Land vehicles: bodies and tops – Bodies – Door or window with specified vehicle feature
Reexamination Certificate
1999-09-09
2001-05-08
Pape, Joseph D. (Department: 3612)
Land vehicles: bodies and tops
Bodies
Door or window with specified vehicle feature
C296S191000, C296S901010
Reexamination Certificate
active
06227606
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an engine hood assembly and, more particularly, to a body panel having an inner and outer skin interconnected by a light weight spacer in order to provide sufficient structural support to the body panel.
2. Discussion
Present automotive vehicle body panels typically include inner and outer skins each stamped of a sheet metal. The outer skin provides a decorative appearance to the vehicle, while the inner skin provides additional structural support. Typically, the inner and outer skins are interconnected by hemming the outer skin over the edges of the inner skin, thereby forming a unitary vehicle body panel. Although such body panel construction has been utilized for an extensive period, automotive designers continuously strive to reduce vehicle weight and cost and to improve the structural capabilities of the body panels.
Thus, it is an object of the present invention to provide a vehicle body panel which reduces the weight of a comparably sized conventional body panel.
It is a further object of the present invention to provide a body panel having an outer skin formed of a metal or composite material interconnected to an inner skin formed of a thin, flexible material, where the inner and outer skins are joined by a honeycombed spacer.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
This invention is directed to a body panel for a vehicle. The body panel includes an outer skin and an inner skin. A structural spacer interconnects the inner and the outer skins and is bonded to both the inner skin and the outer skin. The structural spacer is formed of a material which is lighter in weight than both the inner and the outer skins. A foam bonding material is interposed between the structural spacer and the inner and outer skins. The foam bonding material bonds the structural spacer to the inner and outer skins.
These and other advantages and features of the present invention will become readily apparent from the following detailed description, claims and drawings.
REFERENCES:
patent: 4438971 (1984-03-01), Zaydel et al.
patent: 4598008 (1986-07-01), Vogt et al.
patent: 4626023 (1986-12-01), Lutz
patent: 4803108 (1989-02-01), Leuchten et al.
patent: 4898419 (1990-02-01), Kenmochi et al.
patent: 4906508 (1990-03-01), Blankenburg et al.
patent: 4917742 (1990-04-01), Watanabe et al.
patent: 4950522 (1990-08-01), Vogt et al.
patent: 5140913 (1992-08-01), Takeichi et al.
patent: 5186509 (1993-02-01), Tyves
patent: 5226695 (1993-07-01), Flint et al.
patent: 5242192 (1993-09-01), Prescaro et al.
patent: 5291990 (1994-03-01), Sejzer
patent: 5322722 (1994-06-01), Rozenberg
patent: 5344208 (1994-09-01), Bien et al.
patent: 5518769 (1996-05-01), Tsotsis
patent: 5567499 (1996-10-01), Cundiff et al.
patent: 5569508 (1996-10-01), Cundiff
patent: 5605371 (1997-02-01), Borchelt et al.
patent: 5664397 (1997-09-01), Holz
patent: 5820201 (1998-10-01), Jabalee
patent: 5849122 (1998-12-01), Kenmochi et al.
patent: 5966874 (1999-10-01), Repp et al.
Argeropoulos John G.
Fielding Russell C.
Schroeder Del C.
Calcaterra Mark P.
DaimlerChrysler Corporation
Pape Joseph D.
Patel Kiran B.
LandOfFree
Engine hood assembly does not yet have a rating. At this time, there are no reviews or comments for this patent.
If you have personal experience with Engine hood assembly, we encourage you to share that experience with our LandOfFree.com community. Your opinion is very important and Engine hood assembly will most certainly appreciate the feedback.
Profile ID: LFUS-PAI-O-2527982