Patent US3645481A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US3645481A
Expired / Lapsed
US
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Airfoil structure
Assignee: Lanier Industries Inc
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Filing: 1970-04-22
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Granted: 1972-02-29
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Expires: 1990-04-22
Abstract
Abstract An airfoil structure is disclosed, using a unitary laminated load-bearing skin member, and a rigid internal bracing structure. The skin member includes an outer layer of sheet plastic polymeric material defining the airfoil surface, and an inner rigidifying layer of plastic polymeric foam material bonded to the outer layer.
Inventors
- 👤 Leonard R Purdy
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-30 22:49
CPC Classifications
B; B64; B64C; B64C3/00; B64C3/26
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 13
Claim 1
Independent Claim
144 words
An airfoil structure comprising a unitary load-bearing skin member of laminated construction, said skin member being doubled over at a bend to form a hollow structure having respective spaced airfoil halves, said bend defining a leading edge of the airfoil structure, said skin member comprising an outer layer and an inner layer bonded thereto, said outer layer being comprised of a sheet plastic polymeric material defining an airfoil surface, said inner layer comprising a layer of plastic polymeric foam material with portions of said inner layer on opposite sides of said bend being in facing relation to each other, said inner layer being bonded to said outer layer, a rigid bracing structure disposed within said hollow structure, said bracing structure extending between adjacent facing portions of said inner layer, and said bracing structure is bonded to said adjacent facing portions of said inner layer.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
144 words
An airfoil structure comprising a unitary load-bearing skin member of laminated construction, said skin member being doubled over at a bend to form a hollow structure having respective spaced airfoil halves, said bend defining a leading edge of the airfoil structure, said skin member comprising an outer layer and an inner layer bonded thereto, said outer layer being comprised of a sheet plastic polymeric material defining an airfoil surface, said inner layer comprising a layer of plastic polymeric foam material with portions of said inner layer on opposite sides of said bend being in facing relation to each other, said inner layer being bonded to said outer layer, a rigid bracing structure disposed within said hollow structure, said bracing structure extending between adjacent facing portions of said inner layer, and said bracing structure is bonded to said adjacent facing portions of said inner layer.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
108 words
An airfoil structure comprising a unitary load-bearing skin member of laminated construction, said skin member being doubled over at a bend to form a hollow structure having respective spaced airfoil halves, the bend defining a leading edge of the airfoil structure, said skin member comprising an outer layer of sheet plastic polymeric material defining an outer surface and a continuous backing layer of plastic polymeric foam material bonded to said outer layer, and a rigid bracing structure within said skin member, said bracing structure extending between juxtaposed portions of said backing layer associated with the respective airfoil halves and bonded to said juxtaposed portions of said backing layer.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
108 words
An airfoil structure comprising a unitary load-bearing skin member of laminated construction, said skin member being doubled over at a bend to form a hollow structure having respective spaced airfoil halves, the bend defining a leading edge of the airfoil structure, said skin member comprising an outer layer of sheet plastic polymeric material defining an outer surface and a continuous backing layer of plastic polymeric foam material bonded to said outer layer, and a rigid bracing structure within said skin member, said bracing structure extending between juxtaposed portions of said backing layer associated with the respective airfoil halves and bonded to said juxtaposed portions of said backing layer.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
35 words
An airfoil structure in accordance with claim 2, wherein said skin member comprises an initially flat blank, and edges of said skin member remote from said bend being joined together to form a trailing edge.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
43 words
An airfoil structure in accordance with claim 3, wherein said bracing structure comprises a spar member extending in a generally spanwise direction between the airfoil halves and maintaining said halves in spaced relation, and at least one rib coupled to said spar member.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
35 words
An airfoil structure in accordance with claim 4, and cap strips associated with said spar members and said rib, said cap strips being interposed between said spar member and said rib and the backing layer.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
23 words
An airfoil structure in accordance with claim 2, wherein said outer layer comprises sheet polyvinyl chloride, and said backing layer comprises foamed polystyrene.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
50 words
An airfoil structure in accordance with claim 2, wherein said skin member comprises an initially flat blank, said backing layer being compressed at said bend to form a substantially rigid leading edge, and edges of said skin member remote from said bend being joined together to form a trailing edge.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
33 words
An airfoil structure in accordance with claim 7, wherein said bracing structure comprises a spar member extending in a generally spanwise direction between the airfoil halves and maintaining said halves in spaced relation.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
43 words
An airfoil structure in accordance with claim 7, wherein said bracing structure comprises a spar member extending in a generally spanwise direction Between the airfoil halves to maintain said halves in spaced relation, and at least one rib coupled to said spar member.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
34 words
An airfoil structure in accordance with claim 9, and cap strips associated with said spar member and said rib, said cap strips being interposed between said spar member and rib and the backing layer.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
39 words
An airfoil structure in accordance with claim 7, wherein said outer layer comprises sheet polyvinyl chloride, and said backing layer comprises foamed polystyrene, the outer layer having a thickness of about one-tenth the total thickness of the skin member.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1975-02-28 | 1975-08-30 | 1976-02-29 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1979-02-28 | 1979-08-30 | 1980-02-29 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1983-02-28 | 1983-08-30 | 1984-02-29 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |