L & L Products, Inc.

Zephyros, Inc.

Eric Brennecke

Michael J Czaplicki

Jon Riley

Gary Hulett

There is disclosed a reinforcement member with a carrier member and a reinforcement material disposed on the carrier member.

Structural reinforcement member and method of use therefor

An structural reinforcement system for use with hydroforms and other closed forms having a plurality of members designed to be secured to a closed form, such as an hydroform tube used in automotive applications. A bonding material, such as an epoxy-based reinforcing foam, is disposed on at least a portion of the outer surface of each of the plurality of members. Once the system is attached to the closed form, the foam expands and cures during an automobile assembly operation, bonding the reinforcement system to the hydroform tube and the members. As a result, the reinforcement system provides enhanced load distribution over the vehicle frame without adding excessive weight and further serves to reduce noise and vibrational characteristics of the automotive vehicle.

Hydroform structural reinforcement system

A structurally enhanced attachment for use in reinforcing automotive rocker assemblies. An expandable material, such as a polymer-based foam, is disposed on a surface of an aluminum extrusion prior to integration of the extrusion into the vehicle and final assembly of the vehicle by the vehicle manufacturer. The system is activated as the vehicle undergoes the final vehicle assembly process, which activates and transforms the expandable material, preferably during an automobile paint operation, to expand, bond and fill the rocker assembly structure thereby structural adhering the extrusion with the rocker assembly and facilitating enhanced structural reinforcement.

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Troy, MI, United States of America

Eric Brennecke