US4311744A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Panel reinforcement structures for automobile bodies
Assignee: Mazda Motor Corp
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Filing: 1980-02-26
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Granted: 1982-01-19
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Expires: 2000-02-26
Abstract
Abstract Panel reinforcement structure for automobile bodies including a wide outer skin such as a roof panel, a bonnet and a trunk lid, and one or more reinforcement members for applying the skin with a rigidity. The reinforcement member is applied to the outer skin with one or more layers of a mastic sealant. A layer of open cell type elastic foamed material is provided between the mastic sealant layer and one or each of the outer skin and the reinforcement member for the purpose of allowing a relative movement between the outer skin and the reinforcement member to avoid any distortion of the outer skin due to a difference in thermal expansion.
Inventors
- 👤 Kinji Watanabe
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-02 23:01
CPC Classifications
B; B32; B32B; B32B15/00; B32B15/04; B32B15/08; B32B5/00; B32B5/18; B32B3/00; B32B3/10; B32B3/18; B62; B62D; B62D25/00; B62D25/06; B62D25/08; B62D25/10; B62D25/105; B62D27/00; B62D27/02; B62D27/026; B32B2266/00; B32B2266/06; B32B2605/00; B32B2605/08; Y; Y10; Y10T; Y10T428/00; Y10T428/24; Y10T428/24479; Y10T428/24496; Y10T428/24504; Y10T428/24512; Y10T428/24612; Y10T428/24628; Y10T428/24752; Y10T428/24802; Y10T428/24917; Y10T428/249921; Y10T428/249953; Y10T428/249955; Y10T428/249958; Y10T428/249982; Y10T428/249987; Y10T428/24999; Y10T428/31504; Y10T428/31678; Y10T428/31692; Y10T428/31696; Y10T428/31699
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 11
Claim 1
Independent Claim
171 words
A panel reinforcement structure for automobile bodies having an outer skin metal member forming an outer covering body panel, the body panel having an inner surface, said reinforcement structure comprising: a reinforcement metal member reinforcing said outer skin metal member, and having two portions adapted to be fastened to the automobile body and an attaching surface opposed to and spaced from the inner surface of the outer skin metal member when said reinforcement metal member is fastened to the automobile body; a filler agent layer between the inner surface of the outer skin metal member and the attaching surface of the reinforcement metal member; a layer of foamed material between the filler agent layer and at least one of the outer skin metal member and the reinforcement metal member; and a corrosion resistant coating layer formed on the inner surface of the outer skin member by electrodeposition material, said layer of foamed material having open cell structure so that electrodeposition material can reach the inner surface of the outer skin member.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
171 words
A panel reinforcement structure for automobile bodies having an outer skin metal member forming an outer covering body panel, the body panel having an inner surface, said reinforcement structure comprising: a reinforcement metal member reinforcing said outer skin metal member, and having two portions adapted to be fastened to the automobile body and an attaching surface opposed to and spaced from the inner surface of the outer skin metal member when said reinforcement metal member is fastened to the automobile body; a filler agent layer between the inner surface of the outer skin metal member and the attaching surface of the reinforcement metal member; a layer of foamed material between the filler agent layer and at least one of the outer skin metal member and the reinforcement metal member; and a corrosion resistant coating layer formed on the inner surface of the outer skin member by electrodeposition material, said layer of foamed material having open cell structure so that electrodeposition material can reach the inner surface of the outer skin member.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
48 words
A panel reinforcement structure in accordance with claim 1 in which a plurality of said filler agent layers are provided in spaced apart relationship along a length of the reinforcement metal member, a layer of open cell foamed material being associated with each of the filler agent layers.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
50 words
A panel reinforcement structure in accordance with claim 2 in which the reinforcement metal member is of a shallow U-shaped cross section having side flanges, the filler agent layers being provided only between each flange of the reinforcement metal member and the inner surface of the outer skin metal member.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
20 words
A panel reinforcement structure in accordance with claim 2 in which the outer skin metal member is a roof panel.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
31 words
A panel reinforcement structure in accordance with claim 1 in which the layer of open cell foamed material is provided between the filling agent layer and the outer skin metal member.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
21 words
A panel reinforcement structure in accordance with claim 1 in which said filler agent is a vinyl chloride sol based sealant.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
19 words
A panel reinforcement structure in accordance with claim 1 in which said filler agent is a chloroprene based sealant.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
20 words
A panel reinforcement structure in accordance with claim 1 in which the foamed material is of a urethane based type.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
47 words
A panel reinforcement structure in accordance with claim 2 in which the foamed material is of a urethane based type and the filling agent layer is made of chloride sol based material, the foamed material being provided between the outer skin metal member and filling agent layer.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
47 words
A panel reinforcement structure in accordance with claim 2 in which the foamed material is of a urethane based type and the filling agent layer is made of chloroprene based material, the foamed material being provided between the outer skin metal member and the filling agent layer.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1985-01-18 | 1985-07-20 | 1986-01-19 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1989-01-18 | 1989-07-20 | 1990-01-19 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1993-01-18 | 1993-07-20 | 1994-01-19 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |