Composite sheet material and method for forming the same
AssigneeXamax Industires, Inc.
InventorsMartin Weinberg, James Yuan, Robert Markowski
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A composite sheet material and method for forming the same is provided that includes a substrate, a matrix, and a cover sheet. The substrate has a first face surface, a second face surface, and a plurality of edges, and includes a thermoplastic material. The matrix is attached to the substrate. The matrix includes a support component having a first melting point, and a thermoplastic component having a second melting point. The second melting point is less than the first melting point. The cover sheet imparts one or more surface characteristics to the composite sheet material during thermo-pressure formation of the composite sheet material.
Claims37
A composite sheet material, comprising:
- a substrate having a first face surface, a second face surface, and a plurality of edges, and which substrate includes a thermoplastic material;
- a matrix attached to the substrate, which matrix includes a support component having a first melting point, and a thermoplastic component having a second melting point, and the second melting point is less than the first melting point;
- and
- a cover sheet that imparts one or more surface characteristics to the composite sheet material during thermo-pressure formation of the composite sheet material.
A method of forming a composite sheet material, comprising the steps of:
- providing a substrate having a first face surface, a second face surface, and a plurality of edges, and which substrate includes a thermoplastic material;
- forming a matrix from a sheet of a support component and a sheet of a thermoplastic component, wherein the support component has a first melting point and the thermoplastic component has a second melting point, and the second melting point is less than the first melting point;
- positioning the substrate and the matrix such that the matrix is contiguous with the first face surface of the substrate;
- and
- laminating the substrate and matrix together in a thermo-pressure process to form the composite sheet material.
A method of forming a composite sheet material, comprising the steps of:
- providing a substrate having a first face surface, a second face surface, and a plurality of edges, and which substrate includes a thermoplastic material;
- forming a matrix by extruding a multilayer thermoplastic component onto a support component, wherein the support component has a first melting point and the thermoplastic component has a second melting point, and the second melting point is less than the first melting point;
- positioning a sheet of the substrate and a sheet of the matrix such that the matrix is contiguous with the first face surface of the substrate;
- and
- laminating the substrate and matrix together in a thermo-pressure process to form the composite sheet material.
A composite sheet material matrix, comprising:
- a support component having a first melting point;
- and
- a thermoplastic component having a plurality of layers, which thermoplastic component has a second melting point, and the second melting point is less than the first melting point.
A composite sheet material, comprising:
- a substrate having a first face surface, a second face surface, and a plurality of edges, and which substrate includes a thermoplastic material;
- and
- a matrix attached to the substrate, which matrix includes a support component having a first melting point, and a thermoplastic component having a second melting point, and the second melting point is less than the first melting point, and a secondary thermoplastic component having a third melting point that is equal to or greater than the first melting point.
A side skirt assembly adapted to be mounted to a tractor trailer, comprising:
- a support frame configured for attachment to the tractor trailer;
- and
- a side skirt panel attached to the support frame, which side skirt panel is a composite sheet material that has a length and a width, and the composite sheet material includes a substrate, a matrix, and a cover sheet, wherein the substrate includes a thermoplastic material, and the matrix is attached to the substrate, and which matrix includes a support component having a first melting point, and a thermoplastic component having a second melting point, and the second melting point is less than the first melting point, and the cover sheet is configured to impart one or more surface characteristics to the composite sheet material during a thermo-pressure formation of the composite sheet material;
- and
- wherein the side skirt assembly is configured so that the width of the side skirt panel is substantially vertically positionable on a side of the tractor trailer, and the length of the side skirt panel extends along the length of the tractor trailer.
A panel for a tractor trailer box container having a frame, comprising:
- a composite sheet material panel that has a length and a width, and the composite sheet material panel includes a substrate, a matrix, and a cover sheet, wherein the substrate includes a thermoplastic material, and the matrix is attached to the substrate, and which matrix includes a support component having a first melting point, and a thermoplastic component having a second melting point, and the second melting point is less than the first melting point, and the cover sheet is configured to impart one or more surface characteristics to the composite sheet material during a thermo-pressure formation of the composite sheet material;
- wherein the composite sheet material panel is configured for attachment to the frame of the tractor trailer box container frame.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.