Abstract: A preform having edges overlapped and jointed, two outer members for forming outer surfaces of a hydroformed product, and reinforcement members for forming reinforcement ribs that divide a hollow cross section of the hydroformed product, including a joint formed by, when more than three sheet materials for forming the outer members and the reinforcement members are overlapped together, welding a first sheet material on a surface of the overlapped sheet materials to a second sheet material positioned inside the first sheet material, and a space disposed and aligned with a joint plane between the second sheet material and a third sheet material located inside the second sheet material during the welding process.

Abstract: A preform having edges overlapped and jointed, two outer members for forming outer surfaces of a hydroformed product, and reinforcement members for forming reinforcement ribs that divide a hollow cross section of the hydroformed product, including a joint formed by, when more than three sheet materials for forming the outer members and the reinforcement members are overlapped together, welding a first sheet material on a surface of the overlapped sheet materials to a second sheet material positioned inside the first sheet material, and a space disposed and aligned with a joint plane between the second sheet material and a third sheet material located inside the second sheet material during the welding process.

Abstract: A preform having edges overlapped and jointed, two outer members for forming outer surfaces of a hydroformed product, and reinforcement members for forming reinforcement ribs that divide a hollow cross section of the hydroformed product, including a joint formed by, when more than three sheet materials for forming the outer members and the reinforcement members are overlapped together, welding a first sheet material on a surface of the overlapped sheet materials to a second sheet material positioned inside the first sheet material, and a space disposed and aligned with a joint plane between the second sheet material and a third sheet material located inside the second sheet material during the welding process.

Abstract: A preform with edges overlapped and jointed each other and first and second outer members for forming outer surfaces of a hydroformed product, and reinforcement members that are jointed to the first and second outer members to form reinforcement ribs that divide a hollow cross section of the outer surfaces, the reinforcement members having dimensions capable of suppressing elongation in a tensile direction due to a tensile force that develops during hydroforming.

Abstract: A combination of first and second connectors fittable with and detachable from each other is disclosed. The first connector comprises a first body, a guided portion and a stopper-releaser. The guided portion is held by the first body and is movable between a detachment position and a fit position via a preliminary-fit position when the first connector is fitted with or detached from the second connector. The fit position and the preliminary-fit position are within the second connector. The stopper-releaser accompanies the guided portion. The second connector comprises a second body, a lever and a lever stopper. The lever is provided with a guiding portion and is supported by the second body so that the lever is rotatable between first and second positions. The lever allows the guided portion to move between the detachment position and the preliminary-fit position when the lever is positioned at the first position.

Abstract: In a connector including a housing to be fitted to a mating connector and a lever rotatable to the housing between a first and a second position, a main body of the lever has a generally flat shape and provided with a recess recessed from a principal surface of the main body in a thickness direction to have a bottom portion. A spring portion extends from the main body in the recess to have a free end and being elastically deformable in the thickness direction. A locking portion is formed to the spring portion at a first portion away from the free end and adapted to be locked with the housing when the lever is at the second position. The spring portion faces the bottom of the recess with a distance greater at a second portion between the free end and the first portion than that at the first portion.

Abstract: A preform with edges overlapped and jointed each other and first and second outer members for forming outer surfaces of a hydroformed product, and reinforcement members that are jointed to the first and second outer members to form reinforcement ribs that divide a hollow cross section of the outer surfaces, the reinforcement members having dimensions capable of suppressing elongation in a tensile direction due to a tensile force that develops during hydroforming.

Abstract: A combination of first and second connectors fittable with and detachable from each other is disclosed. The first connector comprises a first body, a guided portion and a stopper-releaser. The guided portion is held by the first body and is movable between a detachment position and a fit position via a preliminary-fit position when the first connector is fitted with or detached from the second connector. The fit position and the preliminary-fit position are within the second connector. The stopper-releaser accompanies the guided portion. The second connector comprises a second body, a lever and a lever stopper. The lever is provided with a guiding portion and is supported by the second body so that the lever is rotatable between first and second positions. The lever allows the guided portion to move between the detachment position and the preliminary-fit position when the lever is positioned at the first position.

Abstract: The lever comprises a main plate portion, a supporter portion, and an arm. The main plate portion is laid in parallel with a predetermined plane. The supporter portion extends from the main plate portion. The arm is supported by the supporting portion and is bendable in a predetermined direction. The predetermined direction is not equal to a direction perpendicular to the predetermined plane. The arm is provided with a first engagement portion. The housing comprises an accommodation portion and a second engagement portion. The second engagement portion is formed in the accommodation portion. The housing accommodates and rotatably supports the main plate portion in the accommodation portion so that the lever is provided with rotary movement between a first position and a second position. The lever connector is connected to the mating connector and the first engagement portion is engaged with the second engagement portion upon rotation of the lever from the first position to the second position.

Abstract: A preform with edges overlapped and jointed each other and first and second outer members for forming outer surfaces of a hydroformed product, and reinforcement members that are jointed to the first and second outer members to form reinforcement ribs that divide a hollow cross section of the outer surfaces, the reinforcement members having dimensions capable of suppressing elongation in a tensile direction due to a tensile force that develops during hydroforming.

Abstract: In a connector including a housing to be fitted to a mating connector and a lever rotatable to the housing between a first and a second position, a main body of the lever has a generally flat shape and provided with a recess recessed from a principal surface of the main body in a thickness direction to have a bottom portion. A spring portion extends from the main body in the recess to have a free end and being elastically deformable in the thickness direction. A locking portion is formed to the spring portion at a first portion away from the free end and adapted to be locked with the housing when the lever is at the second position. The spring portion faces the bottom of the recess with a distance greater at a second portion between the free end and the first portion than that at the first portion.

Abstract: The lever comprises a main plate portion, a supporter portion, and an arm. The main plate portion is laid in parallel with a predetermined plane. The supporter portion extends from the main plate portion. The arm is supported by the supporting portion and is bendable in a predetermined direction. The predetermined direction is not equal to a direction perpendicular to the predetermined plane. The arm is provided with a first engagement portion. The housing comprises an accommodation portion and a second engagement portion. The second engagement portion is formed in the accommodation portion. The housing accommodates and rotatably supports the main plate portion in the accommodation portion so that the lever is provided with rotary movement between a first position and a second position. The lever connector is connected to the mating connector and the first engagement portion is engaged with the second engagement portion upon rotation of the lever from the first position to the second position.

Abstract: A preform including first and second outer members having peripheral borders overlapped and jointed for forming outer surfaces of a hollow section of a hydroformed product, and a reinforcement member disposed between the first and second outer members for forming a partition wall that substantially divides the hollow section. The outer members have sidewalls inclined relative to an overlapping surface of the first and second outer members, and summit parts surrounded by the sidewalls. The reinforcement member has one and the other ends jointed to areas which are to form the summit parts of the first and second outer members, and lateral edges which face peripheral areas of the first and second outer members which are to form the sidewalls.

Abstract: A preform having edges overlapped and jointed, two outer members for forming outer surfaces of a hydroformed product, and reinforcement members for forming reinforcement ribs that divide a hollow cross section of the hydroformed product, including a joint formed by, when more than three sheet materials for forming the outer members and the reinforcement members are overlapped together, welding a first sheet material on a surface of the overlapped sheet materials to a second sheet material positioned inside the first sheet material, and a space disposed and aligned with a joint plane between the second sheet material and a third sheet material located inside the second sheet material during the welding process.

Abstract: A preform with edges overlapped and jointed each other and first and second outer members for forming outer surfaces of a hydroformed product, and reinforcement members that are jointed to the first and second outer members to form reinforcement ribs that divide a hollow cross section of the outer surfaces, the reinforcement members having dimensions capable of suppressing elongation in a tensile direction due to a tensile force that develops during hydroforming.

Abstract: A connector includes an insulator having contact receiving portions and a retainer receiving portion that communicate with each other. The connector further includes conductive contacts inserted into the contact receiving portions from a first direction, respectively. The connector further includes a retainer inserted into the retainer receiving portion from the first direction for preventing the contacts from coming off in a direction opposite to the first direction. The retainer includes a body portion and a pair of elastic pieces each elastically deformable and joined to the body portion. The body portion has a pair of excessive deformation preventing portions each for preventing excessive deformation of the corresponding elastic piece toward the body portion.

Abstract: A connector includes an insulator having contact receiving portions and a retainer receiving portion that communicate with each other. The connector further includes conductive contacts inserted into the contact receiving portions from a first direction, respectively. The connector further includes a retainer inserted into the retainer receiving portion from the first direction for preventing the contacts from coming off in a direction opposite to the first direction. The retainer includes a body portion and a pair of elastic pieces each elastically deformable and joined to the body portion. The body portion has a pair of excessive deformation preventing portions each for preventing excessive deformation of the corresponding elastic piece toward the body portion.