Reinforcing member for interfitting channels
AssigneeSika Corporation
InventorsGregory W. Hopton, Mark Stuligross, Randy Stratman
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A reinforcing assembly for use with roll bars adapted to be mounted to motor vehicles such as an automobile. The reinforcing assembly includes a heat-expandable synthetic resin reinforcing member and a retainer configured to attach the member to the interior of a two-piece telescopically interfitting tubular roll bar construction. Upon heating, the reinforcing member expands to form a seal between the two roll bar tube sections thereby providing sound-reduction and stability of the roll bar assembly.
Claims28
A tubular construction comprising:
- a pair of separate, telescopically interfitted tubular components cooperatively presenting a joint therebetween, said components each having an apertured sidewall, with said apertures being in general alignment, there being a cross connector assembly located at least partially within said apertures for coupling together of said tubular components;
- and
- a reinforcing assembly operatively located within said interfitted components and proximal to said joint, said reinforcing assembly including a body of heat-expanded synthetic resin material, said body bonding to said tubular components thereby providing a reinforced, sound-reducing seal adjacent said joint.
A tubular construction comprising:
- a pair of separate, telescopically interfitted tubular components, a first tube section of said pair of tubular components having an outer face and a second tube section of said pair of tubular components having an inner face, the circumference of said outer face of said first tube section being less than the circumference of said inner face of said second tube section thereby cooperatively presenting a joint between said inner face and said outer face;
- and
- a reinforcing assembly operatively located within at least said second tube section of said pair of intermitted components, said reinforcing assembly including a body of heat-expanded synthetic resin material including a blowing agent for expanding said reinforcing assembly upon attainment of a blowing temperature, said body bonding to said tubular components and at least a part of said body being located in said joint between said first and second tube sections thereby providing a reinforced, sound-reducing seal adjacents said joint.
A reinforcing assembly adapted to be located within a pair of telescopically interfitted tubular components in order to seal the joint therebetween, said reinforcing assembly comprising:
- a generally disc-shaped body of heat expandable synthetic resin material configured for location within said tubular components adjacent said joint;
- and
- a retainer coupled with said body for positioning the body within said tubular components prior to heat expansion of the body.
A reinforcing assembly adapted to be located within a pair of telescopically interfitted tubular components in order to seal the joint therebetween, said reinforcing assembly comprising:
- a body of heat expandable synthetic resin material configured for location within said tubular components adjacent said joint;
- and
- a retainer coupled with said body for positioning the body within said tubular components prior to heat expansion of the body, said retainer being selected from the group consisting of synthetic resin and wire.
A reinforcing assembly for reinforcing a motor vehicle roll bar having an internal bore, said assembly comprising:
- a body of thermally expansible material adapted for receipt within the bore of the roll bar and presenting a first face and having a perforation;
- and
- a retainer coupled with said body, said retainer including an attachment member and a pair of spaced and opposed legs, wherein said retainer extends through said body and projects from said first face.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.