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:
Nov. 02, 1999
Filed:
Jul. 25, 1997
Michael T Campbell, Grand Rapids, MI (US);
Cascade Engineering, Inc., Grand Rapids, MI (US);
Abstract
An acoustical barrier (10) for mounting to the fire wall (20) of a motor vehicle includes a sound barrier layer (12) of a molded construction and sound dampening characteristics. The sound barrier layer (12) has an integrally molded boot (40) for receiving and acoustically sealing a steering column (70). The boot (40) has a base portion (42) integrally molded with a convolute portion (48), and a cap portion (56) integrally molded with the convolute portion (48). The convolute portion (48) includes a continuous outer wall section (50) surrounding an opening (46) in the sound barrier layer (12). The continuous outer wall section (50) has an upper end integrally formed with a flexible bight portion (54). A continuous inner wall (52) has an upper end integrally formed with the bight portion (54) and a lower end integrally formed with the cap portion (56). The cap portion (56) has an opening coincident with the openings (46, 78) in the sound barrier layer (12) and fire wall (20), respectively. The thickness of the convolute portion (48) is less than the thickness of the base portion (42), cap portion (56) and sound barrier layer (12) to prevent distortion of the sound barrier layer (12) during installation of the steering column (70). An absorber layer (14) can be mounted between the sound barrier layer (12) and fire wall (20).