US5534203A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Composite pole manufacturing process for varying non-circular cross-sections and curved center lines
Assignee: Radius Engineering Inc
•
Filing: 1994-02-09
•
Granted: 1996-07-09
•
Expires: 2014-02-09
Abstract
Abstract A composite ski pole is formed of fiber reinforced plastic laminates laid up around an inflatable bladder, and placed in a female mold. The bladder inflates to compact the laminates to substantially eliminate voids and form a smooth, hollow ski pole with a structurally strong and stiff skin. The molds may use compound shapes such as differing cross sections or longitudinal bends.
Inventors
- 👤 Ronald H. Nelson
- 👤 Dimitrije Milovich
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-03 23:36
CPC Classifications
A; A63; A63B; A63B60/00; A63B60/06; A63B60/34; A63B53/00; A63B53/12; A63B60/10; A63C; A63C11/00; A63C11/22; B; B29; B29C; B29C33/00; B29C33/44; B29C33/48; B29C33/50; B29C33/505; B29C70/00; B29C70/04; B29C70/28; B29C70/40; B29C70/42; B29C70/44; B29C70/446; A63B2208/00; A63B2208/12; A63B2209/00; A63B2209/02; A63B2209/023; A63B2225/00; A63B2225/01; A63B49/00; A63B49/02; A63B49/10; A63B49/11; A63B53/10; A63B60/0081; B29C53/00; B29C53/56; B63; B63B; B63B15/00; B63B15/0083
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 13
Claim 1
Independent Claim
110 words
A method for making a composite pole comprising; (a) forming a skin of fiber material impregnated with heat curable resin around a flexible substrate comprising a pressurizable bladder; (b) positioning the skin and flexible bladder substrate in a female mold, (c) pressurizing the bladder to circumferentially expand the skin to internal walls of the female tooling and to apply pressure to an inside surface of the skin, (d) curing the resin of the skin to a substantially hard state while maintaining pressure in the bladder to form a pole with external dimensions determined by the internal walls of the female mold, and (e) removing the pole from the female mold.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
110 words
A method for making a composite pole comprising; (a) forming a skin of fiber material impregnated with heat curable resin around a flexible substrate comprising a pressurizable bladder; (b) positioning the skin and flexible bladder substrate in a female mold, (c) pressurizing the bladder to circumferentially expand the skin to internal walls of the female tooling and to apply pressure to an inside surface of the skin, (d) curing the resin of the skin to a substantially hard state while maintaining pressure in the bladder to form a pole with external dimensions determined by the internal walls of the female mold, and (e) removing the pole from the female mold.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
28 words
The method of claim 1 wherein the skin is formed in (a) by placing a fiber material that has been previously impregnated with resin around the flexible substrate.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
27 words
The method of claim 1 wherein the skin is formed in (a) by placing a fiber material around the flexible substrate and impregnating the fiber with resin.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
22 words
The method of claim 2 wherein the skin in (a) is undersized with respect to the inner dimensions of the female mold.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
75 words
The method of claim 2 wherein the female mold is constructed and configured such that the internal walls have a plurality of contours, and the female mold has a first female portion and a second female portion, the first and second female portions being matable with respect to one another so that when the skin and the flexible substrate may be placed the first portion, and the second portion mated therewith for pressurization and curing.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
54 words
The method of claim 1 wherein the skin comprises a plurality of fiber laminations laid up separately, the laminations composed of directionally oriented fibers oriented in the direction of strength of the finished pole, any voids being substantially eliminated in step (c) such that the resin form a substantially homogeneous matrix surrounding the fibers.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
19 words
The method of claim 1 additionally comprising the step of applying a vacuum to the mold before step (d).
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
26 words
The method of claim 1 wherein the interior surface of the female molding provides a smooth exterior surface upon the pole upon removal from the mold.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
21 words
The method of claim 6 wherein the cured skin has a substantially constant, selected thickness and is substantially free of voids.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
50 words
The method of claim 1 wherein the female mold is constructed and configured to provide a pole having first and second locations with first and second circumferences and a third location intermediate the first and second locations having a third circumference larger than the first circumference and the second circumference.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
29 words
The method of claim 1 wherein the female mold is constructed and configured to provide a pole having a curved or bent centerline at some location along its length.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
28 words
The method of claim 1 wherein the female mold is constructed and configured to provide a pole having s noncircular cross-section along at least part of its length.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US3596921A
Cited
US3896206A
Cited
US3974012A
Cited
US4157181A
Cited
US4125423A
Cited
US4292101A
Cited
US4310201A
Cited
US5013512A
Cited
US4679813A
Cited
US5265911A
Cited
US5188872A
Cited
FR2670120A1
Cited
FR2670121A1
Cited
US5261980A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1999-07-09 | 2000-01-08 | 2000-07-09 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2003-07-09 | 2004-01-08 | 2004-07-09 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2007-07-09 | 2008-01-08 | 2008-07-09 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |