Patent EP0261681A2 successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
EP0261681A2
Expired / Lapsed
EP
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Composite article, such as a shelf or the like, and method for making same
Assignee: Intermetro Industries Corp
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Filing: 1987-09-24
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Granted: —
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Expires: 2007-09-24
Abstract
Abstract An article, such as a shelf (10) or the like, has a periphery and includes a plurality of substantially continuous fibers (32) wound into a shape generally defining the periphery. The fibers (32) are wound a plurality of times in this shape thereby to overlie themselves at least once. A first resinous material (34) binds the continuous fibers (32) together thereby to form a continuous peripheral core member. A separate outer coating of a second resinous material encapsulates the core member and is intimately bound to the first resinous material (34). A method or process of making this article includes the steps of providing a form (54) defining the shape of the periphery, providing a plurality of substantially continuous fibers (32), disposing the first resinous material (34) in intimate contact with the plurality of fibers, and winding the plurality of fibers (32) and the first resinous material (34) about the form (54) a plurality of times. Accordingly, the plurality of fibers overlie themselves at least one time. The first resinous material (34) is then solidified and the peripheral core member thereby defined is removed from the form (54). The core member is then encapsulated in a second resinous material with the second resinous material intimately bound to the first resinous material. Finally, the second resinous material is solidified.
Inventors
- 👤 Anthony Philip Montalbano
- 👤 Bruce C. Cummings
- 👤 Douglas J. Hohlbein
- 👤 Sean H. Simmons
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
EP
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-09 09:37
CPC Classifications
B; B29; B29C; B29C70/00; B29C70/04; B29C70/28; B29C70/30; B29C70/34; B29C70/347; A; A47; A47B; A47B96/00; A47B96/02; A47B96/021; B29C70/06; B29C70/08; B29C70/086; B29C70/68; B29C70/70; B29D; B29D28/00; B29D28/005
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 43
Claim 1
Independent Claim
87 words
An article, such as a shelf (10) or the like, having a periphery (12), characterized by: a plurality of substantially continuous fibers (32) wound into a shape generally defining said periphery (12), said fibers (32) being wound substantially continuously at least one time in said shape; a first resinous material (34) binding said continuous fibers together thereby to form a continuous peripheral core member; and a separate outer coating of a second resinous material encapsulating said core member and intimately bound to said first resinous material (34).
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
87 words
An article, such as a shelf (10) or the like, having a periphery (12), characterized by: a plurality of substantially continuous fibers (32) wound into a shape generally defining said periphery (12), said fibers (32) being wound substantially continuously at least one time in said shape; a first resinous material (34) binding said continuous fibers together thereby to form a continuous peripheral core member; and a separate outer coating of a second resinous material encapsulating said core member and intimately bound to said first resinous material (34).
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
82 words
An article such as a shelf (10), or the like, having a periphery (12), said article comprising: a peripheral core member formed in the shape of said periphery and including a plurality of continuous fibers (39) continuously traversing said periphery at least one time and a first resinous material (34) intimately contacting and solidified about said fibers (32) thereby to bind said fibers together; and a separate second resinous material encapsulating said core member and intimately bound to said first resinous material.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
82 words
An article such as a shelf (10), or the like, having a periphery (12), said article comprising: a peripheral core member formed in the shape of said periphery and including a plurality of continuous fibers (39) continuously traversing said periphery at least one time and a first resinous material (34) intimately contacting and solidified about said fibers (32) thereby to bind said fibers together; and a separate second resinous material encapsulating said core member and intimately bound to said first resinous material.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
22 words
An article according to any one of claims 1 or 2, characterized by comprising chopped fibers dispersed within said second resinous material.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
37 words
An article according to any one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that fibers (32) and/or said chopped fibers are made from a material selected from the group consisting of glass, carbon, boron, and synthetic fibers.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
32 words
An article according to any one of claims 1 to 4 further comprising: at least one stiffening member (14, 16) spanning the distance between two opposing locations of said peripheral core member.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
32 words
An article according to claim 5, characterized in that said stiffening member (14, 16) includes a third resinous material and is encapsulated with said peripheral core member by said second resinous material.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
60 words
An article according to claim 5, characterized in that said stiffening member includes a plurality of substantially continuous fibers and a third resinous material binding said continuous fibers together and wherein said second resinous material encapsulates said stiffening member with said core member and is intimately bound to said third resinous material as well as to said first resinous material.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
39 words
An article according to any one of claims 1 to 7, characterized in that said peripheral core member has a corner and in that it comprises a corner reinforcing member (20) secured in said corner of said core member.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
26 words
An article according to claim 8, characterized in that said corner reinforcing member (20) is encapsulated with said peripheral core member by said second resinous material.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
59 words
An article according to claim 9, characterized in that said corner reinforcing member (20) is formed with at least one portion that lies closely adjacent said peripheral core member, said portion being formed with at least one aperture (22) filled with said second resinous material when said second resinous material encapsulates said reinforcing member (20) and said core member.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
35 words
An article according to claim 9 or 10, characterized in that said corner reinforcing member (20) is formed of a fourth resinous material, and wherein said first, second and fourth resinous materials are the same.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
28 words
An article according to any one of claims 1 to 11, characterized in that at least one of said first, second, third and fourth resinous materials is thermoplastic.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
28 words
An article according to claim 12, characterized in that said thermoplastic resinous material is selected from the group consisting of polypropylene, polyethylene terephthate, polystyrene, polyphenylene sulfide, and polyethersulfone.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
28 words
An article according to any one of claims 1 to 11, characterized in that at least one of said first, second, third and fourth resinous materials is thermosetting.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
15 words
An article according to claim 11, characterized in that said thermosetting resinous material is polyester.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
36 words
An article according to any one of claims 1 to 15, characterized in that said substantially continuous fibers (32) are wound a plurality of times in said shape thereby to overlie themselves at least one time.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
133 words
A process for making an article, such as a shelf (10) or the like, having a periphery, characterized by comprising the steps of: providing a form (54) defining the shape of said periphery (12); providing a plurality of substantially continuous fibers (32); disposing a first resinous material (34) in intimate contact with said plurality of fibers (32); winding said plurality of fibers (32) and said first resinous material (34) about said form (54) at least one time thereby to define said periphery of said article; solidifying said first resinous material thereby to form a peripheral core member; removing said peripheral core member from said form (54); encapsulating said peripheral core member in a second resinous material; intimately binding said second resinous material with said first resinous material; and solidifying said second resinous material.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
133 words
A process for making an article, such as a shelf (10) or the like, having a periphery, characterized by comprising the steps of: providing a form (54) defining the shape of said periphery (12); providing a plurality of substantially continuous fibers (32); disposing a first resinous material (34) in intimate contact with said plurality of fibers (32); winding said plurality of fibers (32) and said first resinous material (34) about said form (54) at least one time thereby to define said periphery of said article; solidifying said first resinous material thereby to form a peripheral core member; removing said peripheral core member from said form (54); encapsulating said peripheral core member in a second resinous material; intimately binding said second resinous material with said first resinous material; and solidifying said second resinous material.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
31 words
A process according to claim 17, characterized in that said continuous fibers (32) are stored on a supply and wherein said winding step comprises pulling said fibers (32) from said supply.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
17 words
A process according to claim 18, characterized in that said pulling step comprises rotating said form (54).
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
37 words
A process according to any one of claims 17 to 19, characterized in that said first solidifying step comprises heating said first resinous material (34) to melt it and cause it intimately to contact said fibers (32).
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
21 words
A process according to claim 20, characterized in that said heating step is begun to be performed before said winding step.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
38 words
A process according to any one of claims 17 to 21, characterized in that said encapsulating step comprises one of injection molding, compression molding, transfer molding, or wet molding said peripheral core member within said second resinous material.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
53 words
A process according to any one of claims 17 to 22, characterized in that said intimate binding step comprises heating said second resinous material to a temperature sufficiently high to melt said first resinous material at the surface of said peripheral core member thereby to fuse said first and second resinous materials together.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
57 words
A process according to any one of claims 17 to 23, characterized by further comprising the step of disposing at least one stiffening member (14, 16) to span opposing locations on said peripheral core member and wherein said encapsulating step includes encapsulating both said core member and said stiffening member (14, 16) in said second resinous material.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
45 words
A process according to claim 24, characterized by further comprising the steps of: providing a second plurality of continuous fibers; disposing a third resinous material about said second plurality of fibers; and solidifying said third resinous material thereby to form said stiffening member (14, 16).
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
131 words
A process according to claim 24 or 25, characterized by further comprising the steps of: providing a form defining the shape of at least two said stiffening members (14, 16); providing said second plurality of substantially continuous fibers; disposing said third resinous material in intimate contact with said second plurality of fibers; winding said second plurality of fibers and said third resinous material about said stiffening member form at least one of time whereby said second plurality of fibers are in overlying relation with themselves at least one time, solidifying said third resinous material thereby to form at least two connected stiffening members; removing said connected stiffening members from said stiffening member form; and severing said connected stiffening members at at least two locations thereby to form two said stiffening members.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim
58 words
A process according to any one of claims 17 to 26, characterized in that said article has a corner and in that it comprises the step of disposing a corner reinforcing member (20) in said corner, and wherein said encapsulating step includes encapsulating both said core member and said corner reinforcing member (20) in said second resinous material.
Claim 31
Dependent Claim
55 words
A process according to claim 27, characterized by further comprising the steps of: forming a portion of said reinforcing member to lie closely adjacent said peripheral core member; and forming at least one aperture in said portion of said reinforcing member; and wherein said encapsulating step includes filling said aperture with said second resinous material.
Claim 32
Dependent Claim
21 words
A process according to claim 28, characterized by further comprising the step of mixing chopped fibers with said second resinous material.
Claim 33
Dependent Claim
38 words
A process according to any one of claims 17 to 29, characterized in that said fibers (32) and said chopped fibers are made from a material selected from the group consisting of glass, carbon, boron and synthetic fibers.
Claim 34
Dependent Claim
60 words
A process according to any one of claims 17 to 30, characterized in that said steps of winding said plurality of fibers and said first resinous material about said form comprises winding a plurality of times whereby said plurality of fibers are in overlaying relation with themselves at least one time and thereby to define said periphery of said article.
Claim 35
Independent Claim
81 words
A method according to any one of claims 17 to 31, characterized by further comprising the steps of: forming flared projections on said peripheral core member, and wherein said encapsulating step comprises: using said flared projections to locate said core member in a mold cavity formed in a mold member with the major portions of said core member spaced from the inner surfaces of said mold cavity; and introducing said second resinous material into said mold cavity about said core member.
Claim 36
Dependent Claim
40 words
A process according to claim 32, characterized in that said flared projection forming step comprises the steps of: heating a localized portion of said core member; and introducing a punch point into said heated localized portion of flare material thereat.
Claim 37
Dependent Claim
27 words
A process according to any one of claims 17 to 33, characterized in that at least one of said first, second and third resinous materials is thermoplastic.
Claim 38
Dependent Claim
28 words
A process according to claim 34, characterized in that said resinous material is selected from the group consisting of polypropylene and polyethylene terephthate, polystyrene, polyphenylene sulfide, and polyethersulfone.
Claim 39
Dependent Claim
27 words
A process according to any one of claims 17 to 33, characterized in that at least one of said first, second and third resinous materials is thermosetting.
Claim 40
Dependent Claim
14 words
A process according to claim 36, characterized in that said resinous material is polyester.
Claim 41
Independent Claim
104 words
A method of locating an insert in a mold cavity in a multipart mold member to space the major portion of the surface of said insert from the inner surfaces of said mold cavity, characterized by the steps of: forming a plurality of flared projections on said insert of sufficient extent to contact the inner surfaces of said mold cavity while leaving the major portion of the surface of said insert spaced from the inner surface of said mold cavity; and closing said multipart mold member about said insert to bring the inner surfaces of said mold cavity into contact with said flared projections.
Claim 42
Independent Claim
104 words
A method of locating an insert in a mold cavity in a multipart mold member to space the major portion of the surface of said insert from the inner surfaces of said mold cavity, characterized by the steps of: forming a plurality of flared projections on said insert of sufficient extent to contact the inner surfaces of said mold cavity while leaving the major portion of the surface of said insert spaced from the inner surface of said mold cavity; and closing said multipart mold member about said insert to bring the inner surfaces of said mold cavity into contact with said flared projections.
Claim 43
Dependent Claim
44 words
A method according to claim 38, characterized in that said insert comprises a resinous material and wherein said forming step comprises: heating a localized portion of said insert; and introducing a punch point into said heated localized portion to flare the resinous material thereat.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
No citation records indexed.
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