Static structures (e.g. – buildings) – Machine or implement
Reexamination Certificate
1998-08-05
2001-06-19
Safavi, Michael (Department: 3635)
Static structures (e.g., buildings)
Machine or implement
C052S749100, C264S046600, C296S182100
Reexamination Certificate
active
06247287
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to structures for closing a cavity of a hollow structural member and for reinforcing the hollow structural member (hereinafter “structures for closing and reinforcing a hollow structural member”), and to methods for closing the cavity of the hollow structural member and for reinforcing the hollow structural member (hereinafter “methods for closing and reinforcing a hollow structural members”). More particularly, the present invention relates to structures and methods for closing and reinforcing a closed box-like hollow structural member constructed from a plurality of plates, such as a front pillar and a center pillar of a vehicle, to increase the damping and sound insulating powers of the hollow structural member and to increase the strength and rigidity of the hollow structural member.
2. Description of the Related Art
FIGS.
8
(A),
8
(B),
9
(A) and
9
(B) show examples of a known structure for closing cavities
206
a
and
206
b
of a hollow structural member or pillar
201
of a vehicle body and for reinforcing the pillar
201
. As shown in these drawings, the pillar
201
is constructed from an inner panel
202
, an outer panel
204
and an Intervening reinforcement panel
208
. The cavities
206
a
and
206
b
are formed in the spaces between these panels. In this structure,four plate-like foamable pads
221
are initially disposed in the cavities
206
a
and
206
b
in an unfoamed state. In this state, the unfoamed pads are in a compressed state and can be expanded by exposing to heat. The foamable pads
221
each have a desired length and are adhered, by adhesive, to the inner surfaces of the inner
202
and outer panels
204
and both surfaces of the reinforcement panel
208
, respectively.
As shown in FIG.
8
(B), obstruction plates
231
are disposed in the cavities
206
a
and
206
b
. The obstruction plates
231
are secured to the inner panel
202
and to the reinforcement panel
208
by spot welding or other such methods. The obstruction plates
231
have profiles that substantially conform to the transverse cross-sectional configurations of the cavities
206
a
and
206
b
, respectively. As will be appreciated, the foamable pads
221
are positioned adjacent to the obstruction plates
231
.
As shown in FIGS.
9
(A) and
9
(B), when the pillar
201
is heated by external heating, the foamable pads
221
expand to produce foamed products
222
. As will be recognized, the obstruction plates
231
may be used to effectively prevent the foamable pads
221
from expanding downward. The foamed products
222
thus formed fill the cavities
206
a
and
206
b
and reinforce the pillar
201
, thereby increasing the damping and sound insulating powers of the pillar
201
and increasing the strength and rigidity of the pillar
201
.
However, in the above-described known structure, to sufficiently increase the strength and the rigidity to the pillar
201
, the foamable pads
221
must be significantly increased in size, so that the foamed products
222
may extend to greater than a desired length in the cavities
206
a
and
206
b
. Additionally, the foamable pads
221
preferably should be made of special foamable materials, so that the foamed products
222
have sufficient rigidity or hardness when they are cured in the cavities
206
a
and
206
b
. These requirements may lead to increased costs.
Further, in the known structure, the foamable pads
221
must be adhered to the inner and outer panels
202
and
204
and the reinforcement panel
208
by adhesive prior to heating. The obstruction plates
231
also must be mounted on the inner panel
202
and the reinforcement panel
208
prior to heating, which are rather troublesome and time-consuming operations.
Further, the pillar
201
may have some un-painted portions, which un-painted portions result from the fact that the foamable pads
221
are adhered to the inner and outer panels
202
and
204
and the reinforcement panel
208
prior to painting. Such un-painted portions on the pillar
201
are therefore susceptible to corrosion.
Moreover, as generally shown in FIG.
9
(B), the inner panel
202
of the pillar
201
is formed with a plurality of apertures
232
(only one of which is shown) for attaching an ornament or other decorative member (not shown) to the pillar
201
. In the known structure, the apertures
232
may be closed by a portion
222
a
of the foamed products
222
, because the foamed products
222
may expand over a considerably prolonged extent. Closure of the apertures
232
by the foamed products
222
may prevent engagement pins (not shown) provided on the ornament from engaging the apertures
232
, thereby preventing the ornament from being mounted on the pillar
201
.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
It is an object of the present teachings to provide a structure and a method for closing a cavity of a hollow structural member and for reinforcing the hollow structural member in which problems associated with the known structure can be significantly reduced or eliminated.
It is another object to provide such structure and method in which the cavity of the hollow structural member can be efficiently closed without increasing the amount or bulk of a foamable pad necessary to fill or close the cavity.
It is further object to provide such structure and method in which the hollow structural member can be sufficiently reinforced without increasing the amount or bulk of a foamable pad.
In order to attain these objects, multiple structures and methods are provided. Structures for filling and closing a cavity of a hollow structural member and for reinforcing the hollow structural member, which structures include a reinforcement member comprising a plurality of reinforcement plates arranged in a spaced relationship, the reinforcement plates being interconnected to form at least one receiving space therebetween, the reinforcement member being disposed in the cavity in such a way that the reinforcement plates are substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the hollow structural member, and at least one foamable member received in the at least one receiving space within the reinforcement member, the foamable member being adapted to partially or completely fill the cavity and to secure the reinforcement member in the cavity when the foamable member is expanded by external heating to produce a foamed product. Preferably, the foamable members are placed so as to close the cavity when expanded.
In addition, structures for closing a cavity of a hollow structural member and for reinforcing the hollow structural member are provided in which the cavity is longitudinally divided into a first divided cavity and a second divided cavity, which structure includes a reinforcement member comprising a plurality of reinforcement plates arranged in a spaced relationship, the reinforcement plates being interconnected to form at least one receiving space therebetween, the reinforcement member being disposed in at least one of the first and second divided cavities in such a way that the reinforcement plates are substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the hollow structural member, and at least one foamable member received in the at least one receiving space of the reinforcement member, the foamable member being adapted to partially or completely fill the corresponding divided cavity and to secure the reinforcement member in the divided cavity when the foamable member is expanded by external heating to produce a foamed product.
Further, methods are provided for closing a cavity of a hollow structural member and for reinforcing the hollow structural member, which methods comprise the steps of providing a reinforcement member comprising a plurality of reinforcement plates arranged in a spaced relationship, the reinforcement plates being interconnected to form at least one receiving space therebetween, disposing the reinforcement member in the cavity in such a way that the reinforcement plates are substantially perpendicular to the
Dennison, Scheiner Schultz & Wakeman
Neo-Ex Lab, Inc.
Safavi Michael
LandOfFree
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