# US 4,397,914 A · Reinforcing material for a panel

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- Number: US 4,397,914 A
- Document ID: US4397914A
- Status: Granted
- Kind: A
- Application number: 06/356,454
- Filed: 1982-03-09
- Granted: 1983-08-09
- Earliest claimed: 1981-03-16
- Assignees: Nissan Motor Co., Ltd.
- Inventors: Toshikatu Miura; Yukio Nagata; Yukio Okada
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US4397914A

## CPC

- B60J 5/0454: {being expanded onto door panel and forming a laminar structure with door panel, e.g. a rib}
- B29C 44/1271: {the preformed parts being partially covered}
- B29C 44/16: shaped by the expansion of the material
- B29D 99/0017: {with filled hollow ridges}
- B60J 5/043: {the elements being arranged vertically}
- Y10T 428/15: Sheet, web, or layer weakened to permit separation through thickness
- Y10T 428/24314: Slit or elongated
- Y10T 428/24471: Crackled, crazed or slit
- Y10T 428/24496: Foamed or cellular component
- Y10T 428/24504: Component comprises a polymer [e.g., rubber, etc.]
- Y10T 428/24628: Nonplanar uniform thickness material
- Y10T 428/249958: Void-containing component is synthetic resin or natural rubbers
- Y10T 428/249991: Synthetic resin or natural rubbers
- B60J: WINDOWS, WINDSCREENS, NON-FIXED ROOFS, DOORS, OR SIMILAR DEVICES FOR VEHICLES; REMOVABLE EXTERNAL PROTECTIVE COVERINGS SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR VEHICLES (fastening, suspending, closing, or opening of such devices E05)
- 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)
- B29D: PRODUCING PARTICULAR ARTICLES FROM PLASTICS OR FROM SUBSTANCES IN A PLASTIC STATE (making granules B29B9/00; making preforms B29B11/00)
- Y10T: TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER US CLASSIFICATION

## Abstract

A material for reinforcing a panel includes a resin material and a expandable material. The expandable material is centered onto the resin material in such a manner that the edges of the resin material are exposed and can adhere to the panel. The expandable material includes an easy-bending portion in a position corresponding to a bent portion of the panel. The easy-bending portion is formed by a groove or by perforations in the expandable material.

## Claims

### Claim 1

In an automobile structure, a panel having a portion bent into a step shape, a reinforcing material fixed to the panel substantially perpendicular to the bent portion of the panel, the reinforcing material comprising:
a resin material which was hardened by heating;
a material which expanded irreversibly in response to heating;
the expanded material being centered onto the resin material in such a manner that the edges of the resin material are exposed and can adhere to the panel;
the expanded material including an easy-bending portion having plural perforations or a groove in a position corresponding to the bent portion of the panel.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The panel of claim 1, further including a film-like secondary reinforcing member affixed to the resin material.

### Claim 3 (depends on 2)

The panel of claim 2, further comprising slits formed in the resin material near the ends of the perforations or the groove of the easy-bending portion of the expandable material and perpendicular thereto.

### Claim 4 (depends on 1)

The panel of claim 1, wherein the panel is an outer panel of an automobile.