Web component and method of making a web component

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10683883-B2
Application number	US-201615085773-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Mar 30, 2016
Priority date	Jul 30, 2013
Publication date	Jun 16, 2020
Grant date	Jun 16, 2020

Abstract

A web component suitable for use with a snap-fit assembly is disclosed herein. The web component includes, but is not limited to, a sheet metal member that has a periphery and a first side and a second side. The sheet metal member also includes a plurality of protrusions that extend from a first surface of the first side and from a second surface of the second side. The plurality of protrusions are disposed proximate a portion of the periphery and are configured to engage a female receiver associated with the snap-fit assembly.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A web component suitable for use with a snap-fit assembly, the web component comprising:
a unitary sheet metal member having a periphery, a first side and a second side, the sheet metal member including a plurality of protrusions integral with the sheet metal member, the plurality of protrusions extending from a first surface of the first side and from a second surface of the second side, the plurality of protrusions disposed in a region proximate a portion of the periphery and inset from the portion of the periphery, the sheet metal member further including a plurality of depressions extending into the first surface and into the second surface, the plurality of depressions being disposed in the region, the plurality of depressions being aligned with the plurality of protrusions, each depression of the plurality of depressions being spaced apart from each protrusion of the plurality of protrusions along the first side and the second side, the sheet metal member having a central region located within the periphery, the region forming an outer border of the central region, the central region being free of protrusions and depressions,
wherein the central region comprises a majority portion of the unitary sheet metal member.

2. The web component of claim 1 , wherein each protrusion of the plurality of protrusions alternates between the first surface and the second surface.

3. The web component of claim 1 , wherein the plurality of protrusions are disposed in a substantially continuous and uninterrupted pattern along the portion of the periphery.

4. The web component of claim 1 , wherein the plurality of protrusions are disposed in an intermittent pattern along the portion of the periphery.

5. The web component of claim 1 , wherein the portion of the periphery comprises substantially all of the periphery.

6. The web component of claim 1 , wherein the sheet metal member comprises a rib element.

7. The web component of claim 1 , wherein the sheet metal member comprises a spar element.

8. The web component of claim 7 , further comprising a female receiver disposed on one of the first surface and the second surface.

9. The web component of claim 8 , wherein the female receiver is mechanically fastened to the one of the first surface and the second surface.

10. The web component of claim 1 , wherein a second portion of the periphery includes a flange configured for mechanical fastening to another web component.

11. The web component of claim 1 , wherein an opening is defined through a central portion of the sheet metal member.

12. The web component of claim 11 , wherein a flange is defined around the opening.

13. The web component of claim 1 , wherein the sheet metal member has a curved configuration.

14. The web component of claim 1 , wherein the sheet metal member has a curved periphery.

15. The web component of claim 1 , wherein each protrusion of the plurality of protrusions is substantially uniform in configuration.

16. The web component of claim 1 , wherein the plurality of protrusions are arranged in a pattern corresponding to the portion of the periphery.

17. The web component of claim 1 , wherein each protrusion of the plurality of protrusions is substantially equidistant from an edge of the portion of the periphery.

18. A method of making a web component suitable for use with a snap-fit assembly, the method comprising:
cutting a substantially planar sheet metal member in a predetermined pattern to form a periphery;
forming a plurality of protrusions in a region proximate a portion of the periphery and inset from the portion of the periphery, the plurality of protrusions projecting from a first side and from a second side of the web component in an alternating pattern, and
forming a plurality of depressions extending into the first side and into the second side, the plurality of depressions disposed in the region, the plurality of depressions being aligned with the plurality of protrusions,
wherein each depression of the plurality of depressions is spaced apart from each protrusion of the plurality of protrusions along the first side and the second side,
wherein the web component has a central region located within the periphery, wherein the region forms an outer border of the central region, wherein the central region is free of protrusions and depressions, and wherein the central region comprises a majority portion of the sheet metal member.

19. The method of claim 18 , wherein forming the plurality of protrusions comprises one of stamping or dimpling the plurality of protrusions into the web component and cold rolling the plurality of protrusions into the web component.

20. A web component suitable for use with a snap-fit assembly, the web component comprising:
a unitary sheet metal member having a periphery and a first side and a second side, the sheet metal member including a plurality of protrusions integral with the sheet metal member, the plurality of protrusions extending from a first surface of the first side and from a second surface of the second side, the plurality of protrusions disposed in a region proximate a portion of the periphery and inset from the portion of the periphery, the sheet metal member further including a plurality of depressions extending into the first surface and into the second surface, the plurality of depressions being disposed in the region, the plurality of depressions being aligned with the plurality of protrusions, each depression of the plurality of depressions on the first side forming each oppositely disposed protrusion of the plurality of protrusions on the second side and each depression of the plurality of depressions on the second side forming each oppositely disposed protrusion of the plurality of protrusions on the first side, the sheet metal member having a central region located within the periphery, the region forming an outer border of the central region, the central region being free of protrusions and depressions, the central region comprising a majority portion of the unitary sheet metal member,
wherein each protrusion of the plurality of protrusions alternates between the first surface and the second surface and the plurality of protrusions are disposed in a substantially continuous and uninterrupted pattern along the portion of the periphery and an opening is defined through a central portion of the sheet metal member and a flange is defined around the opening and each protrusion of the plurality of protrusions is substantially uniform in configuration and the plurality of protrusions are arranged in a pattern corresponding to the portion of the periphery and each protrusion of the plurality of protrusions is substantially equidistant from an edge of the portion of the periphery.

Assignees

• Gulfstream Aerospace Corp

Inventors

• Grieco James R

Classifications

• B64C1/061

  Frames · CPC title

• F16B5/126

  at least one of the sheets, plates, bars or strips having integrally formed or integrally connected snap-in-features · CPC title

• B64C1/12

  Construction or attachment of skin panels · CPC title

• Y10T403/7045

  Interdigitated ends · CPC title

• B21D22/02

  Stamping using rigid devices or tools · CPC title