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US 6,855,652 B2Granted
Structurally reinforced panels
AssigneeL&L Products, Inc.
InventorsChristopher Hable, Michael J. Czaplicki
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A structurally reinforced panel and a method of forming the panel are disclosed. The reinforcement includes a fibrous woven material in a bondable plastic matrix.
Claims24
A structurally reinforced panel for an article, comprising:
- (a) a panel;
- (b) a woven roving, having a weight of less than about 20 ounces per square yard, adjoining said panel;
- and
- (c) a matrix material for carrying said woven roving, said matrix material being bonded to said panel, over at least part of a surface of said panel.
1 more element
A composite material for reinforcing a panel of an automotive vehicle, comprising:
- a) a woven roving strip, having a weight of less than about 10 ounces per square yard, a width of between about 2 and about 5 cm and a thickness of greater than about 5 mils;
- b) an expandable epoxy-based matrix material, thermally activable in a temperature range of about 300° F. to 400° F. for carrying said woven roving, said matrix material being bondable to said panel over at least part of a surface of said panel;
- and
- c) a release layer laminated to a side of said matrix material for protecting said side of said matrix material prior to bonding said side of said matrix material to said panel.
1 more element
A structurally reinforced panel for an automotive vehicle, comprising:
- (a) a metal panel, the metal panel being a part of the automotive vehicle;
- (b) a fibrous reinforcement material adjoining said panel, wherein:
- i) the reinforcement material is comprised of a plurality of strips woven together as a sheet;
- and
- ii) each of the plurality of strips is formed of several fibers which are grouped together, but which are generally unwoven relative to each other;
- and
- (c) a matrix material for carrying said fibrous reinforcement material, said matrix material being bonded to said panel, over at least part of a surface of said panel wherein;
- i) the matrix material is a heat activated foamable material for assisting in integrating the fibrous reinforcement material with the matrix material.
5 more elements
A structurally reinforced panel for an automotive vehicle, comprising:
- (a) a metal panel, the metal panel being a body panel of the automotive vehicle, the body panel being selected from a quarter panel, a door panel, a roof panel, a hood panel, a trunk panel or a floor panel;
- (b) a fibrous reinforcement material having a weight of less than about 20 ounces per square yard, adjoining said panel, wherein:
- i) the reinforcement material is comprised of a plurality of strips woven together as a sheet;
- ii) each of the plurality of strips is formed of several fiberglass fibers which are grouped together, but which are generally unwoven relative to each other and which extend substantially parallel to each other;
- and
- iii) each of the plurality of strips has a width between about 0.15 centimeters and about 8 centimeters;
- and
- (c) a matrix material selected from an epoxy based material, an ethylene-based polymer or a mixture thereof, for carrying said fibrous reinforcement material, said matrix material being bonded to said panel, over at least part of a surface of said panel wherein;
- i) the matrix material is a heat activated foamable material for assisting in integrating the fibrous reinforcement material with the matrix material;
- and
- ii) the matrix material activates at a temperature typically encountered in an e-coat or painting operation.
8 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.