Apparatus for supporting a sheet material along its peripheral edges
AssigneeLear Corporation
InventorSunil Gupté
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
An apparatus for supporting a thermoformable material along its peripheral edges includes a frame forming a channel therealong for receiving the peripheral edges of the thermoformable material. The channel has an opening formed between first and second edges of the frame. At least one retaining arm is pivotally connected to the frame along the first edge and includes a distal end. The retaining arm is pivotable between an open position to allow insertion of the peripheral edge of the thermoformable material into the channel and a closed position for clamping the thermoformable material between the distal end and the second edge.
Claims13
An apparatus for supporting a thermoformable material along its peripheral edges comprising:
- a rectangular frame forming a channel along each side of the rectangular frame for receiving the peripheral edges of the thermoformable material, said channel having an opening formed between first and second edges of the frame;
- at least one retaining arm pivotally connected to said frame along the first edge and having a distal end;
- wherein the at least one retaining arm is pivotable between an open position to allow insertion of the peripheral edge of the thermoformable material into the channel and a closed position for clamping the thermoformable material between the distal end and the second edge to secure the peripheral edge and prevent peripheral leakage of heated air flowing in either direction through the thermoformable material;
- and
- wherein said closed position is defined by an adjustment screw which is threadedly engaged with one member selected from a group consisting of the retaining arm and the frame for abutting the other member of said group for adjusting the closed position of the at least one retaining arm with respect to the frame by limiting pivotal movement of the at least one retaining arm to the closed position.
An apparatus for supporting a sheet material along its peripheral edges comprising:
- a non-porous frame forming a channel therealong for receiving the peripheral edges of the sheet material, said channel having an opening formed between first and second edges of the frame;
- a plurality of retaining arms pivotally connected to said frame along the first edge and each having a distal end;
- wherein each retaining arm is pivotable between an open position to allow insertion of the peripheral edge of the sheet material into the channel and a closed position for retaining the sheet material between the distal end and the second edge.
An apparatus for supporting a permeable thermoformable material along its peripheral edges for preheating prior to thermoforming, the apparatus comprising:
- a frame forming a channel therealong for receiving the peripheral edges of the thermoformable material, said channel having an opening formed between first and second edges of the frame;
- at least one retaining arm pivotally connected to said frame along the first edge and having a distal end;
- wherein the retaining arm is pivotable between an open position in which the distal end is outside the channel to allow insertion of the peripheral edge of the thermoformable material into the channel, and a closed position in which the distal end is inside the channel for clamping the thermoformable material between the distal end and the second edge;
- wherein the distal end of the retaining arm is pivotable along an arc between the open and closed positions, and at the position in which the arc is nearest the second edge, a gap (g) is formed between the distal end and the second edge, wherein said gap (g) is less than the thickness of the thermoformable material;
- and
- wherein said retaining arm includes a hook portion to facilitate prying of the retaining arm from the closed position to the open position.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.