FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates generally to a structural reinforcement member and its use in reinforcing a structure of an automotive vehicle or other article of manufacture.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
For many years, industry and particularly the transportation industry has been concerned with designing structural reinforcement members for articles of manufacture such as automotive vehicles. For example, U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,755,486; 4,901,500; and 4,751,249 describe prior art reinforcing devices. Design of such reinforcement members can involve a number of competing factors. For example, it can be difficult to provide adequate or desirable reinforcement while maintaining lower weights for the reinforcement members. In turn, it can become quite desirable to bolster or enhance the strength of such reinforcement members without significantly adding to the weight of such reinforcement members. Thus, the present invention seeks to provide an improved structural reinforcement member with added strength characteristics, relatively low weight and/or other desirable characteristics.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
Accordingly, a structural reinforcement member is provided. The structural reinforcement member includes a carrier member having a plurality of ribs and a plurality of masses of expandable material disposed between the plurality of ribs. The plurality of masses of expandable material are typically configured to expand upon exposure to an elevated temperature to form a reinforcing foam that preferably has a compression strength of at least about 10 MPa.
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