Structural reinforcement
AssigneeL&L Products, Inc.
InventorsDominique Busseuil, Jean Philippe Bourdin, Eric Le Gall, Serge Bieber, Jean Philippe Lutz
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A structural reinforcement for a hollow member comprising a rigid reinforcing member having a shape that substantially conforms to the cross section of the hollow member to be reinforced with an expandable adhesive material over at least a portion of the surface of the structural reinforcement having one or more extensions on its external surface which control and direct the direction in which the adhesive material expands to bond the reinforcing member to the internal surface of the hollow member, some of the extensions also provide improved reinforcement.
Claims30
A structural reinforcing member for reinforcing a hollow structural member comprising:
- a plastic reinforcing member having on the surface thereof an expandable material that is substantially dry to the touch prior to activation;
- wherein the surface of the reinforcing member is provided with at least one extension;
- wherein the at least one extension is integrally molded with the carrier and of the same material as the carrier;
- wherein the at least one extension, upon insertion of the reinforcing member within the hollow structural member, both opposes and approaches an internal surface of the hollow structural member;
- wherein the expandable material is located against the at least one extension such that the at least one extension locally guides the expansion of the expandable material toward the internal surface of the hollow structural member;
- and
- wherein the at least one extension is selected from ribs, raised embossments or a part of a stamped area.
A structural reinforcing member for reinforcing a hollow structural member comprising:
- a pair of opposing rib mouldings extending the length of said structural reinforcing member, said pair of rib mouldings being integral with said structural reinforcing member and being formed of the same material as said structural reinforcing member;
- unfoamed expansive adhesive material contained between said opposing ribs and said structural reinforcing member;
- wherein the reinforcing member is an injection molded plastic and has an internal structure that is selected from cellular, honeycomb or ribbed;
- wherein said unfoamed expansive adhesive material can be activated to both expand and to act as an adhesive when heated;
- wherein said unfoamed expansive adhesive material is dry and not tacky to the touch prior to activation of said material;
- wherein said structural reinforcing member further comprises at least one lug attached to said structural reinforcing member and locating said member within said hollow structural member when said structural reinforcing member is placed within said hollow structural member and said opposing rib mouldings approach an internal surface of the hollow structural member prior to activation of said material;
- and
- wherein said opposing rib mouldings are bonded to said internal surface of said hollow structural member after activation of said material.
A structural reinforcing member for reinforcing a hollow structural member comprising:
- a plastic reinforcing member having an external surface;
- a series of pairs of opposing ribs spaced apart along a length of the structural reinforcing member wherein each pair of ribs forms a groove therebetween and wherein each rib of the pairs of ribs extends transverse relative to the length of the reinforcing member and wherein each rib of the pairs of ribs is integrally molded of the same material as the reinforcing member;
- unfoamed expansive adhesive material contained within the groove between the ribs of each pair of opposing ribs:
- wherein the unfoamed expansive adhesive material can be activated to both expand and to act as an adhesive when heated;
- wherein said unfoamed expansive adhesive material is dry and not tacky to the touch prior to activation of said material;
- wherein the unfoamed expansive adhesive material is flush with a distal end of each rib for each pair of opposing ribs prior to activation;
- wherein said structural reinforcing member further comprises at least one lug attached to said structural reinforcing member and locating said member within said hollow structural member when said structural reinforcing member is placed within said hollow structural member and each pair of opposing ribs approaches an internal surface of the hollow structural member prior to activation of said material;
- wherein the structural reinforcing member includes a labyrinth of internal reinforcing ribs;
- and
- wherein each pair of opposing ribs is bonded to said internal surface of said hollow structural member after activation of said material.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.