Abstract: A tubular grommet for sealing a conductor relative to a substrate having opposite sides and an opening therethrough for the conductor has axially opposite ends, one of which sealing engages with the conductor and the other of which is radially spaced from the conductor, diametrically larger than the opening through the substrate, and includes a radially outwardly extending peripheral flange for engaging against the substrate when the grommet is mounted thereon. A wall between the ends includes first and second re-entrant wall portions facing the one end, and the grommet can be provided with a recess in the wall adjacent the flange for receiving the peripheral edge of the opening through the substrate and/or can be adhesively bonded to the substrate by an adhesive interposed between the flange and substrate.

Abstract: Disclosed are techniques and related material blends for improving adhesion between a polyolefin film and a pressure sensitive adhesive, and also significantly decreasing the coefficient of thermal expansion of a polyolefin film by modifying the chemical properties of the film. Specifically, particular amounts of a modifying polymer and/or copolymer such as ethylene vinyl acetate are incorporated into the polyolefin film. The polyolefin film may for instance be either a polyethylene or polypropylene film.

Abstract: A region in a thin plastic sheet is formed to include a series of corrugations. These corrugations are include alternating peaks or crests and roots or valleys. The plastic sheet is to be installed on a workpiece intermediate areas or zones periodically exposed to differential air pressures. Slit areas incorporated into adjacent crests of the corrugations to extend along a longitudinal portion thereof allow air flow passage therethrough in one direction while preventing air flow in the other direction.

Abstract: A water deflector for use in a vehicle door comprises a sheet of ether-type open cell urethane foam having opposite side faces to which are bonded thin sheets of high strength linear low density polyethylene film. The sheet has a peripheral edge shaped to overlie the desired area within the vehicle door. At least one laterally deflectable pocket forming section is formed within the sheet. The pocket forming section is constituted of a plurality of individual side-by-side closely spaced strips of the open cell urethane foam with the low density polyethylene film on the opposite side faces bridging the spaces between the spaced strips.

Abstract: A vehicle door construction having an outer door panel and an inner door panel with a trim panel joined to the inner door panel by attachment hooks extending from the trim panel into hook openings in the inner door panel. A plastic water deflector sheet is positioned between the trim panel and the inner door panel. The deflector sheet has through apertures corresponding to the locations of the hook openings in the inner door panel. The sheet also has a portion adjacent each through aperture that is laterally deformed to extend through the associated hook opening and form an awning-like hood over the corresponding hook.

Abstract: A method of applying a flowable printing fluid in a predetermined pattern of predetermined thickness to a flexible air impervious sheet comprises providing a vacuum table and overlying the table with a template having a thickness at least substantially as great as the thickness of printing fluid desired to be applied. The template has openings defining the predetermined pattern formed therethrough so that the table is exposed through the template throughout the predetermined pattern. The flexible sheet to which the predetermined pattern of printing fluid is to be applied is placed over the table and template so that the pattern formed in the template is aligned with the sheet in the desired location. A vacuum is pulled on the vacuum table to cause the flexible sheet to be drawn down into the template through the openings defining the predetermined pattern.

Abstract: A protector sheet article and method intended for application to the door trim panel of a vehicle door to prevent soiling or damage to the trim panel during vehicle assembly and shipping. The article comprises a sheet of thin flexible plastic film with an outer periphery which generally corresponds to the size and shape of the trim panel. The sheet is provided with a plurality of adhesive coated tab members for engagement with closure areas of the vehicle door to hold the sheet in position on the trim panel.

Abstract: A transfer adhesive sandwich includes a flexible carrier sheet having an adhesive layer releasably bonded to one surface and having an opposite surface to which the adhesive layer if releasably bondable with substantially less tenacity than the tenacity of the bond between the adhesive layer and the one surface. A plurality of the sandwiches are stacked on top of one another to form a pad from which individual sandwiches are strippable. When the adhesive layer is pressed against a substrate, it adheres to the substrate with a tenacity substantially greater than the tenacity of the bond betweeen the adhesive layer and the one surface of the carrier sheet so that the carrier sheet can be stripped away to leave the adhesive layer on the substrate.

Abstract: A water deflector or shield device particularly suited for use on the inner panel of a vehicle door comprises a water impervious thin, flexible plastic sheet having a peripheral configuration matching the peripheral configuration of a portion of the panel. The sheet is provided with a sealing arrangement to permit electrical wires or the like to pass through the sheet in sealed relationship thereto. The sealing arrangement includes a laterally extending pocket in the sheet at a predetermined point corresponding to the point through which it is desired to extend the wire. A hole is formed at the bottom of the pocket and the interior of the pocket has an adhesive therin. After the wire is passed through the hole, the interior of the pocket is sealingly adhered to the wire.

Abstract: A protector article and method of forming the same for use as a paint mask or water shield. The article comprises a generally flat and relatively thin sheet of flexible plastic material having its peripheral edge shaped to conform to the shape of the surface to be protected. Adhesive is carried by the peripheral edge of the sheet to allow it to be permanently or temporarily connected to the surface to be protected. At least one predetermined area in the sheet is enclosed by a series of relatively small and closely spaced corrugations to allow the enclosed area(s) to be selectively deflected laterally of the plane of the sheet to form pockets or bulges to allow the sheet to generally conform to discontinuities in the surface being protected. The corrugations are preferably formed by conventional thermoforming techniques.

Abstract: A method of forming a selectively expansible pocket or bulge in a thin plastic sheet to facilitate the use of the sheet as a surface protector or shield includes the step of applying oppositely directed forces to the sheet in a plurality of intermeshed closely spaced lines about a predetermined area in which it is desired to form a pocket. The forces are applied until stretching, thinning, and permanent deformation of the sheet takes place along the lines to produce a plurality of permanent corrugations to permit lateral deflection of the predetermined area.

Abstract: A transfer adhesive sandwich includes a flexible carrier sheet having an adhesive layer releasably bonded to one surface and having an opposite surface to which the adhesive layer is releasably bondable with substantially less tenacity than the tenacity of the bond between the adhesive layer and the one surface. A plurality of the sandwiches are stacked on top of one another to form a pad from which individual sandwiches are strippable. When the adhesive layer is pressed against a substrate, it adheres to the substrate with a tenacity substantially greater than the tenacity of the bond between the adhesive layer and the one surface of the carrier sheet so that the carrier sheet can be stripped away to leave the adhesive layer on the substrate.

Abstract: A laminated article particularly useful for forming shoe upper and a method of forming the same. The method generally comprises applying a thin and relatively uniform thickness layer of pressure sensitive adhesive to a release coated surface of a first thin and flexible sheet of material. The adhesive is applied in a regular discontinuous pattern having a multiplicity of small areas separated by pressure sensitive adhesive coated areas. The adhesive is allowed to cure or dry on the first sheet and, thereafter, the adhesive coated face of the first sheet is aligned with a second sheet of foam material and brought into contact therewith under sufficient pressure to bond the adhesive to the foam sheet. The release coated first sheet is left in place on the cured adhesive until it is desired to bond the sheet of foam material to a third sheet of flexible material, such as a sheet of shoe upper material.

Abstract: A transfer adhesive sandwich includes a flexible carrier sheet having an adhesive layer releasably bonded to one surface and having an opposite surface to which the adhesive layer is releasably bondable with substantially less tenacity than the tenacity of the bond between the adhesive layer and the one surface. A plurality of the sandwiches are stacked on top of one another to form a pad from which individual sandwiches are strippable. When the adhesive layer is pressed against a substrate, it adheres to the substrate with a tenacity substantially greater than the tenacity of the bond between the adhesive layer and the one surface of the carrier sheet so that the carrier sheet can be stripped away to leave the adhesive layer on the substrate.

Abstract: A protector article and method of forming the same for use as a paint mask or water shield. The article comprises a generally flat and relatively thin sheet of flexible plastic material having its peripheral edge shaped to conform to the shape of the surface to be protected. Adhesive is carried by the peripheral edge of the sheet to allow it to be permanently or temporarily connected to the surface to be protected. At least one predetermined area in the sheet is enclosed by a series of relatively small and closely spaced corrugations to allow the enclosed area(s) to be selectively deflected laterally of the plane of the sheet to form pockets or bulges to allow the sheet to generally conform to discontinuities in the surface being protected. The corrugations are preferably formed by conventional thermoforming techniques.

Abstract: A water deflector for securement to the inner panel of a vehicle door to prevent water from entering the vehicle body or wetting the inner door trim panel. The deflector comprises a sheet of polyethylene peripherally shaped for covering the inner door panel, and having permanently plastic and permanently tacky pressure-sensitive adhesive on selective areas thereof for attaching the sheet to the inner door panel.

Abstract: A deflector for securement to body components of a vehicle to prevent water, dust, and the like from entering the body or wetting inner trim panels. The deflector comprises a sheet of plastic peripherally shaped for covering at least a predetermined portion of a body component, and having permanently plastic and permanently tacky pressure-sensitive adhesive on selective areas thereof for attaching the sheet to the component.

Abstract: A water deflector for securement to the inner panel of a vehicle door to prevent water from entering the vehicle body or wetting the inner door trim panel. The deflector comprises a sheet of polyethylene peripherally shaped for covering the inner door panel, and having permanently plastic and permanently tacky pressure-sensitive adhesive on selective areas thereof for attaching the sheet to the inner door panel.

Abstract: A paint mask and method for masking a work surface wherein the mask structure is comprised of a first mask layer and a second liner layer. One face of the first layer includes an adhesive coating with the second layer being adhesively secured thereto. A predetermined design configuration is defined in the mask structure by discontinuous cuts extending through both the first and second layers. Score cuts extending through the second layer in spaced apart generally coextensive relationships with the discontinuous cuts define band-like areas. Removal of these band-like areas exposes band areas of adhesive on the first layer which are used to adhesively secure the mask in a desired orientation on a work surface. The discontinuous cuts facilitate removal of that portion of the mask structure disposed on the other side thereof from the score cuts to be removed from covering association wtih the work surface.

Abstract: A mask for and method of masking a workpiece which has some predetermined continuous demarcation zone whereby precise painting of a first area disposed on one side of the zone is accommodated. The mask includes opposed faces and a peripheral edge or contour having substantially the same conformation as the demarcation zone. One face includes a narrow band of adhesive extending therearound adjacent the peripheral edge. The mask is accurately positioned on the workpiece to precisely mask a second area thereof along and on the other side of the demarcation zone from the workpiece first area. The first area may then be painted and the mask thereafter removed. To accommodate application in production environments, the other or outer face of the mask may be release coated so that a stack or pad comprised of a plurality of identical masks may be provided at a workstation for individual application to consecutive workpieces.