Patent ID: 8758535

Claim:
A method for locally reinforcing or baffling a structure having a hollow cavity, comprising the steps of: i) providing an insert including a generally flat carrier having a first face and an opposing second face each terminating at a peripheral edge, wherein the carrier: a. includes a thermally expandable polymeric material on at least a portion of one of the first or second faces; and b. includes at least one integrally formed flexible attachment that projects outwardly from the peripheral edge, wherein the flexible attachment includes thermally expandable polymeric material located thereon prior to expansion: ii) flexing the insert during insertion into the cavity to be locked into place within the cavity via the at least one integrally formed flexible attachment; iii) at least partially rotating the at least one integrally formed flexible attachment, so that after such rotating the first face and the second face project generally transversely into the cavity and a gap is defined between the peripheral edge and a wall of the structure; iv) heating the thermally expandable polymeric material to cause it to expand and seal the gap that exists between the peripheral edge and the wall of the structure; thereby separating the hollow cavity into separate chambers on either side of the insert.