US3920871A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Woven structural element, method of manufacture thereof, and method of making a boat hull therefrom
Assignee: Individual
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Filing: 1974-09-23
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Granted: 1975-11-18
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Expires: 1994-09-23
Abstract
Abstract A structural element having a high strength to weight ratio comprising parallel rows of alternately, oppositely undulated bundles of substantially untwisted fiberglass rovings and a series of parallel foamed plastic slats extending transversely thereof and alternately under and over adjacent bundles so as to define a woven structural element of foamed plastic slats and bundles of fiberglass rovings. The weave of the woven structural element allows such element to take the form of a curved surface. Settable resin impregnation of the woven structure provides Ibeams of settable resin between foamed plastic slats, with the weave of the bundles of fiberglass rovings and foamed plastic slats providing X-reinforcement of glass rovings in the I-beams of settable resin. The structural element is manufactured by weaving on a weaving machine parallel rows of bundles of substantially untwisted fiberglass rovings and a series of parallel foamed plastic slats, while maintaining the looseness of the weave so that the structural element can take the form of a curved surface. A final structural element is formed by forming the woven structure into any desired form, impregnating the woven structure with a settable resin, and setting the settable resin so that the structural element maintains the desired form. A boat hull can be formed using the structural element described above utilizing a mold by a method which comprising laying up on the mold a first face sheet of settable resin impregnated fiberglass matting or woven fiberglass cloth, placing on such first face sheet a central buoyancy element comprising the above described structural element, impregnating the central buoyancy element with a settable resin, laying up on such central buoyancy element a second face sheet of settable resin impregnated fiberglass matting or woven fiberglass cloth and setting the settable resins. The structural element has the advantages of a high strength to weight ratio and ease of manufacture. Additional strength is provided by the X-reinforcement of fiberglass rovings in the Ibeams of resin.
Inventors
- 👤 Frederick M Johnson
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-05 08:11
CPC Classifications
B; B32; B32B; B32B5/00; B32B5/22; B32B5/24; B32B5/26; B63; B63B; B63B5/00; B63B5/24; B32B3/00; B32B3/02; B32B3/04; E; E04; E04C; E04C2/00; E04C2/02; E04C2/10; E04C2/20; E04C2/205; B32B2260/00; B32B2260/02; B32B2260/021; B32B2260/04; B32B2260/046; B32B2262/00; B32B2262/10; B32B2262/101; B32B2315/00; B32B2315/08; B32B2315/085; B32B2605/00; B32B2605/12; Y; Y10; Y10T; Y10T428/00; Y10T428/18; Y10T428/183; Y10T428/24; Y10T428/24174
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 29
Claim 1
Independent Claim
69 words
A STRUCTURAL ELEMENT COMPRISING PARALLEL ROWS OF ALTERNATELY OPPOSITELY UNDULATED BUNDLES OF SUBSTANTIALLY UNTWISTED FIBERGLASS ROVINGS AND A SERIES OF PARALLEL FOAMED PLASTIC SLATES EXTENDING TRANSVERSELY OF SAID ROWS AND ALTERNATELY UNDER AND OVER ADJUCENT BOUBDLES TO DEFINE A WOOVEN STRUCTURAL ELEMENT OF FOAMED PLASTIC SLATS AND BUNDLES OF FIBERGLASS ROVINGS, THE WAVE OF SAID WOVEN STRUCTURAL ELEMENT ALLOWING SAID ELEMENT TO TAKEN THE FORM OF A CURVED SURFACE.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
69 words
A STRUCTURAL ELEMENT COMPRISING PARALLEL ROWS OF ALTERNATELY OPPOSITELY UNDULATED BUNDLES OF SUBSTANTIALLY UNTWISTED FIBERGLASS ROVINGS AND A SERIES OF PARALLEL FOAMED PLASTIC SLATES EXTENDING TRANSVERSELY OF SAID ROWS AND ALTERNATELY UNDER AND OVER ADJUCENT BOUBDLES TO DEFINE A WOOVEN STRUCTURAL ELEMENT OF FOAMED PLASTIC SLATS AND BUNDLES OF FIBERGLASS ROVINGS, THE WAVE OF SAID WOVEN STRUCTURAL ELEMENT ALLOWING SAID ELEMENT TO TAKEN THE FORM OF A CURVED SURFACE.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
37 words
The structural element of claim 1, wherein said slats are rectangular in cross-section and said bundles of fiberglass rovings cover substantially the entire surface area of the two long surfaces of each of said foamed plastic slats.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
16 words
The structural element of claim 1, wherein said woven structure is impregnated with a settable resin.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
22 words
The structural element of claim 3, wherein the resin impregnated woven structure includes I-beams of a settable resin between foamed plastic slats.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
30 words
The structural element of claim 4, wherein the weave of said bundles of fiberglass rovings and foamed plastic slats provides X-reinforcement of glass rovings in said I-beams of settable resin.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
20 words
The structural element of claim 1, wherein a space of at least one-sixteenth inch is present between foamed plastic slats.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
16 words
The structural element of claim 6, wherein the space between slats is at least one-eighth inch.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
133 words
A structural element for boat hulls comprising: a. a first face sheet of resin impregnated woven glass cloth or glass matting; b. a central buoyancy element comprising a resin impregnated woven element comprising parallel rows of alternately oppositely undulated bundles of substantially untwisted fiberglass rovings and a series of parallel foamed plastic slats extending transversely of sAid rows and alternately under and over adjacent bundles to define a woven element, the weave of said woven element allowing said element to take the form of the curved surfaces of a boat hull; and c. a second face sheet of resin impregnated woven glass cloth or glass matting, said layers (a), (b) and (c) being integrally united by cured resin; said first and second face sheets being on opposite sides of said central buoyancy element.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
133 words
A structural element for boat hulls comprising: a. a first face sheet of resin impregnated woven glass cloth or glass matting; b. a central buoyancy element comprising a resin impregnated woven element comprising parallel rows of alternately oppositely undulated bundles of substantially untwisted fiberglass rovings and a series of parallel foamed plastic slats extending transversely of sAid rows and alternately under and over adjacent bundles to define a woven element, the weave of said woven element allowing said element to take the form of the curved surfaces of a boat hull; and c. a second face sheet of resin impregnated woven glass cloth or glass matting, said layers (a), (b) and (c) being integrally united by cured resin; said first and second face sheets being on opposite sides of said central buoyancy element.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
27 words
The structural element of claim 1, wherein said first and second face sheets comprise a plurality of layers of resin impregnated woven glass cloth or glass matting.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
28 words
The structural element of claim 9, wherein said first and second face sheets are bonded to said central buoyancy element by a settable resin in the set state.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
42 words
The structural element of claim 9, wherein in said central buoyancy element said slats are rectangular in cross-section and said bundles of fiberglass rovings cover substantially the entire surface area of the two long surfaces of each of said foamed plastic slats.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
19 words
The structural element of claim 9, wherein said central buoyancy element includes I-beams of resin between foamed plastic slats.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
30 words
The structural element of claim 10, wherein in said central buoyancy element, the weave of said structural element forms a space of at least one-sixteenth inch between foamed plastic slats.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
16 words
The structural element of claim 13, wherein the space between slats is at least one-eighth inch.
Claim 17
Independent Claim
80 words
A method of manufacturing a structural element comprising the steps of: a. weaving on a weaving machine parallel rows of bundles of substantially untwisted fiberglass rovings and a series of parallel foamed plastic slats to produce a woven structure wherein said series of parallel fomed plastic slats extends transversely of said rows and alternately under and over adjacent bundles; and b. maintaining the looseness of the weave so that the structural element can take the form of a curved surface.
Claim 18
Independent Claim
80 words
A method of manufacturing a structural element comprising the steps of: a. weaving on a weaving machine parallel rows of bundles of substantially untwisted fiberglass rovings and a series of parallel foamed plastic slats to produce a woven structure wherein said series of parallel fomed plastic slats extends transversely of said rows and alternately under and over adjacent bundles; and b. maintaining the looseness of the weave so that the structural element can take the form of a curved surface.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
43 words
The method of claim 15, further including the steps of: c. forming the woven structure into a desired form; d. impregnating said woven structure with a settable resin; and e. setting the settable resin so that the structural element maintains the desired form.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
21 words
The method of claim 16, wherein in step (c) the woven structure is formed into the shape of a boat hull.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
24 words
The method of claim 15, wherein in said central buoyancy element a distance of at least one-sixteenth inch is maintained between foamed plastic slats.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
19 words
The method of claim 18, wherein a distance of at least one-eighth inch is maintained between foamed plastic slats.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
35 words
The method of claim 16, wherein the resin impregnation of said woven structure and setting of said resin forms I-beams of resin between foamed plastic slats, said I-beams being provided with X-reinforcement by glass rovings.
Claim 24
Independent Claim
138 words
A method of forming a boat hull using a mold, comprising the steps of: a. laying upon said mold a first face sheet of settable resin impregnated fiberglass matting or woven fiberglass cloth; b. placing on said first face sheet a central buoyancy element comprising a woven element comprising parallel rows of alternateley oppositely undulated bundles of substantially untwisted fiberglass rovings and a series of parallel foamed plastic slats extending under and over adjacent bundles to define a woven element, the weave of said woven element allowing said element to take the form of the curved surfaces of a boat hull; c. impregnating said central buoyancy element with a settable resin; d. laying upon said central buoyancy element a second face sheet of settable resin impregnated fiberglass matting or woven fiberglass cloth; and e. setting said settable resins.
Claim 25
Independent Claim
138 words
A method of forming a boat hull using a mold, comprising the steps of: a. laying upon said mold a first face sheet of settable resin impregnated fiberglass matting or woven fiberglass cloth; b. placing on said first face sheet a central buoyancy element comprising a woven element comprising parallel rows of alternateley oppositely undulated bundles of substantially untwisted fiberglass rovings and a series of parallel foamed plastic slats extending under and over adjacent bundles to define a woven element, the weave of said woven element allowing said element to take the form of the curved surfaces of a boat hull; c. impregnating said central buoyancy element with a settable resin; d. laying upon said central buoyancy element a second face sheet of settable resin impregnated fiberglass matting or woven fiberglass cloth; and e. setting said settable resins.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
20 words
The method of claim 21, wherein prior to step (a) gel coat and release agent are coated on said mold.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
24 words
The method of claim 22, wherein in said central buoyance element a distance of at least one-sixtEenth inch is maintained between foamed plastic slats.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
19 words
The method of claim 23, wherein a distance of at least one-eighth inch is maintained between foamed plastic slats.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
35 words
The method of claim 21, wherein the resin impregnation of said woven structure and setting of said resin forms I-beams of resin between foamed plastic slats, said I-beams being provided with X-reinforcement by glass rovings.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1978-11-17 | 1979-05-19 | 1979-11-18 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1982-11-17 | 1983-05-19 | 1983-11-18 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1986-11-17 | 1987-05-19 | 1987-11-18 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |