Interkal, Inc.

Shape Corporation

Netshape International LLC

Netshape Energy Management, LLC

Melvin J Guiles

Kenneth A Ahrens

Daniel R Victor

Stanley W McKay

Rainer B Nees

James J Rosasco

Darin Evans

David W Heatherington

Thomas J Johnson

Thomas R Kemppainen

Minoru Amemiya

Kristen M Sigourney

Masanori Karita

Richard L Patterson

Stanley W Mc Kay

A bumper system includes a rollformed tubular beam with bracket mounts welded to a rear surface for mounting to vehicle frame rails. The illustrated beam has a continuous tubular cross section for its entire length, and includes a center section, corner-forming end sections, and mounting sections connecting ends of the center section to the end sections. The center, end and mounting sections can be linear or similarly curved or differently curved. The center, end and mounting sections can be similarly or differently locally annealed as part of being tuned to specific impact loading criteria, including annealing all or part of cross-sectional areas. The annealing can be done in-line with a rollforming process, such as to assist with forming tight radii in the beam for meeting packaging/space-related requirements, or can be part of a secondary process for advantageously affecting impact strengths in selected localized areas.

Selectively annealed bumper beam

Furniture post

A bumper system includes a tubular beam and a thermoformed energy absorber with crush boxes formed into a base flange, such as by vacuum or thermoforming processes. The crush boxes have planar energy-absorbing sidewalls a depth of about 10 mm to 35 mm, wall thicknesses of about 1 mm to 3 mm, and are formed from polyethylene or other thermoform materials having a memory. The base flange can include thermoformed features engaging recesses in the beam, and is combinable with injection-molded or foam energy absorbers for design flexibility. In one form, the energy absorber includes a thermoformed first sheet forming crush boxes and a second sheet bonded to the first sheet to define apertured air pockets. A method of manufacture includes providing a plurality of separately usable thermoformed energy absorbers which can be used in conjunction with a common vehicle structure to vary the absorption characteristics of a vehicle bumper.

Method of constructing bumper incorporating thermoformed energy absorber

A vehicle door beam of relatively small profile and high strength. The door beam is fabricated from a web and includes a beam portion and brackets extending from opposite ends of the beam portion. The beam portion includes two lateral portions of the web rolled inwardly into closed configurations, and the two lateral edges of the lateral portions are welded to the beam portion. In an alternative embodiment, a second web is included in the beam portion and is part of both of the closed configurations.

Low-profile high-strength vehicle door beam

A bumper system includes a tubular beam and a thermoformed energy absorber with crush boxes formed into a base flange, such as by vacuum or thermal forming processes. The crush boxes have planar energy-absorbing sidewalls a depth of about 10 mm to 35 mm, wall thicknesses of about 1 mm to 3 mm, and are formed from polyethylene or other thermoform materials having a memory. The base flange can include thermoformed features engaging recesses in the beam, and is combinable with injection-molded or foam energy absorbers for design flexibility. In one form, the energy absorber includes a thermoformed first sheet forming crush boxes and a second sheet bonded to the first sheet to define apertured air pockets. Related methods of manufacture and impacting are also included.

Bumper system incorporating thermoformed energy absorber

A method of manufacturing an improved doorbeam having increased impact strength and reduced weight. The doorbeam is formed from a continuous metal web having opposing lateral edges and a varying thickness therebetween. The stock is rolled into a tubular configuration, and the lateral edges are welded together. The resultant beam provides extra reinforcing material where needed to provide a balance between weight and strength.

Variable thickness tubular doorbeam

A two-piece doorbeam including a relatively low-cost, low-strength body and a relatively high-cost, high-strength insert. The insert is hat-shaped and crimped within the body. The insert provides improved impact strength where needed, providing the doorbeam the desired strength at relatively low weight and low cost.

Roll-formed and stamped doorbeam

A deployable bleacher arrangement has deployed and un-deployed states and is provided with a plurality of seating level members, each arranged in sequentially elevated relation to one another. Each seating level member is disposed beneath an immediately superior seating level member in stacked relation when in the un-deployed state. In the deployed state, each seating level member is disposed beneath and forward of an immediately superior seating level member. A plurality of seats are disposed in side-by-side relation on a seating level member. Each of the seats has a bottom portion coupled to the associated seating level member for accommodating a user. The seat bottom has forward and rear portions and is arranged parallel to the associated seating level member. Additionally, a seat back is disposed in the vicinity of the rear portion of the seat bottom, and is pivotally displaceable with respect to the associated seating level member between a first position where the seat back is disposed orthogonal to the set bottom and a second position where the seat back is rearwardly declined to be parallel to the seat bottom. A linkage arrangement pivotally couples the seat back to the seating level member of the bleacher arrangement to secure the seat back in the first position. The linkage arrangement is releaseable so that the seat back can assume the second position. An unlocking arrangement urges the linkage arrangements associated with each seat into simultaneous release conditions.

Deployable bleacher/chair combination

A deployable telescopic seating structure employs a backstop arrangement to prevent users and operators from coming into contact with structure that may cause injury, such as interengaging metal elements that limit the extent of deployment The backstop portions are arrangement in the aisle region of the telescopic seating structure and have an overall height that is responsive to the height of one seating level above another, or in another embodiment, to the difference between such height and an intermediate step. The backstop arrangement has an engagement portion with an edge portion that precludes a discontinuity on the walking surface of tile seating structure. Structural integrity and strength of the riser portion is enhanced by forming same as a multi-fascia structure having a reinforcing corrugation therebetween. A curved back portion along the lowermost edge serves as a termination and additionally adds strength to the backstop arrangement. The backstop arrangement can be formed by bending sheet material or as a continuous extrusion of a polymeric material, such as vinyl, which is fire retardant and which provides injury reducing resilience in the event of impact by a player.

Aisle riser backstops for telescoping seating systems

A deployable seating arrangement employs a plurality of seating level members that are arranged in sequentially elevated relation to one another. When the deployable seating arrangement is in an undeployed state, the seating level members are disposed substantially directly beneath one another in stacked relation. When in a deployed condition, each seating level member is disposed beneath and forward of an immediately superior seating level member in stepped relation. Each of the seating level members has associated therewith a plurality of L-shaped frame elements that are formed of vertical and horizontal portions. A roller is installed at the upper end of the vertical portion for engaging with the underside of the horizontal portion of an immediately superior seating level member. A drive arrangement having a wide track motor drive urges the seating level members, which are installed on a plurality of respective wheeled frame arrangements, into deployed and undeployed states. Each wheeled frame arrangement is arranged laterally inward of a wheeled frame arrangement associated with an immediately superior seating level member. Structural rigidity is enhanced by the use of triangulation frame members that couple the seating level members to their respectively associated wheeled frame arrangements. Each seating level member is additionally provided with a nesting guardrail at each end thereof, the guardrails forming a sequential protective barrier when the deployable seating arrangement is in a deployed state, and nesting with one another when in the undeployed state.

Growing community of inventors

Plainwell, MI, United States of America

Melvin J Guiles