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US 4,358,883 AGranted
Vehicle top structure and method of assembly
AssigneeGer-Win Vans, Inc.
InventorHarold E. Gerring
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A rigid vehicle top of unitary construction and method of making the same is provided. The rigidity of the roof and headliner portions allows for the complete off-line assembly of lighting systems, switches, clocks, environmental control apparatus and decorations. Additionally, a method of converting an existing passenger vehicle is provided.
Claims12
A method of converting a passenger compartment of a motor vehicle of the type bound by body side walls and a roof structure attached to the top of said side walls, comprising:
- cutting through the side walls at a position below the roof structure and removing the roof structure and upper portion of the side walls as a unit from the vehicle passenger compartment,
- forming a vehicle roof,
- forming a relatively rigid self-supporting headliner separate from the vehicle roof, including means for accommodating vehicle lighting fixtures and the like,
- attaching said self-supporting headliner to the top of the cut side walls of the vehicle,
- attaching said vehicle roof on top of said headliner and to the top of the cut side walls of the vehicle to form a vehicle body top structure,
- whereby assembly workers are allowed great freedom of movement and ease of access in assembling said headliner and said vehicle roof.
3 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.