Structural adhesive assemblies

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10105926-B2
Application number	US-201615165344-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	May 26, 2016
Priority date	Sep 26, 2012
Publication date	Oct 23, 2018
Grant date	Oct 23, 2018

Abstract

A device and method for reinforcing, baffling or sealing a vehicle structure, comprising the steps of providing a flexible carrier and plurality of parallel strips located on opposing surfaces of the carrier.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. A device comprising:
a carrier comprised of fibrous and flexible material having a first surface and a second surface opposing the first surface, wherein the carrier has a substantially uniform thickness of about 0.005 mm to about 5 mm, and wherein the carrier when held at an end of the carrier bends under its own weight and to a position of at least about 45° relative to a plane in which the carrier lies;
a plurality of parallel strips of a thermally activatable material on the first surface of the carrier;
wherein the plurality of parallel strips are aligned and spaced apart from each other to define a plurality of hinge portions of the carrier between pairs of parallel strips that are free of any activatable material so that the device is flexible at the hinge portions; and
wherein the device is a reinforcement member.

2. The device of claim 1 , wherein the device is configured to conform to a surface of a secondary surface.

3. The device of claim 1 , wherein the device is flexible along a longitudinal axis of the device.

4. The device of claim 1 , wherein the amount of flexing increases as a weight of the device increases.

5. The device of claim 1 , wherein a distance between the plurality of parallel strips is increased as a percentage of expansion of the thermally activatable material increases.

6. The device of claim 1 , wherein a volumetric expansion of the thermally activatable material is at least about 100% and less than about 300%.

7. The device of claim 1 , wherein the carrier includes a terminal edge and at least one of the strips of the plurality of parallel strips expands to meet or cover the terminal edge.

8. The device of claim 1 , wherein the carrier is capable of deforming along at least two axes.

9. The device of claim 1 , wherein the plurality of parallel strips have different compositions.

10. The device of claim 1 , wherein the thermally activatable material includes an epoxy-based material.

11. The device of claim 10 , wherein the plurality of parallel strips each include a tacky surface capable of adhering to a secondary surface prior to activating the thermally activatable material.

12. The device of claim 1 , wherein the plurality of parallel strips is a first plurality of parallel strips; and wherein the device also includes a second plurality of parallel strips located on the second surface of the carrier which mirror the first set of parallel strips about the carrier.

13. The device of claim 1 , wherein the plurality of parallel strips each have a thickness of about 0.01 mm or greater to about 8 mm or less.

14. A device comprising:
a carrier comprised of fibrous and flexible material having a first surface and a second surface opposing the first surface, wherein the carrier will bend under its own weight when held at an end of the carrier and to a position of at least about 45° relative to a plane in which the carrier lies, and wherein the carrier has a substantially uniform thickness of about 0.005 mm to about 5 mm;
a plurality of parallel strips of a thermally activatable material on the first surface of the carrier, wherein the plurality of parallel strips are comprised of different compositions;
wherein the plurality of parallel strips are aligned and spaced apart to define a plurality of hinge portions of the carrier between pairs of parallel strips that are free of any activatable material so that the device is flexible at the hinge portions; and
wherein the device is a reinforcement member.

15. The device of claim 14 , wherein the device is configured to conform to a surface of a secondary surface.

16. The device of claim 15 , wherein the device is flexible along a longitudinal axis of the device.

17. The device of claim 16 , wherein a volumetric expansion of the thermally activatable material is at least about 100% and less than about 300%.

18. The device of claim 17 , wherein the thermally activatable material includes an epoxy-based material.

19. The device of claim 18 , wherein the plurality of parallel strips each include a tacky surface capable of adhering to a secondary surface prior to activating the thermally activatable material.

20. The device of claim 14 , wherein the plurality of parallel strips is a first plurality of parallel strips; and wherein the device also includes a second plurality of parallel strips located on the second surface of the carrier which mirror the first set of parallel strips about the carrier.

Assignees

• Zephyros Inc

Inventors

• Quaderer Dean

Classifications

• B60R19/03

  characterised by material, e.g. composite (B60R19/18 takes precedence) · CPC title

• B29C44/18

  Filling preformed cavities {(B29C44/1204 takes precedence)} · CPC title

• B62D29/04

  predominantly of synthetic material (working of plastics or substances in a plastic state B29) · CPC title

• Y10T428/24132

  including grain, strips, or filamentary elements in different layers or components parallel · CPC title

• B62D29/002 Primary

  a foamable synthetic material or metal being added in situ (shaping of substances in a plastic state by foaming, in general B29C44/00) · CPC title