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US 2003/0196716 A1Published application
Design and manufacturing method for multi-material tube structures
AssigneeVyatek Sports, Inc.
InventorHoward A. Lindsay
Life of this patent
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AssigneeVyatek Sports, Inc.
InventorHoward A. Lindsay
Estimating the term…
The present invention provides an improved tubular structure which uses the properties of different materials, such as stiffness, strength, and density are exploited in a manner which combines the most attractive characteristics of existing metal and composite tubes into a metal/composite tube which contains performance characteristics (stiffness, strength or weight) not possible with pure metal or composite materials. For example, an improved tube is suitably created with a conventional metallic tube structure (e.g., steel, aluminum, titanium or the like). The original tube is modified with a secondary operation such as machining, punching, laser cutting or the like to remove various portions of the original tube wall, resulting in a tube with some pattern of “holes” or “cutaway” sections, thus resulting in a lighter tube. The tube is then suitably “fused” with composite material. For example, in one embodiment of the present invention, the metal piece is placed in a mold assembly and composite materials are molded inside the metal tube resulting in a part metal and part composite tube that has beneficial characteristics of each material.
A tubular structure, comprising a substantially cylindrical metal tube, having a wall with a series of apertures and a composite material placed therewithin, wherein said composite material is contiguous with an inner surface of said wall of said metal tube.
A composite structure, comprising an outer structure with at least one outer wall that at least partially enclose a volume, said outer structure having a series of apertures, and a composite material placed on an inner side of said outer structure, wherein said composite material is contiguous with said inner surface.
An improved tubular structure, comprising:
A method for manufacturing an improved composite structure, comprising:
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.
From the US filing history. Foreign family members aren’t listed.
Backward citations are indexed for grants only.
Rigid pipes: compound tubes, i.e. made of materials not wholly covered by any one of the preceding groups
Using isostatic pressure, e.g. pressure difference-moulding, vacuum bag-moulding, autoclave-moulding or expanding rubber-moulding: moulding…
Partly or totally electrically conductive, e.g. for EMI shielding: with incorporated metallic wires, nets, films or plates
Layered products having a non-planar shape: tubular products
Term end not estimated
This invention relates generally to high performance tubular technology exhibiting lighter and stronger properties as well as improved stiffness (longitudinally or torsionally). The characteristics of the invention are particularly useful in tube and tube-like structures, such as golf shafts, lacrosse sticks, bicycles and bike components, ski poles, hockey sticks, softball/baseball bats, automotive and motorcycle frames and similar components.
Current tubular technology used in various sporting goods, automotive, aerospace and similar applications can generally be divided into two major technologies: (1) metals such as steel, aluminum or titanium and (2) composites such as graphite/epoxy, fiberglass, and/or other fiber/resin combinations.
Additionally, sub-categories of these technologies exist which can vary by processing, such as casting, forging or extruding metals, or flag wrapping, filament winding or molding composites.
The subject matter of the present invention is particularly pointed out and distinctly claimed in the concluding portion of the specification. A more complete understanding of the present invention, however, may best be obtained by referring to the detailed description and claims in connection with the drawing figures, wherein:
FIG. 1 is a conventional metal tube used in accordance with an exemplary embodiment of the present invention;
FIG. 2 is an exemplary framing tube in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention;
The following description is of exemplary embodiment of the invention only, and is not intended to limit the scope, applicability or configuration of the invention in any way. Rather, the following description is intended to provide a convenient illustration for implementing various embodiments of the invention. As will become apparent, various changes may be made in the function and arrangement of the elements described in these embodiments without departing from the scope of the invention as set forth in the appended claims.
For example, in the context of the present invention the method and apparatus hereof find particular use in connection with tubular structures found in sporting goods (golf shafts, etc.) and frames (bicycles and the like). However, generally speaking, numerous applications of the present invention may be realized.
For example, though “tubular” structures are generally referred to herein to mean generally cylindrical structures (e.g., golf shafts, ski poles and the like), it will be appreciated that other non-cylindrical at least partially hollow shapes (e.g., a golf club heads, hockey sticks, lacrosse sticks) which incorporate the present invention may likewise be used. Accordingly, as used herein, “tubular” means any shaped structure, typically comprising walls which at least partially enclose a volume.
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