US4568585A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Contourable core for structural laminates
Assignee: Baltek Inc
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Filing: 1985-02-22
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Granted: 1986-02-04
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Expires: 2005-02-22
Abstract
Abstract A light-weight, high-strength contourable core for inclusion in a contoured structural laminate in which the core is sandwiched between facing skins. The core is constituted by a planar array of block-like modules preferably made of end-grain balsa wood held together in edge-to-edge relation by a scrim formed by elastomeric filaments which extend through the body of the modules in an intermediate plane parallel to the opposing faces of the core. When the planar core is pressed against a wet-coated contoured skin surface for lamination thereto, the filaments bridging adjacent modules elongate to an extent permitting these modules to separate and conform to this surface. The filaments have an elastic recovery force low enough to prevent the modules from overcoming the surface tension created by the wet-coated surface and pulling away therefrom. However, the holding power of the filaments is sufficient to preclude disassembly of the core modules during normal core handling procedures.
Inventors
- 👤 Jacques Kohn
- 👤 Joseph E. Pantalone
- 👤 Kurt Feichtinger
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-28 11:58
CPC Classifications
B; B32; B32B; B32B3/00; B32B3/10; B32B3/14; B32B3/16; B32B21/00; B32B21/10; B32B2262/00; B32B2262/02; B32B2262/0207; B32B2307/00; B32B2307/50; B32B2307/54; B32B2307/70; B32B2307/718; B32B2419/00; Y; Y10; Y10T; Y10T156/00; Y10T156/10; Y10T156/1052; Y10T156/1062; Y10T156/1066; Y10T156/1082; Y10T428/00; Y10T428/16; Y10T428/163; Y10T428/164; Y10T428/169; Y10T428/17
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 12
Claim 1
Independent Claim
96 words
A contourable core for inclusion in a contoured structural laminate in which the core is sandwiched between facing skins; said core comprising a planar array of block-like modules held together in edge-to-edge relation by an open mesh scrim formed by elastomeric filaments which extend through the body of the modules in an intermediate plane parallel to the opposing faces of the core whereby when the planar core is pressed against a contoured skin surface for lamination thereto, the filaments bridging the modules elongate to an extent permitting the modules to separate and conform to this surface.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
96 words
A contourable core for inclusion in a contoured structural laminate in which the core is sandwiched between facing skins; said core comprising a planar array of block-like modules held together in edge-to-edge relation by an open mesh scrim formed by elastomeric filaments which extend through the body of the modules in an intermediate plane parallel to the opposing faces of the core whereby when the planar core is pressed against a contoured skin surface for lamination thereto, the filaments bridging the modules elongate to an extent permitting the modules to separate and conform to this surface.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
52 words
A contourable core as set forth in claim 1, wherein said lamination is effected to a wet-coated contoured surface, and wherein said filaments have an elastic recovery force which is sufficiently low to prevent the modules from overcoming the surface tension created by the wet coating and pulling away from the surface.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
15 words
A core as set forth in claim 1, wherein said filaments are formed of spandex.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
27 words
A core as set forth in claim 1, wherein said plane is midway between the faces of the core whereby the core is bendable in any direction.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
28 words
A core as set forth in claim 1, wherein each module is composed of two interlaminated half-pieces of end-grain balsa, the scrim being clamped between the half pieces.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
23 words
A core as set forth in claim 5, wherein said scrim is formed of longitudinally and transversely extending filaments forming a non-woven fabric.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
17 words
A core as set forth in claim 1, wherein said modules are formed of synthetic plastic material.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
30 words
A core as set forth in claim 1, wherein said modules are formed of end-grain balsa wood whose opposing faces are sanded to partially close the pores of the wood.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
28 words
A core as set forth in claim 1, wherein said filaments have a holding power sufficient to prevent disassembly of the modules in normal handling of the core.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
76 words
A method for producing a contourable core of the type set forth in claim 1 comprising the steps of: A. cutting a large block of wood into like individual panels; B. sandwiching an open mesh scrim formed of elastomeric filaments between a pair of the panels and laminating the scrim thereto; and C. slitting the panels in the sandwich into a planar array of block-like modules which are held together by the filaments of the scrim.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
28 words
A method as set forth in claim 10, wherein said block is composed of balsa wood, and said cutting is carried out in a direction producing end-grain panels.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US3376185A
Cited
US3616112A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1989-02-03 | 1989-08-05 | 1990-02-04 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1993-02-03 | 1993-08-05 | 1994-02-04 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1997-02-03 | 1997-08-05 | 1998-02-04 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |