Abstract: A filler panel for inserting within a vehicle body section that has a plurality of slats positioned substantially parallel with respect to one another, and each slat has a slat connector mechanism. The apparatus further has a molded encasing exhibiting a shape suitable for insertion into the vehicle body section, and the molded encasing contains each of the plurality of slats secured substantially parallel with respect to one another within the molded encasing such that each connector mechanism associated with each of the plurality of slats protrudes from the encasing such that each connector mechanism is positioned to be affixed to the vehicle body section.

Abstract: A structural member for a motor vehicle, that is selectively positioned inside of a tubular frame rail that operatively deforms to absorb and dissipate energy in the event of a collision. The structural member having a tubular body with strengthening ribs located inside of the tubular body.

Abstract: A vehicular body panel or component part having a reinforcing backing plate reconciled to a part of a blank material at a position wherein a bending formation is implemented. The backing plate has one or more apertures formed in at least one lateral raw at a location equivalent to the position of the bending formation. When forming the blank material and the backing plate concurrently by a bending operation, the backing plate becomes intimately associated with the blank sheet to avoid the backing plate from locally separating from the blank material and from forming a gap relative thereto, with a resultant improved product quality.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a road or rail vehicle comprised of a lightweight perimeter frame with panel-like elements, which define a floor, a roof, side walls, and front and rear end elements. In this design the panels are made from high-strength materials wherein the panels are the primary structural elements and the perimeter frame is used primarily as a means of attaching the panels. However, the perimeter chassis is reinforced with heavier sections in certain areas to distribute concentrated forces and impact loads into the structural panels from the vehicle suspension, powertrain, doors, seating, and major access panels or hatches. The body/chassis structure is configured with front and rear chassis subcomponents to which all suspension, steering, engine, and powertrain elements are mounted, in a manner to allow the entire sub-assemblies at the front and rear of the vehicle to be easily installed and removed from the chassis structure.

Abstract: A fastening device is provided for a component which is installed in a depression in an automotive body part, insertable into the depression from the outside via an inclined assembly position, and lockable in an operating position in the depression by a pivoting movement. In the operating position, a mounting part integrally molded on a first edge area of the component is in operative connection with a first side wall section of the depression, and, on an opposite second edge area of the component, an elastic catch part is provided, cooperating with a second side wall section of the depression. The depression also has two wall sections arranged with distance between them. To create the fastening device, with which the design is simplified and which also ensures rapid and simple installation and removal, a device is inserted between the depression and the adjacent component in the area of the two wall sections.

Abstract: A sealer tape and clip assembly in accordance with the present invention is adapted to be disposed in a recess, defined by at least one interior surface. The assembly includes a sealer tape member having an upper surface, a lower surface, and opposed side surfaces. An aperture extends through the upper surface and the lower surface, and is disposed between but does not extend through the opposed side surfaces. A clip body includes an upper portion, a lower portion, and an intermediate portion extending therebetween. The intermediate portion of the clip body is disposed in the aperture, the upper portion of the clip body engages the upper surface of the sealer tape member, and the lower portion of the clip body engages the lower surface of the sealer tape member. The sealer tape member sealingly bonds with the interior surface of the recess to secure the assembly in the recess.

Abstract: A car body part for a motor vehicle has an outer skin formed of an at least partially deformable material. An inner layer is formed of a foamed plastic. A mounting part which is placed in a recess of the outer skin and is anchored via an interlocking fit between the outer skin and a deformed portion of the mounting part. The interlocking fit may be created when the foamed plastic is expanded in a mold, which increases interior pressure within the mold and deforms the outer skin against the mounting part.

Abstract: A motor vehicle shell is at least partially movable. For movement of the sheel, at least one actuator is provided. The actuator contains a material that is polymeric and/or ion-exchanging and/or exhibits varying confirmations, and is movable by of way physical or chemical effects.

Abstract: A structural frame for a vehicle chassis includes transversely-oriented unitary structural members interconnecting at least three longitudinally-oriented elongated members. The use of unitary structural members and elongated members provides flexibility in assembling structural frames of differing configurations. Correspondingly, a method of assembling structural frames having transversely-oriented unitary structural members interconnecting at least three longitudinally-oriented elongated members is provided.

Abstract: A fastening device for a belt roller in a motor vehicle is inserted in a cutout of a vehicle body part and is connected on an edge side with the vehicle body part. In order to create a fastening device for a belt roller which permits improved fastening, the cutout can be constructed in the vehicle body part such that the cutout is closed in a surrounding manner.

Abstract: A cowl structure for a vehicle, which includes: a box-section cross member under a windshield of the vehicle; an extension member extending frontward from a base wall of the cross member; and a wiper bracket attached to a front wall of the cross member and the extension member. Either the base wall of the cross member or the extension member is provided with a rigidity changing part.

Abstract: A method and motor vehicle door attachment system that automatically disengages the hinges on the doors on a motor vehicle, in order to provide immediate access to occupants by medical and rescue personnel, that also provides extra room for rescue efforts by the medical personnel. System includes electronic sensor that unlocks an intermediate member onto which the hinges on a door are attached. During an accident the intermediate members are unlocked from the motor vehicle and thereby allow the doors along with the hinges to be removed from the vehicle. A system that enables immediate and secure removal of the doors along with the hinges from a motor vehicle is presented as what is new in the art.

Abstract: A body panel includes a hood portion configured to extend over and across a vehicle front compartment, and two fender portions. A unitary, one-piece inner panel and a unitary, one-piece outer panel cooperate to define the hood portion and the two fender portions. The inner panel and the outer panel comprise a substantial portion of a vehicle body front end, replacing the multitude of inner panels, outer panels, and reinforcements in a prior art vehicle body. The body panel preferably functions as a load-bearing vehicle frame portion, reducing or eliminating prior art vehicle frame components. A method of manufacturing the body panel includes forming an inner panel and an outer panel using superplastic forming, quick plastic forming, or sheet hydroforming, and connecting the inner panel and the outer panel.

Abstract: A bending and torsionally stiff Y-rear brace for a body structure includes a rear cross support, running across the longitudinal direction of the body structure, a support running along the longitudinal direction of the body structure, a connector bracket and two compression and tension brace between the connector bracket and the sill ends. Each brace is supported approximately in the middle thereof on the chassis. A suitable static and dynamic bending and torsional rigidity for vehicles without supporting boot floors is provided.

Abstract: A cover for a foldable convertible top has a highly stretchable outer foil having an inner face, and a foam-plastic core layer bonded over the entire bonding-foil inner face and itself having an inner face. The outer foil can be a one-piece slush-molded foil or it can be highly stretchable and a thin thermoplastic bonding foil can be provided between the outer foil and the core layer.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a lightweight part, particularly a vehicle body part, which includes sheet steel and light metal.

Abstract: An insert element (8) for sealing cavities (6, 7) in vehicle body carriers (4) has sealing means constituted by a foamable material (11) which is secured in the cavities (6, 7) by securing means (9). The insert element (8) comprises a foamable material (11) and a support structure (10) which comprises a frame (13) and an inner part (14) for carrying the foamable material (11). The frame (13) has at least two lateral and not immediately oppositely arranged support faces (12), and carries securing means (9). With this arrangement, the foamable material can completely engulf the securing means (9) with foam during the foaming process and can flow into apertures of an intermediate metal sheet (5) foreseen for receiving the securing means (9). This ensures that these apertures are impermeably sealed against air and noise during the foaming process.

Abstract: A box structure for holding bulk material, and an associated method of manufacture, including a bottom member having an inside surface and an outside surface, wherein the bottom member is formed from a substantially-rigid material. The box structure also including a plurality of channel structures in direct contact with and fixedly attached to the outside surface of the bottom member, wherein each of the plurality of channel structures is formed from a substantially-rigid material, and wherein the plurality of channel structures are configured to receive an attachment mechanism for movably and/or removably attaching the box structure to a vehicle. The box structure further including a plurality of side members each having an inside surface and an outside surface, the plurality of side members collectively defining an opening, wherein each of the plurality of side members is formed from a substantially-rigid material.

Abstract: A car body part for a motor vehicle has an outer skin formed of an at least partially deformable material. An inner layer is formed of a foamed plastic. A mounting part which is placed in a recess of the outer skin and is anchored via an interlocking fit between the outer skin and a deformed portion of the mounting part. The interlocking fit may be created when the foamed plastic is expanded in a mold, which increases interior pressure within the mold and deforms the outer skin against the mounting part.

Abstract: A vehicle body reinforcement structure has a reinforcing member positioned at a predetermined height from a floor panel such that the reinforcing member may function as an armrest. The reinforcing member extends substantially at the center of a vehicle compartment in the longitudinal direction of a vehicle. This structure allows the reinforcing member to be disposed in the space of the vehicle compartment without causing an occupant to sense discomfort, and improves stiffness of the vehicle body.

Abstract: A load-bearing structure for motor vehicles has a load-bearing floor of lightweight construction merging at its front in a footwell region into an upwardly projecting end wall. The structure also has a front-end structure which forms a crumple zone, is supported in the region of the end wall, and includes lightweight structural panels running in the longitudinal and transverse directions of the vehicle. The footwell region is bounded laterally and at the top by a panel arrangement of lightweight construction which, together with the floor and the end wall, forms a supporting box for the front-end structure.

Abstract: A motor vehicle shell (60) is described, which is at least partially movable. For the movement of the shell (60), at least one actuator (68) is provided, which contains a material that is polymeric and/or ion-exchanging and/or exhibits varying confirmations, and which is movable by means of physical or chemical effects.

Abstract: The present invention provides a blow-molded vehicle part and a blow-molding process for generating a one-piece vehicle part with improved strength, aesthetic appearance and reduced weight and cost. The blow-molded vehicle part includes a front vehicle part portion and a back vehicle part portion, wherein the front vehicle part and the back vehicle part have at least an outer unreinforced layer of a thermoplastic that forms a smooth outer surface of the vehicle part and a reinforced inner layer.

Abstract: A piece of motor vehicle bodywork (4, 5, 11) having an outside face directed towards the outside of the vehicle and an inside face opposite the outside face, the piece of bodywork being constituted in that it is constituted by a skin made of a material that allows light to pass, the inside face of the skin being covered at least in part by an opaque coating.

Abstract: The invention relates to a bending and torsionally stiff Y-rear brace for a base chassis, comprising a rear cross support (1), running across the longitudinal direction of the base chassis, a support (2) running along the longitudinal direction of the base chassis, a connector bracket (3) and two compression and tension braces (4) between the connector bracket (3) and the sill ends, each supported approximately in the middle thereof, on the chassis. The above provides a suitable static and dynamic bending and torsional rigidity for vehicles without a supporting boot floor.

Abstract: An object of the present invention is to provide a lightweight strengthening member for an automobile, excellent in crush resistance in the axial direction and having high flexural strength. Further, another object thereof is to provide a strengthening member which does not generating cracks even when a high-strength steel sheet is used.