Resiliently flexible composite articles with overmolded rigid portions

Abstract

Resiliently flexible articles include a resiliently flexible element, a first rigid element, and a second rigid element. The resiliently flexible element is formed of a fiber reinforced polymeric composite. The first rigid element is formed of a first thermoplastic composition and at least a portion of the first rigid element is bonded, such as by an overmolding process, onto a first portion of the resiliently flexible element. Similarly, the second rigid element is formed of a second thermoplastic composition and at least a portion of the second rigid element is bonded, such as by an overmolding process, onto a second portion of the resiliently flexible element. The resiliently flexible articles can be useful as springs, limbs, living hinges, and the like.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.