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.

Date of Patent:
Dec. 26, 2006

Filed:

Aug. 09, 2002
Applicants:

Bryan K. Bergsma, Spokane, WA (US);

Joseph P. Canavan, Spokane, WA (US);

Thomas J. Courrier, Coeur D'Alene, ID (US);

Walter Forrest Frantz, North Bend, WA (US);

Harvey T. Jones, Spokane, WA (US);

Denis J. Klein, Spokane, WA (US);

Matthew K. Lum, Mercer Island, WA (US);

Mark L. Younie, Mill Creek, WA (US);

Inventors:

Bryan K. Bergsma, Spokane, WA (US);

Joseph P. Canavan, Spokane, WA (US);

Thomas J. Courrier, Coeur D'Alene, ID (US);

Walter Forrest Frantz, North Bend, WA (US);

Harvey T. Jones, Spokane, WA (US);

Denis J. Klein, Spokane, WA (US);

Matthew K. Lum, Mercer Island, WA (US);

Mark L. Younie, Mill Creek, WA (US);

Assignee:

The Boeing Company, Chicago, IL (US);

Attorney:
Primary Examiner:
Assistant Examiner:
Int. Cl.
CPC ...
B29C 51/02 (2006.01); B29C 57/10 (2006.01);
U.S. Cl.
CPC ...
Abstract

There are provided apparatuses and related methods for preforming sheets to form preforms for forming ducts. The preforms can be formed of a thermoplastic material, such as flat sheets of reinforced thermoplastic, which can be lightweight, strong, and perform well in flammability, smoke, and toxicity tests. The apparatus includes a heater for heating the sheet to a processing temperature and a structure for configuring the sheet to a desired shape of the duct. For example, rollers, rods, tubes, or a funnel can be used to bend the sheet.


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