Back to results
US 7,249,415 B2Granted
Method of forming members for sealing or baffling
AssigneeZephyros, Inc.
InventorsDouglas C. Larsen, Thomas D. Kleino, Abraham Kassa, William J. Barz, Matthew Harthcock
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
There is disclosed a member for sealing, baffling and/or reinforcing components of an automotive vehicle. The assembly generally includes a carrier, an expandable material and at least one fastener.
Claims43
A method of forming members for providing sealing or baffling to one or more structures, the method comprising:
- providing a carrier material;
- disposing an expandable material upon the carrier material in a continuous manner;
- forming sealing or baffling members such that each of the members includes a carrier with the expandable material disposed thereon, the carrier being formed of the carrier material;
- and
- providing a fastener connected to the carrier;
- wherein the expandable material volumetrically expands to a size that is at least 2000% its original size upon exposure to elevated temperatures;
- and
- wherein:
- i. the step of forming the members includes dividing the carrier material, the expandable material or both to form the sealing or baffling members;
- ii. the one or more structures are part of an automotive vehicle;
- and
- iii. upon expansion of the expandable material, the expandable material forms a foam that substantially entirely spans the entirety of one or more cross-sections of a cavity of the one or more structures to prevent the passage of debris, water, sound, air or a combination thereof through the cavity.
9 more elements
A method of forming a member for providing sealing or baffling to a structure, the method comprising:
- providing a carrier material to an extrusion die, the carrier material being an elongated strip of polymeric material;
- extruding an expandable material onto the carrier material;
- forming the carrier material and the expandable material into a sealing or baffling member having a carrier and the expandable material disposed thereon;
- and
- providing a fastener connected to the carrier;
- wherein the expandable material volumetrically expands to a size that is at least 2000% its original size upon exposure to elevated;
- and
- wherein:
- i. the step of forming the members includes cutting the carrier material, or the expandable material or to form the sealing or baffling member;
- ii. the structure is part of an automotive vehicle;
- and
- iii. upon expansion of the expandable material, the expandable material forms a foam that substantially entirely spans the entirety of one or more cross-sections of the cavity of the structure to prevent the passage of debris, water, sound, air or a combination thereof through the cavity.
9 more elements
A method of forming a member for providing sealing or baffling to a structure, the method comprising:
- providing a carrier material to an extrusion die, the carrier material being an elongated strip of polymeric material;
- extruding an expandable material through the extrusion die such that the expandable material contacts and adheres to the carrier material, the expandable material being shaped by the extrusion die;
- forming the carrier material and the expandable material into members, each of the members having a carrier formed of the carrier material with the expandable material disposed thereon, each of the carriers having an edge disposed within the expandable material;
- providing a mechanical fastener connected to the carrier by extending the mechanical fastener through a through-hole in the carrier;
- and
- locating at least one of the members in the structure;
- wherein the expandable material volumetrically expands to a size that is at least 3000% its original size upon exposure to elevated temperatures;
- and
- wherein:
- i. the step of forming the members includes cutting the carrier material and the expandable material to form individual members;
- ii. the structure is part of an automotive vehicle;
- and
- iii. upon expansion of the expandable material, the expandable material forms a foam that substantially entirely spans the entirety of one or more cross-sections of a cavity of the structure to prevent the passage of debris, water, sound, air or a combination thereof through the cavity.
10 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.