US 12,291,057 B2
Methods of manufacture for reinforced thermoplastic components
Jason Christensen, Gunnison, UT (US); Joseph Stanish, Gunnison, UT (US); and Roland Christensen, Gunnison, UT (US)
Assigned to CSS COMPOSITES LLC, Gunnison, UT (US)
Filed by CSS Composites LLC, Gunnison, UT (US)
Filed on Mar. 8, 2021, as Appl. No. 17/195,440.
Application 17/195,440 is a continuation of application No. 17/036,661, filed on Sep. 29, 2020, granted, now 11,142,020.
Claims priority of provisional application 62/908,320, filed on Sep. 30, 2019.
Claims priority of provisional application 62/982,611, filed on Feb. 27, 2020.
Prior Publication US 2021/0187998 A1, Jun. 24, 2021
Int. Cl. B60B 5/02 (2006.01); B29C 70/34 (2006.01); B29L 31/32 (2006.01); B60B 1/04 (2006.01)
CPC B60B 5/02 (2013.01) [B29C 70/34 (2013.01); B60B 1/041 (2013.01); B60B 1/043 (2013.01); B29L 2031/32 (2013.01); B60B 2310/206 (2013.01); B60B 2310/3025 (2013.01); B60B 2310/318 (2013.01); B60B 2310/50 (2013.01); B60B 2360/3412 (2013.01); B60B 2360/3416 (2013.01)] 20 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A method of manufacturing a reinforced thermoplastic wheel component, the method comprising:
forming a rim bed portion from a reinforced thermoplastic material;
forming a main structure portion from the reinforced thermoplastic material;
thermally bonding the rim bed portion to the main structure portion within a tooling compartment to form a continuous circular component, the rim bed portion and the main structure portion defining a cavity; and
sealing the cavity by sealing an opening in the rim bed portion with the reinforced thermoplastic material of the rim bed portion;
wherein:
the main structure portion comprises a first wall portion and a second wall portion;
the first wall portion overlaps the second wall portion in a direction substantially parallel to a longitudinal axis of the rim bed portion;
the first wall portion is thermally bonded to the second wall portion along the overlap between the first wall portion and the second wall portion to form a seamless interface between the first wall portion and the second wall portion; and
the main structure portion is configured to receive a spoke through the first wall portion and the second wall portion such that the spoke exhibits a pull force on the first wall portion and the second wall portion.