Patent ID: 7407338

Claim:
An air induction component assembly comprising: a first shell made from a laser-transparent material defining a first laser weld surface and including a first taper locking surface opposite from said first laser weld surface; a second shell made from a laser absorbing material defining a second laser weld surface and including a second taper locking surface opposite from said second laser weld surface wherein said first laser weld surface comprises a first tapered surface portion defining a first angle and said second laser weld surface comprises a second tapered surface portion defining a second angle different than said first angle; and a laser weld joint area formed at said first and second laser weld surfaces to permanently attach said first shell to said second shell wherein said first and second taper locking surfaces cooperate with each other to lock said first and second laser weld surfaces into abutting engagement at a predetermined pressure during a laser welding process, and wherein at least one of said first and second taper locking surfaces defines a taper angle that is at least twice that of both said first and second angles.