US3829149A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Beam construction
Assignee: L&L Products Inc
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Filing: 1973-02-09
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Granted: 1974-08-13
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Expires: 1993-02-09
Abstract
Abstract A novel structural beam having energy absorbing and load characteristics admirably suited for protecting the passenger compartment of a vehicle during collision, for example, as a side guard beam. The beam construction comprises a blade-supporting matrix of novel composition and structure contained within a hollow sheet metal box beam.
Inventors
- 👤 F Stevens
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-09 08:35
CPC Classifications
B; B60; B60J; B60J5/00; B60J5/04; B60J5/042; B60J5/0452; B60J5/0422; B60J5/0438; B60J5/0443; B60J5/0447
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 23
Claim 1
Independent Claim
229 words
In a beam construction, the combination comprising a hollow sheet metal box beam, said hollow sheet metal box beam comprising a tension wall member and a compression wall member, said two wall members being disposed in spaced parallel planes which are perpendicular to a component of load applied to the beam, said hollow sheet metal box beam further including means connecting the peripheries of said two wall members to enclose the hollow interior of the beam, a blade-supporting matrix of foam-like but fracturable and crush-resistant structure comprising aggregate and binder with the aggregate being distributed within and bonded by the binder, said matrix being unattached to and fitting snugly within the cross section of said hollow sheet metal box beam between said two wall members thereof and at least one sheet metal blade supported by said matrix, said at least one blade being disposed in a plane which is parallel to said component of load applied to the beam, said at least one blade extending lengthwise of the beam and having a width substantially equal to the distance between said two wall members, said matrix possessing sufficiently large compressive strength for maintaining the spacing of said two wall members as the beam is increasingly bent by the load, but said matrix possessing sufficiently small tensile strength that it also fractures as the beam is increasingly bent by the load.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
229 words
In a beam construction, the combination comprising a hollow sheet metal box beam, said hollow sheet metal box beam comprising a tension wall member and a compression wall member, said two wall members being disposed in spaced parallel planes which are perpendicular to a component of load applied to the beam, said hollow sheet metal box beam further including means connecting the peripheries of said two wall members to enclose the hollow interior of the beam, a blade-supporting matrix of foam-like but fracturable and crush-resistant structure comprising aggregate and binder with the aggregate being distributed within and bonded by the binder, said matrix being unattached to and fitting snugly within the cross section of said hollow sheet metal box beam between said two wall members thereof and at least one sheet metal blade supported by said matrix, said at least one blade being disposed in a plane which is parallel to said component of load applied to the beam, said at least one blade extending lengthwise of the beam and having a width substantially equal to the distance between said two wall members, said matrix possessing sufficiently large compressive strength for maintaining the spacing of said two wall members as the beam is increasingly bent by the load, but said matrix possessing sufficiently small tensile strength that it also fractures as the beam is increasingly bent by the load.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
26 words
The combination of claim 1 wherein the length of said matrix is a selected fraction of the length of the hollow interior of the box beam.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
23 words
The combination of claim 1 wherein the length of said at least one blade is approximately equal to the length of said matrix.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
31 words
The combination of claim 3 wherein the lengths of said at least one blade anD said matrix are selected fractions of the length of the hollow interior of the box beam.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
26 words
The combination of claim 1 wherein said aggregate comprises expanded perlite and said binder is selected from the group consisting of phenolic resin and polyester resin.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
115 words
In a beam construction, the combination comprising a hollow box beam having spaced wall members disposed to be generally perpendicular to a component of load applied to the beam and an insert contained therein between said wall members, said insert comprising a fracturable, crush-resistant matrix, said matrix comprising an aggregate distributed within and bonded by a binder, said matrix possessing sufficiently large compressive strength for maintaining the spacing of said wall members as the beam is increasingly bent by the load, but said matrix possessing sufficiently small tensile strength that it also fractures as the beam is increasingly bent by the load and at least one blade supported between said wall members by said matrix.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
115 words
In a beam construction, the combination comprising a hollow box beam having spaced wall members disposed to be generally perpendicular to a component of load applied to the beam and an insert contained therein between said wall members, said insert comprising a fracturable, crush-resistant matrix, said matrix comprising an aggregate distributed within and bonded by a binder, said matrix possessing sufficiently large compressive strength for maintaining the spacing of said wall members as the beam is increasingly bent by the load, but said matrix possessing sufficiently small tensile strength that it also fractures as the beam is increasingly bent by the load and at least one blade supported between said wall members by said matrix.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
11 words
The combination of claim 6 wherein said aggregate comprises expanded perlite.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
11 words
The combination of claim 7 wherein said binder comprises phenolic resin.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
19 words
The combination of claim 8 wherein the expanded perlite has a particle size on the order of 250 microns.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
12 words
The combination of claim 7 wherein said binder comprises a polyester resin.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
19 words
The combination of claim 10 wherein the expanded perlite has a particle size on the order of 250 microns.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
56 words
The combination of claim 6 wherein said aggregate comprises expanded perlite having a particle size on the order of 250 microns and said binder comprises thermosetting phenolic resin, said matrix being made by mixing approximately equal weights of said expanded perlite and said phenolic resin, compressing the mixture, and curing the mixture to form the matrix.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
54 words
The combination of claim 6 wherein said aggregate comprises expanded perlite having a particle size on the order of 250 microns and said aggregate comprises polyester resin, said matrix being made by mixing approximately 35 percent aggregate and 65 percent binder by weight, compressing the mixture, and curing the mixture to form said matrix.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
18 words
The combination of claim 6 wherein said insert is unattached within said box beam and fits snugly therein.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
48 words
The combination of claim 6 wherein said box beam is of rectangular shape and comprises a compression wall member, a tension wall member and side wall members perpendicular to the tension and compression wall members, said at least one blade being disposed parallel to said side wall members.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
25 words
The combination of claim 15 wherein the width of said at least one blade is approximately equal to the width of said side wall members.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
27 words
The combination of claim 15 wherein the length of said at least one blade is equal to a selected fraction of the lengths of said wall members.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
119 words
In a beam construction, the combination comprising a hollow enclosed box beam comprising a pair of spaced wall members disposed in generally parallel planes which are perpendicular to a component of load applied to the beam and a foam-like matrix insert disposed within said box beam and enclosed thereby, said insert fitting snugly between said two wall members, said insert comprising aggregate and binder with the aggregate distributed within and bonded by the binder, said insert possessing sufficiently large compressive strength for maintaining the spacing of said wall members as the beam is increasingly bent by the load, but said matrix possessing sufficiently small tensile strength that it also fractures as the beam is increasingly bent by the load.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
119 words
In a beam construction, the combination comprising a hollow enclosed box beam comprising a pair of spaced wall members disposed in generally parallel planes which are perpendicular to a component of load applied to the beam and a foam-like matrix insert disposed within said box beam and enclosed thereby, said insert fitting snugly between said two wall members, said insert comprising aggregate and binder with the aggregate distributed within and bonded by the binder, said insert possessing sufficiently large compressive strength for maintaining the spacing of said wall members as the beam is increasingly bent by the load, but said matrix possessing sufficiently small tensile strength that it also fractures as the beam is increasingly bent by the load.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
56 words
The combination of claim 18 wherein said aggregate comprises expanded perlite having a particle size on the order of 250 microns and said binder comprises thermosetting phenolic resin, said matrix being made by mixing approximately equal weights of said expanded perlite and said phenolic resin, compressing the mixture, and cUring the mixture to form the matrix.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
54 words
The combination of claim 18 wherein said aggregate comprises expanded perlite having a particle size on the order of 250 microns and said aggregate comprises polyester resin, said matrix being made by mixing approximately 35 percent aggregate and 65 percent binder by weight, compressing the mixture, and curing the mixture to form said matrix.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
No citation records indexed.
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1977-08-12 | 1978-02-11 | 1978-08-13 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1981-08-12 | 1982-02-11 | 1982-08-13 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1985-08-12 | 1986-02-11 | 1986-08-13 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |