Self-sealing partition
AssigneeL&L Products, Inc.
InventorsWilliam Barz, Thomas L. Coon, Michael Czaplicki
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A partition for forming a barrier in a channel has a molded resin-based plate and a plurality of thermally expandable pellets attached to one side of the plate. The partition is secured in place in the channel by mounting brackets. As heat is applied, a blowing agent in the pellets is activated and the pellets expand to many times their original volume. The resultant foam seals the gap between the plate and the surrounding structure and further secures the plate in place. The partition is particularly useful in forming a sound/water/air barrier in an automotive cavity.
Claims14
A self-sealing partition for creating a barrier in a passage, said partition comprising:
- a rigid body formed of a resin-based material and having a principal surface, said principal surface having an outer perimeter;
- and
- a plurality of thermally expandable resin-based beads attached to said principal surface of said rigid body, said thermally expandable resin-based beads being positioned on said principal surface of said rigid body such that when said thermally expandable resin-based beads are thermally expanded they form a foamed mass which extends at least to said outer perimeter of said principal surface, said plurality of beads consisting of only a single layer of beads wherein each bead of said single layer is directly attached to said surface.
A structural member having a channel therein which is partitioned into two sections by a barrier, comprising:
- a hollow structural member having an internal wall which defines a longitudinal channel;
- a barrier disposed in said channel;
- said barrier having a rigid resin body, said rigid resin body having a width and length greater than its thickness;
- said body further having opposed planar surface;
- a plurality of individual thermally expandable beads disposed on one of said opposed planar surfaces, said plurality of beads consisting of only a single layer of beads wherein each bead of said single layer is directly attached to said surface;
- and
- at least on connector mounted on said body and attached to said hollow structural member.
A self-sealing partition for creating a barrier in a passage, said partition comprising:
- a rigid body formed of a cured epoxy resin and having a principle surface, said principal surface having an outer perimeter;
- a plurality of thermally expandable resin-based beads partially embedded in said rigid body at said principle surface and covering the majority of said principle surface, said thermally expandable resin-based beads consisting of only a single layer of beads wherein each bead of said single layer is directly attached to said surface and having a thermally acivatable blowing agent such that when said thermally expandable resin-based beads are thermally expanded they form a foamed mass which extends beyond said perimeter;
- and
- a mounting bracket attached to said rigid body for mounting said rigid body in a channel.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.