Structural reinforcement assembly and a method for structurally reinforcing a member or a portion of an article of manufacture

Abstract

An assembly 12 and a method which utilizes the assembly 12 to selectively and structurally strengthen and rigidize and/or stiffen a member 10 which is operatively disposed within an article of manufacture, such as an without limitation, a vehicle. Particularly, the assembly 12 includes a selectively expandable portion 18 which is inserted into the member 10 and selectively expanded once it is inserted into the member 10.

What is claimed is:  
     
         1 . A structural reinforcement assembly for supporting a member having a cavity of a certain volume, said assembly comprising: 
 a first selectively expanded portion; and    a second portion which is attached to said first selectively expanded portion and which selectively communicates a gas into said first portion, effective to selectively expand said first portion, thereby occupying at least a portion of said certain volume.    
     
     
         2 . The structural reinforcement assembly of  claim 1  wherein said first selectively expanded portion is formed from an elastomeric material.  
     
     
         3 . The structural reinforcement assembly of  claim 1  wherein said member has a pair of opposing surfaces which define said cavity, said selective expansion of said first portion causing said first portion to abut each of said pair of opposing surfaces.  
     
     
         4 . The structural reinforcement assembly of  claim 3  wherein said gas comprises air.  
     
     
         5 . The structural reinforcement assembly of  claim 3  wherein said gas comprises carbon dioxide.  
     
     
         6 . The structural reinforcement assembly of  claim 3  wherein said second portion comprises a nozzle.  
     
     
         7 . A structural reinforcement assembly comprising: 
 a selectively expandable balloon assembly; and    a second portion which is selectively and removably coupled to said balloon assembly and which is effective to selectively expand said balloon.    
     
     
         8 . The structural reinforcement assembly of  claim 7  wherein said balloon assembly comprises: 
 a balloon; and  
 a nozzle.  
 
     
     
         9 . The structural reinforcement assembly of  claim 8  wherein said nozzle is integrally formed with said balloon.  
     
     
         10 . The structural reinforcement assembly of  claim 9  wherein said second portion comprises a source of gas which is selectively coupled to said balloon assembly to inject an amount of gas into said balloon.  
     
     
         11 . The structural reinforcement assembly of  claim 10  wherein said gas comprises air.  
     
     
         12 . The structural reinforcement assembly of  claim 10  wherein said gas comprises carbon dioxide.  
     
     
         13 . The structural reinforcement assembly of  claim 10  wherein said balloon is formed from an elastomeric material.  
     
     
         14 . The structural reinforcement assembly of  claim 9  wherein said second portion comprises a source of foam which is selectively coupled to said balloon assembly to inject an amount of foam into said balloon.  
     
     
         15 . The structural reinforcement assembly of  claim 14  wherein said foam further comprises acoustic foam.  
     
     
         16 . The structural reinforcement assembly of  claim 14  wherein said foam further comprises structural foam.  
     
     
         17 . The structural reinforcement assembly of  claim 10  further including a source of foam, said source of foam being effective to selectively deposit said foam around said balloon.  
     
     
         18 . The structural reinforcement assembly of  claim 17  wherein said source of foam comprises a source of structural foam.  
     
     
         19 . The structural reinforcement assembly of  claim 17  wherein said source of foam comprises a source of acoustic foam.  
     
     
         20 . The structural reinforcement assembly of  claim 13  wherein said elastomeric material comprises rubber.  
     
     
         21 . The structural reinforcement assembly of  claim 13  wherein said balloon is I-shaped.  
     
     
         22 . The structural reinforcement assembly of  claim 13  wherein said balloon is U-shaped.  
     
     
         23 . The structural reinforcement assembly of  claim 13  wherein said balloon is M-shaped.  
     
     
         24 . A method for structurally reinforcing a member comprising the steps of: 
 placing at least one selectively expandable portion into said member; and    expanding said at least one selectively expandable portion in a controlled manner.    
     
     
         25 . The method of  claim 24  wherein said method further comprises the steps of: 
 acquiring a certain material; and  
 placing said certain material into said member, thereby allowing said certain material to cooperate with said at least one selectively expandable portion to reinforce said member.  
 
     
     
         26 . The method of  claim 25  wherein said certain material comprises foam.  
     
     
         27 . The method of  claim 25  wherein said certain material comprises Terocore™.  
     
     
         28 . The method of  claim 25  wherein said certain material comprises Betocore™.  
     
     
         29 . The method of  claim 24  wherein said step of expanding said at least one selectively expandable portion comprises the steps of: 
 acquiring a source of gas;  
 coupling said source of gas to said at least one selectively expandable member; and  
 communicating an amount of gas into said at least one selectively expandable portion.  
 
     
     
         30 . The method of  claim 29  wherein said gas comprises air.  
     
     
         31 . The method of  claim 29  wherein said gas comprises carbon dioxide.  
     
     
         32 . The method of  claim 25  wherein said expandable member is I-shaped.  
     
     
         33 . The method of  claim 25  wherein said expandable member is U-shaped.  
     
     
         34 . The method of  claim 25  wherein said expandable member is M-shaped.  
     
     
         35 . The method of  claim 25  further comprising the steps of: 
 providing a second selectively expandable portion;  
 placing said second selectively expandable portion within said member at a certain distance from said at least one selectively expandable portion; and  
 communicating said gas, from said source of gas, to said second selectively expandable member, wherein said second selectively expandable portion cooperates with said at least one selectively expandable portion to contain said certain material.