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:
Apr. 25, 2006
Filed:
Oct. 15, 2002
James C. Ridge, Kalamazoo, MI (US);
Scott V. Anderson, Paw Paw, MI (US);
S. Prasad Mangalaramanan, Kalamazoo, MI (US);
James C. Ridge, Kalamazoo, MI (US);
Scott V. Anderson, Paw Paw, MI (US);
S. Prasad Mangalaramanan, Kalamazoo, MI (US);
Dana Corporation, Toledo, OH (US);
Abstract
A lightweight vehicle frame capable of bearing significant loads is provided. The vehicle frame includes first and second rail members extending parallel to one another and at least one cross-member extending between the first and second rail members. At least one of these members includes adjacent apertures in a side wall. One of the apertures is larger in size proximate one edge of the side wall than an opposite edge of the side wall. The other aperture is complementary in shape and is larger in size proximate the opposite edge of the side wall than the one edge of the side wall. The resulting structure reduces the weight of the vehicle frame, yet maintains significant load-bearing capabilities.