US5129813A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Embossed vacuum bag, methods for producing and using said bag
Assignee: Individual
•
Filing: 1991-02-11
•
Granted: 1992-07-14
•
Expires: 2011-02-11
Abstract
Abstract A vacuum bag including a non-porous material having impressed therein a three-dimensional pattern which defines a plurality of interconnected channels, methods for producing the vacuum bag, molding methods using the vacuum bag, and improved composite articles produced by the molding method, are disclosed.
Inventors
- 👤 G. Maury Shepherd
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-09 16:14
CPC Classifications
B; B32; B32B; B32B37/00; B32B37/10; B32B37/1018; B29; B29C; B29C43/00; B29C43/32; B29C43/36; B29C43/3642; B29C70/00; B29C70/04; B29C70/28; B29C70/40; B29C70/42; B29C70/44; B29C70/54; B29C70/544; B30; B30B; B30B11/00; B30B11/001; B29C2043/3644; B29C43/02; B29C43/10; B29C43/12; B29K; B29K2827/00; B29K2827/12; B29K2827/18; B29K2867/00; B29K2871/00; B29K2877/00; B29K2879/00; B29K2879/08; B29K2881/00; B29K2881/06; Y; Y10; Y10T; Y10T428/00; Y10T428/24; Y10T428/24479; Y10T428/2457; Y10T428/24612
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 30
Claim 1
Independent Claim
47 words
A vacuum bag comprising a non-porous material having impressed therein a three-dimensional pattern which defines a plurality of interconnected channels, said vacuum bag being capable of collapsing such that upon completion of evacuation of said vacuum bag said three-dimensional pattern relaxes into a locally flat two-dimensional configuration.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
47 words
A vacuum bag comprising a non-porous material having impressed therein a three-dimensional pattern which defines a plurality of interconnected channels, said vacuum bag being capable of collapsing such that upon completion of evacuation of said vacuum bag said three-dimensional pattern relaxes into a locally flat two-dimensional configuration.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
16 words
A vacuum bag as claimed in claim 1, wherein said non-porous material is a plastic material.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
15 words
A vacuum bag as claimed in claim 2, wherein said material is a thermoplastic material.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
21 words
A vacuum bag as claimed in claim 2, wherein said plastic material is in the form of a sheet or film.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
18 words
A vacuum bag as claimed in claim 4, wherein said sheet or film is mono- or biaxially oriented.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
41 words
A vacuum bag as claimed in claim 2, wherein said plastic material is selected from the group consisting of a polyamide, a polyester terephthalate, a polyether ether ketone, a polyetherimide, a polyether sulfone, a polytetrafluoroethylene, a polyimide and a halohydrocarbon resin.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
15 words
A vacuum bag as claimed in claim 6, wherein said plastic material is a polyamide.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
29 words
A vacuum bag as claimed in claim 7, wherein said polyamide is selected from the group consisting of nylon 6, nylon 66, a nylon-6/nylon-66 copolymer, and a mixture thereof.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
17 words
A vacuum bag as claimed in claim 1, wherein said three-dimensional pattern is a repeating geometric pattern.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
20 words
A vacuum bag as claimed in claim 9, wherein said geometric pattern is a pyramidal pattern or a rectangular pattern.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
19 words
A vacuum bag as claimed in claim 1, wherein said three-dimensional pattern is a plurality of irregular geometric patterns.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
88 words
A vacuum bag comprising a non-porous material having impressed therein a three-dimensional pattern which defines a plurality of interconnected channels, said vacuum bag being capable of collapsing such that upon completion of evacuation of said vacuum bag said three-dimensional pattern relaxes into a locally flat two-dimensional configuration, said bag being produced by a method comprising the steps: of providing a non-porous material as a substrate; impressing on said substrate a three-dimensional pattern which defines a plurality of interconnected channels; and subsequently forming said substrate into a vacuum bag.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
88 words
A vacuum bag comprising a non-porous material having impressed therein a three-dimensional pattern which defines a plurality of interconnected channels, said vacuum bag being capable of collapsing such that upon completion of evacuation of said vacuum bag said three-dimensional pattern relaxes into a locally flat two-dimensional configuration, said bag being produced by a method comprising the steps: of providing a non-porous material as a substrate; impressing on said substrate a three-dimensional pattern which defines a plurality of interconnected channels; and subsequently forming said substrate into a vacuum bag.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
19 words
A vacuum bag as claimed in claim 12, wherein said impressing is effected with a pair of embossing rollers.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
15 words
A vacuum bag as claimed in claim 12, wherein said substrate is a plastic material.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
15 words
A vacuum bag as claimed in claim 14, wherein said material is a thermoplastic material.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
13 words
A vacuum bag as claimed in claim 14, wherein said rollers are heated.
Claim 19
Independent Claim
160 words
A method of making a composite structure comprising the steps of: applying a release material to a mold; placing on said release material a resin impregnated lay-up comprising reinforcing fiber and uncured or partially cured resin which is to be formed into said composite structure; enclosing said release material and said lay-up within a vacuum bag sealed to said mold, said vacuum bag comprising a non-porous material having impressed therein a three-dimensional pattern which defines a plurality of interconnected channels, whereby a plurality of channels are defined between said vacuum bag and the surfaces of said lay-up covered by said vacuum bag; evacuating said vacuum bag, whereby said vacuum bag collapses such that upon completion of said evacuation the three-dimensional pattern in said vacuum bag relaxes into a locally flat two-dimensional configuration and said vacuum bag lies flat against said surfaces of said lay-up in intimate contact therewith; and curing said resin in said lay-up to form said composite structure.
Claim 20
Independent Claim
160 words
A method of making a composite structure comprising the steps of: applying a release material to a mold; placing on said release material a resin impregnated lay-up comprising reinforcing fiber and uncured or partially cured resin which is to be formed into said composite structure; enclosing said release material and said lay-up within a vacuum bag sealed to said mold, said vacuum bag comprising a non-porous material having impressed therein a three-dimensional pattern which defines a plurality of interconnected channels, whereby a plurality of channels are defined between said vacuum bag and the surfaces of said lay-up covered by said vacuum bag; evacuating said vacuum bag, whereby said vacuum bag collapses such that upon completion of said evacuation the three-dimensional pattern in said vacuum bag relaxes into a locally flat two-dimensional configuration and said vacuum bag lies flat against said surfaces of said lay-up in intimate contact therewith; and curing said resin in said lay-up to form said composite structure.
Claim 21
Independent Claim
187 words
A method of making a composite structure comprising the steps of: applying a first release material to a mold; placing on said first release material a resin impregnated lay-up comprising reinforcing fiber and uncured or partially cured resin which is to be formed into said composite structure; applying a second release material to the upper surface of said lay-up; enclosing said lay-up and said first and second release materials within a vacuum bag sealed to said mold, said vacuum bag comprising a non-porous material having impressed therein a three-dimensional pattern which defines a plurality of interconnected channels, whereby a plurality of channels are defined between said vacuum bag and the surfaces of said lay-up and said second release material covered by said vacuum bag; evacuating said vacuum bag, whereby said vacuum bag collapses such that upon completion of said evacuation the three-dimensional pattern in said vacuum bag relaxes into a locally flat two-dimensional configuration and said vacuum bag lies flat against said surfaces of said lay-up and said second release material in intimate contact therewith; and curing said resin in said lay-up to form said composite structure.
Claim 22
Independent Claim
187 words
A method of making a composite structure comprising the steps of: applying a first release material to a mold; placing on said first release material a resin impregnated lay-up comprising reinforcing fiber and uncured or partially cured resin which is to be formed into said composite structure; applying a second release material to the upper surface of said lay-up; enclosing said lay-up and said first and second release materials within a vacuum bag sealed to said mold, said vacuum bag comprising a non-porous material having impressed therein a three-dimensional pattern which defines a plurality of interconnected channels, whereby a plurality of channels are defined between said vacuum bag and the surfaces of said lay-up and said second release material covered by said vacuum bag; evacuating said vacuum bag, whereby said vacuum bag collapses such that upon completion of said evacuation the three-dimensional pattern in said vacuum bag relaxes into a locally flat two-dimensional configuration and said vacuum bag lies flat against said surfaces of said lay-up and said second release material in intimate contact therewith; and curing said resin in said lay-up to form said composite structure.
Claim 23
Independent Claim
136 words
A method of making a composite structure comprising the steps of: enclosing a resin impregnated lay-up comprising reinforcing fiber and uncured or partially cured resin which is to be formed into said composite structure within a vacuum bag comprising a non-porous material having impressed therein a three-dimensional pattern which defines a plurality of interconnected channels, whereby a plurality of channels are defined between said vacuum bag and the surfaces of said lay-up covered by said vacuum bag; evacuating said vacuum bag, whereby said vacuum bag collapses such that upon completion of said evacuation of the three-dimensional pattern in said vacuum bag relaxes into a locally flat two-dimensional configuration and said vacuum bag lies flat against said surfaces of said lay-up in intimate contact therewith; and curing said resin in said lay-up to form said composite structure.
Claim 24
Independent Claim
136 words
A method of making a composite structure comprising the steps of: enclosing a resin impregnated lay-up comprising reinforcing fiber and uncured or partially cured resin which is to be formed into said composite structure within a vacuum bag comprising a non-porous material having impressed therein a three-dimensional pattern which defines a plurality of interconnected channels, whereby a plurality of channels are defined between said vacuum bag and the surfaces of said lay-up covered by said vacuum bag; evacuating said vacuum bag, whereby said vacuum bag collapses such that upon completion of said evacuation of the three-dimensional pattern in said vacuum bag relaxes into a locally flat two-dimensional configuration and said vacuum bag lies flat against said surfaces of said lay-up in intimate contact therewith; and curing said resin in said lay-up to form said composite structure.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
27 words
A method as claimed in claim 19, wherein said lay-up is disposed on a tool and said lay-up and said tool are enclosed within said vacuum bag.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
19 words
A method as claimed in claim 20, wherein a release material is disposed between said lay-up and said tool.
Claim 27
Independent Claim
159 words
A method of making a composite structure comprising the steps of: applying a release material to at least one surface of a resin impregnated lay-up comprising reinforcing fiber and uncured or partially cured resin which is to be formed into said composite structure; enclosing said release material and said lay-up within a vacuum bag comprising a non-porous material having impressed therein a three-dimensional pattern which defines a plurality of interconnected channels, whereby a plurality of channels are defined between said vacuum bag and the surfaces of said lay-up and said release material covered by said vacuum bag; evacuating said vacuum bag, whereby said vacuum bag collapses such that upon completion of said evacuation the three-dimensional pattern in said vacuum bag relaxes into a locally flat two-dimensional configuration and said vacuum bag lies flat against said surfaces of said lay-up and said release material in intimate contact therewith; and curing said resin in said lay-up to form said composite structure.
Claim 28
Independent Claim
159 words
A method of making a composite structure comprising the steps of: applying a release material to at least one surface of a resin impregnated lay-up comprising reinforcing fiber and uncured or partially cured resin which is to be formed into said composite structure; enclosing said release material and said lay-up within a vacuum bag comprising a non-porous material having impressed therein a three-dimensional pattern which defines a plurality of interconnected channels, whereby a plurality of channels are defined between said vacuum bag and the surfaces of said lay-up and said release material covered by said vacuum bag; evacuating said vacuum bag, whereby said vacuum bag collapses such that upon completion of said evacuation the three-dimensional pattern in said vacuum bag relaxes into a locally flat two-dimensional configuration and said vacuum bag lies flat against said surfaces of said lay-up and said release material in intimate contact therewith; and curing said resin in said lay-up to form said composite structure.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
27 words
A method as claimed in claim 22, wherein said lay-up is disposed on a tool and said lay-up and said tool are enclosed within said vacuum bag.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim
19 words
A method as claimed in claim 23, wherein a release material is disposed between said lay-up and said tool.
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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) | 1995-07-14 | 1996-01-13 | 1996-07-14 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1999-07-14 | 2000-01-13 | 2000-07-14 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2003-07-14 | 2004-01-13 | 2004-07-14 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |