Reinforced structural assembly
AssigneeHenkel Corporation
InventorJoseph S Wycech
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A stiffener is provided for reinforcing a hollow structure having a pair of spaced walls. The stiffener includes a carrier member with a layer of expandable polymer which creates a structural foam when the polymer is later expanded. The stiffener could comprise a single laminate shaped to fit in the appropriate locations of the hollow structure so that when the polymer is expanded it forms a structural foam intimately bonded to the pair of spaced walls. The stiffener may also be in the form of a corrugated frame wherein individual laminates are provided with notches to permit the individual laminates to be interlocked with each other at the notches.
Claims39
A stiffener for reinforcing a hollow structure having a pair of spaced walls, said stiffener comprising a first carrier member, a first layer of expandable polymer on said first carrier member for creating a structural reinforcement member when said polymer is expanded, said first carrier foam and said first layer comprising a first laminate, a second carrier member, a second layer of said polymer on said second carrier member, said second carrier member and second layer comprising a second laminate, said first laminate having a connecting portion, a notch in said connecting portion of said first laminate, said second laminate having a connecting portion, a notch in said connecting portion of said second laminate, said first laminate and said second laminate being interconnected by said connecting portions being interlocked at said notches, and said connected laminates creating a corrugated frame which may be inserted into the hollow structure between the spaced walls.
A method of making a stiffener and reinforcing a hollow structure with the stiffener comprising the steps of mounting a layer of expandable polymer on a carrier member to create a laminate, cutting the laminate to a predetermined length and thereby creating a stiffener, disposing the stiffener between spaced walls of the hollow structure, and curing and expanding the polymer to create a structural reinforcement foam which becomes intimately bonded to the spaced walls and to the members.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.