# US 11,299,262 B2 · Composite skid member with varying cross-sections > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 11,299,262 B2 - Document ID: US11299262B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 16/565,129 - Filed: 2019-09-09 - Published: 2021-03-11 - Granted: 2022-04-12 - Earliest claimed: 2019-09-09 - Assignees: Textron Innovations Inc. - Applicants: Bell Textron Inc. - Inventors: Timothy Brian Carr; William Anthony Amante; Brian John Cox - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US11299262B2 ## CPC - B64C 25/52: Skis or runners - B64C 25/32: characterised by elements which contact the ground or similar surface (arrester hooks B64C25/68) - B64C 2025/325: {specially adapted for helicopters} - B64C: AEROPLANES; HELICOPTERS ## Abstract Various implementations directed to composite skid member with varying cross-sections are provided. In one implementation, an aircraft landing gear assembly may include two composite skid members configured to contact the ground, where each composite skid member includes a first cross-section and a second cross-section, and where the first cross-section is different than the second cross-section. The aircraft landing gear assembly may also include two cross members configured to couple to a fuselage of an aircraft and configured to interconnect the two composite skid members. ## Claims ### Claim 1 An aircraft landing gear assembly, comprising: two composite skid members configured to contact the ground, wherein each composite skid member comprises a first cross-section at a central portion of each composite skid member and a second cross-section at at least one end portion of each composite skid member, and wherein the first cross-section is different than the second cross-section; and two cross members configured to couple to a fuselage of an aircraft and configured to interconnect the two composite skid members; wherein the central portion comprises the first cross-section, wherein the first cross-section has a first dimensional measurement; and the respective end portion comprises the second cross-section, wherein the second cross-section has a second dimensional measurement, and wherein the first dimensional measurement is greater than the second dimensional measurement, and wherein the central portion and at least one end portion are linear. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The aircraft landing gear assembly of claim 1, wherein the two cross members comprise a front cross member and a rear cross member. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The aircraft landing gear assembly of claim 1, wherein the two composite skid members comprise two skid members made of composite material. ### Claim 4 (depends on 3) The aircraft landing gear assembly of claim 3, wherein the composite material comprises carbon fiber reinforced polymer. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The aircraft landing gear assembly of claim 1, wherein a respective composite skid member comprises: the central portion corresponding to a midpoint of the respective composite skid member; and two end portions, wherein a respective end portion corresponds to an end of the respective composite skid member. ### Claim 6 (depends on 5) The aircraft landing gear assembly of claim 5, wherein the central portion is disposed between the two end portions. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The aircraft landing gear assembly of claim 1, wherein: the first cross-section and the second cross-section are circular; the first dimensional measurement corresponds to a first diameter measurement of the first cross-section of the central portion; and the second dimensional measurement corresponds to a second diameter measurement of the second cross-section of the respective end portion, wherein the first diameter measurement is greater than the second diameter measurement. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The aircraft landing gear assembly of claim 1, wherein: the first cross-section and the second cross-section are rectangular; the first dimensional measurement corresponds to a first length measurement of the first cross-section of the central portion; and the second dimensional measurement corresponds to a second length measurement of the second cross-section of the respective end portion, wherein the first length measurement is greater than the second length measurement. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The aircraft landing gear assembly of claim 1, wherein: the first cross-section and the second cross-section are rectangular; the first dimensional measurement corresponds to a first width measurement of the first cross-section of the central portion; and the second dimensional measurement corresponds to a second width measurement of the second cross-section of the respective end portion, wherein the first width measurement is greater than the second width measurement. ### Claim 10 (depends on 1) The aircraft landing gear assembly of claim 1, wherein the central portion has a higher inertia than the respective end portion. ### Claim 11 (depends on 1) The aircraft landing gear assembly of claim 1, wherein the central portion comprises two transitional sections, wherein each transitional section has cross-sections that progressively decrease in size from the first cross-section to the second cross-section. ### Claim 12 (depends on 1) The aircraft landing gear assembly of claim 1, further comprising a scuff guard coupled to each composite skid member, wherein the scuff guard is configured to surround at least a bottom portion of each composite skid member. ### Claim 13 (depends on 1) The aircraft landing gear assembly of claim 1, wherein the two composite skid members comprise composite skid members manufactured using a filament winding process, a hand lay-up process, a mandrel of multiple pieces, a eutectic salt mandrel, an inflatable bladder, or combinations thereof. ### Claim 14 (depends on 1) The aircraft landing gear assembly of claim 1, wherein the aircraft is a helicopter. ### Claim 15 An aircraft landing gear assembly, comprising: two composite skid members configured to contact the ground, wherein each composite skid member comprises a first cross-section and a second cross-section, and wherein the first cross-section is different than the second cross-section; and two cross members configured to couple to a fuselage of an aircraft and configured to interconnect the two composite skid members, wherein the two cross members are composed of metallic material; wherein a respective composite skid member comprises: a central portion that corresponds to a midpoint of the respective composite skid member, wherein the central portion comprises the first cross-section, and wherein the first cross-section has a first dimensional measurement; and two end portions, wherein a respective end portion corresponds to an end of the respective composite skid member, wherein the respective end portion comprises the second cross-section, wherein the second cross-section has a second dimensional measurement, and wherein the first dimensional measurement is greater than the second dimensional measurement, wherein the central portion and at least one end portion are linear. ### Claim 16 (depends on 15) The aircraft landing gear assembly of claim 15, wherein: the metallic material comprises an aluminum alloy; and the two composite skid members comprise two skid members made of carbon fiber reinforced polymer. ### Claim 17 An aircraft, comprising: a fuselage; an aircraft landing gear assembly, comprising: two composite skid members configured to contact the ground, wherein each composite skid member comprises a first cross-section and a second cross-section, and wherein the first cross-section is different than the second cross-section; and two cross members configured to couple to the fuselage and configured to interconnect the two composite skid members; wherein a respective composite skid member comprises: a central portion that corresponds to a midpoint of the respective composite skid member, wherein the central portion comprises the first cross-section, and wherein the first cross-section has a first dimensional measurement; and two end portions, wherein a respective end portion corresponds to an end of the respective composite skid member, wherein the respective end portion comprises the second cross-section, wherein the second cross-section has a second dimensional measurement, and wherein the first dimensional measurement is greater than the second dimensional measurement, wherein the central portion and the two end portions are linear.