Patents Assigned to Gantec Corporation
  • Patent number: 4232075
    Abstract: A mirror construction and method wherein shatter resistant optical quality first surface mirrors may be inexpensively fabricated. A styrene sheet is press polished and the polished surface is coated with a reflective layer. The press polished, reflectively coated styrene sheet may be subjected to further processing steps in order to produce a highly rigid and flat mirror. A surface of the styrene sheet is scored along a straight line to a depth that does not penetrate the front mirrored surface, but rather leaves a relatively thin region along the scored line having a minimal extent in the plane of the sheet. The styrene sheet is then folded, bringing portions on either side of the scored line towards each other and partially splitting the thin region. A membrane remains along the scored line to form a semi-flexing hinge. The ability of the membrane to withstand cracking can be improved somewhat by carrying out the folding step at a temperature generally greater than approximately 20.degree. C.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 19, 1978
    Date of Patent: November 4, 1980
    Assignee: Gantec Corporation
    Inventors: William A. Gantz, David M. Gantz