# US 10,370,143 B2 · Container of thermoplastic material

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- Number: US 10,370,143 B2
- Document ID: US10370143B2
- Status: Granted
- Kind: B2
- Application number: 14/703,383
- Filed: 2015-05-04
- Published: 2015-08-20
- Granted: 2019-08-06
- Earliest claimed: 2006-07-03
- Assignees: Kautex Textron GmbH & Co. KG
- Applicants: Kautex Textron GmbH & Co. KG
- Inventors: Matthias Borchert; Timo Kramer; Klaus Gebert; Dirk Eulitz; Gerd Wolter; Harald Lorenz; Deniz Bienhuls; Christoph Mehren; Robert Lower
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US10370143B2

## CPC

- B65D 11/22: {Reinforcing for strengthening parts of members}
- B29C 51/267: {Two sheets being thermoformed in separate mould parts and joined together while still in the mould (B29C49/0691 takes precedence)}
- B29C 65/028: {making use of inherent heat, i.e. the heat for the joining comes from the moulding process of one of the parts to be joined}
- B29C 65/609: {the integral rivets being plunge-formed}
- B29C 66/131: {Single flanged joints, i.e. one of the parts to be joined being rigid and flanged in the joint area}
- B29C 66/1312: {Single flange to flange joints, the parts to be joined being rigid (the parts to be joined being flexible B29C66/133)}
- B29C 66/21: {said joint lines being formed by a single dot or dash or by several dots or dashes, i.e. spot joining or spot welding}
- B29C 66/532: {Joining single elements to the wall of tubular articles, hollow articles or bars}
- B29C 66/54: {Joining several hollow-preforms, e.g. half-shells, to form hollow articles, e.g. for making balls, containers; Joining several hollow-preforms, e.g. half-cylinders, to form tubular articles}
- B29C 66/61: {Joining from or joining on the inside (for making tubes by bending sheets and joining from the inside B29C53/387)}
- B29C 66/83221: {cooperating reciprocating tools, each tool reciprocating along one axis}
- B60K 15/03177: {made of non-metallic material, e.g. plastics, or of a combination of non-metallic and metallic material (B60K15/03006 takes precedence)}
- B65D 11/02: {of curved cross-section (thermally insulated B65D81/3813)}
- B29C 49/0691: {using sheet like material, e.g. sheet blow-moulding from joined sheets}
- B29C 49/06914: {using parallel sheets as a preform}
- B29C 51/12: of articles having inserts or reinforcements
- B29C 65/605: {the rivets being molded in place, e.g. by injection}
- B29C 65/7838: {from the inside, e.g. of tubular or hollow articles (B29C66/3242 takes precedence)}
- B29C 2791/001: Shaping in several steps
- B29K 2101/12: Thermoplastic materials
- B29L 2022/00: Hollow articles (tubular articles B29L2023/00; pneumatic tyres B29L2030/00)
- B29L 2031/7172: {Fuel tanks, jerry cans}
- B29L 2031/737: {Articles provided with holes, e.g. grids, sieves (nets B29L2028/00)}
- B60K 2015/03032: {Manufacturing of fuel tanks}
- B60K 2015/03453: {for fixing or mounting parts of the fuel tank together}
- B60K 2015/0777: {in-tank reservoirs or baffles integrally manufactured with the fuel Tank}
- B65D: CONTAINERS FOR STORAGE OR TRANSPORT OF ARTICLES OR MATERIALS, e.g. BAGS, BARRELS, BOTTLES, BOXES, CANS, CARTONS, CRATES, DRUMS, JARS, TANKS, HOPPERS, FORWARDING CONTAINERS; ACCESSORIES, CLOSURES, OR FITTINGS THEREFOR; PACKAGING ELEMENTS; PACKAGES
- B29C: SHAPING OR JOINING OF PLASTICS; SHAPING OF MATERIAL IN A PLASTIC STATE, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR; AFTER-TREATMENT OF THE SHAPED PRODUCTS, e.g. REPAIRING (making preforms B29B11/00; making laminated products by combining previously unconnected layers which become one product whose layers will remain together B32B37/00 - B32B41/00)
- B60K: ARRANGEMENT OR MOUNTING OF PROPULSION UNITS OR OF TRANSMISSIONS IN VEHICLES; ARRANGEMENT OR MOUNTING OF PLURAL DIVERSE PRIME-MOVERS IN VEHICLES; AUXILIARY DRIVES FOR VEHICLES; INSTRUMENTATION OR DASHBOARDS FOR VEHICLES; ARRANGEMENTS IN CONNECTION WITH COOLING, AIR INTAKE, GAS EXHAUST OR FUEL SUPPLY OF PROPULSION UNITS IN VEHICLES
- B29K: INDEXING SCHEME ASSOCIATED WITH SUBCLASSES B29B, B29C OR B29D, RELATING TO MOULDING MATERIALS OR TO MATERIALS FOR {MOULDS, } REINFORCEMENTS, FILLERS OR PREFORMED PARTS, e.g. INSERTS
- B29L: INDEXING SCHEME ASSOCIATED WITH SUBCLASS B29C, RELATING TO PARTICULAR ARTICLES

## Abstract

An article enclosing at least one built-in fitment component in the form of a hollow body of thermoplastic material. The hollow body is preferably in the form of a fuel tank. The built-in fitment component is pressed against the inside wall of the article while still plastic so that the plastic material of the hollow body penetrates through at least one recess or opening of the built-in fitment component and flows therebehind.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A plastic hollow body comprising:
the hollow body in a form of a fluid container configured to contain a fluid;
at least one built-in fitment component or attachment disposed within an interior of the hollow body and joined to a wall of the hollow body, wherein the wall has an inner side facing the interior of the hollow body and an outer side facing opposite the inner side;
wherein the hollow body and the built-in fitment component or attachment are positively lockingly joined together;
wherein the built-in fitment component or attachment includes a foot element having a stepped configuration towards the wall of the hollow body which forms a stepped contact surface which contacts the wall of the hollow body;
wherein the foot element includes at least one through opening having a longitudinal length extending through the foot element along a longitudinal axis and a through opening dimension transverse to the longitudinal axis; and
wherein plastic material of the wall of the hollow body occupies the at least one through opening and forms a head having a head dimension transverse to the longitudinal axis which is larger than the through opening dimension of the at least one through opening which engages with the foot element such that the built-in fitment component or attachment is positively lockingly joined to the wall of the hollow body, wherein the plastic material of the wall of the hollow body which occupies the at least one through opening and forms the head excludes the outer side of the wall.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The plastic hollow body of claim 1 wherein:
the stepped contact surface is concave.

### Claim 3 (depends on 1)

The plastic hollow body of claim 1 wherein:
the stepped contact surface is conical.

### Claim 4 (depends on 1)

The plastic hollow body of claim 1 wherein:
facing the wall of the hollow body, the stepped configuration includes a concave region at a proximate end of the through opening.

### Claim 5 (depends on 4)

The plastic hollow body of claim 4 wherein:
the concave region at the proximate end of the through opening forms part of the stepped contact surface.

### Claim 6 (depends on 4)

The plastic hollow body of claim 4 wherein:
the through opening comprises a round bore; and
the concave region at the proximate end of the through opening surrounds the round bore such that the round board is located at a deepest point in the concave region.

### Claim 7 (depends on 4)

The plastic hollow body of claim 4 wherein:
the concave region at the proximate end of the through opening is conical.

### Claim 8 (depends on 1)

The plastic hollow body of claim 1 wherein:
the foot element has a concave surface within the stepped configuration.

### Claim 9 (depends on 8)

The plastic hollow body of claim 8 wherein:
when the built-in fitment component or attachment is being joined to the wall of the hollow body, the concave surface is arranged to guide plastic material of the wall through the through opening in the foot element.

### Claim 10 (depends on 1)

The plastic hollow body of claim 1 wherein:
facing away from the wall of the hollow body, the foot element has an undercut region at a remote end of the through opening.

### Claim 11 (depends on 10)

The plastic hollow body of claim 10 wherein:
the head of the plastic material of the wall of the hollow body which occupies the at least one through opening occupies the undercut region.

### Claim 12 (depends on 11)

The plastic hollow body of claim 11 wherein:
the head of the plastic material of the wall of the hollow body which occupies the undercut region and is shaped such that the built-in fitment component or attachment is positively lockingly joined to the wall of the hollow body.

### Claim 13 (depends on 1)

The plastic hollow body of claim 1 wherein:
the head dimension transverse to the longitudinal axis which is larger than the through opening dimension of the at least one through opening is located adjacent a remote end of the through opening.

### Claim 14 (depends on 10)

The plastic hollow body of claim 10 wherein:
the undercut region at the remote end of the through opening is concave.

### Claim 15 (depends on 10)

The plastic hollow body of claim 10 wherein:
the undercut region at the remote end of the through opening is conical.

### Claim 16 (depends on 1)

The plastic hollow body of claim 1 wherein:
the at least one built-in fitment component or attachment further comprises the at least one built-in fitment component.

### Claim 17 (depends on 1)

The plastic hollow body of claim 1 wherein:
the through opening dimension transverse to the longitudinal axis is a through opening diameter, and
the head dimension transverse to the longitudinal axis is a head diameter.

### Claim 18 (depends on 1)

The plastic hollow body of claim 1 wherein:
the fluid container comprises a fuel tank.

### Claim 19

A plastic hollow body comprising:
the hollow body in a form of a fluid container configured to contain a fluid;
at least one built-in fitment component or attachment disposed within an interior of the hollow body and joined to a wall of the hollow body, wherein the wall has an inner side facing the interior of the hollow body and an outer side facing opposite the inner side;
wherein the hollow body and the built-in fitment component or attachment are positively lockingly joined together;
wherein the built-in fitment component or attachment includes a foot element having a stepped configuration towards the wall of the hollow body which forms a stepped contact surface which contacts the wall of the hollow body;
wherein the foot element includes at least one through opening having a longitudinal length extending through the foot element along a longitudinal axis and a through opening dimension transverse to the longitudinal axis; and
wherein plastic material of the wall of the hollow body occupies the at least one through opening and forms a head having a head dimension transverse to the longitudinal axis which is larger than the through opening dimension of the at least one through opening which engages with the foot element such that the built-in fitment component or attachment is positively lockingly joined to the wall of the hollow body, wherein the plastic material of the wall of the hollow body which occupies the at least one through opening and forms the head has a solid cross-sectional thickness whereby the head is not hollow.

### Claim 20 (depends on 19)

The plastic hollow body of claim 19 wherein:
the stepped contact surface is concave.

### Claim 21 (depends on 19)

The plastic hollow body of claim 19 wherein:
the stepped contact surface is conical.

### Claim 22 (depends on 19)

The plastic hollow body of claim 19 wherein:
facing the wall of the hollow body, the stepped configuration includes a concave region at a proximate end of the through opening.

### Claim 23 (depends on 22)

The plastic hollow body of claim 22 wherein:
the concave region at the proximate end of the through opening forms part of the stepped contact surface.

### Claim 24 (depends on 22)

The plastic hollow body of claim 22 wherein:
the through opening comprises a round bore; and
the concave region at the proximate end of the through opening surrounds the round bore such that the round board is located at a deepest point in the concave region.

### Claim 25 (depends on 22)

The plastic hollow body of claim 22 wherein:
the concave region at the proximate end of the through opening is conical.

### Claim 26 (depends on 19)

The plastic hollow body of claim 19 wherein:
the foot element has a concave surface within the stepped configuration.

### Claim 27 (depends on 26)

The plastic hollow body of claim 26 wherein:
when the built-in fitment component or attachment is being joined to the wall of the hollow body, the concave surface is arranged to guide plastic material of the wall through the through opening in the foot element.

### Claim 28 (depends on 19)

The plastic hollow body of claim 19 wherein:
facing away from the wall of the hollow body, the foot element has an undercut region at a remote end of the through opening.

### Claim 29 (depends on 28)

The plastic hollow body of claim 28 wherein:
the head of the plastic material of the wall of the hollow body which occupies the at least one through opening occupies the undercut region.

### Claim 30 (depends on 29)

The plastic hollow body of claim 29 wherein:
the head of the plastic material of the wall of the hollow body which occupies the undercut region and is shaped such that the built-in fitment component or attachment is positively lockingly joined to the wall of the hollow body.

### Claim 31 (depends on 19)

The plastic hollow body of claim 19 wherein:
the head dimension transverse to the longitudinal axis which is larger than the through opening dimension of the at least one through opening is located adjacent a remote end of the through opening.

### Claim 32 (depends on 28)

The plastic hollow body of claim 28 wherein:
the undercut region at the remote end of the through opening is concave.

### Claim 33 (depends on 28)

The plastic hollow body of claim 28 wherein:
the undercut region at the remote end of the through opening is conical.

### Claim 34 (depends on 19)

The plastic hollow body of claim 19 wherein:
the at least one built-in fitment component or attachment further comprises the at least one built-in fitment component.

### Claim 35 (depends on 19)

The plastic hollow body of claim 19 wherein:
the through opening dimension transverse to the longitudinal axis is a through opening diameter, and
the head dimension transverse to the longitudinal axis is a head diameter.

### Claim 36 (depends on 19)

The plastic hollow body of claim 19 wherein:
the fluid container comprises a fuel tank.