Method of attaching plastic to a metal section and part made thereby

• US 7,449,137 B2
• Filed: 01/20/2006
• Issued: 11/11/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 07/25/2002
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Carlisle Engineered Products, Inc., General Electric Company, Sabic Innovative Plastics IP BV (Government of Saudi Arabia), Vari-Form
• Original Assignee: Carlisle Engineered Products, Inc., General Electric Company, Vari-Form
• Inventors: Goral, Thomas M., Kowal, Eric, Klanges, Jerry, Gaida, Dennis, Panter, Keith R., Staargaard, James E., Nardone, Terry E., Butterfield, Larry D., Brown, Mitch, Longhouse, Blair
• Primary Examiner(s): Lee; Edmund H.
• Application Number:
  US11/335,964
• Publication Number:
  US 20060121246A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,026 Days
• Field of Search: None
• US Class Current: 264/267
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 2045/14327 anchoring by forcing the material to pass through a hole in the article
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 45/14344 Moulding in or through a hole in the article, e.g. outsert moulding
• CPC Class Codes: B29L 2031/30 Vehicles, e.g. ships or aircraft, or body parts thereof vanes or blades B29L2031/08, air bags B29L2022/027
• CPC Class Codes: B29L 2031/3002 Superstructures characterized by combining metal and plastics, i.e. hybrid parts
• CPC Class Codes: B62D 25/084 Radiator supports
• CPC Class Codes: B62D 29/001 characterised by combining metal and synthetic material
• CPC Class Codes: B62D 29/004 the metal being over-moulded by the synthetic material, e.g. in a mould
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 428/12 All metal or with adjacent metals
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 428/24339 Keyed

Abstract

The present invention comprises a method of attaching plastic to a metal substrate and a part made by the method. A hydroformed metal section having top and bottom openings is provided. A plastic component is molded about the metal component and through the bottom opening. The plastic component includes a flange on one side thereof to secure the plastic component with the metal component.

Claims

1. A method of attaching a plastic component to a metal component comprising the steps of:

providing a metal component comprising a closed cross section having a first opening therein and a second opening therein;

placing the metal component in a die;

inserting a tool through the second opening and positioning the tool on one side of the first opening; and

molding the plastic component about at least a portion of the metal component and through the first opening, such that plastic component forms a flange on one side of the first opening for securing the plastic component with the metal component.

2. A method as set forth in claim 1 wherein the first opening is defined by an edge and said method further comprises curving the edge.

3. A method as set forth in claim 2 wherein the second opening is defined by a second edge.

4. A method as set forth in claim 3 further comprising bending the second edge of the metal component.

5. A method as set forth in claim 1 further comprising molding ribs into the plastic component.

6. A method as set forth in claim 1 wherein the flange extends beyond the edge of the first opening.