Sewing as a method for joint reinforcement between plastics and other materials

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2017190102-A1
Application number	US-201715407165-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Jan 16, 2017
Priority date	Jul 17, 2014
Publication date	Jul 6, 2017
Grant date	—

Abstract

A method for reinforcing joints between one or more components is presented. Adhesive is applied to joint areas of contact between the components and the components are stitched together at the joint areas to ensure that the joints are mechanically stable enough to withstand stresses such as pressurization and external manipulation.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1 . A method for joining two components with mechanically stable joints, the method comprising:
applying an adhesive between a first component and a second component, wherein the adhesive is applied to an area of contact between the first component and the second component forming one or more joint areas; bringing opposing surfaces of the components into contact; applying compressive pressure to the components to join and seal the opposing surfaces in the one or more joint areas of contact; and using a stitching material, stitching the first component to the second component at the one or more joint areas.

2 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the stitching material is a plastic thread or a natural thread material.

3 . The method of claim 1 , further comprising:
tightening stitches of the stitching material such that a gas and liquid tight seal is formed between the components in the joint areas of contact.

4 . The method of claim 1 , wherein stitching the first component to the second component at the one or more joint areas maintains flexibility of the components in the joint areas of contact.

5 . The method of claim 1 , further comprising:
drilling a pattern of holes in the first component; and stitching the first component to the second component at the one or more joint areas using the pattern of holes in the first component as a guide.

6 . The method of claim 5 , further comprising:
drilling a pattern of holes in the second component that match the pattern of holes in the first component.

7 . The method of claim 1 , wherein stitching the first component to the second component creates a tight seal around the stitching material with adhesive and one or more knots.

8 . A method for joining a metal plate and a synthetic mold with mechanically stable joints, the method comprising:
drilling a pattern of holes in a metal plate corresponding to desired joint areas of contact between the metal plate and a synthetic mold; applying an adhesive between the metal plate and the mold in one or more joint areas of contact; bringing opposing surfaces of the metal plate and the mold into contact; applying compressive pressure to the plate and the mold to join and seal the opposing surfaces in the one or more joint areas of contact; and using a stitching material, stitching the metal plate to the mold using the pattern of holes in the metal plate as a guide.

9 . The method of claim 8 , wherein the stitching material is a plastic thread or a natural thread material.

10 . The method of claim 8 , further comprising:
tightening stitches of the stitching material such that a gas and liquid tight seal is formed between the plate and the mold in the joint areas of contact.

11 . The method of claim 8 , wherein stitching the metal plate to the mold at the one or more joint areas maintains flexibility of the joint areas of contact.

12 . The method of claim 8 , further comprising:
drilling a pattern of holes in the mold that match the pattern of holes in the metal plate.

13 . The method of claim 8 , wherein stitching the plate to the mold creates a tight seal around the stitching material with adhesive and one or more knots.

Assignees

• Univ California

Inventors

• Vergara Julio
• Padula Andrew
• Restrepo Lucas

Classifications

• B29C65/4835

  Heat curing adhesives · CPC title

• B29K2883/00

  Use of polymers having silicon, with or without sulfur, nitrogen, oxygen, or carbon only, in the main chain, as mould material · CPC title

• B29C65/62

  Stitching · CPC title

• B29C66/114

  Single butt joints · CPC title

• B29C66/43

  Joining a relatively small portion of the surface of said articles (B29C66/45 takes precedence) · CPC title