Patent ID: 7374219

Claim:
A structurally reinforced transportation vehicle, comprising: (a) an automotive vehicle having a structure defined by at least two components that at least partially define an underbody of the vehicle wherein the transportation vehicle is a convertible and includes a fore/aft axis; and (b) a reinforcement member that includes a carrier member and a reinforcement material disposed upon the carrier member wherein the reinforcement material is adhered to the carrier member and the one or more components and wherein: i. the carrier member spans laterally relative to the fore/aft axis of the vehicle and spans laterally between a first side and a second side of the carrier member; ii. the at least two components of the vehicle include a first component and a second component; iii. the first side of the carrier member includes a first outwardly facing surface and second outwardly facing surface; and iv. the reinforcement material is a structural foam that adheres the first outwardly facing surface to the first component and the second outwardly facing surface to the second component for connecting the first component to the second component in a manner that provides the automotive vehicle with greater strength and integrity.