Devices and methods for reinforcing hollow structural members
AssigneeNeo-Ex Lab, Inc.
InventorsKen Honda, Nobuaki Matsuki
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A reinforcement device 10, 110 may include at least one elongated reinforcement body 11, 111 having a longitudinal axis and at least one foamable member 30, 130 that produces a foamed product 35, 135 when heated. The foamable member 30, 130 is preferably disposed along the longitudinal axis of the reinforcement body 11, 111 so that the foamed product 35, 135 will extend along the longitudinal axis of the reinforcement body 11, 111. Preferably, the foamed product 35, 135 bonds the reinforcement body 11, 111 to a hollow structural member 1 in order to reinforce the hollow structural member 1.
Claims30
A reinforcement device adapted to reinforce a cavity of a hollow structural member comprising:
- at least one elongated reinforcement body having a longitudinal axis and
- at least one foamable member that produces a foamed product when heated, wherein the foamable member is disposed along the longitudinal axis of the reinforcement body so that the foamed product will extend along the longitudinal axis of the reinforcement body in order to bond the reinforcement body to the hollow structural member.
In combination:
- a hollow structural member having a cavity defined therein and
- a reinforcement device adapted to reinforce the cavity of the hollow structural member after being heated, the reinforcement device comprising:
- at least one elongated reinforcement body having a longitudinal axis and
- at least one foamable member that produces a foamed product when heated, wherein the foamable member is disposed along the longitudinal axis of the reinforcement body so that the foamed product will extend along the longitudinal axis of the reinforcement body in order to bond the reinforcement body to the hollow structural member, wherein a clearance is defined between the inner surface of the hollow structural member and the reinforcement device.
An apparatus comprising:
- a hollow structural member 1 having a cavity 6 defined therein and
- a reinforcement device 10, 110 adapted to reinforce the cavity 6 of the hollow structural member 1 after being heated, the reinforcement device 10 comprising:
- at least one elongated reinforcement body 11, 111 having a longitudinal axis and a retainer recess 13, 113 extending along substantially the entire longitudinal axis of the reinforcement body 11, 111 and
- at least one foamable member 30, 130 that produces a foamed product 35, 135 when heated, wherein the foamable member 30, 130 is received within the retainer recess 13, 113, so that the foamable member 30, 130 continuously extends along substantially the entire longitudinal axis of the reinforcement body 11, 111, whereby the foamed product 35, 135 will securely bond the reinforcement body 11, 111 to the hollow structural member 1 after being heated.
A method of reinforcing a hollow structural member, comprising:
- attaching a reinforcing device to a cavity defined within the hollow structural member, the reinforcing device comprising at least one elongated reinforcement body having a longitudinal axis and at least one foamable member, wherein the foamable member extends along the longitudinal axis of the reinforcement body and a clearance is defined between the inner surface of the hollow structural member and the reinforcing device and
- applying external heat to the hollow structural member and the reinforcing device in order to activate the foamable member and thereby form a foamed product that extends along the longitudinal axis of the reinforcement body, whereby the foamed product bonds the reinforcement body to the hollow structural member.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.