Delamination resistant laminated structure

Claim 2

Structure in accordance with claim 1 wherein the elastomeric sheet is a substantially homogeneous body.

Claim 3

A laminated structure capable of sustaining local deformation to compound curvature without delamination comprising a sheet like layer of an elastomeric material, a plurality of parallel and uniformly spaced apart substantially linear tensile elements secured to one side of the sheet over substantially the entire extent thereof, a second plurality of parallel and uniformly spaced apart substantially linear tensile elements secured to the opposite side of the sheet over substantially the entire extent thereof, the tensile elements being locally essentially rigid and fabricated of fiberglass filaments bonded together by an organic resin in a cross ply construction and having a high ratio of tensile strength to tensile modulus of elasticity, the filaments of each tensile element being arranged in layers with the filaments in each layer being essentially parallel to each other and disposed in a cross ply relation to the filaments in the adjacent layers of the tensile element, each tensile element being a strip having a width parallel to the sheet substantially greater than the thickness thereof in a direction normal to the sheet, the elastomeric material defining ribs which extend into and fill the spaces between the tensile elements in said pluralities and terminate coplanar with the surfaces of the elements opposite from the sheet, wherein the tensile elements secured to the sheet do not separate therefrom because of interlaminar shear by reason of the sheet absorbing shear loads imposed parallel to the surface thereof.

Claim 4

Structure in accordance with claim 4 wherein the spacing between adjacent tensile elements in each plurality is less then the width of the elements.

Claim 5

Structure according to claim 4 wherein the elastomeric sheet has an edge to which the tensile elements extend, and a pair of elongated tensile elements similar to the elements in said pluralities disposed along the edge on opposite sides of the sheet in overlying relation to the adjacent elements in said pluralities and secured to said adjacent elements.

Claim 6

Structure according to claim 6 including an edge member having a thickness equal to the thickness of the elastomeric sheet and bonded to the sheet along said edge, the tensile elements in said pluralities extending to the limit of the edge member opposite from the elastomeric sheet and being bonded thereto, and wherein the members of said pair of elongated tensile elements are disposed in overlying relation to the edge member with the tensile elements of the pluralities disposed between them and the edge member.