US3054713A

US3054713A - Method and article for attaching a structure to a surface

Info

Publication number: US3054713A
Application number: US834453A
Authority: US
Inventors: Alexander H Walter
Original assignee: United Shoe Machinery Corp
Current assignee: United Shoe Machinery Corp
Priority date: 1958-09-23
Filing date: 1959-08-18
Publication date: 1962-09-18
Anticipated expiration: 1979-09-18

Description

Sept. 1962 A. H. WALTER 3,054,713

METHOD AND ARTICLE FOR ATTACHING A STRUCTURE TO A SURFACE Filed Aug. 18, 1959 frwen for Alexander-H Walzer By lzllsAzfomey 3,54,?13 Patented Sept. 18, 1962 3,054,713 METHOD AND ARTICLE FOR ATTACHING A STRUCTURE TO A SURFACE Alexander H. Walter, Halsingborg, Sweden, assignor, by

mesne assignments, to United Shoe Machinery Corporation, Flemington, N..l., a corporation of New Jersey Filed Aug. 18, 1959, Ser. No. 834,453 Claims priority, application Sweden Sept. 23, 1958 4 Claims. (Cl. 156-498) This invention relates to a method and article for adhesively attaching a structure to a surface, and particularly to a method and article for attaching a rigid object to a surface having irregularities on its attaching face.

The problem of obtaining a suitably tight joint when securing an object to an irregular surface or securing an irregularly surfaced object to a surface is encountered in many household and industrial applications. Thin plastic tiles, wall boards, linoleum squares, acoustic plates, and the like, attached as a veneer surface to a Wall or ceiling as a decorative or protective finish, are generally applied by spreading a suitable adhesive over the entire surface of the wall or ceiling, and the veneer surface is then pressed against the cemented surface. Due to the unevenness of the surfaces of walls or ceilings this often does not provide a satisfactory over-all adhesion, and in time, after the adhesive has dried out, the adhered surface may be loosened by vibrations, or foundation movements.

The problem is also encountered in other relations such as the temporary attachment by adhesives of wooden heels to womens shoes. In this instance, firm pressure is required to flatten out the irregularities of the heel seat of an upper against the shallow upper surface of the heel for a close fitting joint. Otherwise, an intervening gap is filled with the considerable quantity of adhesive needed for adequate bonding which, upon hardening, prevents the tight fitting union of heel and upper necessary for satisfactory permanent fastening. Also, this temporary joint must be strong enough to hold heel and upper together through necessary handling.

In cemented joints between irregular and rigid surfaces, it has been found that the strength of the glued joint is entirely dependent upon the area of the actual points of attachment of the adhesive, that is, the point at which the structure and surface are in contact with each other by means of the adhesive. Consequently, if either the structure or the surface have large or small irregularities, the strength of the cemented joint is indeterminate, since the sizes of the areas of the actual points of attachment cannot be known. Often the irregularities of one or both of the surfaces may be such that a uniform coating of adhesive will establish bonding engagement only at the high points of irregularities, leaving large areas of the opposing surfaces which are not in adhesive contact or a wasteful thick intervening layer of adhesive squeezed into the low points.

It is an object of the present simple inexpensive method for adhesively attaching a rigid structure to an uneven surface With a strong bond.

It is also an object of the present invention to provide a means of rapidly adhesively attaching a heel to a shoe upper in a tight close joint.

According to the method of the present invention, bodies having rigid surfaces presenting high points which would give irregular adhesive engagement are secured together by at least one resiliently compressible linking member carrying adhesive on opposed faces by which it 70 invention to provide a is adhesively secured to both the rigid surfaces. The compressibility of the linking member enables the adhesive on the surface of the member to enter into allover engagement with the rigid surfaces both at high points and low points so that an effective bonding area is secured between the surfaces of the linking member or members and the surfaces to be joined.

The invention may be better understood when described in reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is an enlarged cross-sectional view of the linking member;

FIG. 2 is an enlarged cross-sectional view of the linking member as used in joining irregular surfaces according to the present invention;

FIG. 3 is an enlarged cross-sectional View of a special form of joint between irregular surfaces using a linking member under conditions causing the adhesive to penetrate all the way through the linking member; and

' FIG. 4 is an exploded view in perspective of the heel seat end of a shoe upper and heel with a linking member interposed for making a bond.

A linking member 4 shown in FIG. 1 comprises a thin compressible sheet material 6 with

coatings

8 and 10 of solvent-activatable adhesive on its

opposed faces

12 and 14. The compressible material may be any porous, elastically deformable material, preferably a rubbery cellular material, such as cellular rubber, cellular plastics and cellular polyurethane, or a similar material especially suitable for a specific use intended. Felt, glass wool, and steel wool may also be used but are not as satisfactory. A preferred material is a polyurethane foam having a low modulus of elasticity. The

adhesive layers

8 and 10 may be any compatible solvent-activatable adhesive, preferably rubber or synthetic rubber based adhesives. Where the cellular structure is porous, or open-celled, the adhesive may penetrate into the cells for a locking grip, as shown in FIGS. 1 and 2.

The composite of compressible sheet material 6 and

adhesive layers

8 and 10 is cut to size suitable for use as linking members 4 for a particular use.

For securing a rigid veneer member such as an acoustic plate 16 to a wall or ceiling surface 18 by the method of the present invention, the surface 20 of the acoustic plate 16 may be coated with a layer 22 of adhesive containing a solvent capable of activating the dried adhesive layer 10 on the resilient material 6. The adhesive layer 22 is allowed to dry for live to ten minutes to a condition where it is still tacky and contains some residual solvent. The adhesive layer 10 on one face 14 of the resilient material '6 is firmly pressed against the layer 22 on the surface 20 of the acoustic plate 16; the adhesive on the linking member 4 is activated by the residual solvent content of the adhesive of layer 22 and the two surfaces are firmly bonded. The other rigid surface 24, that is, of the ceiling 18, may be likewise treated with a layer 26 of adhesive containing a suitable activating solvent. The adhesive is dried to tacky condition and the exposed layer 8 of the linking member 4 is firmly pressed against this layer 26 to form a bond. The solvent containing adhesive may be also spread on the adhesive-coated surfaces of the linking member 4 and the freshly coated 5 linking member 4 pressed against the rigid surface. This may be of special advantage for instance in limited or awkward working areas. 7

The

surfaces

12 and 14 of the compressible material 6 are elastically deformed to conform to the irregularities of the surface 20 of the plate 16 and the surface 24 of the ceiling 18 between which it is pressed. The compressibility of the sheet is preferably such that the linking member 4 is deformable by simple hand pressure, so that the

surfaces

12 and 14 of the sheet 6 and the layers and 8 of adhesive on the sheet 6 will conform to the irregularities of the surface 29 of the plate 16- and the surface 24 of the ceiling 18 or wall when the plate is pressed against the ceiling by hand pressure. The adhesive establishes bonds between the surfaces of the linking member and substantially the whole surface areas of the plate and ceiling leaving no unattached portions.

The bonding is instantaneous, and placement must be precise. The strength of the bond increases by degrees and, after a period of about eight hours, reaches a value many times greater than that necessary for most purposes.

Other means of adhesively attaching the resilient linking members 4'to rigid surfaces include the use of a contact glue freshly applied to the attachment areas of the plate 16, or the ceiling 18, and/or the layers 8 and it of the linking members 4 whereon it is bonded to these adhesive layers without the necessity of an additional solvent. In some instances the

existing layers

8 and 10 may be activated by a solvent alone and the pads pressed into adhesive contact with the rigid surfaces.

As shown in FIG. 2, the linking member 4 holds the plate 16 somewhat away from the ceiling surface 18 so that relatively major irregularities 28 are bridged, eliminating rocking points. In ordinary adhesive procedures, such opposing high points would produce adjacent pockets of little or no adhesion between the opposing surfaces. Additionally, acoustical and insulating advantages are obtained in the resilient mounting and the dead space created between the two surfaces.

For certain operations where a particularly strong union is desired, the thickness of the

adhesive layers

8 and 10, as shown in FIG. 1, relative to the thickness of the compressible sheet 6 may be such that when the linking member 4 is pressed between surfaces to be joined the

adhesive layers

8 and 10 will be forced into cells of the resilient sheet 6. As shown in FIG. 3, two

irregular surfaces

30 and 32 are joined by a linking member 4 where in the

adhesive layers

8 and 10 penetrate cells to form a continuous body 34 of adhesive in areas of opposing peaks 36 of

irregular surfaces

30 and 32, and leave portions 38 in the cellular material 6 which do not contain adhesive in less compressed areas of opposing valleys 40 of these surfaces.

In another aspect of the invention shown in FIG. 4, a thin resilient linking member 4 is pressed against the heel seat engaging face 42 of a heel 44 for engagement with an overlasted shoe upper 46 in a bond strong and tight enough for a later permanent attachment. The face 42 of the heel, is coated with a layer of adhesive containing a solvent suitable to reactivate the adhesive layer on the linking member 4 which is pressed against the heel face 42. The heel engaging surface 48 together with the exposed shank portion 50 of the upper 46 are also coated with a layer of suitable adhesive and the heel 44 with affixed linking member 4 is pressed in place against it. The linking member 4 is deformed to cover the numerous points of contact provided by the heel seat 48 of the upper and to accommodate the shank 50. The linking member 4 in a compressed state has a very small thickness, and is thus maintained when the adhesive has hardened providing a tight union between shoe heel and upper.

The following examples are given better to understand the method of the invention:

Example I.--Sheet polyurethane foam approximately ,6 thickness was coated on both surfaces with a known adhesive of the following composition:

A solvent mixture containing 50 parts by volume of ethyl acetate, 25 parts by volume of toluene, and 25 parts by volume of petroleum naphtha was combined with 4 the following combination of ingredients to make a solution containing 24% solids:

Parts by weight Polychloroprene Calcium silicate (finely divided) 5 Non-staining antioxidant 2 Zinc oxide 2 Chlorinated rubber 33 The adhesive coating was allowed to dry to tackfree condition, and the sheet was then cut into pads approximately 1 /2 inches square.

Acoustical or sound-absorbing plates of cellulosic material approximately 10 inches square and A inch thick were coated with a layer of the same adhesive at areas where the linking members were to be fixed, i.e., in the corners of the plate, and the cement was allowed to dry. The porosity of the acoustic plate was such that, after drying of the first coat, a second coat was applied to the same area, and allowed to dry to tacky condition.

The linking members were then carefully placed on the adhesive coated portions of the plate and pressed tightly to force the adhesive coated surface of the linking member to conform to the surface of the plate so that the adhesive layer entered into over-all contact with the adhesive layer on the plate. An instantaneous high tenacity bond was formed.

A ceiling surface to which the acoustical plates were to be applied was thoroughly cleaned and dried. A coating of the same adhesive was spread on the ceiling areas against which the linking members would press when plate and linking member were put in position. This coating of adhesive was allowed to dry to a tacky state. The plate with the adhesive linking members secured thereto was alined in its intended position with the adhesive linking members adjacent the adhesive coating on the ceiling, and the plate was then pressed into position to bring the adhesive layer on the linking members against the tacky adhesive on the ceiling. The plate was firmly pressed to force the adhesive on the surface of the resilient linking members into allover engagement with the layer of adhesive on the ceiling surface. An instantaneous high tenacity bond was formed.

On examination of a section of the union formed between the ceiling and the acoustic plate, it was found that substantially the complete contacting area both between the linking member and the plate and the linking member and the ceiling was in tight adhesive engagement. The instantaneous bonding was too strong to allow any subsequent adjustment. Plates were carefully attached in abutting relationship until the desired ceiling area was covered.

Example II.-A wooden heel for a womans shoe was coated on the heel seat engaging face with a layer of the same adhesive composition used in Example I, and allowed to dry to tacky condition. A one inch square of the adhesive-coated sheet material, prepared according to Example I, was pressed against the adhesive on the heel seat engaging face. The heel seat area of the upper was coated with a layer of the same adhesive and allowed to dry to tacky condition. The heel was located carefully with respect to the shank and the heel seat area of the upper and then pressed into place to force the adhesive layer on the free surface of the linking member against the coating of adhesive on the heel seat. An instantaneous high tenacity bond was formed. Upon examination, the shoe parts were found to be united in a strong bond capable of withstanding further handling in manufacturing operations.

Since different embodiments of the above invention may be made without departing from the scope thereof, it is intended that the above examples and drawings should be considered as illustrations of its use and not to limit its application.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States is:

l. The method for securing together bodies having rigid uneven surfaces with high points on at least one of said surfaces, comprising interposing between said bodies a plurality of spaced linking members comprising thin resiliently compressible porous open-celled cellular sheet members substantially less in over-all area than the surface of said bodies and layers of solvent-free, solventactivatable adhesive on opposed faces of said sheet members, providing coatings including a solvent for said solvent-activatable adhesive between the surface of each of said bodies and the adhesive layer on said sheet members adjacent said surface, said solvent activating the adhesive on adjacent faces of said sheet members, and with hand pressure pressing one body toward the other to compress said sheet members between said surfaces and cause said layers of adhesive to permeate said porous open-celled sheet member and to conform to said surfaces and to enter into intimate substantially allover adhesive engagement with said surfaces.

2. The method for securing together bodies having rigid uneven surfaces with high points on at least one of said surfaces, comprising interposing between said bodies a plurality of spaced linking members comprising thin resiliently compressible porous open-celled cellular sheet members substantially less in over-all area than the surface of said bodies and layers of solvent-free, solvent activatable adhesive on opposed faces of said sheet members, providing coatings including a solvent for said solvent-activatable adhesive between the surface of each of said bodies and the adhesive layer of said sheet members adjacent said surface, said solvent activating the adhesive on adjacent faces of said sheet members, and with hand pressure pressing one body toward the other to compress said sheet members between said surfaces and cause said layers of adhesive to permeate said porous open-celled sheet member and to conform to said surfaces and to enter into intimate substantially allover adhesive engagement with said surfaces, said layers of adhesive providing a quantity of adhesive per unit area of said sheet member to flow together to form a continuous body of adhesive in the cells from face to face and through the thickness of said sheet when said sheet is deformed with the adhesive in solventactivated condition.

3. A method for attaching a sound absorbing plate to a ceiling surface comprising interposing between the rigid surfaces of said plate and said ceiling a plurality of spaced linking members comprising thin resiliently compressible porous open-celled cellular sheet members less in over-all area than the surface of said plate, and layers of solventfree, solvent-activatable adhesive on opposed faces of said sheet members, providing coatings of adhesive solution including a solvent for said solvent-activatable adhesive between the surfaces of said plate and of said ceiling and the adhesive layers on said sheet members adjacent said surfaces, said solvent activating the adhesive on adjacent faces of said sheet member, and with hand pressure pressing said plate toward said ceiling to compress said sheet members between said surfaces and cause said layers of adhesive to permeate said porous open-celled sheet member and to conform to said surfaces and to enter into intimate substantially allover adhesive engagement with said surfaces.

4. As an article of manufacture, a linking member adapted to secure together bodies having rigid uneven surfaces comprising a thin porous open-celled cellular resiliently compressible sheet member and layers of solvent-free solvent-activatable adhesive on its opposed faces, said sheet member being elastically deformable under hand pressure whereby said layers of adhesive on said faces will conform to irregularities in uneven surfaces against which said linking member may be pressed and will enter into intimate substantially allover engagement with said uneven surfaces to provide a relatively large bonding area between said sheet member and said uneven surfaces to be joined, said layers of adhesive providing a quantity of adhesive per unit area of said sheet member to flow together to form a continuous body of adhesive in the cells from face to face and through the thickness of said sheet when said sheet is deformed with the adhesive in solvent-activated condition.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,959,322 Wedges May 15, 1934 2,246,101 McEnany June 17, 1941 2,389,210 Pitman Nov. 20, 1945 2,559,609 Faust July 10, 1951 2,578,709 Lyijynen Dec. 18, 1951 2,644,280 ONeil July 7, 1953

Claims

1. THE METHOD FOR SECURING TOGETHER BODIES HAVING RIGID UNEVEN SURFACES WITH HIGH POINTS ON AT LEAST ONE OF SAID SURFACES, COMPRISING INTERPOSING BETWEEN SAID BODIES A PLURALITY OF SPACED LINKING MEMBERS COMPRISING THIN RESILIENTLY COMPRESSIBLE POROUS OPEN-CELLED CELLULAR SHEET MEMBERS SUBSTANTAILLY LESS IN OVER-ALL AREA THAN THE SURFACE OF SAID BODIES AND LAYERS OF SOLVENT-FREE, SOLVENTACTIVATABLE ADHESIVE ON OPPOSED FACES OF SAID SHEET MEMBERS, PROVIDING COATINGS INCLUDING A SOLVENT FOR SAID SOLVENT-ACTIVATABLE ADHESIVE LAYER ON SAID SHEET MEMBERS SAID BODIES AND THE ADHESIVE LAYER ON SAID SHEET MEMBERS ADJACENT SAID SURFACE, SAID SOLVENT ACTIVATING THE ADHESIVE ON ADJACENT FACES OF SAID SHEET MEMBERS, AND WITH HAND PRESSURE PRESSING ONE BODY TOWARD THE OTHER OT COMPRESS SAID SHEET MEMBERS BETWEEN SAID SURFACES AND CAUSE SAID LAYERS OF ADHESIVE TO PERMEATE SAID POROUS OPEN-CELLED SHEET MEMBER AND TO CONFORM TO SAID SURFACES AND TO ENTER INTO INTIMATE SUBSTANTIALLY ALLOVER ADHESIVE ENGAGEMENT WITH SAID SURFACES.