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US 6,096,403 AGranted
Reinforced structural members
AssigneeHenkel Corporation
InventorJoseph S Wycech
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A channel-shaped section has a thin, local reinforcement shell separated from the channel-shaped section by a layer of structural foam. At the reinforced section an arch geometry is utilized which extends in a direction opposite that of the force to which the member is subjected. The arch may be present as the channel-shaped member, the reinforcement shell or both the channel-shaped member and the shell. A portion of the shell contacts the channel-shaped member and is attached thereto by welding or other means of attachment.
Claims29
A reinforced structural member, comprising:
- a structural member of channel shape terminating in free ends spaced from each other and interconnected by a wall having an outer compression face;
- a reinforcement shell having a length less than the length of said channel;
- said reinforcement shell and said structural member being interconnected;
- a layer of structural foam disposed between a portion of said structural member and a portion of said reinforcement shell to define a trilaminate region, said layer of structural foam being bonded to said structural member and to said reinforcement shell;
- and
- said trilaminate region having an arch-shaped surface, said arch shaped surface extending in the direction of said compression face adapted to receive impact of a collision, said arch shaped surface having diverging sloping walls for distributing force over a generalized area away from the concentration points at the locations of interconnection of said reinforcement shell and said structural member and for maximizing resistance to bending and buckling.
3 more elements
A reinforced structural member, comprising:
- a structural member defining an open channel terminating in free ends spaced from each other and interconnected by a wall having an outer compression face;
- a reinforcement shell formed of high-strength steel and having a length no greater than one-third the length of said open channel;
- said reinforcement shell and said structural member being interconnected such that said reinforcement shell is positioned at the midspan of said structural member such that an interface is defined;
- a layer of structural foam disposed between substantially the entirety of the interface of said structural member and said reinforcement shell which defines a trilaminate region, said layer of structural foam being bonded to said structural member and to said reinforcement shell;
- and
- said trilaminate region having an arch-shaped surface said arch shaped surface extending in the direction of said compression face adapted to receive impact of a collision, said arch shaped surface having diverging sloping walls for distributing force over a generalized area away from the concentration points at the locations of interconnection of said reinforcement shell and said structural member and for maximizing resistance to bending and buckling.
3 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.