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US 5,755,486 AGranted
Composite structural reinforcement member
AssigneeNovamax Technologies Holdings, Inc.
InventorJoseph S. Wycech
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A reinforced structural member has a w-shaped reinforcement member that carries a thermally expandable resin-based material. The w-shaped reinforcement member is placed in the channel of a hollow structural member over a transverse pin which fits through the slot of the reinforcement member. The structural member is heated to expand the resin-based material which locks the reinforcement member in place, thereby significantly strengthening the structural member.
Claims15
A reinforced structural member, comprising:
- a structural member defining a space;
- a reinforcing member disposed in said space, said reinforcing member having a carrier portion and a thermally expanded portion, wherein said carrier portion is a carrier for said thermally expanded portion, and said thermally expanded portion is bonded to said structural member and to said carrier portion;
- and
- means for retaining said reinforcing member in said structural member,
- wherein said carrier portion has at least one aperture through which a portion of said thermally expanded portion extends, said extended portion of said thermally expanded portion being bonded to said structural member.
2 more elements
A reinforced structural member, comprising:
- a structural member defining a space;
- a reinforcing member disposed in said space, said reinforcing member having a carrier portion and a thermally expanded portion, wherein said carrier portion is a carrier for said thermally expanded portion, and said thermally expanded portion is bonded to said structural member and to said carrier portion;
- and
- means for retaining said reinforcing member in said structural member,
- wherein said carrier portion defines a slot and wherein said retaining means includes a projection attached to said structural member and projecting into said space, said projection being at least partially disposed in said slot to retain said reinforcing member in said space.
2 more elements
A reinforced structural member, comprising:
- a structural member defining a space;
- a reinforcing member disposed in said space said reinforcing member having a carrier portion and a thermally expanded portion, wherein said carrier portion is a carrier for said thermally expanded portion, and said thermally expanded portion is bonded to said structural member and to said carrier portion;
- and
- means for retaining said reinforcing member in said structural member,
- wherein said thermally expanded portion is a resin-based material.
2 more elements
A reinforced structural member, comprising:
- a structural member defining a space;
- a reinforcing member disposed in said space, said reinforcing member having a carrier portion and a thermally expanded portion, wherein said carrier portion is a carrier for said thermally expanded portion, and said thermally expanded portion is bonded to said structural member and to said carrier portion;
- and
- means for retaining said reinforcing member in said structural member,
- wherein said structural member is a metal rail section, said carrier portion has a geometry which defines both a slot and at least one reservoir, said thermally expanded portion is a resin-based material disposed in said reservoir, said retaining means is a projection extending into said space and attached to said structural member, said projection extending into said slot to retain said structural member in said space.
2 more elements
A reinforced structural member, comprising:
- a steel rail having opposed side walls and defining a longitudinal channel, said longitudinal channel lying along a longitudinal axis;
- disposed in said channel a cavity-defining resin supporting reinforcement member formed of metal disposed in said channel, said resin supporting reinforcement member having at least one column-shaped structure and at least one slot, said column-shaped structure having a column axis along the length of the column-shaped structure, said column axis extending between said opposed side walls perpendicular to said longitudinal axis;
- a pin attached to said steel rail and extending into said slot;
- and
- a resin-based core disposed in a cavity defined by said cavity-defining resin supporting reinforcement member, said resin-based core being adhered to said sidewall and to said cavity defining resin supporting reinforcement member.
2 more elements
A reinforced structural member, comprising:
- a structural member defining a space;
- a reinforcing member disposed in said space, said reinforcing member consisting essentially of a thermally expanded resin-based body bonded to said structural member, said resin-based body further defining a slot;
- and
- means for retaining said reinforcing member in said structural member, said retaining means including means for engagement in said slot.
1 more element
A method for reinforcing a structural member comprising the steps of:
- forming a metal carrier, said metal carrier defining a resin-receiving space and a slot;
- applying an expandable resin-based material to said carrier at said resin receiving space;
- providing a hollow structural member having a longitudinal cavity and securing a pin to said hollow structural member in said cavity;
- positioning said metal carrier with said resin-based material thereon in said cavity with said pin passing through said slot;
- and
- expanding said resin-based material to bond said carrier to said structural member.
3 more elements
A reinforced rail for a motor vehicle, comprising:
- a hollow rail section having opposed sidewall defining a longitudinal channel;
- a pin having one end attached to one of said sidewall and another end attached to the other of said sidewall;
- a w-shaped metal strip defining two reservoirs and a slot;
- a thermally expanded resin-based core bonded to said w-shaped metal carrier in said reservoirs;
- said w-shaped metal strip being positioned in said hollow rail section between said opposed sidewall and being bonded to said sidewalls by said resin-based core;
- and
- said pin being position in said slot.
4 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.