Form in place gasket membrane

Abstract

A cartridge ( 10 ) for the application of a curable composition of Form in Place Gasket (FIPG) sealant material ( 16 ) includes a membrane ( 12 ) having a base end ( 18 ), a top portion ( 20 ) opposite the base end, and side wall portions ( 22 ) intermediate the base end and the top portion. The cartridge ( 10 ) also includes a reservoir ( 14 ) defined by the membrane ( 12 ). The reservoir ( 14 ) contains FIPG sealant material ( 16 ), and the membrane ( 12 ) is rupturable to express the FIPG sealant material.

1 . A cartridge for the application of a curable composition of Form in Place Gasket (FIPG) sealant material comprises:
 a membrane having a base end, a top portion opposite the base end, and side wall portions intermediate the base end and the top portion;   a reservoir defined by the membrane, the reservoir containing FIPG sealant material;   wherein the membrane is rupturable to express the FIPG sealant material.   
     
     
         2 . The cartridge of  claim 1  wherein the FIPG sealant material inside of the reservoir is pressurized. 
     
     
         3 . The cartridge of  claim 1  wherein the membrane further comprises a membrane rupture surface that forms a discharge outlet for expressing the FIPG sealant material from the reservoir. 
     
     
         4 . The cartridge of  claim 1  wherein the membrane rupture surface comprises a scored surface. 
     
     
         5 . The cartridge of  claim 1  further comprising a mounting member that is one of integrally formed with the membrane to form a unitary body, and a separate member that is attached to the base end of the membrane. 
     
     
         6 . The cartridge of  claim 5  wherein the mounting member is a generally planar member. 
     
     
         7 . The cartridge of  claim 6  wherein the mounting member comprises a lower surface having adhesive. 
     
     
         8 . The cartridge of  claim 1  wherein the membrane is generally rectangular prismatic-shaped. 
     
     
         9 . The cartridge of  claim 1  wherein the membrane is formed of plastic. 
     
     
         10 . A method of sealing components with a curable composition of Form in Place Gasket (FIPG) sealant material, the method comprising:
 providing a cartridge having a rupturable membrane defining a reservoir of the FIPG sealant material;   placing the cartridge between the components to be sealed;   positioning the components in the arrangement to be sealed;   rupturing the membrane with a compressive force imparted by the components as the components are positioned in the sealed arrangement; and   expressing the FIPG sealant material from the ruptured membrane onto the components to be sealed.   
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 10  further comprising the step of expressing the FIPG sealant material from a discharge outlet formed by a membrane rupture surface. 
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 10  further comprising the step of scoring the membrane to provide a membrane rupture surface. 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 10  further comprising the step of pressurizing the FIPG sealant material within the membrane. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 10  further comprising the step of mounting the cartridge on the component to be sealed with a mounting member that comprises a lower surface having adhesive. 
     
     
         15 . A cartridge for the application of a curable composition of Form in Place Gasket (FIPG) sealant material comprises:
 a flexible membrane having a base end, a top portion opposite the base end, and side wall portions intermediate the base end and the top portion, wherein the membrane defines a reservoir containing FIPG sealant material;   a membrane rupture surface disposed on the flexible membrane, wherein the membrane is rupturable at the membrane rupture surface to express the FIPG sealant material from the reservoir; and   a mounting member one of integrally formed with the membrane to form a unitary body, and a separate member that is attached to the base end of the membrane.   
     
     
         16 . The cartridge of  claim 15  wherein the FIPG sealant material inside of the reservoir is pressurized. 
     
     
         17 . The cartridge of  claim 15  wherein the membrane rupture surface comprises a scored surface. 
     
     
         18 . The cartridge of  claim 15  wherein the mounting member comprises a lower surface having adhesive. 
     
     
         19 . The cartridge of  claim 15  wherein the membrane is generally rectangular prismatic-shaped. 
     
     
         20 . The cartridge of  claim 15  wherein the membrane is formed of plastic.