Article of manufacture that includes a thermoplastic sheet fixedly attached to a perforated support

Abstract

An article of manufacture that includes a thermoplastic sheet fixedly attached to a perforated support is described. The article includes: a support having a plurality of perforations having edges, a first surface and a second surface; and a thermoplastic sheet having a first surface and a second surface. At least a portion of the second surface of the thermoplastic sheet is in contact with at least a portion of the first surface of the support. The thermoplastic sheet is fixedly attached to the support by means of a portion of the thermoplastic sheet extending through at least some of the perforations and is continuous with attachment heads on the second surface side of the support, and the edges of the perforations are embedded in the thermoplastic material extending therethrough.

1 - 12 . (canceled)  
     
     
         13 . An article of manufacture comprising: 
 (a) a support having a plurality of perforations having edges, a first surface and a second surface; and    (b) a thermoplastic sheet having a first surface and a second surface, at least a portion of the second surface of said thermoplastic sheet being in contact with at least a portion of the first surface of said support,    wherein said thermoplastic sheet is fixedly attached to said support by means of a portion of said thermoplastic sheet extending through at least some of said perforations and being continuous with attachment heads on the second surface side of said support, and the edges of said perforations being embedded in the thermoplastic material extending there through.    
     
     
         14 . The article of  claim 13  wherein said support is fabricated from a material selected from the group consisting of metal, thermoset plastic material, thermoplastic material and combinations thereof.  
     
     
         15 . The article of  claim 13  wherein said thermoplastic sheet comprises at least one material selected from thermoplastic polycarbonate, thermoplastic polyester, thermoplastic polyamide, thermoplastic graft copolymer, thermoplastic vinyl polymer, thermoplastic polyolefin, thermoplastic poly(meth)acrylate and thermoplastic polyurethane.  
     
     
         16 . The article of  claim 13  wherein said thermoplastic sheet comprises at least one thermoplastic semicrystalline polymer.  
     
     
         17 . The article of  claim 16  wherein said thermoplastic semicrystalline polymer is selected from thermoplastic semicrystalline polyester, thermoplastic semicrystalline polyamide and combinations thereof.  
     
     
         18 . The article of manufacture of  claim 13  wherein said article further comprises a second thermoplastic sheet having a first surface and a second surface, at least a portion of the second surface of said second thermoplastic sheet being adhered to at least a portion of the first surface of said thermoplastic sheet (b).  
     
     
         19 . The article of manufacture of  claim 13  wherein said perforations have deformed edge portions, and said deformed edge portions are embedded in the thermoplastic material extending therethrough.  
     
     
         20 . The article of manufacture of  claim 13  wherein said thermoplastic sheet is further fixedly attached to said support by attachment means selected from fasteners, adhesives and combinations thereof.  
     
     
         21 . The article of manufacture of  claim 13  wherein said perforations have deformed edge portions, and said deformed edge portions are embedded in the thermoplastic material extending therethrough.  
     
     
         22 . The article of manufacture of  claim 13  wherein said support has terminal edges, and a portion of said thermoplastic sheet is wrapped around at least a portion of said terminal edges of said support, the terminal edges of said support being embedded in the thermoplastic material of said sheet wrapped there-around, thereby further fixedly attaching said sheet and said support one to the other.