Patent ID: 7407062

Claim:
A filament-reinforced pressure vessel comprising: a fluid-containment cavity defined by a substantially continuous vessel wall, the vessel wall comprising: a thermoplastic liner having an inner surface and an outer surface; and an outer layer comprising reinforcing filaments and a plastic material, said outer layer being bonded to the outer surface of the thermoplastic liner; and at least one unitary thermoplastic fitting assembly formed in the vessel wall, the unitary thermoplastic fitting assembly comprising: a first thermoplastic fitting portion bonded to the inner surface of the thermoplastic liner so as to form a fluid-tight seal around an opening of a passageway through the first thermoplastic fitting portion and the inner surface of the thermoplastic liner; and a second thermoplastic fitting portion extending through the outer layer and the liner and being permanently bonded to the first fitting portion so as to form the unitary thermoplastic fitting assembly, said first and second fitting portions defining a port between the fluid-containment cavity and an exterior of the vessel.