Patent ID: RE44796

Claim:
A method of reinforcing at least a portion of a structure of an automobile frame during initial assembly , the method comprising: providing a structure; supporting a flexible barrier member along a portion of the an automobile frame structure during the initial assembly of the automobile for dividing the area of the structure into one or more sections; and filling one or more of the sections of the structure with a thermally activated expandable polymeric reinforcement material, wherein the flexible barrier member retains the reinforcement material in a desired location and wherein the reinforcement material substantially assists in increasing the strength and stiffness of the structure. of reinforcement within the automobile frame; and exposing the reinforcement material to an external heat source at a temperature ranging from approximately 93° C. to approximately 204° C. for thermally activating expansion of the reinforcement material, wherein the reinforcement material substantially assists in increasing the strength and stiffness of the automobile frame structure .