Structural composite member formed of a metal and reinforced by a blow-molded member
AssigneeVisteon Global Technologies, Inc.
InventorsRonald Kemble Roberts, Daniel P. Reed
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
The present invention is generally directed towards a structural member formed from a sheet metal reinforced with blow-molded member. The sheet metal is in form of a channel with three sides. The blow-molded member has a first portion that contours the three sides of the channel and a second portion that is connected to the first portion to define a hollow interior. The sheet metal has a plurality of openings such that the blow-molded member forms a retention bulb around the openings.
Claims23
A structural member comprising:
- a channel member having three sides;
- at least one opening defined in one of the sides of the channel member;
- a blow-molded member disposed and retained within the channel member;
- wherein the blow-molded member has a first portion and a second portion, the first portion extending along the three sides of the channel;
- the second portion connected to the first portion to define a hollow member within the channel member;
- and
- the blow-molded member extending through the at least one opening in one of the sides of the channel member to define a retention bulb sized larger than the at least one opening to connect the channel member and the blow-molded member.
A structural member installed in a motor vehicle comprising:
- a channel member having three sides;
- a first opening and a second opening defined in first and second sides of the channel member, respectively;
- a blow-molded member disposed within the channel member;
- wherein the blow-molded member has a first portion and a second portion, the first portion extending along the three sides of the channel;
- and
- first and second retention bulbs formed by the blow-molded member extending through the first and second openings such that the channel member and the blow-molded member are mechanically bonded together.
A method of forming a structural member in a motor vehicle, the method comprising the steps of:
- providing a channel member having three sides;
- providing a blow-molded member disposed inside the channel member such that the blow-molded member forms a hollow tube in the channel member;
- providing at least one gap in one of the three sides;
- and
- providing means to mechanically bond the channel member to the blow-molded member by way of the at least one gap.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.