Finnegan, Henderson, Farabow, Garrett & Dunner, LLP
Layered composite component
A laminated composite part, which includes a first member having a predetermined mating surface, and a second member that is made of an elastically deformable resin material, that has a plate portion substantially parallel to the mating surface and having a multiplicity of protrusions formed integrally therewith so as to protrude toward the mating surface so that space is created between the plate portion and the mating surface, and that is placed on the first member such that the protrusions contact the mating surface, which has cushioning properties as tip ends of the protrusions are pressed against the mating surface and elastically deformed, and in which one of the first and second members which is located on a design surface side has an engaging projection that projects to a larger extent than the protrusions, and the engaging projection is inserted through an insertion hole formed in the other of the first and second members and is retained in the insertion hole, whereby the first and second members are connected together, the insertion hole being provided with a stopper portion that is engaged with the engaging projection to retain the engaging projection in the insertion hole, in order to allow the engaging projection to move relative to the stopper portion in a direction parallel to the design surface due to a difference in thermal expansion between the first and second members, the stopper portion having a predetermined length in a direction of the relative movement that occurs due to the difference in thermal expansion, the stopper portion being a bridge extending across the insertion hole and having a slit in a middle so as to be separated into a plurality of parts, and the engaging projection having an annular shape and being inserted through the insertion hole such that the engaging projection elastically deforms the bridge and expands the slit, and the bridge thus extending through an opening of the annular shape, so that the engaging projection is retained in the insertion hole by the bridge and is allowed to move relatively in a longitudinal direction of the bridge.
Toyoda Iron Works Co., Ltd.
B B B B B B B B B B
B32B B60R B32B B32B B32B B32B B32B B32B B32B B60R
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Osamu Hideaki Kenichi
Miyashita Sakai Yoshida