Patent ID: 7255388

Claim:
A structural reinforcement system, comprising: a structure of an automotive vehicle, the structure including a plurality of walls at least partially defining a hollow section, the structure having an external surface that is part of an external body panel of the vehicle; a rigid reinforcing member having a shape that substantially conforms to a cross section of the hollow section of the structure; an expandable adhesive material over a portion of a surface of said rigid reinforcing member wherein: i) the rigid reinforcing member is shaped and the expandable adhesive is provided in an amount and distribution such that, upon expansion, the adhesive material contacts and adheres to at least part of the plurality of walls of the hollow section without contacting an inner surface of the external panel thereby avoiding unsightly deformation of the external surface that could otherwise be caused by shrinkage of the adhesive material; and ii) the reinforcing member is adhered to the plurality of walls of the structure by the expandable adhesive material expanding and adhering to an internal surface of the structure without adhering to the inner surface of the external panel.