Patent ID: 7735226

Claim:
A process for manufacture of a structural element, the structural element comprising: at least one hollow metal body ( 4 ) having a closed cross-section with an external surface ( 24 ) and at least one anchor pattern ( 22 ) formed on the external surface ( 24 ), and at least one body of plastics material ( 6 ) overmoulded onto the metal body ( 4 ), the body of plastics material ( 6 ) covering the external surface ( 24 ) of the metal body ( 4 ) in such a way as to at least partly cover the anchor pattern ( 22 ) to link the body of plastics material ( 6 ) to the metal body ( 4 ), wherein the anchor pattern ( 22 ) projects from the external surface ( 24 ) of the metal body ( 4 ), the anchor pattern ( 22 ) being closed and of one material with the metal body ( 4 ) and having an undercut ( 40 ) in relation to the external surface ( 24 ) of the metal body, the process comprising: forming a precursor ( 58 ) of the anchor pattern ( 22 ) projecting from the external surface ( 24 ) of the metal body ( 4 ) during a stage of forming the metal body ( 4 ) by positioning the metal body ( 4 ) in a mould ( 50 , 52 ) and introducing a pressurised fluid within the metal body ( 4 ), and deforming the precursor ( 58 ) in order to obtain the anchor pattern ( 22 ) provided with the undercut.