US5433165A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Method of manufacturing a boat hull
Assignee: Arctek Inc
•
Filing: 1994-03-30
•
Granted: 1995-07-18
•
Expires: 2014-03-30
Abstract
Abstract A method for manufacturing a boat hull having an outer surface and including fiber-reinforced polymer and a plurality of stringers embedded in the fiber-reinforced polymer so that the fiber-reinforced polymer and the stringers define an inner surface of the boat hull, the method comprising the steps of providing a female mold with a periphery and an inner surface having the shape of the hull outer surface, placing dry reinforcement material on the mold inner surface, placing stringers on the dry reinforcement material, the stringers having additional dry reinforcement material thereon, providing a male mold with a periphery and an inner surface having the shape of the hull inner surface, placing the male mold over the stringers and the dry reinforcement material to define a space between the male mold and the female mold, sealing the peripheries of the male mold and the female mold, drawing a vacuum in the space between the male mold and the female mold, injecting resin into the space, and curing the resin.
Inventors
- 👤 Daniel T. McGuiness
- 👤 Pierre P. Dubois
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-05 03:09
CPC Classifications
B; B29; B29C; B29C70/00; B29C70/68; B29C70/86; B29C70/865; B29D; B29D99/00; B29D99/001; B29D99/0014; B29C70/04; B29C70/28; B29C70/40; B29C70/42; B29C70/44; B29C70/443; B63; B63B; B63B5/00; B63B5/24
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 19
Claim 1
Independent Claim
167 words
A method for manufacturing a boat hull having an outer surface and including fiber-reinforced polymer and a plurality of stringers embedded in the fiber-reinforced polymer so that the fiber-reinforced polymer and the stringers define an inner surface of the boat hull, said method comprising the steps of providing a female mold with a periphery and an inner surface having the shape of the hull outer surface, placing dry reinforcement material on said mold inner surface, placing stringers on said dry reinforcement material, said stringers having additional dry reinforcement material thereon, providing a male mold with a periphery and an inner surface having the shape of the hull inner surface, placing said male mold over said stringers and said dry reinforcement material to define a space between said male mold and said female mold, sealing said peripheries of said male mold and said female mold, reducing the pressure in said space between said male mold and said female mold, injecting resin into said space, and curing said resin.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
167 words
A method for manufacturing a boat hull having an outer surface and including fiber-reinforced polymer and a plurality of stringers embedded in the fiber-reinforced polymer so that the fiber-reinforced polymer and the stringers define an inner surface of the boat hull, said method comprising the steps of providing a female mold with a periphery and an inner surface having the shape of the hull outer surface, placing dry reinforcement material on said mold inner surface, placing stringers on said dry reinforcement material, said stringers having additional dry reinforcement material thereon, providing a male mold with a periphery and an inner surface having the shape of the hull inner surface, placing said male mold over said stringers and said dry reinforcement material to define a space between said male mold and said female mold, sealing said peripheries of said male mold and said female mold, reducing the pressure in said space between said male mold and said female mold, injecting resin into said space, and curing said resin.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
19 words
A method as set forth in claim 1 wherein said male mold providing step includes providing a vacuum bag.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
55 words
A method as set forth in claim 2 wherein said female mold has a peripheral flange, wherein said vacuum bag has a peripheral flange, wherein said sealing step includes the step of forming a plenum between said peripheral flanges, and wherein said pressure reducing step includes the step of reducing the pressure in said plenum.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
46 words
A method as set forth in claim 2 wherein said vacuum bag providing step includes the steps of forming in said female mold a hull having a relatively smooth inner surface, and spreading a plurality of layers of liquid silicone rubber on said hull inner surface.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
34 words
A method as set forth in claim 4 wherein said spreading step includes the steps of providing silicone caulking material, and adding a solvent to said caulking material to make said caulking material spreadable.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
24 words
A method as set forth in claim 4 wherein said spreading step includes the step of allowing said silicone rubber to cure between layers.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
27 words
A method as set forth in claim 6 and further comprising the step of providing a layer of reinforcing material between two layers of said silicone rubber.
Claim 9
Independent Claim
218 words
A method for manufacturing a boat hull having an outer surface and including fiber-reinforced polymer and plurality of stringers embedded in the fiber-reinforced polymer so that the fiber-reinforced polymer and the stringers define an inner surface of the boat hull, said method comprising the steps of providing a female mold with a periphery, a peripheral flange, and an inner surface having the shape of the hull outer surface, placing dry reinforcement material on said mold inner surface, placing stringers on said dry reinforcement material, said stringers having additional dry reinforcement material thereof, providing a male mold including a vacuum bag with a periphery, a peripheral flange, and an inner surface having the shape of the hull inner surface, placing said male mold over said stringers and said dry reinforcement material to define a space between said male mold and said female mold, sealing said peripheries of said male mold and said female mold by forming a plenum between said peripheral flanges, said plenum forming step including the step of providing inner and outer endless seals at said peripheral flanges such that said plenum is defined between said seals, reducing the pressure in said space between said male mold and said female mold by reducing the pressure in said plenum, injecting resin into said space, and curing said resin.
Claim 10
Independent Claim
218 words
A method for manufacturing a boat hull having an outer surface and including fiber-reinforced polymer and plurality of stringers embedded in the fiber-reinforced polymer so that the fiber-reinforced polymer and the stringers define an inner surface of the boat hull, said method comprising the steps of providing a female mold with a periphery, a peripheral flange, and an inner surface having the shape of the hull outer surface, placing dry reinforcement material on said mold inner surface, placing stringers on said dry reinforcement material, said stringers having additional dry reinforcement material thereof, providing a male mold including a vacuum bag with a periphery, a peripheral flange, and an inner surface having the shape of the hull inner surface, placing said male mold over said stringers and said dry reinforcement material to define a space between said male mold and said female mold, sealing said peripheries of said male mold and said female mold by forming a plenum between said peripheral flanges, said plenum forming step including the step of providing inner and outer endless seals at said peripheral flanges such that said plenum is defined between said seals, reducing the pressure in said space between said male mold and said female mold by reducing the pressure in said plenum, injecting resin into said space, and curing said resin.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
40 words
A method as set forth in claim 8 and further comprising the step of providing a bleeder cloth between said vacuum bag and said mold and beneath said inner seal to facilitate air flow from said space to said plenum.
Claim 12
Independent Claim
178 words
A method for manufacturing a boat hull having an outer surface and including fiber-reinforced polymer and a plurality of stringers embedded in the fiber-reinforced polymer so that the fiber-reinforced polymer and the stringers define an inner surface of the boat hull, said method comprising the steps of providing a female mold with a periphery and an inner surface having the shape of the hull outer surface, placing dry reinforcement material on said mold inner surface, placing stringers on said dry reinforcement material, said stringers having additional dry reinforcement material thereon, placing bleeder cloth between said stringers and said dry reinforcement material, providing a male mold with a periphery and an inner surface having the shape of the hull inner surface, placing said male mold over said stringers and said dry reinforcement material to define a space between said male mold and said female mold, sealing said peripheries of said male mold and said female mold, reducing the pressure in said space between said male mold and said female mold, injecting resin into said space, and curing said resin.
Claim 13
Independent Claim
178 words
A method for manufacturing a boat hull having an outer surface and including fiber-reinforced polymer and a plurality of stringers embedded in the fiber-reinforced polymer so that the fiber-reinforced polymer and the stringers define an inner surface of the boat hull, said method comprising the steps of providing a female mold with a periphery and an inner surface having the shape of the hull outer surface, placing dry reinforcement material on said mold inner surface, placing stringers on said dry reinforcement material, said stringers having additional dry reinforcement material thereon, placing bleeder cloth between said stringers and said dry reinforcement material, providing a male mold with a periphery and an inner surface having the shape of the hull inner surface, placing said male mold over said stringers and said dry reinforcement material to define a space between said male mold and said female mold, sealing said peripheries of said male mold and said female mold, reducing the pressure in said space between said male mold and said female mold, injecting resin into said space, and curing said resin.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
35 words
A method as set forth in claim 10 wherein said bleeder cloth placing step includes the step of attaching said bleeder cloth to said stringers prior to placing said stringers on said dry reinforcement material.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
37 words
A method as set forth in claim 1 and further comprising the steps of coating said mold inner surface with a release agent and a gelcoat, and wherein said dry reinforcement material is placed on said gelcoat.
Claim 16
Independent Claim
297 words
A method for manufacturing a boat hull having an outer surface and including fiber-reinforced polymer and a plurality of stringers embedded in the fiber-reinforced polymer so that the fiber-reinforced polymer and the stringers define an inner surface of the boat hull, said method comprising the steps of providing a female mold with a periphery, a peripheral flange, and an inner surface having the shape of the hull outer surface, coating said mold inner surface with a release agent and a gelcoat, placing dry reinforcement material on said gelcoat, placing stringers on said dry reinforcement material, said stringers having additional dry reinforcement material thereon, placing bleeder cloth between said stringers and said dry reinforcement material, providing a vacuum bag with a periphery, a peripheral flange, and an inner surface having the shape of the hull inner surface, said bag being provided by forming in said mold a hull having a relatively smooth inner surface, spreading a plurality of layers of liquid silicone rubber on said hull inner surface, providing a layer of reinforcing material between two layers of said silicone rubber, and allowing said silicone rubber to cure between layers, placing said vacuum bag over said stringers and said dry reinforcement material to define a space between said vacuum bag and said mold, sealing said peripheries of said vacuum bag and said mold by providing inner and outer endless seals at said peripheral flanges such that a plenum is defined between said seals, providing a bleeder cloth between said vacuum bag and said mold and beneath said inner seal to facilitate air flow from said space to said plenum, reducing the pressure in said space between said vacuum bag and said mold by reducing the pressure in said plenum, injecting resin into said space, and curing said resin.
Claim 17
Independent Claim
297 words
A method for manufacturing a boat hull having an outer surface and including fiber-reinforced polymer and a plurality of stringers embedded in the fiber-reinforced polymer so that the fiber-reinforced polymer and the stringers define an inner surface of the boat hull, said method comprising the steps of providing a female mold with a periphery, a peripheral flange, and an inner surface having the shape of the hull outer surface, coating said mold inner surface with a release agent and a gelcoat, placing dry reinforcement material on said gelcoat, placing stringers on said dry reinforcement material, said stringers having additional dry reinforcement material thereon, placing bleeder cloth between said stringers and said dry reinforcement material, providing a vacuum bag with a periphery, a peripheral flange, and an inner surface having the shape of the hull inner surface, said bag being provided by forming in said mold a hull having a relatively smooth inner surface, spreading a plurality of layers of liquid silicone rubber on said hull inner surface, providing a layer of reinforcing material between two layers of said silicone rubber, and allowing said silicone rubber to cure between layers, placing said vacuum bag over said stringers and said dry reinforcement material to define a space between said vacuum bag and said mold, sealing said peripheries of said vacuum bag and said mold by providing inner and outer endless seals at said peripheral flanges such that a plenum is defined between said seals, providing a bleeder cloth between said vacuum bag and said mold and beneath said inner seal to facilitate air flow from said space to said plenum, reducing the pressure in said space between said vacuum bag and said mold by reducing the pressure in said plenum, injecting resin into said space, and curing said resin.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
34 words
A method as set forth in claim 13 wherein said spreading step includes the steps of providing silicone caulking material, and adding a solvent to said caulking material to make said caulking material spreadable.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
35 words
A method as set forth in claim 13 wherein said bleeder cloth placing step includes the step of attaching said bleeder cloth to said stringers prior to placing said stringers on said dry reinforcement material.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US2495640A
Cited
US2617126A
Cited
US2541297A
Cited
US3028284A
Cited
US2903389A
Cited
US2913036A
Cited
US2993822A
Cited
US3137750A
Cited
US3192297A
Cited
US3309450A
Cited
US3442998A
Cited
US3368293A
Cited
US3410936A
Cited
US3675294A
Cited
US3479666A
Cited
US3761560A
Cited
US3711581A
Cited
US4099280A
Cited
US3940524A
Cited
US3773581A
Cited
US3934064A
Cited
US3961014A
Cited
US4120632A
Cited
US4069290A
Cited
US4044188A
Cited
US3954931A
Cited
US3962394A
Cited
US4098856A
Cited
US4088525A
Cited
US4062917A
Cited
US4123488A
Cited
US4229497A
Cited
US4207282A
Cited
US4234633A
Cited
US4312829A
Cited
US4353964A
Cited
US4786347A
Cited
US4636422A
Cited
US4693678A
Cited
US4780262A
Cited
US4755341A
Cited
US4824631A
Cited
US5045251A
Cited
US4762740A
Cited
US5035602A
Cited
US5217669A
Cited
US5071338A
Cited
US5126091A
Cited
US4940558A
Cited
US4902215A
Cited
US5052906A
Cited
US5059377A
Cited
US4910067A
Cited
US5036789A
Cited
US5204042A
Cited
US5087193A
Cited
US5152949A
Cited
US5286438A
Cited
US5131834A
Cited
US5151277A
Cited
US5183619A
Cited
US5204033A
Cited
US5106568A
Cited
US5266249A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1998-07-17 | 1999-01-16 | 1999-07-18 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2002-07-17 | 2003-01-16 | 2003-07-18 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2006-07-17 | 2007-01-16 | 2007-07-18 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |