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:
Feb. 10, 1998
Filed:
Aug. 26, 1996
William J Bryant, Wichita, KS (US);
The Boeing Company, Seattle, WA (US);
Abstract
A vacuum bag assembly used in making laminated articles having layers of composite materials and thermosetting resins that are formed and adhesively bonded together. The assembly includes a forming tool on which the composite materials and the thermosetting resins may be positioned. The composite materials have edges well spaced from edges of the forming tool. A vacuum bag is positioned over the composite material and the forming tool. The vacuum bag includes a flexible mat, having an irregular surface contiguous with the composite materials. The flexible mat also has edges well spaced from the edges of the forming tool. The vacuum bag also has a continuous flexible suction channel having an inner arch-like surface and an outer arch-like surface positioned between the edges of the flexible mat and the edges of the forming tool. The suction channel is attached to the flexible mat by a flexible connecting flange. Further, the flexible connecting flange, the outer surface of said suction channel, the edges of the flexible mat and the forming tool define the walls of an airspace positioned in between the flexible mat and the suction channel. The airspace is in pneumatic communication with the irregular surface of the flexible mat.