Fastenable member for sealing, baffling or reinforcing and method of forming same
AssigneeZephyros, Inc.
InventorsDouglas C. Larsen, Thomas D. Kleino, Abraham Kassa, William Barz, Matthew Harthcock
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
There is disclosed a member for sealing, baffling and/or reinforcing components of an automotive vehicle. The assembly generally includes a carrier, an expandable material and at least one fastener.
Claims24
A method of forming members for providing sealing, baffling or reinforcement to one or more structures, the method comprising:
- providing a carrier material, the carrier material including a base portion and two extensions extending upward from a substantially perpendicular to the base portion, the two extensions formed as walls;
- disposing an expandable material upon the carrier material in a continuous manner, the expandable material being disposed in between the two extensions so that the expandable material does not extend beyond any edge of the two extensions;
- and
- providing a fastener integrally molded with the carrier and extending from the base portion of the carrier material.
2-9 (canceled)
The method as in claim 2, wherein the expandable material includes a plastic selected from the group consisting of thermoplastics, thermosets, or a combination thereof or a resin selected from the group consisting of an epoxy resin, a thermoplastic resin, an acetate resin, an EPDM resin, a phenoxy resin, a polyurethane resin or a combination thereof.
The method as in claim 2, wherein the carrier material is formed at least partially of a material selected from a metal, a polymeric material, a carbon fiber, graphite, glass, or combinations thereof.
(canceled)
The method as in claim 3, wherein the carrier material includes a portion that has a shape selected from an alphanumeric shape, a polygonal shape, an arrowhead shape, a barb shape, is flat, is curved, or a combination thereof.
20-23 (canceled)
The method as in claim 3, wherein the expandable material volumetrically expands to a size that is at least 3000% its original size up exposure to elevated temperatures.
27-38. (canceled)
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.