US5178706A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Method of producing thin fiber-reinforced resin sheet
Assignee: Sumitomo Chemical Co Ltd
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Filing: 1991-08-20
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Granted: 1993-01-12
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Expires: 2011-08-20
Abstract
Abstract The thickness of a fiber-reinforced resin sheet having uniformly distributed and substantially unidirectional fibers is reduced by stretching a fiber-reinforced resin sheet starting material in intimate contact with a thermoplastic sheet having a tensile strength larger than the fiber-reinforced resin sheet. This is accomplished by heating the fiber-reinforced resin sheet at a temperature at which the resin in the fiber-reinforced resin becomes sticky and subjecting the sheets to a uniform compressive force to adhere the fiber-reinforced sheet to the thermoplastic resin sheet and then simultaneously stretching the thus-adhered sheets to form a thin fiber-reinforced sheet in which the direction of stretching is perpendicular to the direction of the fibers.
Inventors
- 👤 Hajime Nishibara
- 👤 Akira Morii
- 👤 Mikio Hayashi
- 👤 Taro Mihara
- 👤 Muneharu Wada
- 👤 Yasushi Chosokabe
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-08 22:27
CPC Classifications
B; B32; B32B; B32B37/00; B32B37/14; B32B37/144; B29; B29C; B29C55/00; B29C55/02; B29C55/023; B29K; B29K2105/00; B29K2105/06; B29K2105/08; B29K2105/10; B29K2105/101; B29K2105/12; B29K2105/126
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 3
Claim 1
Independent Claim
165 words
A method for stretching a fiber-reinforced resin sheet as a starting material in intimate contact with a thermoplastic resin sheet which has a tensile strength larger than the tensile strength of the resin of the starting material fiber-reinforced resin sheet, which comprises heating the fiber-reinforced resin sheet at a temperature at which the resin in the fiber-reinforced resin becomes sticky and subjecting the sheets to a uniform compressive force to adhere the fiber-reinforced resin sheet to the thermoplastic resin sheet such that the fibers are uniformly distributed and are substantially unidirectional, and then stretching both the fiber-reinforced resin sheet and the thermoplastic resin sheet simultaneously, more than 1.5 times the original length of the thus-adhered fiber-reinforced resin sheet and thermoplastic resin sheet in the stretching direction, while they are adhered together to thereby form a thin fiber-reinforced resin sheet due to reduction in thickness by stretching wherein the direction of stretching is perpendicular to the direction of the reinforcing fibers of the fiber-reinforced resin sheet.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
165 words
A method for stretching a fiber-reinforced resin sheet as a starting material in intimate contact with a thermoplastic resin sheet which has a tensile strength larger than the tensile strength of the resin of the starting material fiber-reinforced resin sheet, which comprises heating the fiber-reinforced resin sheet at a temperature at which the resin in the fiber-reinforced resin becomes sticky and subjecting the sheets to a uniform compressive force to adhere the fiber-reinforced resin sheet to the thermoplastic resin sheet such that the fibers are uniformly distributed and are substantially unidirectional, and then stretching both the fiber-reinforced resin sheet and the thermoplastic resin sheet simultaneously, more than 1.5 times the original length of the thus-adhered fiber-reinforced resin sheet and thermoplastic resin sheet in the stretching direction, while they are adhered together to thereby form a thin fiber-reinforced resin sheet due to reduction in thickness by stretching wherein the direction of stretching is perpendicular to the direction of the reinforcing fibers of the fiber-reinforced resin sheet.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
25 words
A method according to claim 1 in which the starting material fiber-reinforced sheet is a prepreg sheet in which continuous fibers are arranged unidirectionally therein.
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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) | 1996-01-12 | 1996-07-13 | 1997-01-12 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2000-01-12 | 2000-07-13 | 2001-01-12 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2004-01-12 | 2004-07-13 | 2005-01-12 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |