Patent Abstract:
An integrated automotive vehicle component and heat shield apparatus is provided. The apparatus includes a body having a heat sensitive region and a heat shield integrally molded thereon. The heat shield includes a first edge and a second edge. The first edge is bonded, via the molding process, to a first area of the body. The second edge is attached to a second area of the body. The second area is opposite the heat sensitive region from the first area. Thus, the heat shield covers the heat sensitive region of the body.

Full Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
   The present invention relates to automotive vehicle components and heat shields, and more particularly, to an automotive vehicle component having an integral heat shield. 
   BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
   Various automotive vehicle components include temperature sensitive regions. These same components are often used in high temperature applications. Therefore, a heat shield is used to protect the heat sensitive region. One type of heat shield includes a strap-type heat shield. A strap-type heat shield attaches to the component in a manner similar to that of a belt. The strap is fed through at least one loop or flange portion on the automotive component and the ends are buckled or attached together. The strap-type heat shield has a primary shielding area, which is disposed over the heat sensitive region of the component. Problems associated with using a strap-type heat shield includes the additional cost of purchasing the heat shield, additional cost and complexity associated with manufacturing loops or flanges on the automotive component, and the extreme difficulty of assembly in mass production. As stated above, the strap-type heat shield is typically fed through at least one loop or flange formed on the automotive component. The loop or flange sometimes has less than 5 mm of clearance through curved, sharp and tacky rubber bonded surfaces. Therefore, manipulating the strap through these areas can be frustrating and time consuming. 
   SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
   The present invention provides an integrated automotive vehicle component and heat shield apparatus. The apparatus includes a body having a heat sensitive region and a heat shield integrally molded thereon. The heat shield includes a first edge and a second edge. The first edge is bonded, via the molding process, to a first area of the body. The second edge is attached to a second area of the body. The second area is opposite the heat sensitive region from the first area. Thus, the heat shield covers the heat sensitive region of the body. 
   Another aspect of the present invention includes a method of providing an integrated automotive vehicle component and heat shield apparatus. The method first includes selecting a component body. Next, a first edge of the heat shield is molded onto a first area of the component body. The heat shield is then folded about the first edge such that a second edge becomes juxtaposed with a second area of the component body. Finally, the second edge is attached to the second area of the component body. 
   Further areas of applicability of the present invention will become apparent from the detailed description provided hereinafter. It should be understood that the detailed description and specific examples, while indicating the preferred embodiment of the invention, are intended for purposes of illustration only and are not intended to limit the scope of the invention. 

   
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     The present invention will become more fully understood from the detailed description and the accompanying drawings, wherein: 
       FIG. 1  is an isometric view of an exemplary integrated automotive vehicle component and heat shield apparatus in accordance with the principles of the present invention; 
       FIG. 2  is a front view of the integrated automotive vehicle component and heat shield apparatus of  FIG. 1  as removed from the mold; 
       FIG. 3  is a front view of the integrated automotive vehicle component and heat shield apparatus of  FIGS. 1 and 2  with the second edge of the heat shield attached to the component body; 
       FIG. 4  is a front view of an exemplary mold assembly used to fashion the integrated automotive vehicle component and heat shield apparatus of  FIGS. 1–3 ; and 
       FIG. 5  is a flowchart of a method of providing an integrated automotive vehicle component and heat shield apparatus in accordance with the present invention. 
   

   DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
   The following description of the preferred embodiment(s) is merely exemplary in nature and is in no way intended to limit the invention, its application, or uses. 
   With reference to  FIGS. 1 and 2 , an integrated automotive vehicle component and heat shield apparatus  10  is described. The apparatus  10  includes an automotive component body  12  having a body cap  14 , a pedestal  16 , a base plate  18 , and a heat shield  20 . In the embodiment illustrated, the automotive component is a powertrain mount. It should be appreciated, however, that any mechanical component requiring a heat shield is intended to be within the scope of the present invention. The base plate  18  supports the pedestal  16 , which supports the base cap  14 . The heat shield  20  includes a first edge  22  and a second edge  24 . The first-edge  22  is integrally bonded to a first area  26  of the base plate  18  such that the heat shield  20  naturally appends from the base plate  28 . The pedestal  16  includes a heat sensitive region  25 . The body cap  14  and base plate  18  are molded of steel and the pedestal  16  and heat shield  20  are molded of rubber. 
   Referring to  FIG. 3 , the second edge  24  of the heat shield  20  is attached to a second area  28  of the body cap  14 . In the embodiment illustrated, the second edge  24  is attached to the second area  28  with an adhesive. In an alternative exemplary embodiment, the second edge  24  is attached to the second area  28  with an interference fit. It is envisioned that the interference fit may include a tongue formed on the heat shield  20  and received in an aperture formed in the second area  28  of the body cap  14 . It is further envisioned that the interference fit may include a tongue formed on the second area  28  of the body cap  14  and received in an aperture molded into the second edge  24  of the heat shield  20 . It is also envisioned that the engagement between the second edge  24  and the second area  28  is more robust than the bonding between the first edge  22  and the first area  26  of the base plate  18 . This ensures that the heat shield  20  will continue to cover the heat sensitive region  25  of the pedestal  16  even in the event that the first edge  22  becomes debonded from the first area  26 . 
   With further reference to  FIGS. 2 and 3 , the heat shield  20  has a dimension D 1  that is greater than a dimension D 2  between the first area  26  of the body  12  and the second area  28  of the body  12 . This provides for a heat shield  20  having an arch-shaped front elevation upon attachment of the second edge  24 . Such arch-shaped front elevation reduces tension at the interfaces between the first and second edges  22 ,  24  and the first and second areas  26 ,  28 , respectively. 
   With reference to  FIG. 4 , a mold assembly  30  for integrally forming a heat shield  20  onto an automotive vehicle component in accordance with the present invention is described. The mold assembly  30  includes a top mold member  32 , a bottom mold member  34 , a first intermediate mold member  36 , and a second intermediate mold member  38 . The top mold member  32  includes a body cap cavity  40  adapted to receive the preformed body cap  14  of the body  12 . The bottom mold member  34  includes a base plate cavity  42 , a heat shield cavity  44 , and a first feed bore  45 . The base plate cavity  42  is adapted to receive the preformed base plate  18  of the body  12 . The heat shield cavity  44  is adapted to define the geometry of the integrated heat shield  20  upon injection with a liquid rubber. The first and second intermediate mold members  36 ,  38  include cooperative first and second pedestal cavities  46 ,  48  for defining the pedestal  16  of the body  12  upon injection with a molten rubber. The first intermediate mold member  36  further includes a second feed bore  49 . This configuration of split mold members enables the heat shield  20  to be integrally molded onto the body  12  of the automotive component in accordance with the present invention. It should be appreciated, however, that the above-described mold assembly  30  is merely exemplary, and that other mold assemblies capable of producing the same result are intended to be within the scope of the present invention. 
     FIG. 5  is a flowchart illustrating a method of providing an integrated automotive vehicle component and heat shield apparatus  10  in accordance with the present invention. Initially, a component body  12  is selected  50 , which, in an exemplary embodiment includes a powertrain mount having a body cap  14  and a base plate  18 . Next, adhesive is applied  52  to the first area  26  and a pedestal support area (not shown) of the base plate  18 . Further, adhesive is applied  54  to an underside area (not shown) of the body cap  14 . The base plate  18  is then deposited  56  into the base plate cavity  42  in the bottom member  34  and the body cap  14  is deposited  58  into the body cap cavity  40  in the top member  32 . The top, bottom and intermediate members  32 ,  34 ,  36 , and  38  of the mold assembly  30  are then assembled  60  into the configuration illustrated in  FIG. 4 . Molten rubber is injected  62  through the first and second feed bores  45 ,  49  to fill the heat shield and cooperating pedestal cavities  44  and  46 ,  48 . This creates the pedestal  16  having the heat sensitive region  25 . In an exemplary embodiment, the steps of filling the pedestal cavities  46 ,  48  and the heat shield cavity  44  occur substantially contemporaneously. 
   Subsequent to the pedestal  16  and heat shield  20  curing, the mold members  32 ,  34 ,  36 , and  38  are disassembled  64  and the integrated automotive vehicle component and heat shield apparatus  10  is removed  66 . The second edge  24  of the heat shield  20  is then folded  68  about the first edge  22  of the heat shield  20  and attached  70  to the second area  28  of the body cap  14 . In an exemplary embodiment, the second edge  24  is attached by applying an adhesive to either the second edge  24 , the second area  28 , or both. In an alternative exemplary embodiment, the second edge  24  is attached by inserting a tongue formed on the second edge  24  into an aperture formed in the second area  28 . In yet another alternative exemplary embodiment, the second edge  24  is attached by inserting a tongue formed on the second area  28  into an aperture formed on or near the second edge  24  of the heat shield  20 . It should be appreciated that while a number of attaching means have been described herein, any means of attaching the second edge  24  to the second area  28  is intended to be within the scope of the present invention. 
   The description of the invention is merely exemplary in nature and, thus, variations that do not depart from the gist of the invention are intended to be within the scope of the invention. Such variations are not to be regarded as a departure from the spirit and scope of the invention.

Technology Classification (CPC): 5