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US 6,607,238 B2Granted
Structural reinforcement member for wheel well
AssigneeL&L Products, Inc.
InventorWilliam J. Barz
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A structural reinforcement member for reinforcing a wheel well area of an automobile includes a carrier and a load distributing medium supported by the carrier. The carrier also may include a reinforced protrusion, two reinforced openings, and an outwardly extending flange. The flange includes a reinforced raised portion having a shape similar to that of the flange. The load distributing medium is a structural foam and preferably an epoxy-based resin. The preferred load distributing medium is L5206, L5207, L5208, or L5209 structural foam commercially available from L&L Products of Romeo, Mich.
Claims20
A structurally reinforced automotive vehicle frame, comprising:
- a frame rail portion of the vehicle frame adjoining a wheel well of the automotive vehicle frame, the wheel well having a surface arching upwardly and away from the frame rail portion to oppose and at least partially house a wheel of an automotive vehicle;
- a carrier located adjacent the surface of the wheel well, the carrier having a front surface and opposing sides extending away from the front surface wherein the front surface is configured to oppose the surface of the wheel well and the front surface has a surface area greater than either one of the opposing sides;
- and
- a load distributing medium adhered to a substantial portion of the front surface of the carrier and to the surface of the wheel well of the automotive vehicle frame wherein;
- i) the surface of the vehicle frame is structurally reinforced with the carrier having the increase in the structural strength due at least in part to the load distributing medium;
- ii) the load distributing medium is configured to primarily contact the surface of the vehicle frame without contacting other portions of the vehicle frame;
- and
- iii) the load distributing medium and the carrier cooperatively distribute loads over the automotive vehicle frame for impacts affecting the wheel well.
5 more elements
A structurally reinforced automotive vehicle frame, comprising:
- a frame rail portion of the vehicle frame adjoining a wheel well portion of the automotive vehicle frame, the wheel well portion having a surface with a pair of openings, the surface arching upwardly and away from the frame rail portion to oppose and at least partially house a wheel of an automotive vehicle;
- a carrier located adjacent the surface of the wheel well portion wherein;
- i) the carrier has a front surface and opposing sides extending away from the front surface;
- ii) the front surface is configured to oppose the surface of the wheel well portion;
- iii) the front surface has a surface area greater than either one of the opposing sides;
- iv) the carrier includes a pair of reinforced openings corresponding to the openings of the surface of the wheel well portion;
- and
- v) the carrier includes a lattice network spanning substantially the entire carrier for maintaining lower weight;
- a load distributing medium adhered to a substantial portion of the front surface of the carrier and to the surface of the wheel well portion of the automotive vehicle frame wherein;
- i) the surface of the wheel well portion of the vehicle frame is structurally reinforced with the carrier having the increase in the structural strength due at least in part to the load distributing medium;
- ii) the load distributing medium is configured to primarily contact the surface of the wheel well portion of the vehicle frame without contacting other portions of the vehicle frame;
- iii) the opposing sides of the carrier are substantially free of any contact with the load distributing medium;
- and
- iv) the load distributing medium and the carrier cooperatively distribute loads over the automotive vehicle frame for impacts affecting the wheel well portion.
11 more elements
A structurally reinforced automotive vehicle frame, comprising:
- a frame portion of the automotive vehicle frame, the frame portion defining a corner and a frame surface arching upwardly and away from the corner;
- a plastic carrier located adjacent the frame surface of the frame portion, the carrier having a front surface and opposing sides extending away from the front surface wherein the front surface is configured to oppose the frame surface of the frame portion and the front surface has a surface area greater than either one of the opposing sides;
- and
- a load distributing medium adhered to a substantial portion of the front surface of the carrier and to the frame surface of the frame portion of the automotive vehicle frame wherein;
- i) the surface of the vehicle frame is structurally reinforced with the carrier having the increase in the structural strength due at least in part to the load distributing medium;
- ii) the load distributing medium is configured to primarily contact the surface of the vehicle frame without contacting other portions of the vehicle frame;
- and
- iii) the load distributing medium and the carrier cooperatively distribute loads over the automotive vehicle frame for impacts affecting the frame portion.
5 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.