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:
Apr. 20, 2004
Filed:
May. 07, 2002
James Fuller Potter, Livonia, MI (US);
Erich James Vorenkamp, Pinckney, MI (US);
Duane Allen Fish, Fenton, MI (US);
Link Eugene Vaughn, Canton, MI (US);
Huan-Kun Chang, Sylvania, OH (US);
Visteon Global Technologies, Inc., Dearborn, MI (US);
Abstract
The present invention involves a low permeation pinchoff connection at a pinchoff region having a pinchoff end between first and second formed sheets of a fluid tank. The low permeation pinchoff connection comprises a continuous inner polymeric layer at a pinchoff region having a pinchoff end between the first and second formed sheets. The connection further comprises an outer polymeric layer in side-by-side relationship with the continuous inner polymeric layer. The outer polymeric layer tapers at the pinchoff region to first and second outer polymeric ends at the pinchoff end separating the first and second outer polymeric ends. The connection further comprises a low permeation barrier layer disposed between the continuous inner polymeric layer and the outer polymeric layer. The low permeation barrier layer tapers with the outer polymeric layer at the pinchoff region to first and second barrier ends separated at the pinchoff end to determine a pinchoff gap. The low permeation barrier layer is exposed at the pinchoff end. The connection further includes a first adhesive layer disposed between the continuous inner polymeric layer and the low permeation barrier layer, and a second adhesive layer disposed between the low permeation barrier layer and the outer polymeric layer. The connection further comprises a barrier bridge disposed on the pinchoff end to bridge the pinchoff gap. The barrier bridge has material compatible with low permeation barrier layer to connect the first and second barrier ends for continuity therebetween.