Abstract: A method and apparatus (20) for mechanically securing material (10), such as, for example, gasket or damping-type material for inhibiting or minimizing transfer of vibration or noise to sheetmetal (12) by punching, cutting, or otherwise creating one or more bendable metal flanges (14,16) in the sheetmetal (12) which project through and are bent or folded over and against the material (10) to thereby secure it in place. The apparatus (20) broadly comprises a punch (24) operable to create the flanges (14,16) by punching through the sheetmetal (12) , and an anvil (28) operable to bend or fold the flanges (14,16). The flanges (14,16) are preferably {fraction (1/10)}-½ inch in length and {fraction (1/10)}-¼ inch in width, and are provided with a curvature to facilitate bending.

Abstract: An expandable gap filling product, such as a gasket or baffle, including a plastic support structure formed with at least one aperture and an expandable material molded together with the plastic support structure such that a portion of the expandable material enters the aperture to assist in holding the expandable material to the plastic support structure. The expandable material may be a conventional expandable rubber product that expands under heat to fill a defined space, such as an automotive body interior space. Apertures in the support structure may have converging side walls to further assist in holding the expandable material in place. The support structure may be molded as a mesh material with a plurality of apertures. Methods of molding the expandable gap filling product include injection molding and overmolding or insertion molding methods.