The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Oct. 21, 1997
Filed:
Dec. 04, 1995
Patrick Lee Miller, Kansas City, MO (US);
Orbseal, Inc., Excelsior Springs, MO (US);
Abstract
A vehicle body pillar has a cavity therein through which air flow creates undesirable noise and in which moisture and fluids such as water are not to be collected. An expandable sealant plug is inserted therein and retained in place by one or more extractable retainers. The sealant material forming the plug is later expanded and cured under controlled conditions, sealing the cavity so as to prevent the flow of air through it. The expanded sealant also effectively blocks the intrusion of fluids such as water, minimizing corrosion within the pillar. The extractable retainers are then removed and permanent retainers used to hold moldings or the like in place. The sealant also seals the permanent retainers. In other instances, the same type of extractable retainers used with the expandable sealant may be used with a hot melt sealant which, when melted, provides sealing for the later-installed permanent fasteners and the apertures through which they extend.