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US 9,868,476 B1Granted
Vehicle body-in-white structure
AssigneeFord Global Technologies, LLC
InventorRichard Daniel Pastrick
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A vehicle body includes a non-metallic member, metallic disk, and metallic member. The metallic disk is rigidly affixed to the non-metallic member such that a periphery of the disk is encompassed by the non-metallic member while an outer surface of the disk remains exposed. The metallic member is secured to the non-metallic member by a spot weld extending from the metallic member, through the outer surface, and into the disk.
Claims19
A vehicle body comprising:
- a non-metallic member defining an orifice;
- a metallic disk having first and second outer surfaces and secured within the orifice such that a periphery of the disk is encompassed by the non-metallic member and the second outer surface engages a step within the orifice;
- and
- a metallic member secured to the non-metallic member by a spot weld extending from the metallic member, through the first outer surface, and into the disk.
1 more element
A vehicle body comprising:
- a first member having first and second external surfaces and defining a stepped orifice that extends from the first external surface to the second external surface;
- a metallic disk having first and second outer surfaces and secured within the orifice such that a periphery of the disk is encompassed by the first member, the first outer surface is substantially flush with the first external surface, and the second outer surface is substantially flush with a step in the orifice;
- and
- a metallic member secured to the first member by a spot weld extending from the metallic member, through the first outer surface, and into the disk.
1 more element
A method of forming a vehicle body comprising:
- press-fitting a metallic disk into an orifice defined by a non-metallic body-member such that that a periphery of the disk is encompassed by the non-metallic body-member and an outer surface of the disk engages a step within the orifice;
- and
- spot welding the metallic disk to a metallic body-member such that the non-metallic body-member is secured to the metallic body-member.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.