Integrally-reinforced braided tubular structure and method of producing the same
First Claim
1. A braid-reinforced, generally tubular, structure comprising:
- an interior;
at least one reinforcement layer, said reinforcement layer including braided material and at least one indentation, said indentation including a recess in the direction of the interior of the structure and said braided material contacting said recess; and
a plurality of reinforcement members in said indentation.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A method of producing a generally tubular, reinforced, structure including an inner layer of braided material having a predefined indentation configuration, the method including the steps of providing a mandrel having a shape and configuration of indentations corresponding to the shape and indentation configuration of the inner layer, providing a plurality of support members in the vicinity of at least some of the indentations on the mandrel, the support members protruding a predetermined distance radially outwardly from the mandrel, depositing the inner layer over the mandrel and the support members, and removing the support members to a position in which the support members do not protrude the surface of the mandrel.
182 Citations
46 Claims
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1. A braid-reinforced, generally tubular, structure comprising:
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an interior;
at least one reinforcement layer, said reinforcement layer including braided material and at least one indentation, said indentation including a recess in the direction of the interior of the structure and said braided material contacting said recess; and
a plurality of reinforcement members in said indentation. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 45, 46)
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9. A braid-reinforced, generally tubular, structure comprising:
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an interior; and
at feast one reinforcement layer, said reinforcement layer including braided material and at least one indentation, said indentation including a recess in the direction of the interior of the structure and said braided material contacting said recess. - View Dependent Claims (10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 44)
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15. A braid-reinforced, generally tubular, structure comprising:
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an interior; and
at least one reinforcement layer, said reinforcement layer including braided material and a plurality of indentations, each of said indentations including a recess in the direction of the interior of the structure and said braided material contacting said recess. - View Dependent Claims (16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24)
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32. A braid reinforced, generally tubular structure comprising:
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a mandrel including at least one indentation, said indentation including a recess in the direction of the interior of the mandrel; and
at least one reinforcement layer deposited on said mandrel, said reinforcement layer including a braided material contacting said recess. - View Dependent Claims (33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39)
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40. A braid reinforced generally tubular structure having an inner layer constructed according to the following process:
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providing a mandrel having a shape and configuration of indentations corresponding to the shape and indentation configuration of said inner layer;
providing a plurality of support members in the vicinity of at least some of the indentations on said mandrel, the support members protruding a predetermined distance radially outwardly from said mandrel;
depositing said inner layer over said mandrel and said support members; and
removing said support members to a position in which the support members do not protrude above the surface of the mandrel. - View Dependent Claims (41, 42, 43)
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Specification