Reinforced composite structure
AssigneeFord Motor Company
InventorDerek F. Gentle
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A reinforced structure is disclosed to comprise a plastic body, at least one elongate member within the plastic body, and a layer of resilient material mediate the plastic body and the elongate member. A method aspect of the invention comprises the steps of (A) putting a layer of resilient material on the exterior surface of an elongate member; (B) introducing first the elongate member and then plastic in a moldable condition into the cavity of a molding tool; (C) molding the plastic to at least partially envelop the elongate member; thereby sandwiching the resilient material between the plastic and the elongate member, and (D) removing the reinforced plastic structure from the molding tool cavity.
Claims12
A reinforced FRP composite structure comprising:
- a filament reinforced plastic body having (i) a platform portion forming a generally planar surface and horizontal upper surface area and (ii) at least one hollow beam portion unitary with said platform portion, extending along and downwardly from a lower surface of said platform portion to strengthen said platform portion;
- a hollow tube inside said hollow beam portion of said filament reinforced plastic body;
- and a coating of resilient material on an elongated exterior surface of said tube, sandwiched between said exterior surface and said filament reinforced plastic body.
A load bearing horizontal body panel of a motor vehicle comprising:
- a filament reinforced plastic body having (i) a platform portion forming a generally planar and horizontal upper surface area and (ii) at least one hollow beam portion unitary with said platform portion, extending along and downwardly from a lower surface of said platform portion to strengthen said platform portion;
- a hollow tube inside said hollow beam portion of said filament reinforced plastic body;
- and
- a coating of resilient material on an elongate exterior surface of said tube, sandwiched between said exterior surface and said filament reinforced plastic body.
A reinforced FRP composite pickup box bed comprising:
- an SMC body having (i) a platform portion forming a generally planar and horizontal upper surface area and (ii) a plurality of hollow beam portions unitary with said platform portion, extending along and downwardly from a lower surface of said platform portion to strengthen said platform portion;
- a hollow, rectilinear, metal tube inside each said hollow beam portion of said SMC body;
- and
- a coating of resilient material substantially covering all exterior elongate surface of said metal tube, separating said metal tube elongate surface from contact with said SMC body.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.