Granted Patent B2

US 12,723,612 · App. 18/030,348 · Granted Sep 1, 2026

Inventors: Henry E. Richardson (Romeo, MI); David Edward Compeau (Romeo, MI); Craig Langevin (Romeo, MI); Joseph R. Thomas (Romeo, MI); Peter Cate (Romeo, MI); Satindar Singh Dua (Maharashtra, IN)

Assignee: ZEPHYROS, INC.

F16B11/006C09J163/00F16B9/01B62K19/22

Abstract

Claims (48)

1 . A frame assembly comprising:

an elongated member, and

a connector device coupled to and support an end of the elongated member, the connector device comprising:

a base member,

a first projection extending from a first side of the base member, the first projection defining a cavity;

an end channel situated within the cavity and extending around a perimeter of the first projection on the base member,

a port extending from the end channel on the first side of the base member to a second side of the base member, the second side being in opposing relationship to the first side; and

an adhesive, configured to be introduced via the port, situated within the end channel at least between the first side of the base member and the end of the elongated member; and

a peripheral channel extending from the first side of the base member along the first projection toward an opposing end of the first projection that is distal from the base member, wherein the adhesive is situated within the peripheral channel;

wherein the end of the elongated member is situated within the cavity of the connector device and in contacting relationship with the adhesive.

2 . The frame assembly according to claim 1 , wherein the end channel is defined by a space between the first projection and a second projection that extends from the first side of the base member and is situated within the first projection or a groove formed in the first side of the base member.

3 . The frame assembly according to claim 1 ,

wherein the peripheral channel is in the form of a groove defined into the first projection; and

wherein the peripheral channel is in fluid communication with the end channel.

4 . The frame assembly according to claim 3 , wherein the adhesive comprises a two-part phosphate ester elastomeric epoxy composition comprising:

a first component including: one or more epoxy resins selected from liquid or solid epoxy resins, flexible epoxy resins, or aliphatic multifunctional epoxy resins; one or more reactive diluents; and one or more first component additives; and

a second component including: one or more phosphate esters including a first phosphate ester, an optional second phosphate ester, and an optional third phosphate ester; and one or more second component additives.

5 . The frame assembly according to claim 4 , wherein the two-part phosphate ester elastomeric epoxy composition, upon mixing, cures at a temperature of about 0° C. to about 50° C.

6 . The frame assembly according to claim 3 , wherein at least a portion of a profile of the port is disposed within a profile of the end channel, as viewed along an axis extending through the port from the first side of the base member to the second side of the base member; and wherein the profile of the port is offset from a profile of the peripheral channel.

7 . The frame assembly according to claim 1 , wherein the peripheral channel extends around less than a full extent of an inner perimeter of the first projection.

8 . The frame assembly according to claim 7 , further comprising a second peripheral channel in a generally opposing relationship to the peripheral channel.

9 . A method for fabricating a frame assembly comprising:

providing a connector device comprising (a) a base member, (b) a projection extending from a first side of the base member and defining a cavity, and (c) a peripheral channel extending from the first side of the base member, along the projection, toward an end of the projection that is distal from the base member;

situating an end of an elongated member within the cavity and into contacting relationship with an end channel situated within the cavity; and

injecting an adhesive into the end channel and the peripheral channel via a port in fluid communication with the end channel, the port extending from a second side of the base member to the first side of the base member, the second side opposing the first side; and

wherein the adhesive permeates the end channel.

10 . The method according to claim 9 , wherein the method comprises curing the adhesive at a temperature of about 0° C. to about 50° C.

11 . The method according to claim 10 ,

wherein the peripheral channel is in fluid communication with the end channel.

12 . The method according to claim 11 , wherein the adhesive comprises a two-part phosphate ester elastomeric epoxy composition comprising:

a first component including: one or more epoxy resins selected from liquid or solid epoxy resins, flexible epoxy resins, or aliphatic multifunctional epoxy resins; one or more reactive diluents; and one or more first component additives; and

a second component including: one or more phosphate esters including a first phosphate ester, an optional second phosphate ester, and an optional third phosphate ester; and one or more second component additives.

13 . A frame assembly comprising:

an elongated member, and

a connector device coupled to and supporting an end of the elongated member, the connector device including:

a cavity within the connector device,

a channel situated within the cavity and extending at least partially around an interior perimeter of the connector device, and

a port in fluid communication with the channel and located in a wall portion of the connector device; and

an adhesive, configured to be introduced via the port, situated within the channel; wherein the elongated member comprises a port located along a wall thereof; and

wherein the port of the elongated member aligns with the port of the connector device.

14 . The frame assembly according to claim 13 , wherein the frame assembly is a bicycle frame or a ladder frame.

15 . The frame assembly according to claim 14 , wherein the adhesive comprises a two-part phosphate ester elastomeric epoxy composition comprising:

a first component including: one or more epoxy resins selected from liquid or solid epoxy resins, flexible epoxy resins, or aliphatic multifunctional epoxy resins; one or more reactive diluents; and one or more first component additives; and

a second component including: one or more phosphate esters including a first phosphate ester, an optional second phosphate ester, and an optional third phosphate ester; and one or more second component additives.

16 . The frame assembly according to claim 15 , wherein the frame assembly comprises a second connector device comprising a channel; wherein the channels of the connector device and the second connector device fluidly communicate with each other such that the adhesive is configured to enter the port in fluid communication with the channel thereof and the adhesive is configured to flow from the channel of the connector device and into the channel of the second connector device.

17 . The frame assembly according to claim 15 , wherein the channel is a peripheral channel defined by a groove formed into the wall portion or defined by a space between the wall portion and the elongated member.

18 . The frame assembly according to claim 17 , wherein the connector device comprises a base portion from which the wall portion extends; wherein the connector device comprises a second channel, which is an end channel located on the base portion; and wherein the channel of the connector device and the second channel fluidly communicate with one another.

19 . The frame assembly according to claim 17 , further comprising a second peripheral channel in a generally opposing relationship to the peripheral channel.

Assignments (1)

Continuity (3)

References Cited (47)