Frame structure for a vehicle door in particular a tailgate of a vehicle

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9718332-B2
Application number	US-201514730923-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jun 4, 2015
Priority date	Jun 4, 2014
Publication date	Aug 1, 2017
Grant date	Aug 1, 2017

Abstract

A frame structure for a vehicle door and a method of manufacture thereof is disclosed. In particular, a tailgate includes at least two tubular parts which are flexurally deformed in the direction of their longitudinal extension and connected to each other to form a ring structure. The ring structure is incorporated into a structural unit with the frame structure in a tailgate of a motor vehicle.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. A frame structure for a vehicle door comprising:
at least two tubular formed parts, each tubular formed part bends in the longitudinal direction, the two tubular formed parts are connected to one another and form a ring structure, each tubular formed part includes a plug-in attachment that extends outwardly from the tubular formed part at the bend, each of the plug-in attachments having a free end; and
a cross connector at least partially arranged within the ring structure and connected to each of the plug-in attachments of the tubular formed parts at the bend,
wherein the free end of each of the plug-in attachments is received into a respective end of the cross connector to connect the cross connector to the tubular formed parts at the bend.

2. The frame structure according to claim 1 , further comprising at least one plug connection between the tubular formed parts.

3. The frame structure according to claim 2 , wherein an end portion of at least one of the tubular formed parts is tapered and plugged into an end of the other tubular formed part.

4. The frame structure according to claim 1 , wherein the tubular formed parts are connected to one another through one of welding, soldering or gluing.

5. The frame structure according to claim 1 , wherein at least one of the tubular formed parts is an extruded metal part.

6. The frame structure according to claim 1 , wherein at least one of the tubular formed parts is a heat formed part.

7. The frame structure according to claim 1 , wherein at least one of the tubular formed parts comprises a second plug-in attachment formed onto the at least one of the tubular formed parts.

8. The frame structure according to claim 7 where the plug-in attachment is embossed out of the formed part by means of heat forming.

9. The frame structure according to claim 1 , wherein the frame structure comprises a connecting point for fastening at least one attachment part on the frame structure, wherein the at least one attachment part is selected from the group consisting of a hinge part, a lock part, a paneling part, a window or a combination thereof.

10. A tailgate of a vehicle with a frame structure according to claim 1 .

11. The tailgate according to claim 10 , further comprising at least one attachment part fastened on the frame structure, wherein the at least one attachment part is selected from the group consisting of a hinge part, a lock part, a paneling part, a window or a combination thereof.

12. The tailgate according to claim 10 , wherein the tailgate is formed as a pre-assembled module.

13. A motor vehicle with a frame structure according to claim 1 .

14. The frame structure according to claim 1 , further comprising a reinforcing part connected to an outer paneling part, and the reinforcing part is connected to the cross connector by a fastening strap.

15. A method for producing a frame structure for a tailgate of a vehicle comprising:
bend-forming at least two tubular elements in a blank to form two bent-formed tubular parts, each tubular formed part bends in the longitudinal direction and the at least two tubular parts include a plug-in attachment that extends outwardly from the respective tubular formed part at the bend, each of the plug-in attachments having a free end;
joining the two bent-formed tubular parts to one another to form a ring structure;
connecting a cross connector to each of the plug-in attachments of the tubular formed parts at the bend such that the cross connector is arranged within the ring structure with the free end of each of the plug-in attachments received into a respective end of the cross connector to connect the cross connector to the tubular formed parts at the bend;
connecting a reinforcing part to an outer paneling part; and
connecting the reinforcing part to the cross connector by a fastening strap,
wherein the blank are used to form the two bent-formed parts are bending-formed beforehand in such a manner that the ring structure is formed upon joining.

Assignees

• Gm Global Tech Operations Llc

Inventors

• Mildner Udo
• Teske Lothar

Classifications

• B21D53/74

  frames for openings, e.g. for windows, doors, handbags · CPC title

• B21D7/00

  Bending rods, profiles, or tubes (B21D11/02 - B21D11/18 take precedence; using mandrels or the like B21D9/00) · CPC title

• B21D53/88

  other parts for vehicles, e.g. cowlings, mudguards · CPC title

• B60J5/107 Primary

  constructional details, e.g. about door frame, panels, materials used, reinforcements · CPC title

• Y10T29/49623

  Static structure, e.g., a building component · CPC title