The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Nov. 18, 1997
Filed:
Jan. 11, 1996
Johann Tomforde, Sindelfingen, DE;
Werner Nowak, Sindelfingen, DE;
Jens Manske, Weil der Stadt, DE;
Walter Berlinger, Sindelfingen, DE;
Micro Compact Car GmbH, , DE;
Abstract
The invention relates to a body for a motor car, especially a small car, in which the load-bearing structure of the body is formed by what is referred to as a 'space-frame' structure. In the floor region and in the side region behind the doors, surface elements are integrated in a sealing and permanent manner into the framework structure and are in part closed off by window panes inserted in a sealing manner or by a roof inserted in a sealing manner. At the front, the body is closed off by a nose module which can be bolted on in a sealing manner, can be preassembled ready for operation and can be closed off laterally and at the rear by a side door fitted in a sealing manner and a tailgate, respectively. The outward-facing flat sides of the sections of the framework structure which lie above the beltline are exposed and in this region the bars are in each case shaped to match the desired surface profile of the body and--apart from a paint finish--directly form the body exterior surface area. Below the beltline, the framework structure is covered with panelling components which are connected removably to the framework structure, do not have a load-bearing function and, together with the lower portions of the doors and of the tailgate and with the nose module, determine the shape of the body in this lower region. The vehicle produced in this way is not only very easy to repair overall as minor damage to simple manner alternatives to the body but it is for dimensional be produced and made regards relatively also possible in a and formal body available.