Abstract: A device and method for reinforcing, baffling or sealing a vehicle structure, comprising the steps of providing a flexible carrier and plurality of parallel strips located on opposing surfaces of the carrier.
Abstract: There is disclosed a member for sealing, baffling and/or reinforcing components of an automotive vehicle. The assembly generally includes a carrier, an expandable material and at least one fastener.
Type:
Grant
Filed:
January 7, 2015
Date of Patent:
May 31, 2016
Assignee:
ZEPHYROS, INC.
Inventors:
Douglas C. Larsen, Thomas D. Kleino, Abraham Kassa, William J. Barz, Matthew Harthcock
Abstract: A rivetable adhesive for use in a joint between dissimilar materials, comprising a liquid epoxy resin, an expoxidized polysulfide, a flexibilizer, a solid epoxy CTBN adduct based upon bisphenol A, a phenoxy resin, an impact modifier including methacrylate-butadiene-styrene, a curing agent; and a blowing agent. The adhesive finds particular suitability for use in riveting aluminum panels to steel structures, such as for forming automotive vehicle roof structures.
Type:
Application
Filed:
April 25, 2014
Publication date:
April 21, 2016
Applicant:
Zephyros, Inc.
Inventors:
Renee Bradley, David Sheasley, Jeanne Bednarski
Abstract: A method of forming a nonwoven material, the method comprising: receiving fibrous material comprising thermo-plastic fibers; processing the fibrous material to produce short fibers; adding the short fibers to a preformed web; and heating and optionally compressing the preformed web to form a nonwoven material.
Type:
Grant
Filed:
December 4, 2009
Date of Patent:
April 19, 2016
Assignee:
Zephyros, Inc.
Inventors:
Michael William Coates, Marek Henryk Kierzkowski, Philip John Gibbons, Alfred Johannas Eiden
Abstract: A device and method for the protection of a first member and second member from corrosion by utilizing a connector that bonds the members without allowing direct contact of the members.
Type:
Grant
Filed:
March 6, 2014
Date of Patent:
April 5, 2016
Assignee:
Zephyros, Inc.
Inventors:
Henry E. Richardson, Jeffery Thomas Shantz, Alex Mangiapane
Abstract: An in-tire sound absorber for a pneumatic wheel assembly including a wheel rim and a tire fitted to the wheel rim. The sound absorber comprises a first fibrous layer and a second fibrous layer with a higher air flow resistance than the first layer. The sound absorber is configured to fit around the wheel rim with the first layer in contact with a surface of the wheel rim and extending substantially between the second layer and the wheel rim.
Type:
Grant
Filed:
October 31, 2006
Date of Patent:
March 8, 2016
Assignee:
Zephyros, Inc.
Inventors:
Marek Henryk Kierzkowski, Philip John Gibbons, Bruce Reginald Gascoigne, Michael William Coates
Abstract: There is disclosed a method of applying activatable material to a member of an article of manufacture such as an automotive vehicle. According to the method, the activatable material is provided to an applicator followed by applying the activatable material to the member wherein the activatable material is attached by way of a mechanical interlock via one or more through-holes.
Abstract: A method for improving joint strength between a first and second member comprising the steps of: applying a sealant material including a matrix material at least partially encasing rigid components to the first and second members; joining the first and second members upon an application of force that is applied through the use of one or more fasteners; wherein a compressive force is applied to the exterior surface of both the first and second members by the one or more fasteners while the rigid components apply an internal tension force acting opposite of the compression force to the interior surface of both the first and second members proximate to the fastener to form a mechanical lock thereby reducing slippage and generally maintaining the joint in position.
Abstract: Light weight composites with high flexural strength comprise epoxy foam sandwiched between two layers of facing material have high strength and low weight and can be used to replace steel structures. The facing layer may be fibrous material especially glass or carbon fibers, the facing material is preferably embedded into the epoxy matrix. Alternatively they may be matching box structures or concentric metal tubes. The sandwich structures may be prepared by laying up the fiber; coating and/or impregnating the layer with epoxy resin, laying a layer of heat activatable foamable epoxy material, providing a further layer of the fibrous material optionally coated and/or impregnated with epoxy resin on the foamable material and heating to foam and cure the epoxy materials. Alternatively they may be formed by extrusion of the foamable material between the surface layers.
Type:
Grant
Filed:
September 13, 2012
Date of Patent:
November 17, 2015
Assignee:
Zephyros, Inc.
Inventors:
Eric Le Gall, Frederic Ostrowsky, Denis Souvay
Abstract: A solid dry to the touch at ambient temperature structural adhesive which can be cured at elevated temperature and which can be molded at an intermediate temperature is provided as well as the use of the adhesive for bonding metals.
Abstract: A tape material comprising: a thin flexible substrate; and a pressure sensitive adhesive (PSA) substance carried on a single side of the substrate, the PSA substance being provided in an intermittent pattern along a length of the substrate.
Type:
Grant
Filed:
October 16, 2009
Date of Patent:
October 6, 2015
Assignee:
Zephyros, Inc.
Inventors:
Michael William Coates, Philip John Gibbons
Abstract: A method for reinforcing, baffling or sealing a vehicle structure, comprising the steps of providing one or more materials having a horizontal axis, at least one terminating edge, and an initial length, forming openings in the one or more materials, and applying the one or more materials to location requiring reinforcement, baffling, sealing or any combination thereof.
Type:
Grant
Filed:
June 18, 2013
Date of Patent:
October 6, 2015
Assignee:
Zephyros, Inc.
Inventors:
Dean Quaderer, Erin White, Gary Vanlerberghe
Abstract: A structural reinforcement for insertion into a cavity of a vehicle structure including a base reinforcing portion, an expandable material and a localized reinforcement is disclosed. The localized reinforcement is placed within the structural reinforcement at a location of anticipated increased deformation during vehicle impact in an effort to reduce deformation and control the load distribution post-impact.
Type:
Grant
Filed:
May 5, 2014
Date of Patent:
October 6, 2015
Assignee:
Zephyros, Inc.
Inventors:
Henry E. Richardson, Xuping Qian, Gary Hulett
Abstract: A composite laminate is formed from a structural foam and a reinforcement layer. The matched surface tensions of the structural foam and reinforcement layer result in increased bond strength between the structural foam and the reinforcement layer, thus providing for improved physical characteristics including improved lap shear and flexural strength.
Abstract: Means for joining two surfaces comprise providing a heat activated sealant (7) at the end of one of the surfaces and inserting the end into a C or U shaped cup in the end of the other surface and heating to cause the sealant (7) to flow and join the surfaces. Preferably the sealant (7) is foamable, the invention is particularly useful in the production of automobile hem flanges.
Type:
Application
Filed:
December 3, 2008
Publication date:
June 11, 2015
Applicant:
Zephyros Inc.
Inventors:
Xavier Morral, Francisco Turegano, Ira Miller, Christophe Henry
Abstract: Methods and apparatuses are disclosed for applying activatable melt flowable materials to substrates made from synthetic materials. The methods are concerned with formation of appropriate flowable materials, control over the manner in which the flowable materials are applied, treatment of the substrates prior to application of the flowable materials and the selection of the optimum combination of materials for the substrates and the flowable materials. The methods may be particularly suited for applying flowable materials to surfaces to produce components found in automotive, aerospace including trucks, busses and tractors and marine vehicles.
Abstract: Described embodiments relate to a method of manufacturing a sound absorption material. The method comprises: forming a low density fibrous web to act as porous bulk absorber, the fibrous web containing a proportion of bi-components fibers, each bi-component fiber having a core material and a sheath material around the core material; applying a thin facing later to the low density fibrous web, wherein the facing layer is adhesively compatible with the sheath material; heating the fibrous web to a temperature sufficient to soften the sheath material of at least some of the bi-component fibers; and pressing the facing layer and fibrous web together under low pressure such that at least part of the facing layer contacts the softened sheath material of at least some of the bi-component fibers to form an adhesive bond between the facing layer and the fibrous web.
Type:
Grant
Filed:
December 28, 2012
Date of Patent:
May 19, 2015
Assignee:
ZEPHYROS, INC.
Inventors:
Michael William Coates, Marek Henryk Kierzkowski, Philip John Gibbons
Abstract: A method for improving joint strength between a first and second member comprising the steps of: applying a sealant material including a matrix material at least partially encasing rigid components to the first and second members; joining the first and second members upon an application of force that is applied through the use of one or more fasteners; wherein a compressive force is applied to the exterior surface of both the first and second members by the one or more fasteners while the rigid components apply an internal tension force acting opposite of the compression force to the interior surface of both the first and second members proximate to the fastener to form a mechanical lock thereby reducing slippage and generally maintaining the joint in position.