Composite tubular door beam reinforced with a syntactic foam core localized at the mid-span of the tube
February 5, 2010. Estimated Expiration Date is calculated based on simple USPTO term provisions. It does not account for terminal disclaimers, term adjustments, failure to pay maintenance fees, or other factors which might affect the term of a patent.Patent References 3868796 Door for vehicle, especially passenger motor vehicle Lateral protection for motor vehicles 4090734 Reinforcement means for resisting side impacts against an automobile door Reinforcing material Thermoset plastic pellets and method and apparatus for making such pellets Reinforcement insert for a structural member and method of making and using the same Filled tubular torsion bar and its method of manufacture Lightweight composite automotive door beam and method of manufacturing same InventorAssigneeApplicationNo. 475396 filed on 02/05/1990US Classes:428/35.8, Elemental metal containing (e.g., substrate, foil, film, coating, etc.)52/790.1, Internal, diagonal, elongated stiffener264/46.6, Against inner surface of a hollow preform or solidified layer296/146.6, Reinforcement296/187.02, Expanded cellular material296/187.12, Side428/36.5, Foam or porous material containing428/71Foamed or expanded material encasedExaminersPrimary: Van Balen, William J.Attorney, Agent or FirmForeign Patent References
International ClassesB32B 001/06B32B 001/08 B60J 005/00 C08J 009/22 AbstractA lightweight, composite beams for reinforcing a vehicle door is provided. The reinforcing beam comprises a metal tube having a longitudinal cavity which is partially filled with a reinforcing polymeric core which in one aspect includes a thermoset or thermoplastic resin-based material. The core is friction fit or mechanically held within the metal tube at the mid-span of the tube. The composite beam includes end pieces which are adapted to be mounted to a vehicle door panel in a door cavity by spot-welds or the like. The horizontally mounted beam provides substantially increased resistance to side impacts to the vehicle door in the event of a collision. | |
