Patents by Inventor Christopher A. Howe

Christopher A. Howe has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).

  • Patent number: 10583605
    Abstract: A drop draw and extrusion method that creates anchor points around, within, or around and within, the region where a two dimensional fibrous architecture is deposited. Between the anchor points, a nozzle translates at high speeds to draw, extrude, or draw and extrude (depending on the print settings), a filament from the nozzle and build a two dimensional network of filaments connected by the anchors. Webbed architectures fabricated using the methods described herein exhibit superior structural properties.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 19, 2018
    Date of Patent: March 10, 2020
    Assignee: THE BOEING COMPANY
    Inventors: Christopher A. Howe, Justin Hicks, Michelle Louise Gee, Thomas Wilson, Adrian Mouritz
  • Patent number: 10562262
    Abstract: A composite article including fiber tows and a network including material drawn or pulled between the fiber tows. The network forms a physical barrier reducing propagation of cracks in the composite article. Exemplary structures described herein are the first to use a novel cellular architecture to toughen resin infused composites and create a continuous through thickness reinforcement that does not induce fiber breakage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 19, 2018
    Date of Patent: February 18, 2020
    Assignee: THE BOEING COMPANY
    Inventors: Christopher A. Howe, Kariza Martin, Michelle Louise Gee, Adrian Mouritz
  • Publication number: 20190322347
    Abstract: A composite article including a plurality of layers each comprising bundles of fibers separated by spaces; pins bonded to a side of at least one of bundles and extending or built through the spaces between the layers; and a resin combined with the layers and the pin. The pins form a physical barrier preventing or reducing propagation of cracks in an x-y plane of the composite article.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 19, 2018
    Publication date: October 24, 2019
    Applicant: The Boeing Company
    Inventors: Christopher A. Howe, Kariza Martin, Michelle Louise Gee, Adrian Mouritz
  • Publication number: 20190322074
    Abstract: A composite article including fiber tows and a network including material drawn or pulled between the fiber tows. The network forms a physical barrier reducing propagation of cracks in the composite article. Exemplary structures described herein are the first to use a novel cellular architecture to toughen resin infused composites and create a continuous through thickness reinforcement that does not induce fiber breakage.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 19, 2018
    Publication date: October 24, 2019
    Applicant: The Boeing Company
    Inventors: Christopher A. Howe, Kariza Martin, Michelle Louise Gee, Adrian Mouritz
  • Publication number: 20190322037
    Abstract: A drop draw and extrusion method that creates anchor points around, within, or around and within, the region where a two dimensional fibrous architecture is deposited. Between the anchor points, a nozzle translates at high speeds to draw, extrude, or draw and extrude (depending on the print settings), a filament from the nozzle and build a two dimensional network of filaments connected by the anchors. Webbed architectures fabricated using the methods described herein exhibit superior structural properties.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 19, 2018
    Publication date: October 24, 2019
    Applicant: The Boeing Company
    Inventors: Christopher A. Howe, Justin Hicks, Michelle Louise Gee, Thomas Wilson, Adrian Mouritz
  • Publication number: 20190322057
    Abstract: A three dimensional permeable thermoplastic tape useful for joining of layers of fiber tows (plies) together so as to form highly toughened resin infused structures. In one or more embodiments, the tape is manufactured using three dimensional printing and is applied between layers of fiber tows so as to tack the layers of fiber tows in place and prevent movement of the layers of fiber tows.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 26, 2019
    Publication date: October 24, 2019
    Applicant: The Boeing Company
    Inventors: Paul Evans, Christopher A. Howe, Kariza Martin, Thomas Wilson
  • Publication number: 20180162072
    Abstract: A composite structure is fabricated by laying up at least one ply of fiber reinforcement and at least one layer of resin on a tool. The resin film layer is formed by laying strips of resin film. The fiber reinforcement is infused with resin from the resin layer.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 12, 2018
    Publication date: June 14, 2018
    Inventors: Michael D. Silcock, Christopher A. Howe, Brice A. Johnson
  • Publication number: 20180073167
    Abstract: A composite fiber may include at least one reinforcing filament formed of a first material. A second material maybe systematically deposited in a printed onto the at least one reinforcing filament such that at least one of a length, a width, and a thickness of the second material varies across a surface of the at least one reinforcing filament. The printed pattern may alter one or more properties of a composite structure containing the composite fiber.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 25, 2017
    Publication date: March 15, 2018
    Inventors: Samuel J. Meure, Christopher A. Howe
  • Patent number: 9889612
    Abstract: A composite structure is fabricated by laying up at least one ply of fiber reinforcement and at least one layer of resin on a tool. The resin film layer is formed by laying strips of resin film. The fiber reinforcement is infused with resin from the resin layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 22, 2014
    Date of Patent: February 13, 2018
    Assignee: THE BOEING COMPANY
    Inventors: Michael D. Silcock, Christopher A. Howe, Brice A. Johnson
  • Patent number: 9845556
    Abstract: A composite fiber may include at least one reinforcing filament formed of a first material. A second material maybe systematically deposited in a printed onto the at least one reinforcing filament such that at least one of a length, a width, and a thickness of the second material varies across a surface of the at least one reinforcing filament. The printed pattern may alter one or more properties of a composite structure containing the composite fiber.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 23, 2014
    Date of Patent: December 19, 2017
    Assignee: The Boeing Company
    Inventors: Samuel J. Meure, Christopher A. Howe
  • Publication number: 20160089853
    Abstract: A filament network for a composite structure may include a number of fiber layers, wherein each fiber layer includes a fiber bundle and a filament layer at least partially covering the fiber bundle, the filament layer including discontinuous filaments including at least one of different length filaments including first length filaments and second length filaments, wherein the first length filaments include a first length and the second length filaments include a second length, and wherein the first length is different than the second length and different type filaments including first type filaments and second type filaments, wherein the first type filaments include a first material composition, wherein the second type filaments include a second material composition, and wherein the first material composition is different that the second material composition, and a resin binding the number of fiber layers together.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 30, 2014
    Publication date: March 31, 2016
    Inventors: Sam Meure, Christopher A. Howe, Mark S. Wilenski
  • Publication number: 20160083871
    Abstract: A composite fiber may include at least one reinforcing filament formed of a first material. A second material maybe systematically deposited in a printed onto the at least one reinforcing filament such that at least one of a length, a width, and a thickness of the second material varies across a surface of the at least one reinforcing filament. The printed pattern may alter one or more properties of a composite structure containing the composite fiber.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 23, 2014
    Publication date: March 24, 2016
    Inventors: Samuel J. Meure, Christopher A. Howe
  • Publication number: 20150034247
    Abstract: A composite structure is fabricated by laying up at least one ply of fiber reinforcement and at least one layer of resin on a tool. The resin film layer is formed by laying strips of resin film. The fiber reinforcement is infused with resin from the resin layer.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 22, 2014
    Publication date: February 5, 2015
    Inventors: Michael D. Silcock, Christopher A. Howe, Brice A. Johnson
  • Patent number: 8900391
    Abstract: A composite structure is fabricated by laying up at least one ply of fiber reinforcement and at least one layer of resin on a tool. The resin film layer is formed by laying strips of resin film. The fiber reinforcement is infused with resin from the resin layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 26, 2011
    Date of Patent: December 2, 2014
    Assignee: The Boeing Company
    Inventors: Michael D. Silcock, Christopher A. Howe, Brice A. Johnson
  • Publication number: 20120325398
    Abstract: A composite structure is fabricated by laying up at least one ply of fiber reinforcement and at least one layer of resin on a tool. The resin film layer is formed by laying strips of resin film. The fiber reinforcement is infused with resin from the resin layer.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 26, 2011
    Publication date: December 27, 2012
    Inventors: Michael D. Silcock, Christopher A. Howe, Brice A. Johnson