Patent ID: 6719165
Filing Date: 2004-04-13
Classification: B29C,B29L,F17C

Abstract:
A vessel comprising:a vessel body having at least one surface which is curved about both a vessel body axis and a second axis; and a reinforcing structure disposed at the at least one surface of the vessel body and about the vessel body axis, the reinforcing structure comprising a plurality of gore pieces disposed on the vessel body at the at least one surface of the vessel body to form a gore body, each gore piece comprising a composite sheet having a shape that conforms to the at least one surface of the vessel body, the gore pieces being disposed on the at least one surface of the vessel body in overlapping relation, wherein the gore body comprises: a first layer of gore pieces substantially abutting one another around the at least one surface of the vessel body; and and a second layer of gore pieces disposed over the first layer of gore pieces and around the at least one surface of the vessel body so that each of the gore pieces of the second layer overlaps at least two of the gore pieces of the first layer.