| abstract |
A support structure (10,15,60,65) for supporting a foamable material (21,71) in a cavity (6,50) of a hollow structural member (1,51) so that the foamable material (21,71) blocks the cavity (6,50) of the hollow structural (1,51) member when it is foamed by external heating. The support structure (10,15,60,65) includes a support member (10,60) disposed in the cavity (6,56) so as to be perpendicular to a longitudinal direction of the cavity (6,56) and adapted to retain the foamable material (20,71) in such a manner that at least one side surface of the foamable material (21,71) is restrictively covered by the support member (10,60), and an engagement pin (15,65) integrally provided on the support member (10,60) and adapted to engage an aperture (7,57) formed in the hollow structural member (1,51). n The support member (10,60) can consist of a single support plate (61) with at least one support strip (25) on at least one side of said single support plate (61) or of a pair of parallel support plates (11) restrictively covering both side surfaces of the foamable material (21). |