Table foiler

{
  "publication_number": "US6554042B2",
  "country": "US",
  "kind": "B2",
  "title": "Table foiler",
  "abstract": "A foil applicator for evenly applying an adhesive backed foil to edges or pieces of stained glass. The applicator includes guide members which direct a foil strip from a foil spool through an adjustable grasping roller mechanism and past a horizontal, raised planar table where foil is applied manually to the edges of glass pieces, nuggets, or jewels.",
  "claims": [
    "1. A foil applicator for applying foil to the edges of glass pieces comprising: a. a horizontal base having a first surface defining a work area and an attachment area, wherein the work area includes: a foil support,",
    "2. a foil splitter, the foil splitter comprising i. a main post extending from the first surface of the base, the main post comprising a cutaway portion defining a vertical wall and a horizontal surface, ii. a guide member extending from the horizontal surface such that the guide member is positioned to form a gap between the guide member and the vertical wall, and",
    "3. a rotatable roller; and b. a horizontal table for receiving the pieces, the table fixedly attached to the attachment area of the base, such that the table is at a different plane than the first surface of the base. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the foil support comprises a plurality of guide members positioned to support the foil onto the first surface of the base. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the rotatable roller is removably fixed to the work area.",
    "4. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the rotatable roller comprises a first recessed cylindrical channel for crimping the foil around the piece.",
    "5. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the rotatable roller comprises a pair of recessed cylindrical surfaces for positioning the foil.",
    "6. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising means to adjust the position of the rotatable roller with respect to the first surface of the base.",
    "7. The apparatus of claim 6, wherein the means to adjust the position of the rotatable roller comprises a threaded bolt extending perpendicularly from the first surface of the base, a first nut threaded onto the bolt between the rotatable roller and the first surface of the base wherein the first nut adjustably positions the height of the rotatable roller, and a second nut threaded onto the bolt such that the second nut fixes the rotatable roller to the bolt.",
    "8. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the base comprises non-skid feet.",
    "9. The apparatus of claim 1, comprising a plurality of different sized rollers to accommodate foil of different widths.",
    "10. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a foil control guide member for holding the foil in the proper position in the rotatable roller after the foil is cut.",
    "11. A foil applicator for applying foil to the edges of glass pieces or similar objects, comprising: a. a horizontal base having a first surface defining a work area and an attachment area, wherein the work area comprises: a foil support comprising a plurality of guide members positioned to support the foil onto the first surface of the base, a foil splitter, the foil splitter comprising: i. a main post extending from the first surface of the base, the main post comprising a cutaway portion defining a vertical wall and a horizontal surface, ii. a guide member extending from the horizontal surface such that the guide member is positioned to form a gap between the guide member and the vertical wall, and a rotatable roller removably positioned on the work area, and means to adjust the position of the roller with respect to first surface of the base; and b. a horizontal table for receiving the pieces, the table fixedly attached to the attachment area of the base, such that the table is at a different plane than the first surface of the base.",
    "12. The apparatus of claim 11, wherein the rotatable roller comprises a first recessed cylindrical channel for crimping the foil around the piece.",
    "13. The apparatus of claim 11, wherein the rotatable roller comprises a pair of recessed cylindrical surfaces for positioning the foil.",
    "14. The apparatus of claim 11, wherein the means to adjust the position of the rotatable roller comprises a threaded bolt extending perpendicularly from the first surface of the base, a first nut threaded onto the bolt between the rotatable roller and the first surface of the base wherein the first nut adjustably positions the height of the rotatable roller, and a second nut threaded onto the bolt such that the second nut fixes the rotatable roller to the bolt.",
    "15. The apparatus of claim 11, wherein the base comprises non-skid feet.",
    "16. The apparatus of claim 11, comprising a plurality of different sized rollers to accommodate foil of different widths.",
    "17. The apparatus of claim 11 further comprising a foil control guide member for holding the foil in the proper position in the roller after the foil is cut."
  ],
  "description_excerpt": "This invention relates to a tape dispenser and particularly an apparatus and method for dispensing and applying metal foil to an edge and/or periphery of stained glass.\n\nStained glass articles are formed of numerous small pieces of variously colored glass or plastic which are joined together along adjacent, butting edges to form the desired finished article. Typically, each stained glass piece is edged with a thin strip of metallic foil, such as copper foil, to form a base for the application of lead solder to join adjacent, butted pieces together.\n\nThe present invention relates to an apparatus for applying foil to the edges of stained glass. Conventional methods of foiling stained glass present numerous difficulties. The narrow width of the foil and the thinness of the stained glass make it difficult to precisely align the foil on the edge of a piece of stained glass such that equal amounts of the foil overlap or are folded over both opposed surfaces adjacent to an edge of the stained glass. The conventional method of applying foil also results in numerous cuts from glass. In addition, many foilers on the market today require orientation of the glass piece in a vertical manner, which is unwieldy. Furthermore, it is difficult to obtain an even distribution of foil along the edge of the glass, and foil often tears in the application process.\n\nIn order to accomplish the desired application of the foil to the edge and/or peripheral surface of the glass, foil dispensers or applicators are used.",
  "cpc": [
    "B44C 1/145",
    "Y10T 156/1712"
  ],
  "ipc": [
    "B32B 35/00",
    "B32B 31/20"
  ],
  "inventors": [
    "Kenneth G. Carlson",
    "Wendell B. Carlson"
  ],
  "filing_date": "2001-08-03",
  "publication_date": "2003-04-29",
  "grant_date": "2003-04-29",
  "priority_date": "2001-08-03",
  "application_number": "US-92160801-A",
  "family_id": "25445677",
  "cited_by_count": 1,
  "citations": [
    "US3666270A",
    "US4115180A",
    "US4274904A",
    "US4555297A",
    "US5356505A"
  ]
}