Vehicle roof joint assembly

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10689036-B2
Application number	US-201815996673-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jun 4, 2018
Priority date	Jun 4, 2018
Publication date	Jun 23, 2020
Grant date	Jun 23, 2020

Abstract

A vehicle assembly including a vehicle body and a roof assembly is provided. The vehicle body may include a mid-pillar having a receiving region. The roof assembly may include a mid-pillar segment having an attachment end. The receiving region may be defined by a cutout having a base portion spaced from an adjacent vehicle body surface. The attachment end may be sized for disposal within the cutout for one or more fasteners to removably secure the mid-pillar segment to the mid-pillar. The receiving region and the attachment end may be arranged with one another such that the roof assembly is removably attachable adjacent a belt line of the vehicle body.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A joint assembly for a vehicle roof comprising:
a first longitudinal roof member;
a second longitudinal roof member spaced laterally from the first longitudinal roof member;
a first bracket extending laterally from the first longitudinal roof member at a location adjacent to a mid-pillar or rearward pillar of a vehicle body;
a cross-member sized for securement and partial disposal within the first bracket;
a rear C-bow mounted to the cross-member and extending from the first longitudinal roof member to the second longitudinal roof member, the rear C-bow including a first arc portion at a first end and a second arc portion at a second end, the rear C-bow arranged with the first and second longitudinal roof members such that the arc portions transition from a lateral to a longitudinal orientation relative to the vehicle body; and
a second bracket extending longitudinally and rearward and located at the rearward pillar of the vehicle body; and
a tubular roll bar having a first end sized for securement and disposal within the second bracket and a second end for securing to the vehicle body adjacent the rearward pillar,
wherein the members are arranged with one another to form a cage structure selectively removable from a vehicle body at a location adjacent a vehicle belt line.

2. The assembly of claim 1 , wherein the tubular roll bar transitions in a shape of one of an approximately forty-five degree angle from the second bracket to the rearward pillar, or an approximately ninety-degree angle from the second bracket to the rearward pillar with a curve portion therebetween.

3. The assembly of claim 1 , wherein the first bracket includes a U-shaped component extending laterally to the vehicle body and sized to receive a portion of the cross-member.

Assignees

• Ford Global Tech Llc

Inventors

• Stojkovic Dragan B
• Kozak Stephen Thomas
• Pleet Edward Andrew
• Hoffman Colleen Marie

Classifications

• B62D25/04 Primary

  Door pillars {; windshield pillars} · CPC title

• B62D27/065

  using screwthread (connection of crossbeam to A- pillars B62D25/147; mounting load bearing surfaces B62D21/09; securing mudguards B62D25/163; connections for synthetic parts B62D29/048) · CPC title

• B62D25/00 Primary

  Superstructure {or monocoque structure} sub-units; Parts or details thereof not otherwise provided for {(having impact absorbing means B62D21/15; running-boards, steps, or the like as superstructure sub-unit B60R3/00)} · CPC title

• B62D25/06

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

• B60J7/102

  Readily detachable tarpaulins, e.g. for utility vehicles; Frames therefor · CPC title