Foam core-surface reinforced article and method
US7732044B2 · kind B2 · utility
Assignee
Inventor
Key dates
| Filing date | Sep 4, 2002 |
| Grant date | Jun 8, 2010 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Nov 18, 2026 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC Y)Emerging Cross-Sectional Technologies
- CPC primaryY10T442/335
- WIPO fieldOther special machines
- WIPO sectorMechanical engineering
Abstract
A surface-reinforced article includes a core assembly (12) comprising a foam core (20) with a surface region (22) that includes fine inner fibrous material intimately surround by foam that is integral with foam of the core, and an outer reinforcing covering (14) which includes an outer layer (32) of fibrous material and a resin (30) surrounding the outer layer of fibrous material and covering the primarily foam core assembly. The fine inner fibrous material (91-94) includes coupling fibers (100) with inner ends (102) embedded in the foam and outer ends (106) embedded in the resin, to better hold the resin to the foam. The primarily foam core assembly is molded within a first mold cavity (64) formed between spacers (60, 62) that lie within a second mold cavity (50). After the core assembly is molded, the spacers are removed, the core assembly is wrapped in the outer fibrous material, and the wrapped core assembly (120) is placed in the second mold cavity that is formed by the original mold but without the spacers. When resin is injected into the second mold cavity it forms an outer reinforcing covering of largely uniform thickness. The fine fiber reinforcement of the core assembly p…
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.