Ford Global Technolgoies, LLC

Neal David Lipman

Dragan B Stojkovic

Ken Garbinski

Paul Lee Luskin

Ken Maltby

Gregory Francis Kuhn

David John Brzenchek

An automotive body structure member is formed through a hydroforming manufacturing process that incorporates an angularly oriented mounting face for the attachment of a pre-assembled modular component. The mounting face can be formed to recess into the surrounding structure of the structure member or to project outwardly therefrom. The mounting face is oriented obliquely to both the horizontal and vertical faces of the structure member to permit the insertion of fasteners into the mounting face at an angle that facilitates the mounting of the pre-assembled component. The assembly of the component to the structure member can be accomplished by a tool without interference with the component.

Hydroformed attachment face for modular component

A vehicle tailgate limiter system for a vehicle includes a cargo bed, a tailgate pivotally attached to the cargo bed operable between a closed vertical position and a deployed horizontal position, a fixed pin having a head portion and a base portion, and a slotted bracket having a middle portion and end portions adapted to receive the pin when the tailgate is in the deployed position.

Vehicle tailgate limiter system

Growing community of inventors

Virginia Beach, VA, United States of America

Neal David Lipman