Lanxess Corporation

Bayer Corporation

Bayer Polymers LLC

Timothy A Palmer

Christopher T Korson

Robert R Cunningham

A method and apparatus for connecting wires to circuits, including the formation of at least one electrically conductive path having a plastic base with a metal foil formed of laser direct processes.

Methods for connecting a wire to a metalized circuit path on a plastic part

A load bearing article () is described and includes a plurality of elongated shells () having a plurality of internal reinforcing ribs () fixedly attached within the hollow interior () of each shell (), the shells () reside substantially within a common plane and are fixedly attached together by means of an external molded plastic structure (). Each elongated shell () has a plurality perforations (e.g., perforationsand) having edges. A portion of the plastic material of the internal reinforcing ribs () and the external molded structure () extends through at least some of the perforations in each shell (), and the edges of the perforations are embedded in the plastic material extending therethrough, thereby fixedly attaching the internal reinforcing ribs () within and the external molded structure () to each shell (). The load bearing surface () of the load bearing article () comprises (or is defined by at least) the external molded structure () (e.g., external molded structure () and at least one of, the elongated shells (), and the plurality of internal reinforcing ribs ()). The load bearing article is preferably formed by concurrently molding the plastic material of the plurality of internal reinforcing ribs () onto the interior surfaces (), and the external molded structure () onto the exterior surfaces (), of the elongated shells (). Also described is a reversibly extendable load bearing structure () that includes at least two load bearing articles (and') connected together by means of a hinge ().

Load bearing article

Described is a shaft support structure ( ) comprising, (a) an elongated shell ( ) having interior surfaces ( ) which define a hollow interior ( ); and (b) a plurality of reinforcing ribs ( ) of plastic material located within the hollow interior ( ) of the shell ( ). At least a portion of the reinforcing ribs ( ) are in abutting relationship ( ) with the interior surfaces ( ) of the shell ( ). The reinforcing ribs ( ) define a longitudinal passage ( ) through the elongated shell ( ) for receiving and supporting a rotatable shaft ( ). The reinforcing ribs ( ) are fixedly attached to the elongated shell ( ). The reinforcing ribs ( ) are preferably formed by molding, e.g., injection molding, of plastic material onto the interior surfaces ( ) of the elongated shell ( ).

Shaft support structure

Described is a break-away bracket ( ) comprising a bracket shell ( ) having a central channel ( ) and sidewalls ( and ) having outwardly extending flanges ( and ), a clip ( and ) extending over at least a portion of each flange ( and ), and a plurality of exterior reinforcing plastic ribs ( ) attached to the exterior ( ) of the bracket shell ( ). Each clip/flange assembly of the break-away bracket has at least one shearable pin ( ), e.g., a shearable plastic pin, extending therethrough. The exterior ribs ( ) are preferably formed by the molding, e.g., injection molding, of plastic material onto the exterior surfaces ( ) of the bracket shell ( ). The exterior ribs ( ) are preferably attached to the bracket shell ( ) by means of molded on plastic extending through and embedding the edges of perforations in the bracket shell. Also described is a steering column assembly comprising the break-away bracket of the present invention, and a steering column residing within the central channel of the break-away bracket.

Growing community of inventors

Moon Township, PA, United States of America

Timothy A Palmer