Patent ID: 6375770
Filing Date: 2002-04-23
Classification: A41D,B29C,B29K

Abstract:
An apparatus for forming an adhesively bonded butt seam between opposed edges of at least one piece of resiliently-compressible, fully cured, foamed, elastomeric fabric having an adhesive carried on one of said edges, said edges further each having a thickness dimension parallel to said edges, said apparatus comprising:a sonic energy generating device including an energy applying head positioned and dimensioned to span across said edges when placed in abutting relation and formed to apply sufficient sonic energy to said adhesive carried by one of said edges to activate said adhesive; and an incremental force applying assembly including a piece-engaging member having a surface positioned and dimensioned to span across said edges and positioned on a side of said pieces opposite to and aligned with said energy applying head at a distance spaced from said energy applying head by an amount dimensioned to receive said at least one piece therebetween when said edges are positioned in abutting relationship, said force applying assembly being formed to incrementally displace at least one of said piece-engaging member and said energy applying head toward the other of said piece-engaging member and said energy applying head during the application of sonic energy to said edges to compress said at least one piece between said surface and said energy applying head in said thickness dimension at said edges by an amount sufficient to simultaneously both laterally firmly press said edges together and as a result of resilient compression in said thickness dimension to enhance sonic energy coupling with said adhesive for activation thereof adhesive bonding together of said edges.