Vehicle body interchangeability
AssigneeGeneral Motors Corporation
InventorsAdrian B. Chernoff, Christopher E. Borroni-Bird, Mohsen D. Shabana, Robert Louis Vitale, Tucker J. Johnson
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A method is provided for providing vehicle reconfigurability. The method includes maintaining an inventory containing vehicle body pods each having a substantially identical interface at which each of the body pods is connectable to a chassis such that the body pods are interchangeable on the chassis. The body pods include at least one body pod characterized by a first body pod style and at least one body pod characterized by a second body pod style. The method also includes granting possession to a customer of a vehicle body pod from the inventory independent of a chassis.
Claims20
A method for providing vehicle reconfigurability, the method comprising:
- maintaining an inventory containing vehicle body pods each having a substantially identical interface at which each of the body pods is connectable to a chassis such that the body pods are interchangeable on the chassis, said body pods including at least one body pod characterized by a first body pod style and at least one body pod characterized by a second body pod style;
- and
- granting possession to a customer of a vehicle body pod from the inventory independent of a chassis.
A method of conducting a vehicle business transaction with a customer already in possession of a chassis, comprising:
- maintaining an inventory having a plurality of vehicle body pods of varying styles based upon aesthetics or functionality, each of said body pods being unattached to the chassis and having an interface sufficiently configured to enable the selective attachment of each of the body pods the chassis;
- offering to grant possession of any of said plurality of vehicle body pods in the inventory to the customer already in possession of the chassis;
- and
- granting possession to the customer of a body pod selected by the customer from the inventory.
A method comprising:
- maintaining an inventory having a plurality of vehicle body pods of varying styles based upon aesthetics or functionality, each of said body pods having an interface sufficiently configured to enable the selective attachment of each of the body pods to a common chassis;
- offering a club membership to a customer wherein dues are paid for selective access to the vehicle body pod inventory;
- and
- granting possession of a body pod selected by the customer from the inventory independent of a vehicle chassis.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.