Abstract: A self-supporting motor-vehicle body includes outer lateral side members (sills) on a substructure in the region of the passenger cell, and front and rear side members which are angularly offset relative to a longitudinal center axis of the vehicle and respectively located at a vehicle forward structure and at a vehicle rearward structure. The front and rear side members adjoin the lateral side members via a bent portion. In order to provide stiffening of the body, struts are secured to the substructure of the body so as each to be fastened at one end to a lateral side member, and directed towards a middle region of the vehicle with their other end fastened once again to the substructure of the body. A front strut is guided from each of the two lateral side members into the vehicle forward structure and/or a rear strut is guided from each of the two lateral side members into the vehicle rearward structure, with each strut preferably being aligned at an angle of approximately 45.degree.

Abstract: An automobile rear body structure includes a roof panel, for forming an upper surface of a roof portion of a vehicle body, which is provided with an integrally formed downwardly extending portion to form an outer surface of a rear pillar at a rear side portion thereof. The rear body structure also includes a rear fender panel joined to a lower end of the downwardly extending portion for forming an outer surface of a rear side wall, a quarter panel located inside the rear fender panel, and a reinforcement member for connecting the rear fender panel and the quarter panel at a location near a lower end of the rear pillar. The reinforcement member may be formed by bending the rear fender panel inwardly from a joint between the rear fender panel and the downwardly extending portion of the roof panel. Alternatively, the reinforcement member may be formed of a separate reinforcement element.

Abstract: A vehicle rear body structure having a side sill structure of closed cross section extending substantially along the opposite sides of the floor panel and a transversely extending cross structure of closed cross section. The cross structure is connected with the floor panel and the side sill structure. The cross structure has a portion higher than the side sill structure and connected with the rear side panel of the vehicle body.

Abstract: A front structure for a vehicle body including a front frame which extends in the longitudinal direction of the side of the engine room of the vehicle. The front frame is formed of an outer frame and an inner frame connected together to form a closed cross section. A dashboard lower panel is disposed near the rear edge of the front side frame and extends vertically. A front floor extends rearward from the lower edge of the dashboard lower panel. A side sill extends in the longitudinal direction along the side of the front floor and is formed of an outer frame and an inner frame connected together to form a closed cross section. The side sill has a projection on its inward side at front end thereof which is connected to the rear portion of the front side frame.

Abstract: A body structure of an automotive vehicle comprises a rear quarter panel outer, a rear skirt, and a patch. The patch joins the rear part of the rear quarter panel outer and a side part of the rear skirt. A sidewise extension planar portion is laterally extended from a side edge of the patch. A side end portion of the sidewise extension planar part is fixedly joined to the upper edge part of a recessed part of the rear quarter panel outer, in which a rear combination lamp is mounted. The sidewise extension planar portion and the upper part of the rear quarter panel outer form a closed sectional portion, which functions to improve the transmission of stress arising from a twisting of the vehicle body, thereby imparting rigidity to the rear end of the rear quarter panel outer.

Abstract: A rear body structure of an automotive vehicle includes a roof side rail disposed at an upper end of the body structure and extends longitudinally in a vehicle body. A belt line reinforcement is located downward of and extending substantially parallel with the roof side rail. A center pillar structure extends in up and down directions and is attached to the roof side rail at an upper end and to the belt line reinforcement intermediate of the upper end and a lower end of the center pillar structure. A rear pillar structure extending in the up and down directions is located rearward of the center pillar structure and attached to the roof side rail at an upper end and to the belt line reinforcement intermediate of the upper end and to a lower end of the rear pillar structure.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a center pillar designed for a vehicle. According to the invention, an anchor rail, supporting a seat belt anchor in a vertically movable manner, is fixedly provided on a center pillar of a vehicle. A reinforcing frame, containing the anchor rail therein, is fixedly mounted on an inner panel of the center pillar to which the anchor rail is attached. The reinforcing frame has a window facing the anchor rail. In another embodiment, the anchor rail is attached to a rail bracket. The rail bracket is fixedly mounted within the inner panel of the center pillar. A window in the interior side surface of the inner panel faces the anchor rail. In this embodiment, the center pillar is reinforced by the rail bracket.

Abstract: A front body construction of a car body has a wheel apron used as part of a side wall of an engine compartment. A wheel apron is connected with a suspension tower for supporting a front wheel suspension therein and to a boxed U-channel front side frame extending in a lengthwise direction from a front end to a rear end of the engine compartment. A pair of gussets is provided as reinforcing members to interconnect the suspension tower and the front side frame. The lower portion of each gusset is disposed within the boxed U-channel front side frame and BonnectedDtoOinnerRwallsSoffth boxee Uchhnnnl Broot Bidd foamm s at t ppevvnttthh swsppnssonntoerrfrm Beiig ubkecced to loads causing an inward leaning.

Abstract: A front structure for a modular vehicle body includes a dash lower panel, cowl box and a front pillar. The dash lower panel has at the upper end thereof a first horizontal flange formed with a first recess. The front pillar has at the front side waist portion thereof second and third flanges. The second flange is formed with second and fourth recesses at the front and rear end portion thereof. The third flange is formed with a third recess at a lateral end thereof. A first patch plate extends between the first and second flanges and is disposed in the first and second recesses while a second patch plate extends between the second and third flanges and is disposed in the fourth and third recesses such that the first and second patch plates cooperate with the first, second and third flanges to form a smoothly continuous joining surface with which a side portion of the cowl box is joined by interposing therebetween sealant adhesive.

Abstract: A pillar structure for automobile bodies including an outer panel having a front and rear connecting flanges, an inner panel having a front and rear connecting flanges which are respectively welded to the front and rear connecting flanges of the outer panel to form a structure of closed cross-section, an anchor nut plate having an anchor nut for installing an end of a safety belt and disposed in a space between the outer and inner panels. The outer panel is formed at a front portion with a stepped portion which is adapted to be covered by a side door of the automobile body.

Abstract: A fifth wheel bracket mounting arrangement for fastening the bracket to the frame of a tractor having a frame including spaced channels. The mounting arrangement includes a mounting plate having one edge clamped to the horizontal flange of the channel member adjacent the free edge of the flange and secured to an angle member on the opposing side of the channel.

Abstract: A railroad car for transporting vehicles comprising a car underframe having side sills and supported at each end by a railroad truck; a plurality of spaced apart vertical columns having lower ends rigidly connected to each of the side sills; a first deck supported by the car underframe; a second deck horizontally located above the first deck and rigidly connected to the columns; a brace bay between two adjoining first and second columns near each end of each side of the car; the brace bay having a horizontal member with opposing ends extending between the adjoining columns at the location of the second deck; the brace bay having a first diagonal brace having upper and lower ends extending from the first column downwardly to the second column and a second diagonal brace having upper and lower ends extending from the second column downwardly to the first column, with the upper ends of the two braces being located about at the horizontal member and the lower ends of the two braces being located about at the firs

Abstract: A method of converting a sedan hardtop automobile body to a convertible includes severing the hardtop roof panel of the automobile body by forming cuts along the front of the continuous roof panel at the windshield and along the bottom of the rear roof pillars. A pair of structural reinforcement beams are positioned on the bottom of the vehicle connecting the vehicle's engine cradle and the rear transverse support which normally carries the two independent wheels suspension systems. A truss develop loads from the longitudinal beams to the surface of the wheel well lining and to the front shock towers. Transverse structural reinforcement is provided to the vehicle unibody at a position between the engine cradle and the rear transverse member and on the upper surface of the automobile floor pan. The transverse structural member fastens through the floor pan of the vehicle to the longitudinal reinforcements under the vehicle. The continuous roof panel is replaced with a fabric-like folding top.

Abstract: A side member support is provided for the front part of a self-supporting motor vehicle bodywork of the type having a floor panel comprising a tunnel. On each side of the front part of the vehicle, front side members which are formed from side member panels and have a box-type section and which are each divided in the region of the dashboard or the front part of the floor panel into two bifurcate side member arms. In conjunction with the floor panel the arms form box-type sections, and the side member arm towards the inside of the vehicle adjoins the vehicle tunnel and the side member arm towards the outside of the vehicle adjoins the sill. The front side members are formed from two side member panels integrally with the bifurcate side member arms, and the two side member arms are joined in the lower region of their forking by means of a strongly profiled reinforcement panel.

Abstract: A rear body structure for a motor vehicle having a rear side frame which extends in a longitudinal direction of a vehicle body on each side at its rear portion and is provided with a thin portion which is so formed as to be thin in thickness in a vertical direction, as compared with other portions that are in front of and at the back of the thin portion, and a protruding portion which protrudes sideways and makes a detour around the thin portion, said thin portion disposed directly between and in contact with a floor panel and the protruding portion, with a spring having a sufficient length for rear suspension being disposed under the thin portion of the rear side frame.

Abstract: An impact beam assembly for a side door of a vehicle comprising a metal beam having a hat shaped, double hat shaped or I-shaped cross-section and a stabilizing strap is disclosed. The metal beam has a pair of vertically extending flanges and the stabilizing strap extends along a midportion of the beam and has its upper and lower sides crimped over the back side of the flanges of the beam.

Abstract: An automobile rear upper body structure including a roof panel formed with a longitudinally extending recessed groove along each side edge portion, a rear header extends along the rear edge of the roof panel and connected thereto. The rear header is also connected with a rear pillar inner panel. There is provided a corner reinforcement having one side edge connected with the rear pillar inner panel and the other side edge connected with the rear header. The corner reinforcement is of a convex configuration with the crest portion welded to the recessed groove of the roof panel.

Abstract: A roof structure for an automotive vehicle with a reinforcement for a roof panel is especially applicable for the vehicle having a sun-roof. Longitudinal reinforcement for the roof panel is provided by one or more pressed reinforcement ribs formed in the roof panel and extending parallel to the longitudinal axis of the vehicle. Each reinforcement rib has a front end located near the rear lateral edge of the sun-roof. A stiffener extends perpendicular to the axis of the reinforcement ribs and lies across the front ends of the reinforcement ribs for reinforcing the front ends at which bending stresses tend to concentrate.

Abstract: A vehicle body structure which increases the rigidity of a side door supporting mechanism which is defined by a vertical supporting pillar and a horizontal rocker panel. The structure has a reinforcement member which is sandwiched between a lower portion of an outer pillar panel and an outer rocker panel, and is fixed to the outer pillar and rocker panels by welding methods, resulting in the increased rigidity of the entire side door supporting mechanism.

Abstract: An automobile seat belt anchor attachment structure for attaching a seat belt anchor to a pillar structure, the attachment structure including inner and outer pillar panels which are welded together to form a closed cross-section. The attachment structure further including a stiffening panel secured to the pillar structure and a nut carrying plate secured to the stiffening panel with an anchor attaching nut provided thereon. The nut plate has high strength against forces both perpendicular and parallel to the base of the nut plate. An impact load applied to the anchor attachment, is prevented from deforming the nut plate.

Abstract: In a construction of a car structure wherein a plurality of strength members each formed with an outdoor-side flange and an indoor-side flange are connected together and an outer plate member is connected to the outdoor-side flanges of the strength members, a joint member is provided which joint member includes outdoor-side and indoor-side flanges of the strength members and a web continuously connecting the flanges together three-dimensionally. The use of the joint member for connecting the strength members together facilitates production of the car structure and increases strength thereof.

Abstract: A vehicle body of the convertible or targa type and the method of converting such a body from a sedan type vehicle body in which a reinforcing structure is disposed within the passenger compartment and is fastened thereto to form a centrally extending structural channel member extending longitudinally within the passenger compartment and having forward and rearward transverse portions fastened to the forward and rearward suspension supports of the body to transmit torsional and beaming loads imposed on the vehicle body by the ground engaging wheels.

Abstract: A passenger car is provided with a body wall which preferably limits the engine space and consists of a frame system comprising an upper transverse member and a lower transverse member, the frame system being attached to fender walls and longitudinal supports. To attach unit mounts to the body end wall and satisfactorily absorb and transmit loads to the fender walls or the longitudinal supports, the frame system comprises an upper transverse member, a lower transverse member, and flanged vertical metal plates joined to a transverse wall at a distance from the median longitudinal plane of the vehicle, and the lower transverse member is connected by reinforcing elements to the higher level longitudinal supports of the fender walls.

Abstract: A cargo container having an improved connection between the top and side walls comprising at least one grooved metal sheet connected to and extending from each said side wall and curving to extend at least partially across the top of the container, said grooved sheet extending transverse of the longitudinal axis of the container; each sheet having a raised lip seam longitudinally and continuously formed with the length of the sheet; and a curved metal edge strip extending longitudinally of the container; said edge strip being secured to the top surface of the grooved sheet to provide a box section with the trough part of the grooved sheet to thereby strengthen the groove sheet both longitudinally with the length of the container and transverse to the width thereof. This application is a continuation in part application Ser. No. 570,949 filed Apr. 22, 1975, now abandoned.