US4256790A
Expired / Lapsed
US
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Reinforced composite structure and method of fabrication thereof
Assignee: Boeing North American Inc
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Filing: 1978-01-19
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Granted: 1981-03-17
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Expires: 1998-01-19
Abstract
Abstract A composite structure has two composite panels which are bonded together at a joint. The joint is reinforced by composite thread being sewn in a series of stitches through the panels. Sewing the panels while they are in a staged condition allows the structure to be co-cured as assembled.
Inventors
- 👤 Leslie M. Lackman
- 👤 John A. Hill
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-25 16:41
CPC Classifications
B; B29; B29C; B29C66/00; B29C66/01; B29C66/05; B29C66/10; B29C66/11; B29C66/112; B32; B32B; B32B3/00; B32B3/02; B29C65/00; B29C65/02; B29C66/116; B29C66/1162; B29C66/13; B29C66/131; B29C66/70; B29C66/71; B29C66/72; B29C66/721; B29C66/7212; B29C66/7214; B29C66/72141; B29C66/73; B29C66/739; B29C66/7394; B29C70/00; B29C70/68; B29C70/86; B29C70/865; B29D; B29D99/00; B29D99/001; B29D99/0014; B32B3/10; B32B3/12; B32B5/00; B32B5/02; B32B5/06; B32B7/00; B32B7/04; B32B7/12; B64; B64C; B64C1/00; B64C1/06; B64C1/12; B29C66/72143; B29C66/725; B29C66/7252; B29C66/72525; B29L; B29L2031/00; B29L2031/712; B29L2031/7172; B32B2305/00; B32B2305/08; B32B2305/72; B64C2001/0054; B64C2001/0072; Y; Y02; Y02T; Y02T50/00; Y02T50/40; Y10; Y10T; Y10T428/00; Y10T428/23; Y10T428/234; Y10T428/236; Y10T428/24; Y10T428/24033; Y10T428/24149; Y10T428/30; Y10T442/00; Y10T442/60; Y10T442/659; Y10T442/666; Y10T442/667; Y10T442/682; Y10T442/69
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 15
Claim 1
Independent Claim
90 words
A reinforced cured composite structure comprising: a first composite panel, said first panel having a plurality of fiber composite plies, said plies being adhesively bonded together; a second composite panel, said second panel having a plurality of fiber composite plies, said plies being adhesively bonded together, said second panel being adhesively bonded to said first panel at a joint between said first panel and said second panel; and composite thread reinforcing said joint, said thread being sewn in a series of stitches through said first panel and said second panel.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
90 words
A reinforced cured composite structure comprising: a first composite panel, said first panel having a plurality of fiber composite plies, said plies being adhesively bonded together; a second composite panel, said second panel having a plurality of fiber composite plies, said plies being adhesively bonded together, said second panel being adhesively bonded to said first panel at a joint between said first panel and said second panel; and composite thread reinforcing said joint, said thread being sewn in a series of stitches through said first panel and said second panel.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
17 words
The reinforced composite structure of claim 1 wherein said composite thread is made from unidirectional composite tape.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
16 words
The reinforced composite structure of claim 1 wherein said composite thread is bonded to said panels.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
19 words
The reinforced composite structure of claim 1 wherein at least some of said stitches are of the lock type.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
19 words
The reinforced composite structure of claim 1 wherein at least some of said stitches are of the blind type.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
60 words
The reinforced composite structure of claim 1 wherein said second panel is a web, said web having three portions, a first portion positioned parallel to said first panel, a second portion positioned transversely to said first panel, and a fillet portion between said first and second portion, and thread being sewn through said first portion adjacent to said fillet portion.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
27 words
The reinforced composite structure of claim 6 wherein said composite thread is sewn in a series of stitches through said second portion adjacent to said fillet portion.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
37 words
The reinforced composite structure of claim 1 wherein each of said composite panels has one edge that is tapered, said tapered edges being bonded together to form said joint, said composite thread being sewn through said joint.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
21 words
The reinforced composite structure of claim 1 wherein said second panel is a doubler and said doubler overlies said first panel.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
110 words
The reinforced composite structure of claim 1 also including a honeycomb core, said core being positioned between said first panel and said second panel, said core being bonded to said first panel and said second panel, and wherein said second panel has three portions, a first portion positioned parallel to said first panel, said first portion being bonded to said first panel, a second portion positioned parallel to said first panel and bonded to said core, and a third portion connecting said first and second portions and positioned transversely to said first panel, said thread being sewn through said first portion and said first panel adjacent to said third portion.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
57 words
The reinforced composite structure of claim 10 wherein said first portion is bonded to a corresponding portion of said first panel, said first portion and said corresponding portion forming a flange of said structure, said flange having a distal end, said thread also being sewn through said first portion and said corresponding portion adjacent said distal end.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
17 words
The reinforced composite structure of claim 1 wherein said composite panels are made of graphite epoxy laminates.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
17 words
The reinforced composite structure of claim 6 wherein said composite panels are made of graphite epoxy laminates.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
20 words
The reinforced composite structure of claim 1 wherein said sewn composite thread and said first and second panels are co-cured.
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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) | 1984-03-16 | 1984-09-15 | 1985-03-17 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1988-03-16 | 1988-09-15 | 1989-03-17 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1992-03-16 | 1992-09-15 | 1993-03-17 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |