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:
Oct. 28, 2008
Filed:
Sep. 26, 2006
Michael Azzouz, Livonia, MI (US);
Musa Azzouz, Northville, MI (US);
Tim Mouch, Troy, MI (US);
Ridha Baccouche, Ann Arbor, MI (US);
Michael Azzouz, Livonia, MI (US);
Musa Azzouz, Northville, MI (US);
Tim Mouch, Troy, MI (US);
Ridha Baccouche, Ann Arbor, MI (US);
Ford Global Technologies, LLC, Dearborn, MI (US);
Abstract
A structural joint is formed between the upper frame rail, which bends downwardly to define a generally vertically extending portion, and a generally fore-and-aft extending lower frame rail that can be tuned to manage the flow of crash energy during an impact situation. The upper frame rail is formed as a conventional four-sided tube, but is reformed at the intersection with the lower frame rail into a multiple-sided configuration that defines a mating surface for connection to the lower frame rail. The size of the mating surface has a fore-and-aft width dimension of between 20 and 40 millimeters and can be tuned to selectively control the management of crash forces encountered during an impact. The welded connection between the upper and lower frame rails forming this structural joint provides adequate stiffness and rigidity for the function of an automotive frame, yet presents a reduced shear strength in the fore-and-aft direction.