Vehicular body structure

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9718498-B1
Application number	US-201615094318-A
Country	US
Kind code	B1
Filing date	Apr 8, 2016
Priority date	Apr 8, 2016
Publication date	Aug 1, 2017
Grant date	Aug 1, 2017

Abstract

A vehicle body includes a roof panel and a first bodyside panel. The roof panel includes first and second side regions. The first bodyside panel includes top and bottom regions. The roof panel and first bodyside panel define a continuous exterior surface region. The continuous exterior surface region extends from the first side region of the roof panel to the bottom region of the first bodyside panel through the second side region of the roof panel and top region of the first bodyside panel.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A vehicle body comprising:
a roof panel; and
a first bodyside panel,
the roof panel and first bodyside panel are collectively formed from a plurality of longitudinal members that extend longitudinally of the vehicle, wherein the longitudinal members are stacked vertically in columns, aligned horizontally in rows, and define a continuous exterior surface extending from a top of the roof panel to a bottom of the first bodyside panel.

2. The vehicle body of claim 1 , wherein the continuous exterior surface includes a surface layer and a plurality of intermediate layers disposed inwardly of the surface layer.

3. The vehicle body of claim 1 , wherein each column is substantially uniform in thickness.

4. The vehicle body of claim 1 , wherein the first bodyside panel is substantially perpendicular to the roof panel.

5. The vehicle body of claim 1 , further comprising a second bodyside panel.

6. The vehicle body of claim 5 , wherein the roof panel, first bodyside panel, and second bodyside panel define the continuous exterior surface, wherein the continuous exterior surface extends from the bottom of the first bodyside panel, across the top of the roof panel, and to the bottom of the second bodyside panel.

7. The vehicle body of claim 5 , wherein the second bodyside panel is substantially perpendicular to the roof panel.

8. A vehicle body comprising:
a roof panel; and
a pillar,
the roof panel and pillar are collectively formed from a plurality of longitudinal members that extend longitudinally of the vehicle body, wherein the longitudinal members are stacked vertically in columns, aligned horizontally in rows, and define a continuous exterior surface extending from a top of the roof panel to a bottom of the pillar.

9. The vehicle body of claim 8 , wherein the continuous exterior surface includes a surface layer and a plurality of intermediate layers disposed inwardly of the surface layer.

10. The vehicle body of claim 8 , wherein each column is substantially uniform in thickness.

11. The vehicle body of claim 8 , wherein the pillar is substantially perpendicular to the roof panel.

12. The vehicle body of claim 8 , further comprising a rocker panel, wherein the pillar extends between the roof panel and the rocker panel.

13. The vehicle body of claim 12 , wherein the roof panel, pillar, and rocker panel define the continuous exterior surface, wherein the continuous exterior surface extends from the top of the roof panel, across the pillar, and to rocker panel.

14. A vehicle body comprising:
a roof panel defining a top surface; and
a bodyside panel,
the roof and bodyside panels are collectively formed from a plurality of longitudinal members, wherein the longitudinal members are stacked vertically in columns and aligned horizontally in rows to define successive layers of material sequentially arranged in a stacked formation extending from a bottom of the bodyside panel to the top surface of the roof panel.

15. The vehicle body of claim 14 , wherein each row is substantially uniform in height.

16. The vehicle body of claim 1 , wherein each row is substantially uniform in height.

17. The vehicle body of claim 8 , wherein each row is substantially uniform in height.

18. The vehicle body of claim 14 , wherein each column is substantially uniform in thickness.

Assignees

• Ford Global Tech Llc

Inventors

• Faruque Mohammed Omar
• Farooq S M Iskander
• Jaradi Dean M

Classifications

• B62D25/02 Primary

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

• B62D25/04

  Door pillars {; windshield pillars} · CPC title

• B62D27/02

  rigid · CPC title

• B62D25/06

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

• B62D29/046

  Combined superstructure and frame, i.e. monocoque constructions · CPC title