Baffle or reinforcer with fixation mechanism

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9744701-B2
Application number	US-201113578372-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Feb 3, 2011
Priority date	Feb 11, 2010
Publication date	Aug 29, 2017
Grant date	Aug 29, 2017

Abstract

A baffle or reinforcer includes a carrier configured to be disposed in a cavity and a fixation mechanism disposed on the carrier and configured to at least partially support the carrier in the cavity. The fixation mechanism defines an opening for receiving an expandable material. The fixation mechanism has an anti-return device configured to prevent at least a portion of the expandable material from escaping through the opening during expansion. A method includes inserting the carrier into the cavity, injecting the expandable material into the cavity via the opening in the fixation mechanism, expanding the expandable material within the cavity, and preventing at least a portion of the expandable material from escaping through the opening during expansion.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. A baffle or reinforcer comprising:
a carrier; and
a fixation mechanism disposed on the carrier wherein the carrier and the fixation mechanism together form an integrated baffle or reinforcer that is insertable into a cavity, and the fixation mechanism is configured to at least partially support the carrier in the cavity;
wherein the fixation mechanism defines an opening for receiving an expandable material, the fixation mechanism having an anti-return device configured to prevent at least a portion of the expandable material from escaping through the opening during expansion;
wherein the carrier includes two elongated supports spaced from one another, and wherein the fixation mechanism is disposed between the two elongated supports, and wherein the two elongated supports are substantially parallel to one another, and wherein the carrier includes at least one spacer extending between the two supports, and wherein the at least one spacer is configured to maintain a distance between the supports when external forces are applied.

2. A baffle or reinforcer comprising:
a carrier; and
a fixation mechanism disposed on the carrier wherein the carrier and the fixation mechanism together form an integrated baffle or reinforcer that is insertable into a cavity, and the fixation mechanism is configured to at least partially support the carrier in the cavity;
wherein the fixation mechanism defines an opening for receiving an expandable material, the fixation mechanism having an anti-return device configured to prevent at least a portion of the expandable material from escaping through the opening during expansion;
wherein the carrier includes two supports spaced from one another, and wherein the fixation mechanism is disposed between the two supports, and wherein the supports are substantially parallel to one another and the carrier includes at least one rib extending from at least one of the two supports, and wherein the carrier includes at least one spacer extending between the two supports, and wherein the at least one spacer is configured to maintain a distance between the supports when external forces are applied;
wherein the expandable material includes at least one of a two-component polyurethane foam and a two-component epoxy-based foam;
wherein the anti-return device includes a guide and a ball disposed on the guide.

3. A baffle or reinforcer as set forth in claim 2 , wherein the guide is sloped, and the ball is configured to roll on the guide in a first direction when the expandable material is received in the fixation mechanism and roll on the guide in a second direction when the expandable material expands.

4. A baffle or reinforcer as set forth in claim 2 , wherein the anti-return device includes a stopper configured to limit movement of the ball in the first direction.

5. A baffle or reinforcer as set forth in claim 2 , wherein the ball is sized to substantially fill the opening in the fixation mechanism and prevent at least a portion of the expandable material from escaping through the opening during expansion.

6. A baffle or reinforcer as set forth in claim 1 , wherein the anti-return device includes a valve.

7. A baffle or reinforcer as set forth in claim 1 , wherein the fixation mechanism includes at least one clip for attaching to the carrier.

8. A baffle or reinforcer as set forth in claim 1 , wherein the carrier is a rigid, substantially flat carrier.

9. A baffle or reinforcer as set forth in claim 1 , wherein the spacer is integrally formed with the at least two supports.

10. A baffle or reinforcer as set forth in claim 1 , wherein the fixation mechanism has a connector with a substantially frusto-conical configuration defining the opening.

11. A baffle or reinforcer as set forth in claim 1 , wherein the fixation mechanism includes a first fixation mechanism as part of an inner carrier and a second fixation mechanism as part of an outer carrier, wherein said first fixation mechanism and said second fixation mechanism are substantially aligned with one another.

12. A baffle or reinforcer as set forth in claim 1 , wherein the cavity is located within an automotive and/or aerospace vehicle.

13. A baffle or reinforcer as set forth in claim 1 , wherein the baffle or reinforcer, in combination with the expandable material, is configured to provide acoustic dampening, sealing, and/or structural reinforcement.

14. A baffle or reinforcer as set forth in claim 1 , wherein the expandable material includes at least one of a two-component polyurethane foam and a two-component epoxy-based foam.

15. A baffle or reinforcer as set forth in claim 1 , wherein the anti-return device includes a guide and a ball disposed on the guide.

16. A baffle or reinforcer as set forth in claim 15 , wherein the guide is sloped, and the ball is configured to roll on the guide in a first direction when the expandable material is received in the fixation mechanism and roll on the guide in a second direction when the expandable material expands.

Assignees

• Belpaire Vincent
• Mendibour Jean
• Sika Tech Ag

Inventors

• Belpaire Vincent
• Mendibour Jean

Classifications

• B62D29/002

  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

• B29C44/581

  Closure devices for pour holes · CPC title

• B29C44/188 Primary

  Sealing off parts of the cavities · CPC title

• Y10T428/24008

  including fastener for attaching to external surface · CPC title

• Y10T428/24273

  including aperture · CPC title