Device comprising at least one built-in composite material hinge having an uninterrupted connecting reinforcement

摘要

A device includes at least one built-in flexible portion (1) between two stiffer portions (10) that are made of a stiff composite material, the flexible portion (11) being suitable for forming a flexible hinge and made of a flexible material including a reinforcing armature that includes at least one connecting layer (13) common to the material(s) forming each stiff portion (10). The device has end surfaces (20) that oppose each other when extended, the opposing end surfaces being arranged to be suited to serve as a longitudinal compression abutment while enabling the thus-made hinge to fold back at least in a direction away from the extended state.

主权项

1. A device comprising:
at least one flexible portion between two stiff portions, which are stiffer than said at least one flexible portion, each of said two stiff portions being made of stiff composite material, said at least one flexible portion connecting said two stiff portions and forming a flexible hinge between said two stiff portions, each of said two stiff portions comprising,
at least one reinforcement structure of said stiff composite material, said at least one reinforcement structure being able to impart resistance to said stiff composite material at least in longitudinal traction, anda first matrix within which said at least one reinforcement structure extends, said at least one flexible portion being formed by at least one flexible material selected from the group of flexible composite materials comprising,
a reinforcing armature comprising at least one connection layer of said reinforcement structure which is common to said stiff composite material, each said at least one connection layer extending continuously and in common between said two stiff portions and being flexible, anda second matrix within which said reinforcing armature extends, said second matrix being more flexible in flexure than said first matrix of the stiff composite material; wherein, said two stiff portions have end surfaces that oppose each other when said device is in an extended state, where the stiff portions and said at least one flexible portion are in a longitudinal extension of one another, said at least one flexible portion axially compressing under longitudinal compression forces in the extended state, said end surfaces of said stiff portions being arranged in the extended state to come into flat surface contact with each other and at a neutral longitudinal axis of the device after axial compression deformation of said at least one flexible portion so that said end surfaces act as abutments transmitting the longitudinal compression forces at least along said neutral longitudinal axis and torsion forces, and said end surfaces being arranged to enable the flexible hinge thus formed to fold back, at least in a direction away from the extended state.