Claims
- 1. A method of forming a reinforced member, comprising:
providing at least two portions of matrix material; positioning at least one portion of strengthening material between the at least two portions of matrix material thereby forming a reinforcement material; providing a member of an automotive vehicle having a surface; positioning the reinforcement material adjacent the surface of the member; and activating the reinforcement material to expand and adhere the reinforcement material to the surface.
- 2. A method as in claim 1 wherein the at least two portions of matrix material includes at least three portions of matrix material and the at least one portion of strengthening material includes at least two portions of strengthening material.
- 3. A method as in claim 1 wherein the at least one portion of strengthening material is a fabric formed of glass or polymeric fibers.
- 4. A method as in claim 3 wherein the at least two portions of matrix material include an epoxy-based material.
- 5. A method as in claim 1 wherein the member forms a cavity that has a dimension less than 30 millimeters and the reinforcement material has a dimension less than 30 millimeters and the reinforcement material is fit with the cavity such that the dimension of the reinforcement material is substantially parallel to the dimension of the cavity.
- 6. A method as in claim 5 wherein the reinforcement material is provided as a strip with a length, a width and a thickness, the thickness being the relatively small dimension of the reinforcement material.
- 7. A method as in claim 6 wherein the member is a pillar of an automotive vehicle.
- 8. A method of forming a reinforced member, comprising:
providing at least two layers of matrix material; positioning at least one layer of strengthening material between the at least two layers of matrix material thereby forming a reinforcement material having a width less than 20 millimeters wherein the strengthening material is no greater than about 30 weight percent of the reinforcement material; providing a member of an automotive vehicle defining a cavity; positioning the reinforcement material within the cavity; and expanding the reinforcement material to adhere the reinforcement material to the member.
- 9. A method as in claim 8 wherein the at least two layers of matrix material includes at least three layers of matrix material and the at least one layer of strengthening material includes at least two layers of strengthening material.
- 10. A method as in claim 8 wherein the at least one layer of strengthening material is a fabric formed of glass fibers.
- 11. A method as in claim 10 wherein the at least two layers of matrix material include an epoxy-based material.
- 12. A method as in claim 8 wherein the reinforcement material is provided as a strip with a length, a width and a thickness, the thickness being the relatively small dimension of the reinforcement material.
- 13. A method as in claim 8 wherein the member is a pillar of an automotive vehicle.
- 14. A method of forming a reinforced member, comprising:
co-extruding at least two layers of matrix material; positioning at least one layer fibrous strengthening material at least partially between the at least two layers thereby forming a reinforcement material wherein;
i) the reinforcement material has a relatively small dimension that extends through each of the at least two layers of matrix material and the layer of strengthening material; ii) the dimension is less than 20 millimeters; and iii) the strengthening material is no greater than about 30 weight percent of the reinforcement material; providing a member of an automotive vehicle having one or more surfaces defining an opening wherein the opening has a relatively small dimension that is less than 10 millimeters greater than the dimension of the reinforcement material; positioning the reinforcement material within the opening such that the dimension of the reinforcement material substantially aligns with the dimension of the opening of the member; and expanding the reinforcement material to adhere the reinforcement material to the one or more surfaces of the member.
- 15. A method as in claim 1 wherein the at least one layer of strengthening material is a fabric formed of glass fibers.
- 16. A method as in claim 14 wherein the reinforcement material is provided as a strip with a length, a width and a thickness, the thickness being the relatively small dimension of the reinforcement material.
- 17. A method as in claim 16 wherein the member is a pillar of an automotive vehicle.
CLAIM OF BENEFIT OF FILING DATE
[0001] The present application claims the benefit of the filing date of U.S. Provisional Application Serial No. 60/369,039 (filed Mar. 29, 2002), hereby incorporated by reference.
Provisional Applications (1)
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Number |
Date |
Country |
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60369039 |
Mar 2002 |
US |