Vehicle with body panel including flexible fabric

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2022379696-A1
Application number	US-202117331741-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	May 27, 2021
Priority date	May 27, 2021
Publication date	Dec 1, 2022
Grant date	—

Abstract

This disclosure relates to a vehicle with a body panel including a flexible fabric. An example vehicle includes a frame and a body panel attached to the frame and providing an exterior surface of the vehicle. The body panel includes a flexible fabric material.

First claim

1 . A vehicle, comprising:
a frame; and a body panel attached to the frame and providing an exterior surface of the vehicle, wherein the body panel includes a flexible fabric material.

2 . The vehicle as recited in claim 1 , wherein the flexible fabric material includes at least one sheet of fabric.

3 . The vehicle as recited in claim 2 , wherein the sheet of fabric is made of an ultra-high-molecular-weight polyethylene (UHMWPE).

4 . The vehicle as recited in claim 3 , wherein the body panel includes at least one rigid stay.

5 . The vehicle as recited in claim 4 , wherein the body panel includes a plurality of rigid stays.

6 . The vehicle as recited in claim 5 , wherein:
the at least one sheet of fabric includes a plurality of sheets of fabric, each of the sheets of fabric are made of UHMWPE, adjacent ones of the sheets of fabric are connected so as to form a plurality of elongate pockets, and each of the elongate pockets includes one of the rigid stays.

7 . The vehicle as recited in claim 1 , wherein:
rigid supports are attached to the frame between the body panel and the frame, and one or both of the rigid supports and the frame includes fasteners configured to facilitate attachment of the body panel to the frame without the use of tools.

8 . The vehicle as recited in claim 7 , wherein the fasteners include a strip of a hook-and-loop fastener and the body panel includes a corresponding strip of a hook-and-loop fastener.

9 . The vehicle as recited in claim 7 , wherein the fasteners includes openings configured to receive straps of the body panel.

10 . The vehicle as recited in claim 1 , wherein:
the frame includes a through-opening, and when mounted to the frame, the body panel completely covers the through-opening.

11 . The vehicle as recited in claim 10 , wherein a pouch is mounted in the through-opening.

12 . The vehicle as recited in claim 1 , wherein the body panel is expandable and retractable along at least one dimension of the body panel.

13 . The vehicle as recited in claim 1 , wherein:
the vehicle is a pickup truck, and the body panel provides an exterior surface of a bedside panel of the pickup truck.

14 . The vehicle as recited in claim 1 , wherein:
the vehicle is a sport utility vehicle, and the body panel provides an exterior surface of a rear quarter panel of the vehicle.

15 . The vehicle as recited in claim 1 , wherein the body panel includes an electrical device.

16 . The vehicle as recited in claim 15 , wherein the electrical device includes at least one of a light emitting diode, a printed circuit, electroluminescent wire, and conductive wire.

17 . A method, comprising:
attaching a body panel including a flexible fabric material to a frame of a vehicle.

18 . The method as recited in claim 17 , further comprising:
removing the body panel from the frame; and retracting the body panel in at least one dimension to a retracted state.

19 . The method as recited in claim 18 , further comprising:
expanding the body panel to an expanded state from the retracted state; and re-attaching the body panel to the frame.

20 . The method as recited in claim 17 , wherein the attaching step includes attaching the body panel to the frame using fasteners and without using tools.

Assignees

• Ford Global Tech Llc

Inventors

• Salter Stuart C
• Glickman David Brian
• Dellock Paul Kenneth
• Walsh Robert
• Haspiel Jacob Michael
• Singh Daveanand M
• Halaszynski Joseph Ian
• Diephuis Jesse Rene

Classifications

• B62D33/0273 Primary

  Movable tailboards for vehicles comprising non-movable sideboards, e.g. pick-up trucks (B62D33/037 takes precedence) · CPC title

• B60J7/102 Primary

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

• B62D33/023 Primary

  Sideboard or tailgate structures {(vehicle side panels in general B62D25/02)} · CPC title