Joints and a system and method of forming the joints

Abstract

Joints are formed for articles of manufacture such as transportation vehicles (e.g., automotive vehicles). The joints typically include a connector that is adhered to a first member and a second member with a structural adhesive, which may be a foam.

1 . A method of forming a joint of an automotive vehicle comprising:
 providing a first member of the automotive vehicle, the first member having a distal end;   providing a second member of the automotive vehicle, the second member having a distal end; and   providing a connector having a base portion, a first portion extending away from the base portion and a second portion extending away from the base portion, the connector also having activatable material disposed within a cavity of the first portion and a cavity of the second portion, the cavity of the first portion is suitable for receipt of the distal end of the first member and the cavity of the second portion is suitable for receipt of the distal end of the second member;   locating the first portion adjacent the distal end of the first member and the second portion adjacent the distal end of the second member;   attaching the first member to the second member via a temporary attachment structure so that the first and second member remain connected prior to activation of the activatable material; and   activating the activatable material to form a structural adhesive foam adhered to the first portion of the connector and the distal end of the first member and adhered to the second portion of the connector and the distal end of the second member;   wherein the foam provides sufficient strength to the joint whereby the first member is free of direct contact with the second member after activating the activatable material and the first and second members are connected to each another without any welds directly or indirectly connecting the members.   
     
     
         2 . (canceled) 
     
     
         3 . A method as in  claim 1  wherein the first member and second member are part of a frame of the automotive vehicle. 
     
     
         4 . A method as in  claim 1  wherein at least one of the first member and the second member is a B-pillar. 
     
     
         5 . (canceled) 
     
     
         6 . A method as in  claim 1  wherein the step of providing the first member includes hydroforming a first tubular structure defined by the first member. 
     
     
         7 . A method as in  claim 1  wherein the connector is formed of a plastic material. 
     
     
         8 . A method as in  claim 1  wherein the connector define's a plurality of intersecting ribs. 
     
     
         9 . A method as in  claim 1  wherein the first portion of the connector extends away from the base portion in a first direction and the second portion extends away from the base portion in a second direction and the first direction is at an angle of less than 170° relative to the second direction. 
     
     
         10 . A method as in  claim 1  wherein the connector includes a third portion extending away from the base portion, the third portion also having activatable material disposed thereon wherein the step of activating the activatable material includes adhering the third portion of the connector to a third member of the automotive vehicle. 
     
     
         11 . A method of forming a joint of an automotive vehicle comprising:
 providing a first member of the automotive vehicle, the first member having a distal end, wherein the first member is provided by hydroforming a first tubular structure defined by the first member, the first tubular structure having a tunnel extending along its length and including at least one hydroformed contour;   providing a second member of the automotive vehicle, the second member having a distal end wherein the second member is provided by hydroforming a second tubular structure defined by the second member, the first tubular structure having a tunnel extending along its length and including at least one hydroformed contour; and   providing a connector having a base portion, a first portion extending away from the base portion and a second portion extending away from the base portion, the connector also having activatable material disposed within a cavity of the first portion and a cavity of the second portion, the cavity of the first portion is suitable for receipt of the distal end of the first member and the cavity of the second portion is suitable for receipt of the distal end of the second member;   locating the first portion over the tunnel of the first tubular structure at the distal end of the first member and the second portion over the tunnel of the second tubular structure adjacent the distal end of the second member;   attaching the first member to the second member via a temporary attachment structure so that the first and second member remain connected prior to activation of the activatable material; and   activating the activatable material to form a structural adhesive foam adhered to the first portion of the connector and an interior exterior surface of the first tubular structure at the distal end of the first member and adhered to the second portion of the connector and an exterior surface of the second tubular structure at the distal end of the second member, the interior surface of the first tubular structure at least partially defining the tunnel of the first tubular structure and the interior surface of the second tubular structure at least partially defining the tunnel of the second tubular structure;   wherein the first member is free of direct contact with the second member and wherein the foam provides sufficient strength to the joint whereby the first member is free of direct contact with the second member after activating the activatable material and the first and second members are connected to each another without any welds directly or indirectly connecting the members.   
     
     
         12 . A method as in  claim 11  wherein the first member and second member are part of a frame of the automotive vehicle. 
     
     
         13 . A method as in  claim 11  wherein at least one of the first member and the second member is a B-pillar. 
     
     
         14 . A method as in  claim 11  wherein the step of locating the first portion includes fastening the first portion to the distal end of the first member with a mechanical fastener. 
     
     
         15 . A method as in  claim 11  wherein the connector is formed of a plastic material. 
     
     
         16 . A method as in  claim 11  wherein the connector defines a plurality of intersecting ribs. 
     
     
         17 . A method as in  claim 11  wherein the first portion of the connector extends away from the base portion in a first direction and the second portion extends away from the base portion in a second direction and the first direction is at an angle of less than 170° relative to the second direction. 
     
     
         18 . A method as in  claim 1  wherein the connector includes a third portion extending away from the base portion, the third portion also having activatable material disposed thereon wherein the step of activating the activatable material includes adhering the third portion of the connector to a third member of the automotive vehicle. 
     
     
         19 . A method of forming a joint of an automotive vehicle comprising:
 providing a first member of the automotive vehicle, the first member having a distal end, wherein the first member is provided by hydroforming a first tubular structure defined by the first member, the first tubular structure having a tunnel extending along its length and including at least one hydroformed contour;   providing a second member of the automotive vehicle, the second member having a distal end wherein the second member is provided by hydroforming a second tubular structure defined by the second member, the first tubular structure having a tunnel extending along its length and including at least one hydroformed contour; and   providing a connector having a base portion, a first portion extending away from the base portion and a second portion extending away from the base portion, the connector also having activatable material disposed within a cavity of the first portion and a cavity of the second portion, the cavity of the first portion is suitable for receipt of the distal end of the first member and the cavity of the second portion is suitable for receipt of the distal end of the second member;   locating the first portion within over the tunnel of the first tubular structure at the distal end of the first member and the second portion within over the tunnel of the second tubular structure adjacent the distal end of the second member;   attaching the first member to the second member via a temporary attachment structure so that the first and second member remain connected prior to activation of the activatable material; and   activating the activatable material to form a structural adhesive foam adhered to the first portion of the connector and an interior exterior sulfate of the first tubular structure at the distal end of the first member and adhered to the second portion of the connector and an interior exterior surface of the second tubular structure at the distal end of the second member, the interior surface of the first tubular structure at least partially defining the tunnel of the first tubular structure and the interior surface of the second tubular structure at least partially defining the tunnel of the second tubular structure;   wherein:   i. the first member is free of direct contact with the second member;   ii. the first member and second member are part of a frame of the automotive vehicle;   iii. at least one of the first member and the second member is a B-pillar;   iv. the step of locating the first portion includes fastening the first, portion to the distal end of the first member with a mechanical fastener;   v. the connector is formed of a plastic material;   vi. the connector defines a plurality of intersecting ribs;   vii. the first portion of the connector extends away from the base portion in a first direction and the second portion extends away from the base portion in a second direction and the first direction is at an angle of less than 170° relative to the second direction; and   viii. the connector includes a third portion extending away from the base portion, the third portion also having activatable material disposed thereon wherein the step of activating the activatable material includes adhering the third portion of the connector to a third member of the automotive vehicle.   
     
     
         20 . A method as in  claim 19  wherein the connector includes a first plurality of ribs extending transversely and intersecting a second plurality of ribs and wherein the activatable material is thermosettable.