Source: https://patents.google.com/patent/US9782950B2/en
Timestamp: 2018-05-21 05:28:06
Document Index: 553419297

Matched Legal Cases: ['Application No. 08162226', 'Art. 101', 'Application No. 2352665', 'Application No. 2011', 'application No. 09752627', 'Application No. 2352665', 'Application No. 09752627', 'Application No. 09752627', 'Application No. 09752627']

US9782950B2 - Hybrid reinforcement structure - Google Patents
US9782950B2
US9782950B2 US14874521 US201514874521A US9782950B2 US 9782950 B2 US9782950 B2 US 9782950B2 US 14874521 US14874521 US 14874521 US 201514874521 A US201514874521 A US 201514874521A US 9782950 B2 US9782950 B2 US 9782950B2
US14874521
US20160023435A1 (en )
As illustrated in FIGS. 1-3, the present invention provides a localized reinforcement 12 into a contemplated impact deformation region 36 on a base reinforcing portion 13 as part of a single carrier 29 (the base reinforcing portion having a longitudinal axis 28 and a first curved surface 33) such that the localized reinforcement material is different from the base reinforcing portion material of the structural reinforcement 50. The area of the base reinforcing portion fitted with the localized reinforcement may experience reduced deformation as compared to the portions of the base reinforcing portion that are not fitted with any localized reinforcement. The reinforcement structure may include a first surface 22 and a second surface 23. The localized reinforcement may be placed so that it contacts only the first surface (as shown for example in FIG. 2). The first surface may include a recessed area 26 having one or more walls for containing the localized reinforcement. The walls of the recessed area may be substantially planar as shown for example in FIGS. 2 and 3, or may be curved. The structural reinforcement 50 including a top portion 30, a middle portion 31, and a bottom portion 32 so that the localized reinforcement 12 is only in contact with the middle portion. As shown in FIG. 3, the base reinforcing portion includes one or more extensions 34 extending therefrom.
As shown in FIG. 11, the base reinforcing portion 13 may include a top portion 17, a middle portion 18 and a bottom portion 19. The middle portion may be in contact with the localized reinforcement 12, whereas the top portion and bottom portion may not be in contact with the localized reinforcement. The top portion may include a through-hole 20 for attaching the structural reinforcement 50 to a vehicle component. The bottom portion may also include a generally u-shaped cut-out area 21 for facilitating fit of the structural reinforcement within a cavity. The base reinforcing portion may also include a first surface 22 and a second surface 23 such that the localized reinforcement is placed in contact with the first surface. The first surface 22 may be curved in a concave form along the middle portion 18 of the base reinforcing portion. The localized reinforcement may also include a concave curved portion 24 so that it is complementary in shape to the middle portion of the base reinforcing portion. The localized reinforcement may cover only part of the first surface of the middle portion or may cover the entire first surface of the middle portion. The first surface, the second surface, or both may also include a plurality of ribs 10.
The base reinforcing portion may also be contacted with one or more expandable materials such as those disclosed in commonly owned U.S. Patent Publication No. 2008/0029200, hereby incorporated by reference. The expandable material may be an epoxy based material such as those disclosed in U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,884,960; 6,348,513; 6,368,438; 6,811,864; 7,125,461; 7,249,415; and U.S. Patent Publication No. 2004/0076831, hereby incorporated by reference. The base reinforcing portion may also include one or more extensions 14 (as shown in FIG. 10). One function of the base reinforcing portion, in addition to providing structural reinforcement 50 to a vehicle upon placement in a vehicle cavity, is to provide a structural member that carries an activatable expandable material. Thus, the base reinforcing portion may include one or more outward facing surfaces onto which a layer of the expandable material is placed. The expandable material 15 is applied to the surface of the base reinforcing portion (prior to expansion) at such locations. The expandable material may be at least partially associated with the base reinforcing portion and the one or more extensions may cause the expandable material to expand vertically first and horizontally 38 only after the expandable material extends beyond the height 37 of the one or more extensions. Optionally, the direction of expansion may be controlled by one or more extensions, such as those disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 6,941,719. The base reinforcing portion may also be composed of an expandable material, such as that disclosed in commonly owned U.S. Patent Publication No. 2007/0090560, hereby incorporated by reference. The base reinforcing portion and the expandable material may also be integrally formed of the same material.
Unless stated otherwise, dimensions sand geometries of the various structures depicted herein are not intended to be restrictive of the invention, and other dimensions or geometries are possible. Plural structural components can be provided by a single integrated structure. Alternatively, a single integrated structure might be divided into separate plural components. In addition, while a feature of the present invention may have been described in the context of only one of the illustrated embodiments, such feature may be combined with one or more other features of other embodiments, for any given application. It will also be appreciated from the above that the fabrication of the unique structures herein and the operation thereof also constitute methods in accordance with the present invention.
i) an elongated base reinforcing portion having a longitudinal axis;
ii) an expandable polymeric material at least partially associated with the elongated base reinforcing portion; and
iii) a localized reinforcement aligned generally parallel with the longitudinal axis and located within a contemplated impact deformation region of the structural reinforcement wherein the localized reinforcement is made of a metallic material that is dissimilar from and has a higher tensile strength than a material of the elongated base reinforcing portion so that upon impact in the impact deformation region, severity of deformation is reduced as compared to a part without the localized reinforcement;
wherein the localized reinforcement includes a fastener to attach the localized reinforcement to a component selected from a mounting bracket, a seat belt mechanism or retractor, a pull handle bracket, a roof rack, a mirror bracket, a sunroof bracket, a bumper bracket, a hinge component, a chassis mount bracket, an engine bracket, a suspension component or a radiator bracket; and
wherein the elongated base reinforcing portion is molded over and around the localized reinforcement.
2. The structural reinforcement of claim 1, wherein the localized reinforcement is made of a metallic material selected from steel, aluminum, titanium, nickel, magnesium, an alloy, a transition metal or any combination thereof.
3. The structural reinforcement of claim 1, wherein the localized reinforcement is substantially completely covered by the elongated base reinforcing portion, the expandable material, or both.
4. The structural reinforcement of claim 1, wherein the elongated base reinforcing portion includes a curved first surface that is in contact with a curved localized reinforcement.
5. The structural reinforcement of claim 1, wherein the localized reinforcement is a composite material.
6. The structural reinforcement of claim 1, wherein the localized reinforcement has an outer surface and at least a portion of the outer surface is in contact with the expandable polymeric material after expansion.
7. The structural reinforcement of claim 4, wherein the localized reinforcement has an outer surface and at least a portion of the outer surface is in contact with the expandable polymeric material after expansion.
8. The structural reinforcement of claim 1, wherein the expandable polymeric material has a ductility ratio of about 2.5.
9. The structural reinforcement of claim 1, wherein the localized reinforcement has a generally curved or U-shaped profile.
10. The structural reinforcement of claim 2, wherein the ductility of the elongated base reinforcing portion material is less than the ductility of the localized reinforcement material.
11. The structural reinforcement of claim 2, wherein the localized reinforcement has one or more visible exposed surfaces after expansion of the expandable polymeric material.
12. The structural reinforcement of claim 10, wherein the structural reinforcement includes a top portion, a middle portion and a bottom portion so that the localized reinforcement is only in contact with the middle portion.
US14874521 2008-11-07 2015-10-05 Hybrid reinforcement structure Active US9782950B2 (en)
US14269262 Continuation US9150001B2 (en) 2008-11-07 2014-05-05 Hybrid reinforcement structure
US15727237 Continuation US20180029328A1 (en) 2008-11-07 2017-10-06 Hybrid reinforcement structure
US20160023435A1 true US20160023435A1 (en) 2016-01-28
US9782950B2 true US9782950B2 (en) 2017-10-10
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Free format text: ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNORS INTEREST;ASSIGNORS:HULETT, GARY;RICHARDSON, HENRY E.;QIAN, XUPING;SIGNING DATES FROM 20131028 TO 20140115;REEL/FRAME:040569/0228