Abstract:
The present invention relates to an improved device and method for de-warping a warped vinyl record so that it may be played and enjoyed.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
       [0001]    This application takes benefit of U.S. Provisional App. No. 61/669,106 filed Jul. 8, 2012 which is hereby included in its entirety by reference. 
     
    
     FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
       [0002]    The present invention relates to a device for de-warping a vinyl record so that it may be played and enjoyed. 
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0003]    Vinyl records were the primary medium for the recordation and distribution of audible information and entertainment from the 1920s through the early 1990s. At that time they were largely supplanted by various forms of digital media. However, throughout the first decade of this century vinyl records have undergone a new surge in popularity as professional “disc jockeys” and audiophiles have driven demand for newly recorded material. Audiophiles in particular have always been enamored of vinyl records with many maintaining that a performance reproduced from a vinyl record is vastly superior to the same performance recorded by means of digital media. Moreover, many performances recorded in the past century have never been made available, and may never be made available, in any form other than a vinyl record. As a result, interest in vinyl records remains strong even several decades after their supposed technological obsolescence. 
         [0004]    Unfortunately, vinyl records demonstrate many of the same failings of their earlier counterparts, to wit, a tendency to wear from use and a tendency to warp from improper storage. Depending on its severity, this so-called cold-flow deformation may render the recording essentially useless. Fortunately, the copolymerized vinyl acetate and vinyl chloride compounds used to make most vinyl records has the desirable property of being readily reformed and permanently flattened by means of pressure and heat. 
         [0005]    Various appliances and means for de-warping vinyl records are well known and described in the prior art. These range in complexity from simple sheets of glass between which the vinyl record is sandwiched and then placed in a conventional oven to electrically heated appliances into which the record is placed and then automatically de-warped. 
         [0006]    However, all the techniques and appliances extant in the prior art suffer from the same three disadvantages, to wit: 1) The inability to precisely select the pressure applied to the record during the de-warping process; 2) Apply pressure only to the recorded surface of the record (versus the peripheral, outer lead in area of the record and central elevated lead out with its paper label); 3) The lack of certainty that the pressure is uniformly applied to the recorded surface of the record; and 4) The ability to use the device in the absence of heat, as would be required in the case of a rare or costly record. The first disadvantage occurs because vinyl records vary in thickness and the pressure necessary to reform them properly varies depending on the thickness. The techniques and appliances extant in the prior art demonstrate no capacity to accurately vary and consistently measure the pressure applied to the record being reformed. The second disadvantage occurs because vinyl records are not planar. More specifically, when viewed in longitudinal cross-section, a vinyl record is thicker at the peripheral, circumferential lead-in area than it is in the grooved playing area. Also, a vinyl record is slightly thicker at the central lead out area of the record by virtue of the paper label always affixed to both sides of the record. As a result, simple techniques using sheets of glass or other rigid materials are less than optimal because the heated glass or other material contacts only the raised peripheral, circumferential lead-in area of the record and raised central paper label and not the lower recorded surface of the record. As a result, the warped surface of the record is largely untouched and thus remains, even at best, slightly warped. The third disadvantage occurs because the record must be precisely located between the upper and lower pressure areas to ensure that pressure is applied to the recorded surface versus the raised peripheral, circumferential lead-in area of the record and raised central paper label. This shortcoming is particularly acute in devices that use a hinged top and bottom and some mechanical means of setting the pressure to be exerted on the record in that the insufficient care is taken to ensure that the pressure applied to the record is evenly distributed. With respect to the fourth disadvantage, while various methods for de-warping records without heat are disclosed in the prior art, none solve the foregoing three problems simultaneously. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0007]    It is an object of the present invention to provide an improved de-warping appliance for vinyl records that: 1) Is easy to construct and easy to use; 2) Evenly applies a reforming force to the warped playing area of the record and not to the raised peripheral, circumferential, lead-in portion of the record or raised central paper label; 3) Provides a simple, reproducible means of providing an even downward force applied to the recorded playing surface of warped records of varying thickness; and, 4) May be, if desired, used without heat. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0008]      FIG. 1  is a diagram illustrating the top portion of a first embodiment of the de-warping appliance in plan view. 
           [0009]      FIG. 2  is a diagram illustrating the bottom portion of a first embodiment of the de-warping appliance in plan view. 
           [0010]      FIG. 3  is a diagram illustrating a longitudinal cross-section of a first embodiment of the de-warping device showing its manner of use. 
           [0011]      FIG. 4  is a diagram illustrating the top portion of a second embodiment of the de-warping appliance in plan view. 
           [0012]      FIG. 5  is a diagram illustrating the bottom portion of a second embodiment of the de-warping appliance in plan view. 
           [0013]      FIG. 6  is a diagram illustrating a longitudinal cross-section of a second embodiment of the de-warping device showing its manner of use. 
           [0014]      FIG. 7  is a diagram illustrating the de-warping device showing its manner of use with the heating sleeve. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE EMBODIMENTS 
       [0015]    In the first embodiment, pictured specifically in  FIGS. 1 ,  2 , and  3 , the bottom half of appliance  20  and the top half of appliance  10  may be constructed of numerous rigid materials, including, but not limited to, metal, glass, stone, and ceramic. First bottom annular spacer  22  is centered on top of the top surface of the bottom half of the appliance  20  with bottom central circular cavity  23  centered over threaded central shaft  21 . First bottom annular spacer  22  is constructed of some relatively incompressible substance such as neoprene, high-density polyethylene (HDPE), polyetheretherketone (PEEK), polymethylmethacrylate (PMMA), metal, glass, stone. Record  2  to be de-warped is then placed over threaded central shaft  21  and on top on of first bottom annular spacer  22 . The circumferential, lead-in portion of record  2  protrudes beyond the edge of first bottom annular spacer  22 . Similarly, the raised central paper label of record  2  rests in lower central circular cavity  23  cut in first bottom annular spacer  22 . As a result, only the warped playing area of 2 record contacts the planar, top surface of first bottom annular spacer  22 . First top annular spacer  12  is then centered on top of record  2  with top central circular cavity  13  over threaded central shaft  21  of the bottom portion of the appliance such that the circumferential, lead-in portion of record  2  protrudes beyond the edge of first bottom annular spacer  22 . Similarly, the raised central paper label on top of record  2  rests in top central circular cavity  13  cut in first top annular spacer  12 . As a result, only the warped playing area of record  2  contacts the planar, bottom surface of first top annular spacer  12 . First top annular spacer  12  is constructed of some relatively incompressible substance such as neoprene, high-density polyethylene (HDPE), polyetheretherketone (PEEK), polymethylmethacrylate (PMMA), metal, glass, or stone. The top portion of the appliance  10  is then slipped over threaded shaft  21 . Since the appliance is designed to apply the appropriate downward force to flatten the record by means of gravity alone and since vinyl records are constructed in a multiplicity of thicknesses, top portion of the appliance  10  may be supplied in a variety of thicknesses and weights ranging from about 3 to about 6 pounds. The appliance has a threaded knob  14  or equivalent means for securing the top portion of the appliance  10 , first top annular spacer  12 , record  2 , first bottom annular spacer  22 , and the bottom portion of the appliance  20  together by means of screwing threaded knob  14  onto threaded central shaft  21 . 
         [0016]    In the second embodiment, pictured specifically in  FIGS. 4 ,  5 , and  6 , the bottom half of appliance  20  and the top half of appliance  10  may be constructed of numerous rigid materials, including, but not limited to, metal, glass, stone, and ceramic. Second bottom annular spacer  40  is placed on the top surface of the bottom half of the appliance  20  with bottom hole  41  slipped over threaded central shaft  21 . Second bottom annular spacer  40  is constructed of some compressible substance such as felt, polyester felt, rubber, or plastic foam sheet. Record  2  to be de-warped is then placed over threaded central shaft  21  and on top on of second bottom annular spacer  40 . The edge of second bottom annular spacer  40  protrudes beyond the circumferential, lead-in portion of record  2 . Since second bottom annular spacer  40  is constructed of a soft, compressible material, it readily conforms itself to the bottom surface of record  2  thus applying equal upward pressure on the playing surface of record  2  and the higher lead-in and raised paper label affixed to record  2  when the appliance is closed. As a result, the raised central paper label, raised lead-in, and the lower warped playing surface on the bottom of record  2  are held in intimate contact with the top surface of second lower annular spacer  40  when the appliance is closed. Second top annular spacer  30  is placed on top of record  2  with top hole  31  slipped over threaded central shaft  21 . Second top annular spacer  30  is also constructed of some compressible substance such as felt, polyester felt, rubber, or plastic foam sheet. The edge of second bottom annular spacer  30  protrudes beyond the circumferential, lead-in portion of record  2 . Since second top annular spacer  30  is constructed of a soft, compressible material, it readily conforms itself to the top surface of record  2 . As a result, the raised central paper label, raised lead-in, and the lower warped playing surface on the top of record  2  are held in intimate contact with the bottom surface of second top annular spacer  30  when the appliance is closed. The top portion of the appliance  10  is then slipped over threaded shaft  21 . Since the appliance is designed to apply the appropriate downward force to flatten the record by means of gravity alone and since vinyl records are constructed in a multiplicity of thicknesses, top portion of the appliance  10  is supplied in a variety of thicknesses and weights ranging from about 3 to about 6 pounds. The appliance has a threaded knob  14  or equivalent means for securing the top portion of the appliance  10 , second top annular spacer  30 , record  2 , second bottom annular spaced  40 , and the bottom portion of the appliance  20  together by means of screwing threaded knob  14  onto threaded central shaft  21 . 
         [0017]    Turning now to  FIG. 7 , while both described embodiments of the present invention may be used at room temperature, or, alternately placed inside in an existing external heating device such as a kitchen oven, both may also be used with heating pouch  50 . Heating pouch  50  is preferably comprised of fire-resistant cloth or synthetic cloth with carbon fiber heating elements, carbon nanotube heating cloth, fire-resistant cloth or synthetic cloth with Teflon Microwire™ heating elements, or fire-resistant cloth or synthetic cloth with conventional heating wires. Heating pouch  50  is heated by means of electricity, preferably a low voltage DC supply as provided by AC to low voltage DC converter  52 , connected to a standard 110V A/C supply by means of standard plug  53 . Incorporated in the low voltage DC electrical circuit within heating pouch  50  is a thermostat. This thermostat is used to vary the nominal operating temperature of heating pouch  50  within a range between about 110° F. and about 150° F. Obviously, by substituting AC to low voltage DC converter  52 , heating pouch  50  may be powered by any source of AC electric current. Similarly, a direct DC connection obviates the need for AC to low voltage DC converter  52 . Of course, AC powered variants of heating pouch  50  are included within the scope of the disclosure. 
         [0018]    Referring now to  FIGS. 3 ,  6 , and  7 , to use the disclosed embodiments record  2  is placed in appliance  1 . Then the user may perform three different, mutually exclusive, steps: 
         [0019]    First, the user may place appliance  1  with enclosed record  2  at room temperature and let the force of gravity acting on the top half of the appliance  10  flatten the playing surface of record  2 . This process takes an indeterminate period of time ranging from about week to about four months and varies based on: 1) The average room temperature; 2) The relative humidity; 3) The thickness of record  2 ; 4) The amount of deformation present in the playing surface of record  2 ; and, 5) The weight of the top half of appliance  10 . 
         [0020]    Second, the user may place appliance  1  with enclosed record  2  in a conventional kitchen oven at a temperature in the range between about 110° F. and about 150° F. Assuming light deformation in the playing surface of the record and assuming the weight of the top half of appliance  10  is in the range of about 3 to about 6 pounds, the amount of heating time required to flatten the playing surface of record  2  varies from about 40 minutes to about 70 minutes. However, the amount of time necessary to flatten the record may vary depending on the amount of deformation present in the playing surface of record  2 . 
         [0021]    Third, the user may place appliance  1  with enclosed record  2  in heating pouch  50  and connect heating pouch  50  to a supply of electricity. While the heating elements in heating pouch  50  may be set to a temperature in the range between about 110° F. and about 150° F., the interior of the pouch is somewhat cooler because the pouch is not heavily insulted and is not completely airtight like most kitchen ovens. Assuming light deformation in the playing surface of the record and assuming the weight of the top half of appliance  10  is in the range of about 3 to about 6 pounds, the amount of heating time required to flatten the playing surface of record  2  varies from about 4 hours to about 20 hours. However, the amount of time necessary to flatten the record may vary depending on the amount of deformation present in the playing surface of record  2 . 
         [0022]    In the discussed embodiments, appliance  1  may incorporate its own integral electric heating elements in the top and bottom portions of the appliance and suitable electronic circuitry to closely control the temperature at which to de-warping process occurs and the time interval for which record  2  is de-warped. Moreover, in these embodiments an audible alerting and/or timing device may be included, whether incorporated into appliance  1  itself, or in a housing unto itself, said audible alerting device being used to inform the user that the de-warping process is complete and de-warped record  2  may be retrieved 
         [0023]    In the discussed embodiments, a thermometer, or other device for measuring and visually reporting the temperature at which the de-warping process is occurring, may be affixed to, or constructed within, the appliance  1  or heating pouch  50 . 
         [0024]    While the invention has been described in connection with what are considered to be the most practical and preferred embodiments, it is to be understood that the invention is not to be limited to the disclosed embodiments, but on the contrary is intended to cover various modifications and equivalent arrangements included within the spirit and scope of the disclosure.