May 11, 2004

Appl. No.:

10/843405

Inventors:

Richard Arvidson - Fairport NY, US
Mark Rogers - Nottingham NH, US

International Classification:

B05D001/02

US Classification:

427/299000, 425/00400C

Abstract:

In order to make weather seals from closed cell elastomer foam material, molten plastic is extruded over a substrate of the foam material. Surface reactions during extrusion are avoided by continuously pulling the substrate through an oven chamber to degas (and remove moisture from) the material at least on its outside to a limiting thickness of the order of 10-30 mil to form a skin or crust. The extrusion of the over-coating is carried out to form a sleeve while the substrate is still hot. Since the skin is a degassed region on the outside of the foam substrate, reactions which may cause blistering and prevent the extrusion of a smooth and firmly adhering skin are avoided. The substrate material is preferably a thermosetting EPDM rubber closed cell foam, and the over coating material is a thermoplastic elastomer (TPE).