Load bearing surface
AssigneeIllinois Tool Works Inc.
InventorsTimothy P. Coffield, Daniel S. Sommerfeld, Andrew B. Hartmann
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
An elastomeric load hearing surface with different load support characteristics in different directions. In one embodiment, the surface includes an elastomeric membrane that is oriented in only a single direction, for example, by compression or stretching, In another embodiment, the surface includes mechanical structures, such as connectors and variations in thickness that vary the load support characteristics in different directions. In another embodiment, a surface is both oriented and includes mechanical structures.
Claims18
1-9. (canceled)
A method for manufacturing a load bearing surface, comprising the steps of:
- molding an elastomeric membrane;
- orienting at least a portion of the elastomeric membrane in only one direction until the crystalline structure of the membrane becomes sufficiently aligned in the one direction to provide the portion of the elastomeric membrane with load bearing characteristics in the one direction that are different from other directions.
A method for manufacturing a load bearing surface, comprising:
- molding an elastomeric membrane such that the membrane includes a plurality of nodes interconnected by a plurality of connectors, the connectors extending in a first direction, the connectors having a thickness that is less than the thickness of the nodes;
- orienting the elastomeric membrane by stretching the membrane in the first direction to a distance sufficient to plastically deform the membrane and to provide the crystalline structure of the membrane with a greater degree of alignment in the first direction;
- and
- mounting the membrane to a support structure before the membrane has recovered to a final length, the membrane continuing to recover after it is mounted to the support structure, the fully recovered membrane providing a desired about of tension between the support structure and the membrane.
21-27. (canceled)
A method for manufacturing a load bearing part, comprising the steps of:
- molding a part from an elastomeric material, the molded part having an initial length;
- orienting the molded part using an orienting apparatus, said orienting including elongating the molded part in one direction to at least twice the initial length;
- and
- releasing the oriented molded part from the orienting apparatus, the oriented molded part having a finished length greater than the initial length.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.