Vehicle component with an accessory mounting feature and a method and tool for forming
AssigneeFord Global Technologies, LLC
InventorsJeffrey Stancavage, Sandra Davidson Osip
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A vehicle component, and a method and tool for forming the component are provided. First and second tools with first and second surfaces, respectively, are provided. The first tool is translated along a first axis towards the second tool such that the first and second surfaces cooperate to define a mold cavity configured to form an accessory mount feature with an aperture. The second surface is configured to form an integrated rib extending outwardly from an upper surface of the mount feature to a planar bearing surface surrounding the aperture with the planar bearing surface oriented at an acute angle relative to the upper surface. The first axis is substantially parallel to the upper surface.
Claims20
An intake manifold comprising:
- a shell structure forming at least a portion of a body of the intake manifold, the shell structure having an accessory mount feature integrally formed with the shell structure and extending outwardly therefrom, the accessory mount feature defining an aperture therethrough, the shell structure defining an integrated rib extending outwardly from an upper surface of the mount feature to a planar bearing surface surrounding the aperture, the planar bearing surface oriented at a nonparallel and nonperpendicular angle relative to the upper surface of the mount feature;
- wherein the integrated rib is formed by a tubular structure surrounding the aperture and extending outwardly from the upper surface to the planar bearing surface;
- wherein the tubular structure defines a series of longitudinal secondary ribs extending outwardly therefrom;
- and
- wherein an end of each secondary rib forms a portion of the planar bearing surface.
An intake manifold comprising:
- a shell structure forming at least a portion of a body of the intake manifold, the shell structure having an accessory mount feature integrally formed with the shell structure and extending outwardly therefrom, the accessory mount feature defining an aperture therethrough, the shell structure defining an integrated rib extending outwardly from an upper surface of the mount feature to a planar bearing surface surrounding the aperture, the planar bearing surface oriented at a nonparallel and nonperpendicular angle relative to the upper surface of the mount feature;
- wherein a height of the integrated rib as measured between the planar bearing surface and the upper surface continually increases in a transverse direction across the planar bearing surface.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.