Modular frame for automotive vehicles
First Claim
1. A modular frame for automotive vehicles, comprising:
- a pair of spaced side rails oriented parallel to each other and parallel to a longitudinal axis of a vehicle for substantially the entire length of the vehicle, each side rail defining a plurality of apertures aligned with each other in opposite side rails;
a cross member capable of being connected between any two oppositely aligned apertures;
a pair of cross member adapters, each adapter being secured to respective ends of the cross members for securing the cross member to the side rails at the apertures, each cross member adapter being similar in size and shape to the side rail apertures; and
securing means for securing the cross member adapters to the side rails.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A modular frame for automotive vehicles, which comprises a pair of side rails oriented parallel to one another, each side rail having a plurality of apertures being substantially similar in size and shape with respect to one another. Cross members and auxiliary mounts are secured to the side rails by adapters that have a size and shape corresponding to the apertures in the side rails. The means for securing the adapters to the side rails allows the load to be distributed over a wide area of the side rail to reduce stress concentrations. The combination of the adapters and the plurality of similar sized apertures results in a modular structural frame connection system for vehicles.
55 Citations
29 Claims
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1. A modular frame for automotive vehicles, comprising:
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a pair of spaced side rails oriented parallel to each other and parallel to a longitudinal axis of a vehicle for substantially the entire length of the vehicle, each side rail defining a plurality of apertures aligned with each other in opposite side rails; a cross member capable of being connected between any two oppositely aligned apertures; a pair of cross member adapters, each adapter being secured to respective ends of the cross members for securing the cross member to the side rails at the apertures, each cross member adapter being similar in size and shape to the side rail apertures; and securing means for securing the cross member adapters to the side rails. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19)
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20. A modular frame for automotive vehicles, comprising:
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a pair of side rails oriented parallel to each other and parallel to a longitudinal axis of a vehicle, each side rail defining a plurality of apertures; a cross member interconnecting the side rails; a pair of cross member adapters, each adapter being secured to respective ends of the cross members for securing the cross member to the side rails, the cross member adapters being similar in size to the side rail apertures; securing means for securing the cross member adapters to the side rails; an auxiliary mount for mounting a custom component to the side rail; an auxiliary adapter coupled to the auxiliary mount, the auxiliary adapter being substantially the same size as the side rail apertures such that the auxiliary adapter can be mounted to the side rail at various aperture locations; and connecting means connecting the auxiliary mount and auxiliary adapter to the side rail. - View Dependent Claims (21, 22)
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23. A method of assembling a modular vehicle frame of the type having spaced, elongated side rails, comprising the steps of:
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providing a plurality of different shaped support members for attaching to the side rails, the side rails having at least a plurality of mounting holes of generally identical size and shape; providing a plurality of common, uniform adapters of generally identical size and shape and of the same size and shape as the mounting holes in the side rails; providing a plurality of fasteners to join the adapters to the side rails within some but not all of the mounting holes, and securing the plurality of different shaped support members to the side rails using the common, uniform size and shape adapters to match the same size and shape holes in the side rails by connecting the fasteners through the adapters to the side rails in a manner to render the adapters readily removable and repositionable along the side rails. PG,32 - View Dependent Claims (24)
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25. A structural frame connection system for automotive vehicles, comprising:
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a common, uniform adapter for mounting cross frame members and auxiliary mounting members to side rails of a vehicle frame; the side rails having a plurality of apertures having substantially the same size and shape; the adapter being substantially similar in size and shape with respect to the apertures and comprising an inner coupling member and an outer coupling member, the inner coupling member and the outer coupling member being secured to the side rail to engage an inside diameter of the aperture to prevent relative rotation between the adapter and the side rail; and the adapter being interchangeably mounted to any of the apertures. - View Dependent Claims (26, 27)
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28. A cross member assembly for a modular frame for automotive vehicles, the modular frame having a pair of spaced side rails oriented parallel to each other and parallel to a longitudinal axis of a vehicle, each side rail defining a plurality of apertures aligned with each other in opposite side rails, comprising:
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a cross member capable of being connected between any two oppositely aligned apertures; and a pair of cross member adapters, each adapter being secured to respective ends of the cross member for securing the cross member to the side rails at the apertures, each cross member adapter being non-circular and being similar in size and shape to the side rail apertures so that the adapters do not rotate within the apertures. - View Dependent Claims (29)
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Specification