METHOD OF PRODUCING REINFORCED, FORMED FABRICS
First Claim
1. A method of manufacturing shaped and reinforced fabrics comprising reinforcing elements and a resin, the method comprising:
- positioning the reinforcing elements and the resin on a surface, wherein the reinforcing elements and the resin are in contact with each other;
shaping at least a portion of the reinforcing elements and at least a portion of the resin in a three-dimensional shape;
applying pressure and heat to the reinforcing elements and the resin;
activating and polymerizing the resin to encase the reinforcing elements, thereby forming the fabric, andremoving the fabric from the surface.
1 Assignment
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Accused Products
Abstract
The invention relates to a method of producing reinforced, formed fabrics, consisting in producing a continuous fabric alternated with a membrane (34) containing embedded reinforcing elements, which is prepared in overlapping portions on a conveyor belt (29) which passes over a preparation table (25). The membrane (34) and the reinforcing elements are then positioned under a press consisting of an upper air-filled chamber (1), the lower part thereof comprising a flexible element (4), and a lower water-filled chamber (14), the upper part thereof comprising a flexible element (17). According to the invention, a forming bar (10) is adjustably mounted in the upper chamber (1). When the aforementioned forming bar (10) is adjusted to adopt a particular shape, the different flexible elements can deform at the forming bar and the membrane and the reinforcing elements are hot pressed with a portion corresponding to the forming bar having a three dimensional shape, thereby defining the form of the fabric produced.
73 Citations
28 Claims
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1. A method of manufacturing shaped and reinforced fabrics comprising reinforcing elements and a resin, the method comprising:
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positioning the reinforcing elements and the resin on a surface, wherein the reinforcing elements and the resin are in contact with each other; shaping at least a portion of the reinforcing elements and at least a portion of the resin in a three-dimensional shape; applying pressure and heat to the reinforcing elements and the resin; activating and polymerizing the resin to encase the reinforcing elements, thereby forming the fabric, and removing the fabric from the surface. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 25, 26, 27, 28)
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24. A method of manufacturing shaped and reinforced fabrics comprising reinforcing elements and a resin, the method comprising:
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positioning the reinforcing elements and the resin on a surface, wherein the reinforcing elements and the resin are in contact with each other; shaping at least a portion of the reinforcing elements and at least a portion of the resin in a three-dimensional shape; applying pressure and heat to the reinforcing elements and the resin; activating and polymerizing the resin to encase the reinforcing elements, thereby forming the fabric, wherein the fabric comprises a first surface and an opposing second surface, and wherein both the first surface and the second surface are free of a separate polymerized plastic sheet; and removing the fabric from the surface.
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Specification