Reinforcement assembly for laminated structures
US5957980A · kind A · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Sep 9, 1997 |
| Grant date | Sep 28, 1999 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Sep 9, 2017 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC A)Human Necessities
- CPC primaryA61F2240/001
- WIPO fieldMedical technology
- WIPO sectorInstruments
Abstract
A reinforcement assembly to reinforce a selected site on a body, and methods of making and using such a universal reinforcement assembly. Several embodiments of reinforcement assemblies in accordance with the principles of the invention are well suited to support or reinforce laminated structures. In one embodiment, the reinforcement assembly has a reinforcement member configured to be attached to the selected site on the body and a universal attachment medium separately bonded to the reinforcement member. The reinforcement member may be a plate composed of a molding compound, a high density polymer, or another suitable high-strength material. The universal attachment medium, more specifically, may have a first section bonded to the reinforcement member and a second section extending from the reinforcement member to cover an area of the body substantially surrounding the selected site. The attachment medium may be composed of a self-conforming material that inherently conforms to the shape of the body to define an anchor stratum of the laminated structure having a shape corresponding to the area of the body substantially surrounding the selected site.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.