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US 7,494,179 B2Granted
Member for baffling, reinforcement or sealing
AssigneeZephyros, Inc.
InventorsTodd Deachin, Amy Ingram, Matthew Thomas
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
There is described a member for baffling, reinforcement or sealing. Typically, the member includes an internal portion and external portion wherein at least one, but typically both the internal and external portions include an activatable (e.g., expandable) material.
Claims19
A method of providing sealing, baffling or reinforcement to a structure of an article of manufacture, comprising:
- providing a member for sealing, baffling or reinforcing the structure of the article, the member including an internal portion and an external portion, the article being an automotive vehicle, both the internal portion and the external portion including activatable material;
- locating the member adjacent the structure of the article, the structure of the article including a tubular structure and a pillar structure, the tubular structure defining a cavity and having an external surface, wherein:
- i. the internal portion of the member is located within the cavity defined by the tubular structure;
- and
- ii. the external portion of the member is located adjacent the external surface;
- and
- activating the activatable material of the internal portion and external portion thereby providing sealing at an interface of the tubular structure and the pillar and providing baffling, reinforcement or both to the tubular structure.
4 more elements
A method of providing sealing and baffling to an automotive vehicle structure, comprising:
- providing a member for sealing and baffling the vehicle structure, the member including an internal portion and an external portion, the internal portion including a carrier and both the internal portion and the external portion including an activatable material, wherein:
- i. the activatable material of the internal portion extends about a periphery of the carrier member of the internal portion;
- and
- ii. the internal portion is connected to the external portion;
- locating the member adjacent the vehicle structure, the vehicle structure including a first structure that forms an interface with a second structure, wherein:
- i. the internal portion of the member is located within a cavity defined by the first structure;
- and
- ii. the external portion of the member is located adjacent the interface and the activatable material of the external portion extends substantially continuously about the first structure;
- activating the activatable material of the internal portion and the activatable material of the external portion such that:
- i. the internal portion substantially continuously spans the cavity of the first structure thereby baffling the first structure;
- and
- ii. the activatable material of the external portion provides sealing to the interface.
9 more elements
A method of providing sealing and baffling to a automotive vehicle structure, comprising:
- providing a member for sealing and baffling the vehicle structure, the member including an internal portion and an external portion, both the internal portion and the external portion including a carrier member and an activatable material disposed upon their respective carrier members, wherein:
- i. the activatable material of the internal portion and the activatable material of the external portion have a continuous annular configuration;
- ii. the activatable material of the internal portion and the external portion are heat activated thermosetting materials that foam, expand and cure upon exposure to temperature in an e-coat or bake oven;
- and
- iii. the activatable material of the internal portion and the external portion are generally dry and substantially non-tacky prior to activation;
- and
- iv. the activatable material of the internal portion extends about a periphery of the carrier member of the internal portion;
- v. the annular external portion extends about the internal portion;
- and
- vi. the internal portion is connected to the external portion;
- locating the member adjacent the vehicle structure, the vehicle structure including a hydroform tubular structure that forms an annular interface with a vehicle pillar structure, wherein:
- i. the internal portion of the member is located within a cavity defined by the tubular structure;
- and
- ii. the external portion of the member is located adjacent the annular interface;
- activating the activatable material of the internal portion and the activatable material of the external portion such that:
- i. the internal portion substantially continuously spans the cavity of the tubular structure thereby baffling the tubular structure;
- and
- ii. the activatable material of the external portion provides sealing to the interface.
15 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.