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:
May. 08, 2012
Filed:
Feb. 23, 2007
Applicant:
James W. Lowe, Temperance, MI (US);
Inventor:
James W. Lowe, Temperance, MI (US);
Assignee:
Ford Motor Company, Dearborn, MI (US);
Attorneys:
Primary Examiner:
Assistant Examiner:
Int. Cl.
CPC ...
B21D 53/88 (2006.01);
U.S. Cl.
CPC ...
Abstract
A method is provided for assembling a vehicle frame from hydro-formed tubular metal components. Each hydro-formed component has a surface feature that is complementary to a surface feature on an adjacent component. The complementary surface features allow the hydro-formed components to be interlocked together. The components are permanently joined by a plurality of welds. A front hoop, a rear hoop and right and left side hoops may be assembled and joined together to form the passenger compartment portion of the vehicle frame.