Patents by Inventor Scott Kropfeld

Scott Kropfeld has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).

  • Patent number: 6896320
    Abstract: The present invention describes a hollow structural body such as an automotive unibody or frame rail that is reinforced with a reinforcing material such as a polyurethane foam by inserting into a portion of the structural body a bulkhead-containing insert, which, in combination with the structural body at the place of insertion, creates a containment region for the reinforcing material. Uncured reinforcing material can then be added to the containment region and cured. The present invention solves a problem in the art by providing structural reinforcement to be easily and precisely placed within the structural body to provide, for example, enhanced crash resistance or improvements in acoustical properties.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 15, 2003
    Date of Patent: May 24, 2005
    Assignee: Dow Global Technologies Inc.
    Inventor: Scott Kropfeld
  • Patent number: 6866331
    Abstract: The present invention describes a hollow structural body such as an automotive unibody or frame rail that is reinforced with a reinforcing material such as a polyurethane foam by inserting into a portion of the structural body a bulkhead-containing insert, which, in combination with the structural body at the place of insertion, creates a containment region for the reinforcing material. Uncured reinforcing material can then be added to the containment region and cured. The present invention solves a problem in the art by providing structural reinforcement to be easily and precisely placed within the structural body to provide, for example, enhanced crash resistance or improvements in acoustical properties.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 1, 2004
    Date of Patent: March 15, 2005
    Assignee: Dow Global Technologies Inc.
    Inventor: Scott Kropfeld
  • Publication number: 20040222666
    Abstract: The present invention describes a hollow structural body such as an automotive unibody or frame rail that is reinforced with a reinforcing material such as a polyurethane foam by inserting into a portion of the structural body a bulkhead-containing insert, which, in combination with the structural body at the place of insertion, creates a containment region for the reinforcing material. Uncured reinforcing material can then be added to the containment region and cured.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 1, 2004
    Publication date: November 11, 2004
    Inventor: Scott Kropfeld
  • Publication number: 20030137162
    Abstract: The present invention describes a hollow structural body such as an automotive unibody or frame rail that is reinforced with a reinforcing material such as a polyurethane foam by inserting into a portion of the structural body a bulkhead-containing insert, which, in combination with the structural body at the place of insertion, creates a containment region for the reinforcing material. Uncured reinforcing material can then be added to the containment region and cured.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 15, 2003
    Publication date: July 24, 2003
    Inventor: Scott Kropfeld
  • Patent number: 5965207
    Abstract: A method of applying a smooth thin waterproof coating on engineered particleboards including oriented strand boards, thereby permitting the use of such boards for applications wherein the boards are exposed to moisture, including, for example, foundation forms, roof sheathing, basement walls, etc. The method of this invention includes applying a thin liquid cementitious coating on a surface of an engineered particleboard having a moisture content preferably less than three percent, wherein the cementitious coating fills the interstices between the particles and coats the surface. The cementitious coating is then dried and the surface is abraded to receive a thin liquid curable polyurethane coating over the cementitious coating. Finally, the exposed surface of the polyurethane coating is heated to remove surface imperfections and cure the polyurethane coating.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 6, 1998
    Date of Patent: October 12, 1999
    Assignee: Illinois Tool Works, Inc.
    Inventors: Scott A. Kropfeld, Russell L. Cole