Honda Motor Co., Ltd.

Benjamin Adam Hoffman

Ryan M Hahnlen

Duane Trent Detwiler

Allen Benson Sheldon

Benjamin B MacArthur

Darrell Lindsay Hastings

Angelica Gabrielle Trumpler

Jonathan Minto

A forming tool including an additive manufactured polymer shell defining a first side and an opposite second side. The forming tool includes a support structure mechanically connected to the second side of the shell. The support structure may be formed by pouring a molten backfill material into the shell, and solidifying the backfill material. The backfill material includes a low melting temperature metal, fusible alloy, or other element. The solidified backfill material has a strength and rigidity greater than the polymer used to make the shell. The first surface of the shell includes a complex surface for bringing into contact with a material in a stamping process to form a stamped part.

Low melting temperature metal fill for additively manufactured tools

A fastening inclusion is provided and includes a hard point made of coalesced metal sheets, metal or fiber flanges extending from edges of the hard point, and a fastener arranged on the hard point. The fastening inclusion can be incorporated into a fiber reinforced polymer structure by interleaving the flanges with fiber reinforced resin plies, and then curing the fiber reinforced plies to form a composite structure. The fastener on the hard point may be used for mechanically connecting the composite structure to a separate component, such as a metal component on a vehicle.

High strength mechanical fastening inclusions for fiber reinforced polymer structures

A vehicle roof stiffener includes at least one fiber reinforced polymer (FRP) portion and at least one metal or metal alloy portion. The FRP portion includes at least one transition structure including a metal or a metal alloy. At least some of the fibers of the FRP portion are embedded in the transition structure. The metal or metal alloy portion is secured to the transition structure of the FRP portion. In an example vehicle roof stiffener, the metal portion extends parallel to a longitudinal axis of a vehicle, and the FRP portion extends transverse to the longitudinal axis. The example vehicle roof stiffener may include a front FRP portion, a rear FRP portion, and two metal side portions. The metal side portions and the FRP portions may be joined by welding the transition structures to the metal portions.

Multi-material vehicle roof stiffener

A reusable mold for injection molding and molding method includes a reusable mold member, a mold cavity defined in the mold member, and at least one heat sink recess defined in the mold member for accommodating a heat sink material. The mold member is mounted on a liquid cooled mold platen. Heat is rapidly removed from the mold cavity when the mold member is used to injection mold a molded part through the heat sink material and through an interface between the heat sink material and the liquid-cooled mold platen. The reusable mold injection molds a molded part and rapidly removes heat from the mold cavity via the heat sink material accommodated in the at least one heat sink recess and through the liquid-cooled platen.

Injection mold master unit die back plate cooling with metal backfilled plastic mold

A reusable mold for injection molding and molding method includes a reusable mold member, a mold cavity defined in the mold member, and at least one heat sink recess defined in the mold member for accommodating a heat sink material therein for rapidly removing heat from the mold cavity when the mold member is used to injection mold a molded part. The reusable mold injection molds a molded part and rapidly removes heat from the mold cavity via a heat sink material accommodated in the at least one heat sink recess.

Reusable mold for injection molding and molding method

An orthotic device is provided. The orthotic device is worn on an appendage of a user of a fastener installation tool, and is configurable between a relaxed state and a rigid state. The orthotic device includes at least one activation component that is responsive to an activation signal output by a controller in communication with the fastener installation tool. The activation component changes the orthotic device from the relaxed state to the rigid state in response to the controller detecting a resistive force at the fastener installation tool during installation of a fastener.

Growing community of inventors

Marysville, OH, United States of America

Benjamin Adam Hoffman