Patent ID: 6820923
Filing Date: 2004-11-23
Classification: B60R

Abstract:
A sound absorption system for an automotive vehicle, comprising:(a) an automotive vehicle frame having at least one wall, said at least one wall at least partially defining a cavity within said automotive vehicle; and (b) a plurality of nodes of an expandable acoustical material in bonding contact over at least a portion of said at least one wall, said plurality of nodes including at least five nodes discretely spaced apart from each other in non-contacting relation, said plurality of nodes varying in size relative to each other across said at least one wall, each node of said plurality of nodes spaced at varying distances from adjacent nodes of the plurality of nodes, wherein, upon exposure to temperatures in the range of about 145Â° C. to about 210Â° C.: i) said plurality of nodes undergo expansion; ii) said plurality of nodes expand away from the at least one wall and toward each other such that the plurality of nodes combine together to form a mass, said mass providing an exposed surface that is partially formed from each of the plurality of nodes; iii) said exposed surface of said mass having an irregular topography with curved surfaces of varying heights and shapes; and iv) a substantial portion of the exposed surface does not contact any portion of said automotive vehicle to allow said mass to absorb sound of variable frequencies.