Multi-layer body structure for the reinforcement of a panel and a method of reinforcing a panel

#The present invention relates to a multi-layer body structure for the reinforcement of a panel and to a method of reinforcing a panel with the multi-layer body structure.

#More particularly, the invention relates to a reinforcing member adaptable to the reinforcement of a panel formed of metal, plastic or sheet molding compound.

#Such multi-layer structures may comprise a first, fiber-reinforced layer, e.g. a glass fiber tissue impregnated with a thermosetting resin material, one surface thereof being coated with a second layer consisting of a further, thermosetting resin, said second layer serving as an adhesive layer. A multi-layer body member of this kind may be used to reinforce flat or curved panels like, for instance, sheet metal portions by placing a piece of the multi-layer body member with its sticky resin surface onto the sheet metal portion to be reinforced and subsequently subjecting it to a heat treatment. Thereby, on the one side, an adhesion of the multi-layer body member to the sheet metal portion is effected and, on the other side, the resin layers are cured such that a stiff connection between the sheet metal portion and the fiber reinforced layer results. In this way, an essential stiffening of the sheet metal portion may be achieved in a very simple manner without the disadvantage of substantially increasing the weight of the panel to be reinforced.

#In the following, some embodiments of the invention are further described, with reference to the attached drawings. In the drawings,

#FIG. 1 shows a diagrammatic top view of a first embodiment of a multi-layer body member according to the invention prior to the first, superficial heat treatment;

#FIG. 2 shows a diagrammatic top view of a first embodiment of a multi-layer body member according to the invention after the first, superficial heat treatment;

#The first embodiment of a multi-layer body member, generally designated with reference numeral 1 and shown in FIGS. 1-3, comprises a support member 2 which may consist, for instance, of a glass fiber tissue impregnated with a thermosetting resin and provided on one of its surfaces with a layer 3 consisting of a thermosetting adhesive resin. As the surface of the adhesive layer 3 preferably is made sticky in order to enable the multi-layer body member to be easily applied to a sheet metal portion to be reinforced without the need for further connecting means, a cover foil 4 is provided protecting the surface of the sticky adhesive resin from contamination and enabling pieces of multi-layer body members 1 cut into a desired size to be stacked without the danger that they adhere to each other.

#The adhesive layer 3 can be integrally self-adhesive or sticky, or it can be provided with an adhesive or sticky layer on its exposed surface, depending on the application and the materials best suited for a specific application.

#In order to avoid the need to remove the protection foil 4 prior to applying the multi-layer body member to the sheet metal portion to be reinforced, the invention provides that the foil is made of a material which shrinks upon heating. Such materials are known in the art and are marketed in a plurality of different embodiments.