# US 8,998,296 B2 · Method for producing a body shell of a motor vehicle and body shell for a motor vehicle > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 8,998,296 B2 - Document ID: US8998296B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 13/514,777 - Filed: 2010-10-26 - Published: 2012-11-08 - Granted: 2015-04-07 - Earliest claimed: 2009-12-10 - Assignees: Daimler AG - Applicants: Konrad Eipper - Inventors: Konrad Eipper - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US8998296B2 ## CPC - B62D 21/09: Means for mounting load bearing surfaces - B62D 25/025: {Side sills thereof} - B62D 29/005: {preformed metal and synthetic material elements being joined together, e.g. by adhesives} - Y10T 29/49622: Vehicular structural member making - B62D: MOTOR VEHICLES; TRAILERS (steering, or guiding on a desired track, of agricultural machines or implements A01B69/00; wheels, castors, axles, increasing wheel adhesion B60B; vehicle tyres, tyre inflation or tyre changing B60C; connections between vehicles of a train or the like B60D; vehicles for use on rail and road, amphibious or convertible vehicles B60F; suspension arrangements B60G; heating, cooling, ventilating or other air treating devices B60H; windows, windscreens, non-fixed roofs, doors or similar devices, protective coverings for vehicles not in use B60J; propulsion plant arrangements, auxiliary drives, transmissions, controls, instrumentation or dashboards B60K; electric equipment or propulsion of electrically-propelled vehicles B60L; power supply for electrically-propelled vehicles B60M; passenger accommodation not otherwise provided for B60N; adaptations for load transportation or to carry special loads or objects B60P; arrangement of signalling or lighting devices, the mounting or supporting thereof or circuits therefor, for vehicles in general B60Q; vehicles, vehicle fittings or vehicle parts not otherwise provided for B60R; servicing, cleaning, repairing, supporting, lifting, or manoeuvring, not otherwise provided for, B60S; brake arrangements, brake control systems or parts thereof B60T; air-cushion vehicles B60V; motor-cycles, accessories therefor B62J, B62K; testing of vehicles G01M) - Y10T: TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER US CLASSIFICATION ## Abstract A method for producing a body-in-white of a passenger car is provided. A support structure assigned to the body-in-white of the motor vehicle and which includes at least one support part is produced. The support part of the support structure is, depending on a variant of the motor vehicle, at least in some regions provided with at least one reinforcing part. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A method comprising: producing a support structure that is assigned to a body-in-white that is configured for a plurality of variants of a motor vehicle, wherein the support structure comprises at least one support part; identifying a particular variant of the plurality of variants of the motor vehicle; and selectively providing at least in some regions of the support part of the support structure with at least one reinforcing part depending upon the particular variant of the plurality of variants of the motor vehicle, wherein the body-in-white is structurally configured for loadings by forces in an accident for a variant having the lowest weight of all variants of the motor vehicle and loadings by forces in an accident for variants having higher weights than the lowest weight variant are compensated for using the support structure with the selectively provided at least one reinforcing part. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The method according to claim 1, wherein the support part is provided with the reinforcing part after the support structure has been produced. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The method according to claim 1, wherein the support part is provided with the reinforcing part after a coating or a paint applied by dip painting has been applied. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The method according to claim 1, wherein the reinforcing part is made at least substantially of aluminium. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The method according to claim 1, wherein the reinforcing part is made at least substantially of steel. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The method according to claim 1, wherein the reinforcing part is joined to the support part by bonding or riveting. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The method according to claim 1, wherein a material, dimensions, wall thickness, or geometry of the at least one reinforcing part is different for different ones of the plurality of variants of the motor vehicle. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The method according to claim 1, wherein a location of the support part on which the at least one reinforcing part is selectively provided is different for different ones of the plurality of variants of the motor vehicle. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the plurality of variants of the motor vehicle include a convertible motor vehicle and a fixed-roof motor vehicle. ### Claim 10 A method comprising: producing a support structure that is assigned to a body-in-white that is configured for a plurality of variants of a motor vehicle, wherein the support structure comprises at least one support part; identifying a particular variant of the plurality of variants of the motor vehicle; and selectively providing at least in some regions of the support part of the support structure with at least one reinforcing part depending upon the particular variant of the plurality of variants of the motor vehicle, wherein the body-in-white is structurally configured for loadings by forces in an accident for a variant having the lowest weight of all variants of the motor vehicle and loadings by forces in an accident for variants having higher weights than the lowest weight variant are compensated for using the support structure with the selectively provided at least one reinforcing part, wherein the reinforcing part is a fibre-reinforced plastic material patch having a plastic matrix and that is applied to the support part using adhesive, wherein the support part is provided with the reinforcing part after a coating or a paint applied by dip painting has been applied and the plastic matrix and the adhesive are cured by heat that is used to cure the coating or paint.