Laminate door stiffener with clip inserts

Abstract

A laminate door stiffener apparatus includes a first layer having a body panel attachment side and an opposing first laminate connection side, and a second layer having a second laminate connecting side and an opposing perforated side with a perforation formed therein. The apparatus further includes a clip interposed within the perforation. The clip selectively supports an operable device. The first layer is selectively connected to a body panel.

1 . A laminate panel stiffener apparatus comprising: 
 a first layer having a body panel attachment side and an opposing first laminate connection side;    a second layer having a second laminate connecting side and an opposing perforated side with a perforation formed therein; and    a clip having a first attachment portion and a second attachment portion, wherein at least a portion of the first attachment portion is selectively interposed within the perforation, the clip selectively supports an operative component of the vehicle, and the first layer is selectively connected to a body panel.    
   
   
       2 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the clip includes a first attachment portion and a second attachment portion, and the second layer attaches the second attachment portion to the first layer.  
   
   
       3 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the body panel attachment side is selectively attached to a vehicle body panel.  
   
   
       4 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein at least a portion of the first layer is a composite material.  
   
   
       5 . The apparatus of  claim 4 , wherein the at least a portion of the first layer is a fiberglass material.  
   
   
       6 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the first attachment portion includes an aperture.  
   
   
       7 . The apparatus of  claim 6 , wherein the clip is formed of a plastic.  
   
   
       8 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , further comprising an adhesive selectively interposed, at least partially, between the first laminate layer and the body panel.  
   
   
       9 . The apparatus of  claim 8 , wherein the adhesive is cured by the application of at least heat.  
   
   
       10 . The apparatus of  claim 8 , further comprising a backing selectively removably attached to the adhesive, wherein the adhesive is selectively interposed between the backing and the first laminate layer.  
   
   
       11 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , further comprising a second clip selectively interposed between the second laminate layer and the body panel.  
   
   
       12 . A combination hanger and stiffening apparatus comprising: 
 a stiffening layer selectively coupled to a vehicle body panel; and    a hanger coupled directly to the stiffening layer.    
   
   
       13 . The apparatus of  claim 12 , further comprising a second stiffening layer selectively coupled to the stiffening layer and having a perforation formed therein, wherein at least a portion of the hanger is interposed within the perforation, and at least a portion of the hanger is interposed between the stiffening layer and the second stiffening layer.  
   
   
       14 . The apparatus of  claim 13 , further comprising an adhesive interposed between the stiffening layer and the vehicle body panel, wherein the adhesive is selectively heat cured to structurally stiffen the vehicle body panel.  
   
   
       15 . A method of stiffening a body panel of a vehicle while providing an attachment hanger comprising the steps of: 
 adhering a first laminate layer to the body panel with a first adhesive;    adhering at least a portion of a second laminate layer to at least a portion of the first laminate layer with a second adhesive; and    interposing a portion of a clip between the body panel and the second laminate layer, wherein the first laminate layer and the second laminate layer form at least a portion of a laminate structure.    
   
   
       16 . The method of  claim 15 , further comprising the step of positioning at least a portion of the clip between the first laminate layer and the second laminate layer.  
   
   
       17 . The method of  claim 15 , further comprising the step of forming a perforation in the second laminate layer.  
   
   
       18 . The method of  claim 17 , further comprising the step of interposing a portion of the clip in the perforation.  
   
   
       19 . The method of  claim 15 , further comprising the step of interposing an adhesive between the first laminate layer and the body panel.  
   
   
       20 . The method of  claim 19 , further comprising the step of heat curing the adhesive.  
   
   
       21 . The method of  claim 19 , further comprising the step of uncoupling a backing from the adhesive.  
   
   
       22 . The method of  claim 15 , further comprising the step of coupling a second clip to the laminate structure.