The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Jun. 09, 1992
Filed:
Sep. 18, 1989
Clayton C Gnagy, Enumclaw, WA (US);
William L Rodman, Kirkland, WA (US);
Ralph R Welsh, Kent, WA (US);
The Boeing Company, Seattle, WA (US);
Abstract
A fluid such as a fluidized bed or a molten bath, is heated to a temperature sufficiently high to soften a substantially rigid body of material and sufficiently low to avoid damage to the material. While maintaining the fluid at this temperature, the body is immersed in the fluid to heat the body uniformly. Pressure is applied to the heated body to form it into a desired three-dimensional configuration. The heated body is removed from the fluid either before, after, and/or while the pressure is applied. The body is allowed to cool and harden into its desired configuration. The body is preferably formed between a flexible member and a mold surface. The method may be used to form various types of material, including honeycomb core, laminated sheets of plastic, plastic tubing, and titanium. The body may be precut and indexed and secured to a mold which is immersed in the fluid with the body.