US 12,297,951 B2
Tubular structure reinforcing
Eric D. Smith, Denver, CO (US); Loren Daniel Bridgers, Golden, CO (US); and Rosalind K. Takata, Denver, CO (US)
Assigned to Keystone Tower Systems, Inc., Denver, CO (US)
Filed by Keystone Tower Systems, Inc., Denver, CO (US)
Filed on Jan. 28, 2021, as Appl. No. 17/161,265.
Claims priority of provisional application 62/966,803, filed on Jan. 28, 2020.
Prior Publication US 2021/0231237 A1, Jul. 29, 2021
Int. Cl. F16L 9/14 (2006.01); B21B 1/22 (2006.01); B21B 1/28 (2006.01); B21B 23/00 (2006.01); B21B 27/02 (2006.01); B21B 31/00 (2006.01); B21B 39/34 (2006.01); F16L 9/16 (2006.01); B21B 15/00 (2006.01)
CPC F16L 9/14 (2013.01) [B21B 1/224 (2013.01); B21B 1/28 (2013.01); B21B 23/00 (2013.01); B21B 27/021 (2013.01); B21B 31/00 (2013.01); B21B 39/34 (2013.01); F16L 9/16 (2013.01); B21B 2015/0092 (2013.01); B21B 2205/04 (2013.01)] 14 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A tubular structure comprising:
a base having a first surface and a second surface opposite one another, the first surface defining an elongate cavity, and the base having a tubular shape defining a longitudinal axis extending along the elongate cavity; and
a wrap supported on the second surface of the base, the wrap including a plurality of layers, and each layer having a first longitudinal edge and a second longitudinal edge coupled to one another along a respective spiral seam associated with the given layer and extending about the longitudinal axis of the base, wherein the base and each one of the plurality of layers are metal, a first layer of the plurality of layers is joined to the base via a first weld penetrating into the base, and a collective thickness of the wrap and the base varies in a direction parallel to the longitudinal axis of the base.