Back to results
US 8,475,694 B2Granted
Shaped expandable material
AssigneeZephyros, Inc.
InventorsAbraham Kassa, David Kosal, Kevin Hicks
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
An expandable material is shaped to form a part that can provide functional attributes such as reinforcement to a structure of article of manufacture such as an automotive vehicle.
Claims20
A method of reinforcing a structure of an article of manufacture, the method comprising:
- providing an initially solid pellet of expandable material including a first curing agent and having a self supporting characteristic during expansion thereof that is due to the presence of the first curing agent causing partial curing of the expandable material during processing of the pellet, and the inclusion of the following in the expandable material:
- i) an acrylonitrile butadiene styrene copolymer material;
- and
- ii) a thixotropic or fibrous filler;
- injection molding the expandable material into a part;
- inserting the part into a cavity that is at least partially defined by a structure of the article of manufacture;
- and
- activating the expandable material to cure due to the presence of a second coring agent, so that the expandable material expands to a volume that is less than 500% relative to its original unexpanded volume and adheres to walls of the structure and provide structural reinforcement to the structure.
5 more elements
A method of reinforcing a structure of an automotive vehicle, the method comprising:
- providing an initially solid pellet of expandable material including a first curing agent and having a self supporting characteristic during expansion thereof that is due to the presence of the first curing agent causing partial curing of the expandable material during processing of the pellet, and the inclusion of the following in the expandable material:
- i) an acrylonitrile butadiene styrene copolymer,
- ii) an elastomer and
- iii) a fibrous filler;
- injection molding the expandable material into a part;
- inserting the part into a cavity that is at least partially defined by a structure of the automotive vehicle;
- and
- activating the expandable material to cure due to the presence of a second curing agent, so that the expandable material expands to a volume that is less than 500% relative to its original unexpanded volume and adheres to walls of the structure and provide structural reinforcement to the structure wherein the part substantially maintains it's shape during expansion.
5 more elements
A method of reinforcing a structure of an automotive vehicle, the method comprising:
- providing an initially solid pellet of expandable material including a first curing agent and having a self supporting characteristic during expansion thereof that is due to the presence of the first curing agent causing partial curing of the expandable material or fast cure time of the expandable material and the inclusion of the following in the expandable material:
- i) an acrylonitrile butadiene styrene copolymer:
- ii) a butadiene-acrylonitrile elastomer and
- iii) wollastonite;
- injection molding the expandable material into a part having a tubular shape with internal ribs;
- inserting the part into a cavity that is at least partially defined by a structure of the automotive vehicle;
- and
- activating the expandable material to cure due to the presence of a second curing agent, so that the expandable material expands to a volume that is less than 500% relative to its original unexpanded volume and adheres to walls of the structure and provides structural reinforcement to the structure.
5 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.