Patent ID: 6382061
Filing Date: 2002-05-07
Classification: A47G,B26D,B26F,Y10T

Abstract:
A method of cutting a stretchable resilient fluid flow control valve member having first and second fluid flow control valve member sides in opposition to one another to create at least one cut in said fluid flow control valve member extending through said fluid flow control valve member between said first and second fluid flow control valve member sides, said method comprising the steps of:stretching said fluid flow control valve member from an unstretched condition to a stretched condition by applying opposed stretching forces thereto at predetermined locations on said fluid flow control valve member, said first and second fluid flow control valve member sides being stretched when said fluid flow control valve member is in said stretched condition; maintaining said fluid flow control valve member in said stretched condition; while maintaining said fluid flow control valve member in said stretched condition, cutting said fluid flow control valve member within an interior area of said fluid flow control valve member spaced from and positioned between said predetermined locations to form at least one cut in said fluid flow control valve member extending through said fluid flow control valve member between said first and second fluid flow control valve member sides by causing relative movement between a cutter and the fluid flow control valve member along a predetermined path of relative movement, said predetermined path of relative movement being disposed at an angle relative to said stretched first and second fluid flow control valve member sides; and after said cutting step, removing said stretching forces and allowing said fluid flow control valve member to return to an unstretched condition to close the at least one cut so that said fluid flow control valve member forms a substantially liquid-tight seal at said at least one cut, said step of maintaining said fluid flow control valve member in said stretched condition including applying opposed clamping forces to said fluid flow control valve member in said interior area of said fluid flow control valve member, one of said clamping forces being applied to the first fluid flow control valve member side while said first fluid flow control valve member side is stretched and another of said clamping forces being applied to the second fluid flow control member side while said second fluid flow control member side is stretched, and said clamping forces being applied substantially in the direction of said predetermined path of relative movement to the first and second fluid flow control member sides in said interior area of said fluid flow control valve member immediately surrounding where said at least one cut is made in said interior area during said cutting step.