APPARATUS AND METHOD FOR JOINING ELASTOMERIC MATERIALS

摘要

Joining elastomeric sheets includes providing a support surface With a cavity therein. End portions of the elastomeric sheets are overlapped so each end portion spans the cavity. A tool is located on a side of the elastomeric sheets opposite the cavity. A portion of the tool is moved into the cavity to deform the end portions of the elastomeric sheets and to form a joint having less than the combined thickness of the end portions of the elastomeric sheets prior to deformation.