Structural reinforcement and method of use therefor

Abstract

The invention provides a structural reinforcement and method of use therefore. The structural reinforcement preferably includes a bracket and a reinforcement material attached to the bracket. The bracket may include flanges for assisting in attaching the reinforcement to a wall of an article of manufacture. Preferably, the reinforcement material is expandable to wet and bond to the wall of the article and is also curable to harden and strengthen the wall of the article.

What is claimed is:  
     
         1 . A structurally reinforced article, comprising: 
 a plurality of walls of a container, a first wall of the plurality of walls being skew relative to a second wall of the container for forming a corner;    a bracket capable of securing itself adjacent said corner; and    a reinforcement material attached to the bracket, the reinforcement material expanding and curing to form an intimate bond with and to reinforce the first wall and the second wall.    
     
     
         2 . A structurally reinforced article as in  claim 1  wherein the container is a filing cabinet.  
     
     
         3 . A structurally reinforced article as in  claim 2  wherein the first wall and second wall are part of a housing of the filing cabinet.  
     
     
         4 . A structurally reinforced article as in  claim 2  wherein the first wall and second wall are part of a structural frame member of the filing cabinet.  
     
     
         5 . A structurally reinforced article as in  claim 2  wherein the plurality of walls are part of a structural frame member of the filing cabinet and part of a housing of the filing cabinet.  
     
     
         6 . A structurally reinforced article as in  claim 1  wherein the bracket includes a generally planar portion having at least one through-hole extending therethrough.  
     
     
         7 . A structurally reinforced article as in  claim 6  wherein the reinforcement material expands through the at least one through-hole of the bracket to contact and wet at least one of the plurality of walls.  
     
     
         8 . A structurally reinforced article as in  claim 1  wherein the bracket includes an extension with a protrusion for assisting in attaching the bracket adjacent the plurality of walls.  
     
     
         9 . A structurally reinforced article, comprising: 
 a plurality of walls of a filing cabinet, a first wall of the plurality of walls substantially perpendicular to a second wall of the plurality of walls, the first and second walls at least partially defining a cavity therein;    a bracket having a generally planar portion and a first extension extending from a first side of the planar portion and a second extension extending from a second side of the planar portion; and    an expandable reinforcement material having a generally planar configuration, the expandable material being substantially coextensive with and parallel to the generally planar portion of the bracket, the expandable material expanding and curing to form an intimate bond with and to reinforce the first wall and the second wall.    
     
     
         10 . A structurally reinforced article as in  claim 9  wherein the plurality of walls are part of a housing of the filing cabinet.  
     
     
         11 . A structurally reinforced article as in  claim 9  wherein the first wall and second wall are part of a structural frame member of the filing cabinet.  
     
     
         12 . A structurally reinforced article as in  claim 9  wherein the first wall and second wall are part of a structural frame member of the filing cabinet and part of a housing of the filing cabinet.  
     
     
         13 . A structurally reinforced article as in  claim 9  wherein at least one through-hole extends through the generally planar portion of the bracket.  
     
     
         14 . A structurally reinforced article as in  claim 13  wherein the reinforcement material expands through the at least one through-hole of the bracket to contact and wet at least one of the plurality of walls.  
     
     
         15 . A structurally reinforced article as in  claim 9  wherein the extensions of the bracket each include a protrusion for assisting in attaching the bracket adjacent the plurality of walls.  
     
     
         16 . A structurally reinforced article, comprising: 
 a plurality of walls of a filing cabinet, the plurality of walls defining a cavity therein wherein: 
 i) a first wall and a second wall of the plurality of walls are supplied by a structural frame member of the filing cabinet, the first wall being substantially perpendicular to the second wall;  
 ii) the first wall is integrally connected to the second wall via a curved portion of the structural frame member, the curved portion having at least one rib; and  
 iii) a third wall and a fourth wall of the of the plurality of walls are supplied by an outer housing of the filing cabinet, the third wall being substantially perpendicular to the fourth, the third and fourth wall corresponding to the first and second wall;  
   a bracket having a generally planar portion and a first extension extending from a first side of the planar portion and a second extension extending from a second side of the planar portion wherein: 
 i) the planar portion includes at least one through-hole; and  
 ii) the first extension and the second extension each include protrusions frictionally assisting in gripping the frame member; and  
   an expandable reinforcement material having a generally planar configuration, the expandable material being generally coextensive with and parallel to the generally planar portion of the bracket wherein: 
 i) the expandable material expands upon exposure to heat and contacts the first, second, third and fourth walls; and  
 ii) the expandable material cures and hardens after expansion to structurally reinforce the first, second, third and fourth walls.  
   
     
     
         17 . A structurally reinforced article as in  claim 13  wherein the reinforcement material expands through the through-hole of the bracket to contact and wet at least one of the plurality of walls.