Patent ID: 6451374
Filing Date: 2002-09-17
Classification: F16J,H05K

Abstract:
A method of forming in place a low closure force gasket having alternating high and low contact points on a surface of a substrate, said method comprising the steps of:(a) providing a nozzle having an orifice, said nozzle being movable relative to the surface of the substrate along at least a first axis disposed generally parallel to the substrate surface to define a path, and, optionally, along a second axis disposed generally perpendicular to the substrate surface; (b) issuing a bead of a curable elastomeric composition under an applied pressure from the orifice of said nozzle; (c) moving said nozzle at a predetermined speed along said first axis, and, optionally, along said second axis to apply said bead of said composition to the substrate surface; (d) controlling one or more of the pressure of step (b), the speed of movement of said nozzle along said first axis of step (c), and the movement of said nozzle along said second axis of step (c) to apply said bead in step (c) in a periodic series of alternating high and low intervals relative to the substrate surface; and (e) curing said elastomeric composition under substantially atmospheric pressure to form said gasket on the substrate surface, said high intervals of said bead defining said high contact points of said gasket and said low intervals of said bead defining said low contact portions of said gasket.