Ford Global Technolgoies, LLC

William George Heckman

Vince Anthony Chimento

Darrin Neil Wagner

Jeffrey Gray

Sone Sadakhom

Joshua Walters

Derek Matthew Poston

A vehicle support structure according to an exemplary aspect of the present disclosure includes, among other things, a cross-member of a vehicle support structure. The cross-member extends longitudinally along a cross-member axis. The frame assembly further includes a rail of the vehicle support structure. The rail extends longitudinally along a rail axis that is transverse to the cross-member axis. The rail extends into a pocket of the cross-member such that a portion of the rail is nested within the cross-member.

Vehicle support structure assembly and assembling method

A disclosed tailgate hinge clip is mountable within a gap between a tailgate and a cargo bed and provides a surface for engaging a seal. The disclosed tailgate hinge clip includes a main body portion including a seal surface and a clip portion extending from the main body portion.

Tailgate hinge clip

A bracket has an elongate portion of a predetermined length. The elongate portion terminates in a clamp end that includes a downward sloping portion connected to a curved contact portion. The curved contact portion is configured to contact a tunable bead of a sheet metal portion of a vehicle body structure such as a pillar. The sheet metal portion comprises a generally planar mating surface, an opening in the depression, and a bead rising from the mating surface, wherein the height of the bead is configured for a top surface of the bead to contact a bottom portion of a clamp when the clamp is in a secured position.

Growing community of inventors

Farmington Hills, MI, United States of America

William George Heckman