Laminated U-shaped channel
AssigneeSouthwest Greene International, Inc.
InventorsStephen Waszak, Jeffrey Head
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A passage is formed between bases stamped, formed and laminated U-shaped channels. Interlocking locating features are formed into the inner and outer stamped and formed layers. Inner and outer components are attached by welds, glue, snap-fit or interference fit. Inner and outer components can be made of the same material and thickness or from different materials and thicknesses as needed to achieve the desired mechanical properties such as shear strength, bending strength, torsional stiffness or flexibility and longitudinal stiffness or flexibility. The materials may vary in thickness or composition along the length or height of the device to achieve the desired mechanical properties.
Claims19
Apparatus comprising:
- a laminated channel having:
- an outer channel component and an inner channel component joined to the outer channel component,
- the outer channel component having a base and first and second sides spaced opposite each other and connected to the base,
- the inner channel component having a base and first and second opposite sides spaced from each other and connected to the base,
- the outer channel component and the inner channel component being joined together, and inner walls of the sides of the outer channel component being joined and held on walls of the outer sides of the inner channel component, wherein the base of the outer channel component and the base of the inner channel component are spaced from each other, forming a passage in the laminated channel,
- the inner channel component being nested inside the outer channel component such that the passage is formed between an outer surface of the base of the inner channel component and an inner surface of the base of the outer channel component, and
- wherein the base of the inner channel component is flat and the base of the outer channel component is curved, thereby providing the passage between the bases.
A method comprising:
- forming a laminated channel by:
- providing an outer channel component,
- providing a base and first and second sides spaced opposite each other and connected to the base on the outer channel component,
- providing an inner channel component,
- providing a base and first and second opposite sides spaced from each other and connected to the base on the inner channel component,
- joining the outer channel component and the inner channel component,
- joining and holding inner walls of the sides of the outer channel component on outer walls of the sides of the inner channel component,
- spacing from each other the base of the outer channel component and the base of the inner channel component, and
- forming a passage between the spaced bases in the laminated channel,
- the inner channel component being nested inside the outer channel component such that the passage is formed between an outer surface of the base of the inner channel component and an inner surface of the base of the outer channel component, and
- wherein the base of the inner channel component is flat and the base of the outer channel component is curved, thereby providing the passage between the bases.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.