Patent ID: 6561571
Filing Date: 2003-05-13
Classification: B62D,Y10T

Abstract:
A system for the structural reinforcement of an automotive rocker assembly, comprising:(a) an extrusion placed within a cavity of an automotive vehicle rocker structure and attached via bolt attachments to the automotive vehicle rocker structure, wherein; i) the extrusion includes a substantially continuous outer peripheral surface generally surrounding a plurality of closed sections; ii) the outer peripheral surface defines a first stand-off and a second stand-off means for assisting in maintaining torque of the bolt attachments, wherein the first and the second stand-off are protrusions which are part of the extrusion that extend away from the extrusion and contact the rocker structure thereby forming a cavity between the first stand-off and the second stand-off; (b) a heat-activated expandable material for structural reinforcement located on at least a portion of the outer peripheral surface of the extrusion and within the cavity between the first stand-off and the second stand-off wherein the heat-activated expandable material located within the cavity is a strip of heat-activated expandable material; wherein the heat-activated expandable material, in conjunction with the bolt attachments, distributes forces applied to the rocker structure to the extrusion, and wherein the heat-activated expandable material expands locally within the cavity between the first stand-off and the second stand-off and between the bolt attachments upon activation by heat to form a structural bond between the automotive vehicle rocker structure and the extrusion thereby improving the structural integrity of at least a portion of the rocker structure to which the extrusion has been applied.