Aluminum Company of America

Ford Global Technolgoies, LLC

Jonathan Vallis

Jan L Teply

Laurens Van Den Acker

Dennis Flick

Philippe Gainche

A system and method for modifying a rear cargo compartment of an automotive vehicle includes a decklid capable of enclosing for storage the vehicle's backlite. With or without to backlite enclosed within the decklid, the decklid may remain attached to the vehicle in its conventional position, may be moved to a stowage location within the vehicle, or may be detached from the automotive vehicle entirely and stowed in an external location.

Backlite storage and convertible decklid system for automotive vehicle

A rocker joint assembly provides adjustability in the Z-axis and Y-axis of a body-in-white structure. The individual components of the assembly includes a vertical pillar and a rocker member that cooperate with a main beam of a frame. The several components can be formed from extrusions or sheet product.

Rocker to pillar joint

The invention provides a vehicle frame joint structure that is used in a ladder frame structure and in space frame type structures. The joint includes at least a first member, a second member, and a third member extending thereinbetween. Each of these three members has an upper surface, a lower surface, and opposed side walls. The third member, which is adapted to extend thereinbetween has an upper surface that extends beyond its opposed side walls and lower surface. Each of the first and second members has therein a relief adapted to receive the third member such that the third member's extending upper surface is in close relationship with the first and second members' upper surface. Also, the third members' side surfaces proximate the extending upper surfaces at each end thereof are in close relationship with the opposed side walls of each of the first and second members.

Cross beam-main beam integral joint

A vehicle frame structure comprises a right side primary longitudinal member and a left side primary longitudinal member, at least two cross beams extending there between that define in combination a ladder like frame having a forward portion and a rearward portion that correspond with the front and rear of a vehicle. Right and left side rocker members are supported in a spaced relationship with respect to the right and left side primary longitudinal members. A 'C' node is disposed between adjacent primary members and rocker members. Right side and left side rear beams have a forward end and an opposed rearward end, an upper surface and an opposed lower surface, and an inwardly facing surface and an opposed outwardly facing surface. Each of the right and left side rear beams are in mechanical communication with its respective right and left side primary longitudinal member and disposed respectively between the right and left side rocker members and the ladder like frame, extending aft of, and in an cantilevered fashion from, the 'C' node.

Growing community of inventors

Aliso Viejo, CA, United States of America

Jonathan Vallis