A structural automotive sub frame component (10) that is formed from a sheet molding compound having carbon fibers. The three dimensional structure is formed of a resin fiber mixture having a resin material infused with carbon fibers having a length of about 12.5 mm (0.5 inches) dispersed throughout the structural automotive sub frame component (10) and an even manner such that there are no resin rich areas or knit lines present. The absence of knit lines provides a structural automotive sub frame component (10) that has a high degree of flex modulus, tensile strength properties well also providing a greater breaking load property due to the absence of knit lines.

A three-dimensional vacuum thermal insulation element having a compressed three-dimensional porous structure and a shell closed in an airtight manner. The shell includes a thermoformable barrier wall and encloses the porous structure arranged between two major surfaces of said barrier wall. The porous structure has a pressure of between less than 105 Pa and more than 10-2 Pa at ambient external temperature and pressure. The barrier wall is thermoformed at the site of said two major surfaces, between which the porous structure has a curved shape and/or reliefs and/or depressions.

[Problem] To suppress changes in the recess depth and shape of a three-dimensional molded shape, and to form a uniform protective layer or ornamental layer along the surface of the molded shape. Also, to provide uniform application to the entire irregularly-formed surface and to suppress air pockets and partial defects of bonding. [Solution] In an adherend W having a three-dimensional molded portion in which a plurality of concavities and/or convexities are molded in a regular arrangement, a thermoplastic coating film larger than the area of an adhesion region is integrally adhered by a three dimensional decorative molding procedure in a predetermined adhesion region that includes the three-dimensional molded portion. The predetermined adhesion region includes all of the three-dimensional molded portion and covers more than half the perimeter of the adherend W incenter cross-sectional view.

A three-dimensional, vacuum thermal insulating element comprising a compressed three-dimensional porous structure, an envelope closed in an airtight manner comprising a thermoformable barrier wall, enclosing the porous structure, which is interposed between two major surfaces of the barrier wall, and where, at outside ambient temperature and pressure, a pressure between less than 10.sup.5 Pa and more than 10.sup.−2 Pa prevails. The barrier wall is thermoformed at said the two major surfaces, between which the porous structure is bent-shaped and/or has reliefs and/or depressions.

A vehicle component is provided that includes a first cured layer of a molding composition having a predominant fiber filler chopped glass fibers, a second cured layer of molding composition having a predominant fiber filler chopped carbon fibers, and an elastomeric bonding agent with elongation properties configured to accommodate the differential coefficients of linear thermal expansion between the first cured layer and the second cured layer. The second cured layer is substantially devoid of glass fiber. The bonding agent is an elastomeric adhesive, which is operative from −40 to 205° C. The first cured layer forms an outer skin layer surface of a vehicle and the second cured layer forms an interior layer, where the outer skin layer surface has a class-A finish.

This specification discloses an article of manufacture. The article of manufacture has at least one structural blank and at least one guide. The structural blank has a plurality of oriented fiber plies in a thermoplastic matrix. The guide has a plurality of random dispersed fibers in a thermoplastic matrix. The guide is affixed to the structural blank by injection molding and over molding the guide onto the structural blank. The article of manufacture can take a number of forms for use in industries such as aircraft, automobiles, motorcycles, bicycles, trains or watercraft.

A film application device for applying a film to an object, the device including a film supporting unit that disposes a film above the object; a first rod that extends in a first direction that intersects a vertical direction, presses on the film disposed above the object from an upper side, deforms and conforms to a shape of the object, and moves in a second direction that intersects the first direction and the vertical direction; a tensioning part that imparts tension outward in the first 0 direction on at least a first end side in the first direction of the first rod; and a movement part that moves the first rod in the vertical direction.

A method and system for using image analysis to generate an automobile surface protecting device attached with an adhesive are provided. The method includes generating from a scanned three-dimensional image, using one or more image analysis applications, a protective film template for a vehicle panel based on the dimensions of the vehicle panel, a determined transition point, a determined termination point, and a plurality of relief cuts. Generating the protective film template includes converting a three-dimensional protective film template into a two-dimensional protective film template by flattening the protective film template. The method includes transferring the protective film template to the sheet of protective film. The sheet of protective film includes an adhesive and is used to modify an appearance of the vehicle panel by modifying how light reflects off scratches on the vehicle panel.

An article comprising: a carrier (12), activatable material (14) disposed on the carrier, one or more carrier extensions (16) extending from the carrier; wherein the article is adapted to provide sealing, baffling, or reinforcement within a structure's cavity.

An airbag lid reinforcing member includes a door part, a flange part, a leg part and a hinge member. The flange part surrounds an outer periphery of the door part. The leg part is arranged on the flange part. An inside surface of the leg part defines support ribs supporting the hinge member. The support ribs are arranged with a gap in a width direction of the leg part. A portion of the hinge member is buried in the flange part. In a region of the hinge member between a tip of each of the support ribs and an end surface of the flange part, at least an upper part in a thickness direction of the hinge member is exposed from the support ribs. A portion of the hinge member positioned between adjacent ones of the support ribs is exposed from the support ribs and the flange part.