Vehicle frame

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10077078-B2
Application number	US-201615384376-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Dec 20, 2016
Priority date	Dec 20, 2016
Publication date	Sep 18, 2018
Grant date	Sep 18, 2018

Abstract

A vehicle includes a vehicle frame. The vehicle frame includes two roof rails spaced apart and a rear header elongated along an axis transverse to the roof rails between the roof rails. The rear header includes an upper member and a lower member fixed to each other. The upper member is elongated from a first terminal edge to a second terminal edge. Each terminal edge has a wing and a cutout extending from the wing transverse to the axis.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A vehicle frame comprising:
two roof rails spaced apart; and
a rear header elongated along an axis transverse to the roof rails between the roof rails, the rear header including an upper member and a lower member fixed to each other;
the upper member being elongated from a first terminal edge to a second terminal edge, each terminal edge having a wing and a cutout extending from the wing transverse to the axis;
wherein the terminal edges are spaced along the axis away from the roof rails.

2. The vehicle frame of claim 1 , wherein the lower member extends from the first terminal edge to the second terminal edge of the upper member.

3. The vehicle frame of claim 1 , wherein the lower member extends along the cutouts in a direction along the axis.

4. The vehicle frame of claim 3 , wherein the lower member includes a hole at one of the cutouts of the upper member.

5. The vehicle frame of claim 4 , wherein the hole is elongated.

6. The vehicle frame of claim 1 , wherein the wings abut and are fixed to the lower member, and wherein the lower member includes weld flanges aligned with the cutouts in the axis.

7. The vehicle frame of claim 6 , further comprising supports extending from the roof rails between the roof rails, wherein the lower member extends from one support to the other support, and wherein the weld flanges are welded to the supports.

8. The vehicle frame of claim 7 , wherein the supports are welded to the roof rails.

9. The vehicle frame of claim 7 , wherein each support includes a cradle adjacent to the lower member, wherein the lower member is between the cradle and the upper member.

10. The vehicle frame of claim 1 , wherein the wing of the upper member abuts and is fixed to the lower member.

11. The vehicle frame of claim 1 , wherein the upper member and lower member define a cavity elongated along the axis from the first terminal edge to the second terminal edge.

12. The vehicle frame of claim 1 , wherein the cutouts are elongated along a direction transverse to the axis.

13. The vehicle frame of claim 12 , wherein the lower member includes holes aligned with the cutouts along the axis, wherein the holes are elongated along the axis.

14. A vehicle comprising:
two roof rails spaced apart;
a rear header elongated along an axis transverse to the roof rails between the roof rails, the rear header including an upper member and a lower member fixed to each other, the upper member being elongated from a first terminal edge to a second terminal edge, each terminal edge having a wing and a cutout extending from the wing transverse to the axis; and
a roof panel extending between the roof rails and extending from a front end to a rear end attached to the upper member at the upper member.

15. The vehicle of claim 14 , further comprising an adhesive strip extending between the roof panel and the upper member and between the roof panel and the lower member at the cutouts.

16. The vehicle of claim 15 , wherein the terminal edges of the upper member are spaced along the axis away from the roof rails.

17. The vehicle of claim 16 , further comprising supports extending from the roof rails between the roof rails, wherein the lower member extends from one support to the other support.

18. The vehicle of claim 17 , wherein the adhesive strip extends between the roof panel and the supports.

19. The vehicle of claim 14 , further comprising a backlite extending between the roof rails and extending from the rear end of the roof panel away from the roof panel.

Assignees

• Ford Global Tech Llc

Inventors

• Dugard Frederick Ray
• Oliver John
• Gorman William P

Classifications

• B62D27/023

  Assembly of structural joints · CPC title

• B62D25/02

  Side panels {(B62D33/046 takes precedence; sideboards for open load compartments B62D33/023)} · CPC title

• B62D25/06 Primary

  Fixed roofs (non-fixed roofs or like shelters B60J7/00; roof liners B60R13/02; insulating elements B60R13/08) · CPC title

• B62D25/04

  Door pillars {; windshield pillars} · CPC title

• B62D23/00 Primary

  Combined superstructure and frame, i.e. monocoque constructions ({having impact absorbing means B62D21/15; } superstructure {or monocoque structure} sub-units {or parts or details thereof} B62D25/00 {; characterised by the material thereof B62D29/00}) · CPC title