Devices and methods for reinforcing hollow structural members
AssigneeNeo-Ex Lab, Inc.
InventorsKen Honda, Nobuaki Matsuki
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A reinforcement device may include at least one elongated reinforcement body having a longitudinal axis and at least one foamable member that produces a foamed product when heated. The foamable member is preferably disposed along the longitudinal axis of the reinforcement body so that the foamed product will extend along the longitudinal axis of the reinforcement body. Preferably, the foamed product bonds the reinforcement body to a hollow structural member in order to reinforce the hollow structural member.
Claims23
A reinforcement device adapted to reinforce a cavity of a hollow structural member comprising:
- at least one elongated reinforcement body having a longitudinal axis and a plurality of holes defined along the longitudinal axis, and
- at least one foamable member that produces a foamed product when heated, the foamable material comprising a plurality of foamable projections, wherein the foamable member is disposed along the longitudinal axis of the reinforcement body so that the foamed product will extend along the longitudinal axis of the reinforcement body in order to bond the reinforcement body to the hollow structural member and the foamable projections are disposed within the holes defined within the at least one elongated reinforcement body.
In combination:
- a hollow structural member having a cavity defined therein and
- a reinforcement device adapted to reinforce the cavity of the hollow structural member after being heated, the reinforcement device comprising:
- at least one elongated reinforcement body having a longitudinal axis and a plurality of holes defined along the longitudinal axis, and
- at least one foamable member that produces a foamed product when heated, the foamable material comprising a plurality of foamable projections, wherein the foamable member is disposed along the longitudinal axis of the reinforcement body so that the foamed product will extend along the longitudinal axis of the reinforcement body in order to bond the reinforcement body to the hollow structural member and the foamable projections are disposed within the holes defined within the at least one elongated reinforcement body, wherein a clearance is defined between the inner surface of the hollow structural member and the reinforcement device.
A method of reinforcing a hollow structural member, comprising:
- attaching a reinforcing device to a cavity defined within the hollow structural member, the reinforcing device comprising at least one elongated reinforcement body having a longitudinal axis, wherein a plurality of holes are defined along the longitudinal axis, and at least one foamable member having a plurality of foamable projections arranged and constructed to align with the respective plurality of holes, wherein the foamable member extends along the longitudinal axis of the reinforcement body, the foamable projections are inserted into the respective holes, and a clearance is defined between the inner surface of the hollow structural member and the reinforcing device and
- applying external heat to the hollow structural member and the reinforcing device in order to activate the foamable member having the foamable projections and thereby form a foamed product that extends along the longitudinal axis of the reinforcement body, whereby the foamed product bonds the reinforcement body to the hollow structural member and foamed projections securely engage the respective holes.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.