A structural reinforcement for an article including a carrier (10) that includes: (i) a mass of polymeric material (12) having an outer surface; and (ii) at least one fibrous composite Insert (14) or overlay (980) having an outer surface and including at least one elongated fiber arrangement (e.g., having a plurality of ordered fibers). The fibrous Insert (14) or overlay (980) is envisioned to adjoin the mass of the polymeric material in a predetermined location for carrying a predetermined load that Is subjected upon the predetermined location (thereby effectively providing localized reinforcement to that predetermined location). The fibrous insert (14) or overlay (980) and the mass of polymeric material (12) are of compatible materials, structures or both, for allowing the fibrous insert or overlay to be at least partially joined to the mass of the polymeric material. Disposed upon at least a portion of the carrier (10) may be a mass of activatable material (126). The fibrous insert (14) or overlay (980) may include a polymeric matrix that includes a thermoplastic epoxy.

A molded foam member manufacturing method including: a first process of placing a foam molded first portion (11) (first molded body) and a rigid member (3) (rigid plate) in a second portion forming mold (20) (forming mold); and a second process of pouring a second portion-forming synthetic resin raw material (U) (foamable material) into the second portion forming mold (20) (forming mold) and foam molding a second portion (12) (second molded body) so as to surround a portion of the rigid member (3) (rigid plate) and form an integral unit with the first portion (11) (first molded body).

A cover for closing a vehicle surface opening is provided which has a frame part secured to the underside of the cover on one side at a frame part securing section by an application of plastic foam on the cover, and which contacts the underside of the cover on the other side at a free section of the frame part via at least one spacer. The frame part may also include at least one filling opening on the free section thereof for introducing a reactive plastic material forming the spacer, and the plastic material introduced through the filling opening into a gap between the free section of the frame part secured to the cover and the underside of the cover retains the free section of the frame on the underside of the cover in a positioned and/or fixed manner as a spacer after reacting or curing.

The present invention relates to a method of molding a component (1) having one or more features (5). At least one fibrous substrate (7) is located in a mold (31, 33). A matrix-forming material (29) is also provided in the mold (31, 33). Heat is applied to melt the matrix-forming material (29) to form a matrix (9) and to integrally mold said one or more features (5).

A fiber-reinforced vehicle body structure includes a first frame made of fiber-reinforced plastic or carbon fiber-reinforced plastic and having multiple sections, and a second frame that continuously extends from any one of the multiple sections of the first frame.

A method is provided for producing a structural subassembly, in particular for a motor vehicle, including at least one first profile component of fiber-reinforced plastic and at least one connecting component for producing a node connection of the first profile component with a further profile component. The method includes the following steps: providing a mold with at least one mold half, which has a cavity that corresponds substantially to the first profile component to be produced and includes at least one integrally molded-on connecting component; introducing a one- or multi-piece textile reinforcing material, in particular a textile semifinished product, into the mold; introducing a flowable plastics material into the mould, in order to impregnate the textile reinforcing material; and curing and/or cooling the plastics material.

A method for setting up a joining apparatus for joining a light lens to a housing of a motor vehicle lighting arrangement. A first virtual model is created of the joining apparatus with a light lens and a housing received therein, a relative arrangement of the light lens to the housing corresponds to a target arrangement. A plurality of virtual models are created of the joining apparatus with the light lens and the housing received therein. The relative arrangement of the light lens to the housing deviates from the target arrangement in each case by means of virtual displacement of the adjuster. A target displacement is calculated of an adjuster on the basis of a functional relationship calculated and the relative arrangement in the test construction unit measured. A light lens is joined to a housing in the target arrangement by displacing the adjuster by the target displacement.

A fiber-reinforced resin composite configured to be to be used for a vehicle body structure has a cylindrical shape and a longitudinal direction. The fiber-reinforced resin composite includes first fibers and second fibers. The first fibers are disposed along an axial direction of the cylindrical shape. The second fibers are wound over an entire circumferential surface along a direction intersecting the axial direction of the cylindrical shape. The number of the first fibers per unit area in a tensile surface that is to mainly receive tensile stress upon a collision of a vehicle body is larger than the number of the first fibers per unit area in a compressive surface that is to mainly receive compressive stress upon the collision of the vehicle body.

A method for manufacturing a joining connection between a luminously efficacious part and a metal component of a lighting device of a vehicle. A microstructure is generated in a joining surface of the metal component, the microstructure having undercuts with respect to the joining surface. The plastic material of the plastic part is softened in an area of the complementary joining surface near the surface with the aid of an introduction of heat. The plastic part and the metal component are pressed together with a pressure force in such a way that a portion of the softened plastic material penetrates the undercuts of the microstructure. The plastic material of the plastic part is cooled thereby forming a new strength of the softened plastic material of the plastic part.

A method for manufacturing a joining connection between a structural part and a metal component of a lighting device of a vehicle, the method comprising at least the following steps: Generating a microstructure in a joining surface of the metal component, the microstructure having undercuts with respect to the joining surface; Softening the plastic material of the plastic part in an area of the complementary joining surface near the surface with the aid of an introduction of heat; Pressing the plastic part and the metal component together with a pressure force in such a way that a portion of the softened plastic material penetrates the undercuts of the microstructure; and Cooling the plastic material of the plastic part, forming a new strength of the softened plastic material of the plastic part.