Body and frame assembly for a vehicle and method of assembling a vehicle
US7032958B2 · kind B2 · utility
7Cited by
13References
27Claims
0Family size
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Jul 1, 2003 |
| Grant date | Apr 25, 2006 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Jul 1, 2023 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC B)Performing Operations; Transporting
- CPC primaryB62D25/00
- WIPO fieldTransport
- WIPO sectorMechanical engineering
Abstract
A body and frame assembly for a vehicle includes a one-piece inner member mated with a one-piece outer member, the inner member and the outer member defining door openings at opposing sides of the vehicle. The inner member and the outer member may each include a roof panel portion and two side frame portions. A method of assembling a vehicle that includes the body and frame assembly includes forming each of the inner and outer members by quick plastic forming, super plastic forming or hydroforming. Preferably, the inner member and the outer member are each formed from a separate single sheet of aluminum.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.