U.S. patent application number 10/766550 was filed with the patent office on 2004-09-30 for method of rolling folded membrane sheeting with preapplied seam tape.
This patent application is currently assigned to Carlisle Management Company. Invention is credited to Esmon, Jay, Robison, David.
Application Number | 20040187432 10/766550 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 32994316 |
Filed Date | 2004-09-30 |
United States Patent
Application |
20040187432 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Robison, David ; et
al. |
September 30, 2004 |
Method of rolling folded membrane sheeting with preapplied seam
tape
Abstract
Membrane sheeting with preapplied seam tape is rolled up by
applying the seam tape along a first edge and folding a second edge
of the membrane on itself so that it merely abuts an inner edge of
the seam tape but does not overlap the seam tape. This forms a
folded sheet which has a uniform thickness across its entire width.
This can then be rolled in the standard manner to form a roll which
has a uniform diameter throughout.
Inventors: |
Robison, David; (O'Fallon,
IL) ; Esmon, Jay; (Highland, IL) |
Correspondence
Address: |
WOOD, HERRON & EVANS, LLP
2700 CAREW TOWER
441 VINE STREET
CINCINNATI
OH
45202
US
|
Assignee: |
Carlisle Management Company
Syracuse
NY
|
Family ID: |
32994316 |
Appl. No.: |
10/766550 |
Filed: |
January 28, 2004 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
|
|
60445731 |
Feb 6, 2003 |
|
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Current U.S.
Class: |
52/741.1 |
Current CPC
Class: |
E04B 1/66 20130101; E04D
5/12 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
052/741.1 |
International
Class: |
E04B 001/00 |
Claims
We claim:
1. A method of rolling a membrane sheet having a seam tape applied
along one edge of said membrane sheeting comprising folding a
second edge of said membrane sheeting over upon itself to form a
folded sheet wherein said second edge does not overlie any area of
said membrane sheeting having seam tape adhered thereto, and
rolling said membrane sheeting.
2. The method claimed in claim 1 wherein said seam tape is on a
first surface of said membrane sheeting and said second edge of
said membrane sheeting is folded onto said first surface.
3. The method claimed in claim 1 wherein said seam tape is on a
first surface of said membrane sheeting and said second edge of
said membrane is folded onto a second surface of said membrane
sheeting.
4. The method claimed in claim 1 wherein said membrane sheeting is
EPDM.
5. A roll of membrane sheeting having a first edge and a second
edge, a seam tape adhered to said first edge wherein said second
edge is folded toward said first edge and wherein said second edge
does not overlie said seam tape.
Description
BACKGROUND
[0001] Single-ply membrane sheeting incorporates a single-ply
polymeric membrane as a water barrier for roof surfaces, pond
liners, and the like. As it is impractical to manufacture polymeric
sheeting which is large enough to cover most roofs and ponds,
individual sheets are adhered together along lap seams to form a
continuous water impervious sheet.
[0002] In the past the lap seams have been completely formed at the
construction site. This requires that, when necessary, the
overlapping edges be cleaned, a primer applied and then an
adhesive. Adhesive seam tape is frequently used. There are a
variety of different roofing seam tapes that can be applied. These
are very tacky. Upon contact they adhere to the seam of the
sheeting.
[0003] In order to reduce on-site labor, it is desirable to have
the seam tape preapplied to the roofing membrane. Unfortunately,
when one preapplies seam tape to the edge of a membrane, it
interferes with storing and shipping the sheeting. Typically the
sheeting is rolled onto a cylindrical core. Because typical
sheeting has a uniform thickness, one can roll an indefinite length
of material on the core. However, when a seam tape is applied to
the edge of the sheeting, it cannot be simply rolled. The seam tape
edge is thicker than the remaining portion of the sheet. Rolling
this would form a conical-shaped roll. This interferes with
shipping.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0004] The present invention is premised on the realization that
membrane sheeting having a preapplied seam tape can be rolled into
a roll by applying seam tape to one edge of the sheeting and
folding the second edge of the sheeting back onto itself so that it
abuts the edge of the seam tape but does not overlap the seam tape.
Thus, the folded portion of the sheeting will have a thickness
approximately equal to or slightly greater than the edge of the
sheeting with the seam tape. This can be rolled without any bulge
on the edge.
[0005] The objects and advantages of the present invention will be
further appreciated in light of the following detailed description
and drawings in which:
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0006] FIG. 1 is a cross-sectional view of sheeting with preapplied
seam tape taken at lines 2-2 of FIG. 3;
[0007] FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view of the folded sheeting;
and
[0008] FIG. 3 is a diagrammatic depiction of rolling the
sheeting.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0009] As shown in FIG. 1, the present invention is sheeting 12
such as EPDM rubber which incorporates a field portion 13 and a
first edge 14 and an opposite edge 16. First edge 14 includes a
layer of seam tape 15 applied along the edge on a first surface 17
of Sheeting 12. The opposite edge 16 does not include any seam
tape.
[0010] The sheeting can be any type of sheeting typically used for
roofing applications such as EPDM, thermoplastic elastomer, butyl
rubber and PVC. These can be 30 to 100 mils thick and generally are
45 to 60 mils. The seam tape is generally thinner than the
sheeting.
[0011] The seam tape may be any type of seam tape used in the
roofing industry. It may be thermoplastic or thermosetting.
Preferably, it is a pressure sensitive tape. There are several
commercially available seam tapes available for use in the roofing
industry. Although the width of the seam tape can vary depending on
type and application requirements, it will generally be at least
about 3 inches wide.
[0012] The method of applying the seam tape 15 to membrane sheeting
12 does not form part of the present invention. A pressure
sensitive seam tape is generally applied in the factory by first
applying a primer layer along the clean edge 14 of the membrane.
Subsequently, the seam tape 15 is pressed against the membrane
along the edge 14. The exposed surface of the seam tape is
generally covered with a protective release sheeting (not
shown).
[0013] One way to apply the seam tape is to roll a length of
membrane onto a surface such as a floor and manually apply the
tape. The roofing membrane is preferably clean sheeting. If not,
any talc or the like must be removed prior to application of the
tape.
[0014] A double wide tape (i.e., 6-7 inches wide) can be applied
along the center line of the sheeting. The sheeting can then be cut
along the center of the seam tape to form two sheets of equal
width. Again, the method of forming the sheeting with the applied
seam tape forms no part of the present invention.
[0015] As indicated by arrow 18, the edge 16 of sheeting 12 is
folded over field portion 13 so that the edge 16 rests on surface
17 closely abutting an inner edge 19 of seam tape 15. Seam tape 15
has a thickness approximately equal to or slightly less than the
thickness of the membrane sheeting.
[0016] Once the sheeting 12 is folded, it can then be rolled in a
standard manner around tube 20, as shown in FIG. 3. As the edge 16
does not overlie the seam tape 15, the folded sheeting has a
uniform thickness. Since the entire width of the folded sheeting
has a uniform thickness, the diameter of the rolled sheeting
remains constant throughout. Thus, rolls of this material can be
stacked upon itself and transported in trucks without any
significant problems.
[0017] In an alternate embodiment not shown in the figures, the
edge portion 16 can be folded in the direction opposite arrow 18 so
that the overlapped portion 22 is on the side opposite the seam
tape 15. However, edge 16 does not overlie the inner edge 19 of the
seam tape so that the overall thickness of the folded sheeting is
about the same throughout the entire width. This can then be rolled
up in the same manner described above.
[0018] The rolls of sheeting are transported to a job site where
the sheeting is unrolled with two sheets lying side by side with
overlapping edges. The release sheet is removed from the seam tape
and then this is pressed against the adjacent sheet at overlapped
portions to form a lap seam.
[0019] Because the seam tape is applied at the factory, minimal
work is required at the job site significantly reducing labor. The
product itself is a value added product designed to improve the
overall efficiency of a roofing system.
[0020] This has been a description of the present invention along
with the preferred method of practicing the present invention. The
invention itself should only be defined by the appended claims
whereby
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