APPARATUS AND METHODS FOR VEHICLE STRUCTURAL OR SEMI-STRUCTURAL COMPONENT ASSEMBLY ENABLING TUNABLE DECELERATION CHARACTERISTICS
First Claim
1. A vehicle structural or semi-structural component assembly, the assembly comprising:
- a body, wherein;
a first portion of the body comprises a polymer composite material, anda sensor mount portion of the body is connected to the first portion, wherein the sensor mount portion comprises a polymer composite material and a flexible reinforcement material over-molded within the polymer composite material; and
a sensor directly attached to the sensor mount portion.
1 Assignment
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Accused Products
Abstract
A vehicle structural or semi-structural component assembly or crash sensor assembly includes a body, wherein a first portion of the body comprises a polymer composite material and a sensor mount portion of the body is connected to the first portion; and a sensor directly attached to the sensor mount portion. The sensor mount portion comprises a polymer composite material and a flexible reinforcement material over-molded within the polymer composite material. A method for enabling tunable deceleration characteristics in a vehicle structural or semi-structural component assembly includes forming a structural or semi-structural component for a vehicle from a polymer composite material; over-molding a flexible reinforcement material within the polymer composite material at one or more locations along the component; and attaching a sensor directly to at least one of the one or more locations.
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Citations
23 Claims
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1. A vehicle structural or semi-structural component assembly, the assembly comprising:
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a body, wherein; a first portion of the body comprises a polymer composite material, and a sensor mount portion of the body is connected to the first portion, wherein the sensor mount portion comprises a polymer composite material and a flexible reinforcement material over-molded within the polymer composite material; and a sensor directly attached to the sensor mount portion. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13)
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14. A crash detection assembly comprising:
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a vehicle structural or semi-structural component configured to enable tunable deceleration characteristics, the component comprising; a body, wherein; a first portion of the body comprises a polymer composite material, and a sensor mount portion of the body is connected to the first portion, wherein the sensor mount portion comprises a polymer composite material and a flexible reinforcement material over-molded within the polymer composite material; and a crash sensor connected directly to the sensor mount portion. - View Dependent Claims (15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
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21. A method for enabling tunable deceleration characteristics in a vehicle structural or semi-structural component assembly, the method comprising:
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forming, using a mold, a structural or semi-structural component for a vehicle from a polymer composite material; over-molding a flexible reinforcement material within the polymer composite material at one or more locations within the mold to form one or more locations along the component; and attaching a sensor to at least one of the one or more locations comprising the flexible reinforcement material. - View Dependent Claims (22)
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23. A method of retrofitting a vehicle structure or semi-structural component assembly, the method comprising:
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removing an existing metal sensor mount from an existing vehicle structure or semi-structural component; replacing the existing metal sensor mount with a new sensor mount comprising a polymer composite material having a flexible, reinforcement material over-molded therein; and mounting a crash sensor on the new sensor mount.
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Specification