Composite bicycle frame and method of construction thereof
US6340509B1 · kind B1 · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | May 29, 1997 |
| Grant date | Jan 22, 2002 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | May 29, 2017 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC Y)Emerging Cross-Sectional Technologies
- CPC primaryY10T428/1393
- WIPO fieldOther special machines
- WIPO sectorMechanical engineering
Abstract
Bicycle frame components without laps made by a method comprising;shaping a fluid-removable core in the general form of the component,placing a flexible inflatable bladder around the core,wrapping over the assembly of core and bladder at least one ply of fiber impregnated with a curable resin, forming a cured part by inflating the bladder while the assembly of core, bladder, and impregnated fiber is in a mold to force the plies against the inner surfaces of the mold, such that compaction of the fiber against the mold is predominantly from the bladder inflation and not from the core, and heating to cure the resin to form a cured part, removing the bladder and the fluid-removable core from the interior of the cured part by disintegrating the fluid-removable core with a fluid sufficient to allow removal of the core and the bladder.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.