Reducing localized deflection in the body of a body-on-frame vehicle

A body-on-frame apparatus for a vehicle, the body-on-frame apparatus comprising:

• a vehicle frame adapted for receiving a vehicle body;
• a vehicle body mounted on the frame in a spaced relationship thereto and including a localized area that is downwardly deflectable when an operating load is applied to the localized area of the body;
• and
• a load bearing structure operatively attached to the localized area of the body for applying the operating load to the localized area;
• the localized area of the body forming a localized substantially vertical gap between the frame and the localized area of the body, when the body is mounted on the frame in a spaced relationship thereto, that closes and allows the localized area of the body to contact the vehicle frame for resisting further localized deflection of the localized area of the body when the operating load is applied to the localized area of the body;
• and
• wherein the frame includes an upper surface thereof adapted for contact by the localized area of the body, the body includes a lower surface thereof defining the localized area of the body, and
• wherein the body includes a crossmember defining the lower surface and localized area of the body.

A vehicle body apparatus adapted for attachment to a vehicle frame in a spaced relationship thereto, the vehicle body apparatus comprising:

• a vehicle body including a localized area that is substantially vertically deflectable by operating load applied to the localized area when the body is attached to the frame in a spaced relationship thereto;
• and
• a load bearing structure operatively attached to the localized area of the body for applying the operating load to the localized area;
• the localized area of the body forming a localized substantially vertical gap between the frame and the localized area of the body, when the body is mounted on the frame in a spaced relationship thereto, that closes and allows the localized area of the body to contact the frame for resisting further localized downward deflection of the localized area of the body when the operating load is applied to the localized area of the body;
• and
• wherein the load bearing structure includes a passenger seating structure, and the operating load is applied to the seating structure.

A vehicle body apparatus adapted for attachment to a vehicle frame in a spaced relationship thereto, the vehicle body apparatus comprising:

• a vehicle body including a localized area that is substantially vertically deflectable by an operating load applied to the localized area when the body is attached to the frame in a spaced relationship thereto;
• and
• a load bearing structure operatively attached to the localized area of the body for applying the operating load to the localized area;
• the localized area of the body forming a localized substantially vertical gap between the frame and the localized area of the body, when the body is mounted on the frame in a spaced relationship thereto, that closes and allows the localized area of the body to contact the frame for resisting further localized downward deflection of the localized area of the body when the operating load is applied to the localized are of the body;
• wherein the frame includes an upper surface thereof adapted for contact by the localized area of the body and the body includes a lower surface thereof defining the localized area of the body;
• and
• wherein the body includes a crossmember defining the lower surface and localized area of the body.