Structural dimple panel

• US 6,939,599 B2
• Filed: 11/08/2001
• Issued: 09/06/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 09/13/1996
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Brian H. Clark
• Original Assignee: Brian H. Clark
• Inventors: Clark, Brian Hall
• Primary Examiner(s): Loney, Donald J.
• Application Number:
  US09/986,359
• Publication Number:
  US 20020028318A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,398 Days
• Field of Search: 428/166, 428/178, 527/891
• US Class Current: 428/178
• CPC Class Codes: B32B 3/30 characterised by a layer formed with recesses or projections, e.g. hollows, grooves, protuberances, ribs apertured layer B32B3/266; layer with cavities or internal voids B32B3/26
• CPC Class Codes: E04C 2/3405 spaced apart by profiled spacer sheets
• CPC Class Codes: E04C 2002/3422 with polygonal dimples
• CPC Class Codes: E04C 2002/3427 with conical dimples
• CPC Class Codes: E04C 2002/3433 with dimples extending from both sides of the spacer sheet
• CPC Class Codes: E04C 2002/3472 with multiple layers of profiled spacer sheets
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 428/24661 Forming, or cooperating to form cells

Abstract

A dynamic structural panel having one or more compliant dimple layers connected together by one or more reinforcing layers engaging ends of dimples on the dimple layer to create a cavity between the layers. The dimples are spaced apart from one another to form a dimple layer region. The dimple layer region may be either curved relative to the dimples or corrugated, thereby providing compliancy for the dynamic structural panel. The connection of the dimple layer and reinforcing layers creates an integral structural panel that can be planar by having identical heights of the dimples on the dimple layer to create a planar panel (flat) or nonplanar (curved) by varying the heights of the dimples on the dimple layer or through planar spacing adjustment. The panel can be modified in various ways such as by choice of materials and/or geometries of the various layers and/or incorporation of additional structural features.

Claims

1. A dynamic structural dimple panel, comprising:

a dimple layer having a plurality of dimples extending from one side of the dimple layer, said dimples being spaced from one another and not touching, wherein the space between the dimples is curved, said dimple layer absorbing, storing, dissipating or distributing energy to make said dimple layer compliant;

a reinforcing layer being configured to connect with the dimples of the dimple layer, said reinforcing layer connected to said dimple layer by said dimples, compliance of said dimple layer accommodating loading of said panel to distribute stresses place on the connection of said dimples; and

wherein the spacing of said dimples relative to one another increases of decreases upon loading of said panel.

6. A dynamic structure panel as recited in claim 1, wherein the dimples are uniformly shaped with nonuniform spacing.

7. A dynamic structural panel as recited in claim 1, wherein the dimples are nonuniformly shaped with uniform spacing.

8. A dynamic structural panel as recited in claim 1, wherein the dimples are nonuniformly shaped with nonuniform spacing.

9. A dynamic structure panel as recited in claim 1, wherein a cavity formed between the dimples and the reinforcing layer is filled with a dynamic material.

10. A dynamic structure panel as recited in claim 1, wherein at least one dimple is varied in shape from other dimples to accommodate and distribute structural, mechanical and pressure loads internal and external to the dimple panel.

12. A dynamic structure panel as recited in claim 1, wherein said dimples are flexible to store energy to accommodate and distribute structural, mechanical and pressure loads internal and external to the dimple panel.

13. A dynamic structure panel as recited in claim 1, wherein the reinforcing layer is generally planar.

14. A dynamic structure panel as recited in claim 1, wherein the reinforcing layer is nonplanar.

15. A dynamic structure panel as recited in claim 1, wherein at least one of the dimples includes a fastening portion and the reinforcing layer includes a complementary portion receiving the fastening portion wherein planar adjustments between the dimple layer and the reinforcing layer can be made.

17. A dynamic structure panel as recited in claim 1, wherein at least one of the dimples is collapsible.

18. A dynamic structure panel as recited in claim 1, further including a second dimple layer having a plurality of dimples extending from one side of said second dimple layer, said second dimple layer being compliant, said dimples of said second dimple layer connected to said reinforcing layer on the side of said reinforcing layer opposite said first dimple layer.

2. A dynamic structural dimple panel, comprising:

a dimple layer having a plurality of dimples extending from one side of the dimple layer, said dimples being spaced from one another and not touching, wherein the space between the dimples is curved, said dimple layer absorbing, storing, dissipating or distributing energy to make said dimple layer compliant;

a reinforcing layer being configured to connect with the dimples of the dimple layer, said reinforcing layer connected to said dimple layer by said dimples, the compliance of said dimple layer accommodating loading of said panel to distribute stresses place on the connection of said dimples, said dimple layer being a memory material which allows a size of a passage and/or a distance between the reinforcing layer and the dimple layer to be changed when the memory material undergoes a change in temperature; and

wherein the spacing of said dimples relative to one another increases or decreases upon loading of said panel.

3. A multilayer dimple panel, comprising:

a dimple layer having a plurality of first dimples extending from a firs side thereof and a plurality of second dimples extending from a second side thereof, said dimples being spaced from one another, the first and second dimples being misaligned from one another and non-touching, said dimple layer being compliant;

a first reinforcing layer connected to said dimple layer;

a second reinforcing layer connected to said dimple layer, the compliance of said dimple layer accommodating loading of said multilayer dimple panel to distribute stresses placed on the connection of said dimples; and

wherein the spacing of said dimples relative to one another increases or decreases upon loading of said panel, and the space between the dimples is curved.

4. A multilayer dimple panel, comprising:

a dimple layer having a plurality of first dimples extending from a first side thereof and a plurality of second dimples extending from a second side thereof, said dimples being spaced from one another, the first and second dimples being misaligned from one another and non-touching, said dimple layer being compliant;

a first reinforcing layer connected to said dimple layer;

a second reinforcing layer connected to said dimple layer, the compliance of said dimple layer accommodating loading of said multilayer dimple panel to distribute stresses placed on the connection of said dimples, said dimple layer being a memory material which allows a size of a passage and/or a distance between both the first and second reinforcing layers and the dimple layer to be changed when the memory material undergos a change in temperature; and

wherein the spacing of said dimples relative to one another increases of decreases upon loading of said panel, and the space between the dimples is curved.

5. A dynamic structure panel, comprising:

a dimple layer having a plurality of dimples extending from one side of the dimple layer, said dimples being spaced from one another and not touching, wherein the space between the dimples is corrugated, said dimple layer absorbing, storing, dissipating or distributing energy to make said dimple layer compliant;

a reinforcing layer being configured to connect with the dimples of the dimple layer, said reinforcing layer connected to said dimple layer by said dimples, compliance of said dimple layer accommodating loading of said panel to distribute stresses placed on the connection of said dimples; and

wherein the spacing of said dimples relative to one another increases or decreases upon loading of said panel.

11. A dynamic structure panel, comprising:

a first dimple layer having a plurality of dimples extending from one side of the dimple layer, said dimples being spaced from one another and not touching, said dimple layer absorbing, storing, dissipating or distributing energy to make said dimple layer compliant;

a reinforcing layer being configured to connect with the dimples of the first dimple layer, said reinforcing layer connected to said dimple layer by said dimples, compliance of said dimple layer accommodating loading of said panel to distribute stresses placed on the connection of said dimples;

a second dimple layer having a plurality of dimples extending from one side of said second dimple layer, the dimples being non-uniformly space from one another said dimples of said second dimple layer connected to said reinforcing layer on the side of said reinforcing layer opposite said first dimple layer, the dimples of said first and second dimple layers being misaligned from one another to prevent transmission of loads from one dimple layer to another; and

wherein the spacing of said dimples relative to one another increases or decreases upon loading of said panel.

16. A dynamic structure panel, comprising:

a dimple layer having a plurality of dimples extending from one side of the dimple layer, said dimples being spaced from one another and not touching, said dimple layer absorbing, storing, dissipating or distributing energy to make said dimple layer compliant;

a reinforcing layer being configured to connect with the dimples of the dimple layer, said reinforcing layer connected to said dimple layer by said dimples, compliance of said dimple layer accommodating loading of said panel to distribute stresses placed on the connection of said dimples;

a biasing element located between the dimple layer the reinforcing layer, the biasing element surrounding the at least one dimple and biasing the dimple layer away from the reinforcing layer; and

wherein the spacing of said dimples relative to one another increases or decreases upon loading of said panel.

19. A multilayer dimple panel, comprising:

a dimple layer having a plurality of first dimples extending from a first side thereof and a plurality of second dimples extending from a second side thereof, said dimples being spaced from one another, the first and second dimples being misaligned from one another and non-touching, said dimple layer being compliant;

a first reinforcing layer connected to said dimple layer;

a second reinforcing layer connected to said dimple layer, the compliance of said dimple layer accommodating loading of said multilayer dimple panel to distribute stresses placed on the connection of said dimples; and

wherein the spacing of said dimples relative to one another increases or decreases upon loading of said panel, and the space between the dimples is corrugated.

20. A multilayer dimple panel, comprising:

a first dimple layer having a plurality of first dimples extending from a first side thereof and a plurality of second dimples extending from a second side thereof, the first and second dimples being misaligned from one another and non-touching, said dimple layer being compliant;

a first reinforcing layer connected to said first dimple layer;

a second dimple layer having a plurality of dimples extending from one side of said second dimple layer, the dimples being non-uniformly spaced from one another said dimples of said second dimple layer connected to said reinforcing layer on the side of said reinforcing layer opposite said first dimple layer, the dimples of said first and second dimple layers being misaligned from one another to prevent transmission of loads from one dimple layer to another;

a second reinforcing layer connected to said second dimple layer, the compliance of said dimple layer accommodating loading of said multilayer dimple panel to distribute stresses placed on the connection of said dimples; and

wherein the spacing of said dimples relative to one another increases or decreases upon loading of said panel.

21. A multilayer dimple panel, comprising:

a dimple layer having a plurality of first dimples extending from a first side thereof and a plurality of second dimples extending from a second side thereof, the first and second dimples being misaligned from one another and non-touching, said dimple layer being compliant;

a first reinforcing layer connected to said dimple layer;

a second reinforcing layer connected to said dimple layer, the compliance of said dimple layer accommodating loading of said multilayer dimple panel to distribute stresses placed on the connection of said dimples;

a biasing element located between the dimple layer and the reinforcing layers, the biasing element surrounding the at least one dimple and biasing the dimple layer away from the reinforcing layers; and

wherein the spacing of said dimples relative to one another increases or decreases upon loading of said panel.

22. A multilayer dimple panel, comprising:

a dimple layer having a plurality of first dimples extending from a first side thereof and a plurality of second dimples extending from a second side thereof, said dimples being spaced from one another, the first and second dimples being misaligned from one another and non-touching, said dimple layer being compliant;

a first reinforcing layer connected to said dimple layer;

a second reinforcing layer connected to said dimple layer, the compliance of said dimple layer accommodating loading of said multi layer dimple panel to distribute stresses placed on the connection of said dimples, said dimple layer being a memory material which allows a size of a passage and/or a distance between both the first and second reinforcing layers, and the dimple layer to be changed when the memory material undergoes a change in temperature; and

wherein the spacing of said dimples relative to one another increases or decreases upon loading of said panel, and the space between the dimples is corrugated.

23. A multilayer dimple panel, comprising:

a first dimple layer having a plurality of first dimples extending from a first side thereof and a plurality of second dimples extending from a second side thereof, the first and second dimples being misaligned from one another and non-touching, said dimple layer being compliant;

first reinforcing layer connected to said first dimple layer;

a second dimple layer having a plurality of dimples extending from one side of said second dimple layer, the dimples being non-uniformly spaced from one another said dimples of said second dimple layer connected to said reinforcing layer on the side of said reinforcing layer opposite said first dimple layer, the dimples of said first and second dimple layers being misaligned from one another to prevent transmission of loads from one dimple layer to another;

a second reinforcing layer connected to said second dimple layer, the compliance of said dimple layer accommodating loading of said multilayer dimple panel to distribute stresses placed on the connection of said dimples; and

wherein the spacing of said dimples relative to one another increases or decreases upon loading of said panel.

24. A multilayer dimple panel, comprising:

a dimple layer having a plurality of first dimples extending from a first side thereof and a plurality of second dimples extending from a second side thereof, the first and second dimples being misaligned from one another and non-touching, said dimple layer being compliant;

a first reinforcing layer connected to said dimple layer;

a second reinforcing layer connected to said dimple layer, the compliance of said dimple layer accommodating loading of said multilayer dimple panel to distribute stresses placed on the connection of said dimples, said dimple layer being a memory material which allows a size of a passage and/or a distance between both the first and second reinforcing layers and the dimple layer to be changed when the memory material undergoes a change in temperature;

a biasing element located between the dimple layer and the reinforcing layer, the biasing element surrounding the at least one dimple and biasing the dimple layer away from the reinforcing layer; and

wherein the spacing of said dimples relative to one another increases or decreases upon loading of said panel.