Ford Global Technolgoies, LLC

Ford Motor Company Limited

Darrin Neil Wagner

Edgar Edward Donabedian

Christopher John May

Duncan Whipps

John Patrick Joyce

Robert Reiners

Bruno M Barthelemy

Jack Marchlewski

Mark Keller

Leonard Anthony Shaner

Marwan Ahmad Elbkaily

Muhsin M Hamdoon

Jack Lashbrook

Mohammad Omar Faruque

Dragan B Stojkovic

Srinivasan Sundararajan

Fubang Wu

Yu-Kan Hu

Kevin Michael Pline

Gerhard G G Lueschen

Amanda Kay Freis

Vincent Anthony Chimento

Colleen Hoffman

Aindrea McKelvey Campbell

Thomas Norton

Yalla Mussa Abushawashi

Srinath Vijayakumar

Bakhtyar Baig

Viktor Kostrominov

Scott Christopher Sterbenz

Fungtai Charles Ko

Rabin Bhojan

David Edward Paul

Joshua Walters

William George Heckman

Sone Sadakhom

Dennis P Laakso

Shuenn-Muh Chen

Azaz Khatri

Ali Jammoul

Ernest Dicks, Jr

Dan O Dague

John A Speirs

Forrest W Eddings

Matthew Alan Niesluchowski

An apparatus and method, according to an exemplary aspect of the present disclosure includes, among other things, a quarter panel comprised of a sheet molding compound and a fascia bracket. The fascia bracket includes a first flange integrated into the quarter panel, a second flange comprising a vehicle body mount interface, and a gripping feature configured to grip a portion of a fascia to be attached to the quarter panel.

Modular quarter panel fascia bracket

The present disclosure is directed toward a method that includes simulating, by an adhesive analytic model, transformation of at least one vehicular joint joined by a selected adhesive based on one or more system variables, and outputting, by the adhesive analytic model, an adhesive analysis identifying deformation for the selected adhesive along the at least one vehicular joint based on the simulated transformation and a deformation rating scale.

Method for evaluating an adhesive for a vehicular joint

An apparatus, according to an exemplary aspect of the present disclosure includes, among other things, a bracket having a first attachment feature configured for attachment to a quarter panel and a second attachment feature configured for attachment to a body inner structure. A BLIS module attaches to the body inner structure without covering the first attachment feature. A method according to an exemplary aspect of the present disclosure includes, among other things, attaching a quarter panel to a bracket via a first attachment feature, attaching the quarter panel with the bracket to a body inner structure, attaching the bracket to the body inner structure via a second attachment feature, and attaching a BLIS module to the body inner structure without covering the first attachment feature.

Detachable quarter panel bracket

A vehicle lamp installation method includes, among other things, engaging both a mounting bracket and an outer panel of a vehicle with an alignment fixture that locates the mounting bracket relative to the outer panel in a mounting position. The method further includes securing the mounting bracket to a body structure of the vehicle when the mounting bracket is in the mounting position. A vehicle assembly includes, among other things, a body structure of a vehicle, a mounting bracket secured to the body structure in a mounting position, and an outer panel secured to the body structure. The mounting bracket is located in the mounting position relative to the outer panel using an alignment fixture that engages with both the outer panel and the mounting bracket.

Vehicle lamp installation method and assembly

An anti-flutter structure, or reinforcement panel, for a roof panel supported on transversely extending roof bows. The reinforcement panel is attached to at least one of the roof bows with the flanges being disposed above the roof bow. The flanges extend longitudinally, and are resiliently compressed by the roof panel. The reinforcement panel has a body and flanges laterally flanking the body. The body is attached to one of the roof bows with the flanges being disposed above the roof bow. The anti-flutter material is disposed between the flanges and the roof panel.

Roof panel anti-flutter reinforcement

This disclosure relates to a motor vehicle with a locator device configured to maintain outer body panel alignment, and a corresponding method. In particular, an example method includes temporarily attaching a locator device to one of a body of a motor vehicle and an outer body panel connectable to the body. The method further includes connecting the outer body panel to the body, and rigidly connecting the locator device to the other of the body and the outer body panel.

Vehicle with locator device configured to maintain outer body panel alignment, and corresponding method

This disclosure relates to a motor vehicle with a removable outer body panel and a detachable tail lamp support, and a corresponding method. An example method includes connecting a subassembly to a body of a motor vehicle, where the subassembly includes an outer body panel connected to a tail lamp support. This arrangement permits detachment of the tail lamp support from the outer body panel, which allows a user to detach the outer body panel from the body without having to detach the tail lamp support.

Vehicle with removable outer body panel and detachable tail lamp support, and corresponding method

A vehicle flooring system including a floor. A flooring component is positioned above the floor to define a gap. A drain assembly is coupled with the flooring component which includes a plug having a one-way valve and defining a plug opening. A drain defines a drain aperture to accept the plug. The drain defines a drain opening in alignment with the gap.

Vehicle floor drain

A header beam couples between A-pillars of a vehicle frame. The header beam is formed from a generally straight beam segment that is extruded to have a hollow body portion with supportive legs extending within the hollow interior along the length of the beam segment, defining uninterrupted forward and rearward box sections for supporting continuous load paths on the header beam. The end portions of the beam segment are clamped and the beam segment is stretch bent to form a curvature between the end portions that remain generally straight. A front flange extends forward along the body portion and is struck proximate the end portions to form an edge that is parallel to the curvature formed between the end portions. The end portions are attached to the A-pillars and the edge of the front flange is attached to a windshield.

Header beam of a vehicle frame and method of forming the same

A vehicle includes a body structure, a side bracket secured to the body structure, and a spacer bracket secured to the side bracket. The spacer bracket extends in a lateral direction toward an interior of the vehicle. The vehicle further includes a roof bow secured to the spacer bracket. The roof bow extends in the lateral direction toward the interior of the vehicle. The roof bow may be secured to the spacer bracket through at least one fastener adapted to shear under a predetermined shear stress. The roof bow may be secured to the spacer bracket such that a distal end of the roof bow is disposed in spaced relation relative to a distal end of the of the spacer bracket. The roof bow may be secured to a K-brace which extends toward roof rails.

Collapsible vehicle roof support assembly

A vehicle roof structure assembly includes a mounting bracket having a first aperture disposed therethrough. The vehicle roof structure assembly further includes a roof bow having a longitudinal body portion defining an inner channel. The longitudinal body portion includes a bottom wall having a second aperture axially aligned with the first aperture. The vehicle roof structure assembly further includes an insert block disposed within the inner channel of the roof bow. The insert block defines a third aperture disposed through a thickness of the insert block. The third aperture is axially aligned with the first aperture and the second aperture. The vehicle roof structure assembly further includes a fastener disposed through the first aperture, the second aperture, and the third aperture to rigidly secure the roof bow to the mounting bracket, and to rigidly secure the insert block to the roof bow.

Vehicle roof support assembly

A vehicle canopy includes a vehicle body defining a roof opening. A roof is connected to the vehicle body across the roof opening. A headliner is supported by at least one of the vehicle body and the roof. A frame is supported by the vehicle body. A fabric partition is engaged with the frame and extends across the roof opening between the headliner and the roof. The fabric partition may assist in preventing occupant test dummies and/or other objects from moving through the roof opening.

Vehicle canopy

A vehicle rocker assembly is provided. The vehicle rocker assembly may include an outer panel, a side sill, and an insert. The side sill may define at least two cavities with the outer panel. The insert may be disposed in the cavities. The insert may include a longitudinally extending U-shaped carrier and a plurality of reinforcement members attached to the U-shape carrier. The plurality of reinforcement members may be spaced apart from a bottom of the U-shaped carrier by a predetermined distance.

Localized rocker reinforcement insert

Growing community of inventors

Bloomfield Hills, MI, United States of America

Darrin Neil Wagner