Vehicle roof structure
US5795014A · kind A · utility
Assignee
Inventor
Key dates
| Filing date | Dec 9, 1996 |
| Grant date | Aug 18, 1998 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Dec 9, 2016 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC B)Performing Operations; Transporting
- CPC primaryB62D25/06
- WIPO fieldTransport
- WIPO sectorMechanical engineering
Abstract
A roof structure for a vehicle body includes a roof opening defined by a pair of spaced apart side rails, each having a flange extending inwardly and being vertically offset below the roof surface, and by front and rear headers, each having a flange defining a window opening. A roof panel assembly includes a roof outer panel and a pair of inverted hat-shaped reinforcement rails which underlie the outer side edges of the roof outer panel and include inwardly and outwardly directed legs abutting the underside of the roof outer panel. The outermost portion of the side edges of the roof outer panel are hem flanged over the outwardly directed flanges of the reinforcement rails so that the roof outer panel and the reinforcement rails define the roof panel assembly. The roof outer panel has fore and aft end flanges which overlie the flanges of the front and rear headers and are spot welded thereto. A bead of adhesive is placed on the inwardly extending flanges of the side rails and the roof panel assembly is lowered into the roof opening with the base wall of the reinforcement rails pressed onto the adhesive to attach the roof panel assembly to the vehicle body. The subsequent installatio…
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.