Patent ID: 6688680
Filing Date: 2004-02-10
Classification: B62D

Abstract:
A molded cross vehicle beam comprising:(a) a rigid support having a first surface, a second surface and a plurality of perforations having edges; (b) at least one attachment element having a first surface, a second surface and a plurality of perforations having edges, said attachment element providing means of attaching said molded cross vehicle beam to a separate structure; and (c) a rigid molded member of thermoplastic material, at least a portion of said rigid molded member being in abutting relationship with the first surface of said rigid support (a) and the first surface of said attachment element (b), said rigid molded member having a hollow interior, wherein said molded cross vehicle beam is prepared by a process comprising blow molding a thermoplastic parison precursor of said rigid molded member (c) onto the first surface of said rigid support (a) and the first surface of said attachment element (b), a portion of the thermoplastic material of said thermoplastic parison extends through at least some of said perforations of said rigid support (a) and said attachment element (b), the edges of said perforations being embedded in the plastic material extending therethrough, thereby fixedly attaching said rigid molded member (c) to said rigid support (a) and said attachment element (b).