Reinforcing members

A combined structural reinforcement and sound deadening system for a hollow member, comprising:

• a rigid reinforcing member having a shape that substantially conforms to the cross section of a section of the hollow member to be reinforced;
• a first expandable adhesive material over at least a portion of the surface of said rigid reinforcing member, said first expandable material forming a structural foam which upon expansion bonds the reinforcing member to at least part of the internal surface of the structure, said rigid reinforcing member having on at least one extremity;
• a second expandable material wherein said second expandable material preferably expands at substantially the same temperature as the first expandable material to entirely fill the cross section of the hollow member beyond the extremity of the rigid reinforcing member to provide an acoustic baffle;
• wherein the rigid reinforcing member is provided with a cavity with a nut received therein and an opening configured to receive a portion of the nut to prevent rotation of the nut;
• wherein the first and second expandable material are such that when they are foamed, the foam produced does not cover a nut located with the means for receipt of a nut or any bolt attached to said nut.

A structural reinforcing member comprising:

• a core coated over part of its surface with an expandable material wherein the core is provided with a cavity configured with a nut located therein and the core includes an opening configured to receive a portion of the nut to prevent rotation of the nut;
• and
• a second foamable material which can be expanded to produce a baffle providing sound insulation
• wherein the location of the expandable material on the surface of the reinforcing member is such that expansion of the expandable material does not cause foam to cover the nut located within the cavity or any bolt attached to said nut;
• wherein the reinforcing member acts as a spacer between metal surfaces defining a cavity to be reinforced;
• wherein in which the cavity within the reinforcing member that receives the nut is shaped both to receive the nut and prevent rotation of the nut;
• wherein the member is located in the bottom of the A pillar of a vehicle close to the lower door attachment for providing combined reinforcement and insulation effect together with a lighter means of attaching the door to the pillar.