Claims
- 1. A method of reinforcing a structural member presenting an elongated, nonlinear passageway communicating with an access opening, said method comprising the step of inserting an elongated, flexible reinforcer lengthwise through the access opening so that the reinforcer travels along said passageway, said reinforcer comprising at least two supports and respective pieces of an expansible synthetic resin material coupled to each of said supports, said supports being pivotally connected to one another.
- 2. The method of claim 1, wherein said passageway comprises a first end adjacent said access opening, a second end remote from said access opening, and a point about halfway between said first and second ends, said reinforcer traveling to at least about said halfway point.
- 3. The method of claim 1, wherein said structural member is a rail of a motor vehicle.
- 4. The method of claim 1, wherein said structural member is a frame of a motor vehicle.
- 5. The method of claim 1, further including the step of heating said reinforcer so as to cause said synthetic resin material pieces to expand, said reinforcer being substantially inflexible after said expansion.
- 6. The method of claim 1, wherein said structural member is a rail of a motor vehicle.
- 7. The method of claim 1, wherein said structural member is a frame of a motor vehicle.
- 8. The method of claim 1, further including the step of heating said reinforcer so as to cause said synthetic resin material to expand, said sections being essentially immobilized after said expansion.
- 9. A method of reinforcing a structural member defining a cavity, said method comprising the step of positioning a reinforcer in said cavity, said reinforcer comprising sections having respective axes and comprising respective pieces of an expansible synthetic resin material coupled to of each said sections, said reinforcer being configured so that at least two of said sections are shiftable between a parallel axes position and a nonparallel axes position as necessary during said positioning step, said sections being pivotally connected to one another.
Parent Case Info
This application is a divisional of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 09/663,566, filed Sep. 15, 2000, incorporated by reference herein.
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Non-Patent Literature Citations (3)
Entry |
Side view photograph of admitted prior art automobile rail reinforcing member with adhesively attached thermally expandable reinforcing material after bake-out but not shown positioned within the rail. |
Perspective review of admitted prior art automobile rail reinforcing member with adhesively attached theremally expandable reinforcing material after bake-out but not shown positioned within the rail. |
Photograph of section of admitted prior art SUV crossmember reinforcing member with adhesively attached thermally expandable material after bake-out located between metal structural parts of an automobile. |