Patent EP0706876A1 successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
EP0706876A1
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EP
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Composite structure and method of forming same
Assignee: DePuy Spine LLC
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Filing: 1995-09-15
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Granted: —
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Expires: 2015-09-15
Abstract
Abstract A method of forming a composite structure (60) comprises the steps of forming a radially inner portion (64) of a preform with braided reinforcing fibers extending substantially transverse to an axis of the preform and forming a radially outer portion (68) of the preform circumscribing the inner portion with braided reinforcing fibers extending substantially parallel to the axis of the preform. The preform is heated and consolidated in a mold into the composite structure. The composite structure has braided reinforcing fibers extending throughout a radially inner portion (60) substantially transverse to an axis of the structure along which the structure is subject to splitting to resist splitting of the composite structure along the axis and braided reinforcing fibers extending throughout a radially outer portion (68) substantially parallel to the axis to resist bending of the composite structure. The composite structure is particularly suitable for manufacturing a bone plate.
Inventors
- 👤 Carl R. Mcmillin
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
EP
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-23 12:35
CPC Classifications
B; B29; B29C; B29C70/00; B29C70/04; B29C70/06; B29C70/10; B29C70/16; B29C70/22; B29C70/222; A; A61; A61B; A61B17/00; A61B17/56; A61B17/58; A61B17/68; A61B17/70; A61B17/7001; A61B17/7002; A61B17/7004; A61B17/7007; A61B17/701; B29C70/28; B29C70/30; B29C70/34; B29C70/88; B29C70/882; B29C70/885; A61B17/7011; A61B2017/00526; A61B2017/00831; A61B90/00; A61B90/39; B29L; B29L2031/00; B29L2031/753; B29L2031/7532; Y; Y10; Y10S; Y10S428/00; Y10S428/902; Y10S623/00; Y10S623/901; Y10T; Y10T428/00; Y10T428/24; Y10T428/24058; Y10T428/24124; Y10T428/24273; Y10T428/24298; Y10T428/24314
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 37
Claim 1
Independent Claim
96 words
A composite structure comprising: a radially inner portion of matrix material; a radially outer portion of matrix material circumscribing said inner portion; braided reinforcing fibers extending throughout said inner portion substantially transverse to an axis along which said composite structure is subject to splitting to resist splitting of said composite structure along said axis; and braided reinforcing fibers extending throughout said outer portion substantially parallel to said axis to resist bending of said composite structure; said directions of said reinforcing fibers resulting from heating and consolidating a preform made of matrix material and braided reinforcing fibers.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
43 words
A composite structure as set forth in claim 1 wherein said reinforcing fibers in said inner portion have a braid angle between approximately 60° and 90° and said reinforcing fibers in said outer portion have a braid angle between 0° and approximately 45°.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
59 words
A composite structure as set forth in claim 2 further including an intermediate portion of matrix material circumscribed by said outer portion of matrix material and circumscribing said inner portion of matrix material and braided reinforcing fibers extending throughout said intermediate portion, said reinforcing fibers in said intermediate portion having a braid angle between approximately 40° and approximately 55°.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
28 words
A composite structure as set forth in claim 3 wherein each of said inner, intermediate, and outer portions includes a plurality of concentric layers of braided reinforcing fibers.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
25 words
A composite structure as set forth in claim 4 wherein said plurality of concentric layers of reinforcing fibers in said inner portion are biaxially braided.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
60 words
A composite structure as set forth in claim 5 wherein said intermediate portion includes a first plurality of concentric layers of biaxially braided reinforcing fibers and a second plurality of concentric layers of triaxially braided reinforcing fibers, said second plurality of concentric layers of reinforcing fibers circumscribing said first plurality of concentric layers of reinforcing fibers in said intermediate portion.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
25 words
A composite structure as set forth in claim 6 wherein said plurality of concentric layers of reinforcing fibers in said outer portion are triaxially braided.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
19 words
A composite structure as set forth in claim 3 further including a titanium wire extending through said intermediate portion.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
36 words
A composite structure as set forth in claim 2 further including a radially outermost portion circumscribing said outer portion, said outermost portion including braided reinforcing fibers with a braid angle between approximately 40° and approximately 65°.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
17 words
A composite structure as set forth in claim 1 including a plurality of openings for receiving fasteners.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
45 words
A composite structure as set forth in claim 10 wherein said openings are defined by spherical recesses in a side surface of said composite structure which define a plurality of locations for receiving fasteners, each of said recesses defining a spherical arc extending approximately 145°.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
32 words
A composite structure as set forth in claim 11 wherein at least one of said openings is a slot, said recesses defining a plurality of locations along said slot for receiving fasteners.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
23 words
A composite structure as set forth in claim 12 further including a round opening located at an axial end portion of said structure.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
25 words
A composite structure as set forth in claim 1 wherein said reinforcing fibers are between 55% and 75% of the weight of said composite structure.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
19 words
A composite structure as set forth in claim 1 wherein at least some of said reinforcing fibers are contorted.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
20 words
A composite structure as set forth in claim 15 wherein said at least some of said reinforcing fibers are coiled.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
20 words
A composite structure as set forth in claim 15 wherein said at least some of said reinforcing fibers are twisted.
Claim 18
Independent Claim
104 words
A method of forming a composite structure which in use is subject to splitting along an axis and bending, said method comprising the steps of: providing a radially inner portion of a preform with a first plurality of braided reinforcing fibers extending substantially transverse to the axis; providing a radially outer portion of the preform circumscribing the inner portion with a second plurality of braided reinforcing fibers extending substantially parallel to the axis; and heating and consolidating the preform to form a matrix with the first and second plurality of braided reinforcing fibers extending through inner and outer portions of the matrix material, respectively.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
53 words
A method as set forth in claim 18 including braiding the first plurality of reinforcing fibers of the inner portion of the preform with a braid angle between approximately 60° and 90° and braiding the second plurality of reinforcing fibers of the outer portion with a braid angle between 0° and approximately 45°.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
44 words
A method as set forth in claim 19 including providing an intermediate portion of the preform circumscribed by the outer portion and circumscribing the inner portion with a third plurality of braided reinforcing fibers having a braid angle between approximately 40° and approximately 55°.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
35 words
A method as set forth in claim 20 including providing a radially outermost portion of the preform circumscribing the outer portion with braided reinforcing fibers having a braid angle between approximately 40° and approximately 65°.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
56 words
A method as set forth in claim 21 including braiding approximately 50% of bias ends of the radially outermost portion with matrix yarn, approximately 50% of the bias ends of the radially outermost portion with commingled matrix and reinforcing fiber yarn, and axial ends of the radially outermost portion with commingled matrix and reinforcing fiber yarn.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
28 words
A method as set forth in claim 20 including forming each of the inner, intermediate, and outer portions to be approximately one third the thickness of the preform.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
28 words
A method as set forth in claim 20 including forming each of the inner, intermediate, and outer portions out of a plurality of concentric layers of braided fibers.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
20 words
A method as set forth in claim 24 including biaxially braiding the plurality of concentric layers of the inner portion.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
45 words
A method as set forth in claim 24 including biaxially braiding a first plurality of concentric layers of the intermediate portion and triaxially braiding a second plurality of concentric layers of the intermediate portion circumscribing the first plurality of concentric layers of the intermediate portion.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
20 words
A method as set forth in claim 24 including triaxially braiding the plurality of concentric layers of the outer portion.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
17 words
A method as set forth in claim 24 including braiding a titanium wire into the intermediate portion.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
20 words
A method as set forth in claim 18 including contorting at least some of the reinforcing fibers prior to braiding.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim
23 words
A method as set forth in claim 29 wherein said step of contorting the reinforcing fibers includes forming coils in the reinforcing fibers.
Claim 31
Dependent Claim
15 words
A method as set forth in claim 29 including forming the preform with commingled yarn.
Claim 32
Dependent Claim
21 words
A method as set forth in claim 31 wherein the step of contorting the reinforcing fibers includes twisting the commingled yarn.
Claim 33
Dependent Claim
21 words
A method as set forth in claim 18 including forming a plurality of openings in the composite structure for receiving fasteners.
Claim 34
Dependent Claim
32 words
A method as set forth in claim 33 including forming spherical recesses extending approximately 145° in a side surface of the composite structure to define a plurality of locations for receiving fasteners.
Claim 35
Dependent Claim
22 words
A method as set forth in claim 34 including forming a slot with at least two recesses defining locations for receiving fasteners.
Claim 36
Dependent Claim
26 words
A method as set forth in claim 35 including forming a round opening at an axial end portion of the composite structure for receiving one fastener.
Claim 37
Dependent Claim
31 words
A method as set forth in claim 18 further including forming the composite structure with the reinforcing fibers making up between 55% and 75% of the weight of the composite structure.
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WO1992011128A1
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