US 7,029,255 B2Granted

Apparatus for and methods of damage repair

AssigneeCarglass Luxembourg S.a.r.l.

InventorsPhilip Rawlins, Douglas Scott MacArthur, Robert Ian Lister, Graham Scott Gutsell

Life of this patent

Estimating the term…

Loading patent…

Abstract

Apparatus is disclosed for repairing a flaw in a surface, particularly in the field of vehicle glass repair. The apparatus has a housing adapted to engage the surface to be repaired, a repair seal for sealing between the housing and around the flaw to be repaired to define a repair space over the flaw. A reservoir communicates with the repair space and, in use, contains liquid repair material. A vacuum pump communicates with the repair space and the reservoir to apply a partial vacuum to the repair space and to the reservoir without repair liquid from the reservoir being drawn into the repair space in order to degas separately the flaw and repair liquid in the reservoir. After appropriate degassing, repair liquid from the reservoir is caused to flow into the repair space to fill the repair space with repair liquid.

Claims18

Dependent claims

Apparatus for repairing a flaw in a surface in a repair operation, which apparatus comprises:

a housing adapted to engage the surface at commencement of the repair operation,
a repair seal located on the housing for sealing throughout the repair operation between the housing and around the flaw to be repaired to define between the surface and the housing a repair space over the flaw,
first vacuum means communicating with the repair space for applying a partial vacuum to the repair space, second vacuum means for applying an enhanced vacuum to the repair space, and
a reservoir for supplying repair liquid to the repair space, such that the repair seal is in contact with the surface to be repaired throughout the repair operation, wherein at least one of the first or second vacuum means includes a piston located in a bore in the housing, the bore in communication with the repair space such that movement of the piston along the bore increases evacuation of the repair space.

1 more element

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Facts

Application: 10/456,042Filed 6 Jun 2003 · continuation
Priority: GB 992686412 Nov 1999
Published: US 2003/0205831 A16 Nov 2003
Granted: 18 Apr 2006
Term ends: Not estimatedThe source records don’t support an estimate.

Classification9 codes

B29C 73/025
Using liquid or paste-like material: fed under pressure
B32B 17/10963
Making laminated safety glass or glazing; Apparatus therefor: specially adapted for repairing the layered products
B29L 2031/3052
Vehicles, e.g. ships or aircraft, or body parts thereof: windscreens
Y10T 428/24314
Noncircular aperture [e.g., slit, diamond, rectangular, etc.]: slit or elongated