Expandable ram system

• US 6,601,910 B1
• Filed: 05/31/2002
• Issued: 08/05/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 05/31/2002
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Kevin G. Duggan
• Original Assignee: Kevin G. Duggan
• Inventors: Duggan, Kevin G.
• Primary Examiner(s): PATEL, KIRAN B
• Application Number:
  US10/159,058
• Time in Patent Office: 431 Days
• Field of Search: 296/205.03, 296/203.01, 296/146.8, 296/146.9, 296/201, 296/155, 296/188, 296/204, 296/146.6, 296/146.5, 296/185, 296/189, 495/02, 493/74
• US Class Current: 296/203.03
• CPC Class Codes: B60J 5/0426 the elements being arranged at the beltline
• CPC Class Codes: B60J 5/0459 Active coupling of the reinforcement elements to the door or to the vehicle body, e.g. through releasing of pressurized gas
• CPC Class Codes: B62D 25/04 Door pillars ; windshield pillars
• CPC Class Codes: B62D 25/08 Front or rear portions sub-frames for mounting engine or suspensions B62D21/11

Abstract

A expandable ram system for providing additional rigidity to a body of a vehicle. The expandable ram system includes a front frame member being designed for being coupled to a front of a body whereby the front frame member is for stiffening the front of the body of the vehicle. A rear frame member is designed for being coupled to a rear of the body whereby the rear frame member is for stiffening the rear of the body of the vehicle. A plurality of door frame assemblies are selectively coupled to the front frame member and the rear frame member. Each of the door frame assemblies is designed for being positioned in one of plurality of doors of the body. The door frame assemblies rigidly connect the front frame member to the rear frame member for preventing flex in the body of the vehicle when the doors of the vehicle are closed.

Claims

1. A expandable ram system for stiffening the body of a vehicle, the expandable ram system comprising:

a plurality of door frame assemblies being adapted for selectively coupling to the front and the rear of the body of the vehicle, each of said door frame assemblies being adapted for being positioned in one of plurality of doors of the body of the vehicle, said door frame assemblies being adapted for rigidly connecting the front of the body to the rear of the body for preventing flex in the body of the vehicle when the doors of the vehicle are closed;

each of said door frame assemblies having a bracing member, said bracing member of each of said door frame assemblies being adapted for selectively coupling to the front the rear of the body when the associated one of the doors is closed, said bracing member being for rigidly joining the front and the rear of the body such that said bracing member of each of said door frame assemblies is adapted for inhibiting flexing of the body of the vehicle with respect to the frame;

each of said door frame assemblies having a front insert member, said front insert member being positioned at an end of said bracing member, said front insert member being adapted for being selectively insertable into the front of the body, said front insert member being adapted for maintaining alignment of said bracing member of the associated one of said door frame assemblies and the front of the body when the doors of the vehicle is closed;

each of said door frame assemblies having a rear insert member, said rear insert member being positioned opposite said front insert member, said rear insert member being adapted for being selectively insertable into the rear of the body of the vehicle, said rear insert member being adapted for maintaining alignment of said bracing member of the associated one of said door frame assemblies and the rear of the body when the doors of the vehicle is closed;

said bracing member of each of said door frame assemblies having a lumen, said front insert member and said rear insert member being slidably positioned in said lumen of the associated one of said door frame assemblies; and

each of said door frame assemblies having an actuation assembly, said actuation assembly being positioned in said lumen of said bracing member, said actuation assembly being coupled between said front insert member and said rear insert member, said actuation assembly being for retracting said front insert member and said rear insert member into said lumen of said bracing member when the associated one of the doors of the vehicle is opened, said actuation assembly being for forcing said front insert member into the front of the body and said rear insert member into the rear of the body when the associated one of the doors of the vehicle is closed.

2. The expandable ram system as set forth in claim 1, further comprising:

a front frame member selectively engaging said door frame assemblies, said front frame member being adapted for being coupled to a front of a body of the vehicle, said front frame member being adapted for being positioned above a base frame of the vehicle such that said front frame member is for stiffening the front of the body of the vehicle; and

a rear frame member selectively engaging said door frame assemblies, said rear frame member being adapted for being coupled to a rear of the body of the vehicle, said rear frame member being adapted for being positioned above the base frame of the vehicle such that said rear frame member is for stiffening the rear of the body of the vehicle.

3. The expandable ram system as set forth in claim 2, further comprising:

said front frame member having a pair of front arm portions, each of said front arm portions being selectively coupled to one of said door frame assemblies, each of said front arm portions being adapted for extending along a fender of the body of the vehicle such that said arm portions are for inhibiting twisting of the front of body with respect to the base frame.

4. The expandable ram system as set forth in claim 3, further comprising:

said front frame member having a front cross portion, said front cross portion being coupled between said front arm portions such that said front cross portion is for inhibiting independent movement of one of said front arm portions with respect to the other of said front arm portions, said front cross portion of said front frame member being adapted for inhibiting flexing of the body of the vehicle with respect to the base frame of the vehicle.

5. The expandable ram system as set forth in claim 2, further comprising:

said rear frame member having a pair of rear arm portions, each of said rear arm portions being selectively coupled to one of said door frame assemblies, each of said rear arm portions being adapted for extending along a fender of the body of the vehicle such that said arm portions are for inhibiting twisting of the rear of body with respect to the base frame.

6. The expandable ram system as set forth in claim 5, further comprising:

said rear frame member having a rear cross portion, said rear cross portion being coupled between said rear arm portions such that said rear cross portion is for inhibiting independent movement of one of said rear arm portions with respect to the other of said rear arm portions, said rear cross portion of said rear frame member being adapted for inhibiting flexing of the body of the vehicle with respect to the base frame of the vehicle.

7. The expandable ram system as set forth in claim 1, further comprising:

said actuation assembly comprising a hydraulic ram, said hydraulic being positioned within said lumen of said brace member, said hydraulic ram having a base portion and a ram portion, said ram portion being selectively extendable from said base portion, said base portion being coupled to said front insert member, said ram portion being coupled to said rear insert member; and

a hydraulic pump assembly being operationally coupled to said base portion of said hydraulic ram, said hydraulic pump being adapted for being operationally coupled to an electrical system of the vehicle for supplying power to said hydraulic pump when the doors of the vehicle has been opened and closed, said hydraulic pump assembly being adapted for circulating hydraulic fluid through base portion of said hydraulic ram for forcing said front insert member into the front of the body and said rear insert member into the rear of the body when the doors of the vehicle are closed, said hydraulic pump assembly being adapted for circulating hydraulic fluid through said base portion of said hydraulic ram for retracting said front insert member from the front of the body and said rear insert member from the rear of the body when the doors of the vehicle are opened.

8. The expandable ram system as set forth in claim 1, further comprising:

said actuation assembly comprising a motor member, said motor member being adapted for being operationally coupled to an electrical system of the vehicle such that the electrical system is for supplying power to said motor member when the doors of the vehicle are opened and closed, a rod portion being engaged by said motor member such that said motor member is for rotating said rod portion, said first insert member being operationally coupled to a first end of said rod member such that rotation of said rod portion in a first direction forces said first insert member into the front of the body when the doors of the vehicle are closed, said rod portion being rotated in a second direction for retracting said front insert member from the front of the body when the doors of the vehicle are opened, said rear insert member being operationally coupled to a second end of said rod member such that rotation of said rod portion in said first direction forces said rear insert member into the rear of the body when the doors of the vehicle are closed, said rod portion being rotated in said second direction for retracting said rear insert member from the rear of the body when the doors of the vehicle are opened.

9. A expandable ram system for stiffening the body of a vehicle, the expandable ram system comprising:

a front frame member being adapted for being coupled to a front of a body of the vehicle, said front frame member being adapted for being positioned above a base frame of the vehicle such that said front frame member is for stiffening the front of the body of the vehicle;

a rear frame member being adapted for being coupled to a rear of the body of the vehicle, said rear frame member being adapted for being positioned above the base frame of the vehicle such that said rear frame member is for stiffening the rear of the body of the vehicle;

a plurality of door frame assemblies selectively coupling to said front frame member and said rear frame member, each of said door frame assemblies being adapted for being positioned in one of plurality of doors of the body of the vehicle, said door frame assemblies rigidly connecting said front frame member to said rear frame member for preventing flex in the body of the vehicle when the doors of the vehicle are closed;

said front frame member having a pair of front arm portions, each of said front arm portions being selectively coupled to one of said door frame assemblies, each of said front arm portions being adapted for extending along a fender of the body of the vehicle such that said arm portions are for inhibiting twisting of the front of body with respect to the base frame;

said front frame member having a front cross portion, said front cross portion being coupled between said front arm portions such that said front cross portion is for inhibiting independent movement of one of said front arm portions with respect to the other of said front arm portions, said front cross portion of said front frame member being adapted for inhibiting flexing of the body of the vehicle with respect to the base frame of the vehicle;

said rear frame member having a pair of rear arm portions, each of said rear arm portions being selectively coupled to one of said door frame assemblies, each of said rear arm portions being adapted for extending along a fender of the body of the vehicle such that said arm portions are for inhibiting twisting of the rear of body with respect to the base frame;

said rear frame member having a rear cross portion, said rear cross portion being coupled between said rear arm portions such that said rear cross portion is for inhibiting independent movement of one of said rear arm portions with respect to the other of said rear arm portions, said rear cross portion of said rear frame member being adapted for inhibiting flexing of the body of the vehicle with respect to the base frame of the vehicle;

each of said door frame assemblies having a bracing member, said bracing member of each of said door frame assemblies being selectively coupled to said front frame member and said rear frame member when the associated one of the doors is closed, said bracing member being for rigidly joining said front frame member and said rear frame member such that said bracing member of each of said door frame assemblies is adapted for inhibiting flexing of the body of the vehicle with respect to the frame;

each of said door frame assemblies having a front insert member, said front insert member being positioned at an end of said bracing member, said front insert member being selectively insertable into a front insert depression of said front frame member, said front insert member being for maintaining alignment of said bracing member of the associated one of said door frame assemblies and said front frame member when the doors of the vehicle is closed;

each of said door frame assemblies having a rear insert member, said rear insert member being positioned opposite said front insert member, said rear insert member being selectively insertable into a rear insert depression of said rear frame member, said rear insert member being for maintaining alignment of said bracing member of the associated one of said door frame assemblies and said rear frame member when the doors of the vehicle is closed;

said bracing member of each of said door frame assemblies having a lumen, said front insert member and said rear insert member being slidably positioned in said lumen of the associated one of said door frame assemblies;

each of said door frame assemblies having an actuation assembly, said actuation assembly being positioned in said lumen of said bracing member, said actuation assembly being coupled between said front insert member and said rear insert member, said actuation assembly being for retracting said front insert member and said rear insert member into said lumen of said bracing member when the associated one of the doors of the vehicle is opened, said actuation assembly being for forcing said front insert member into said front insert depression and said rear insert member into said rear insert depression when the associated one of the doors of the vehicle is closed;

said actuation assembly comprising a hydraulic ram, said hydraulic ram being positioned within said lumen of said brace member, said hydraulic ram having a base portion and a ram portion, said ram portion being selectively extendable from said base portion, said base portion being coupled to said front insert member, said ram portion being coupled to said rear insert member; and

a hydraulic pump assembly being operationally coupled to said base portion of said hydraulic ram, said hydraulic pump being adapted for being operationally coupled to an electrical system of the vehicle for supplying power to said hydraulic pump when the doors of the vehicle has been opened and closed, said hydraulic pump assembly being adapted for circulating hydraulic fluid through base portion of said hydraulic ram for forcing said front insert member into said front insert depression of said front frame member and said rear insert member into said rear insert depression of said rear frame member when the doors of the vehicle is closed, said hydraulic pump assembly being adapted for circulating hydraulic fluid through said base portion of said hydraulic ram for retracting said front insert member from said front insert depression of said front frame member and said rear insert member from said rear insert depression of said rear frame member when the doors of the vehicle is opened.

10. A expandable ram system for stiffening the body of a vehicle, the expandable ram system comprising:

a plurality of door frame assemblies being adapted for selectively coupling to the front and the rear of the body of the vehicle, each of said door frame assemblies being adapted for being positioned in one of plurality of doors of the body of the vehicle, said door frame assemblies being adapted for rigidly connecting the front of the body to the rear of the body for preventing flex in the body of the vehicle when the doors of the vehicle are closed;

a front frame member selectively engaging said door frame assemblies, said front frame member being adapted for being coupled to a front of a body of the vehicle, said front frame member being adapted for being positioned above a base frame of the vehicle such that said front frame member is for stiffening the front of the body of the vehicle;

a rear frame member selectively engaging said door frame assemblies, said rear frame member being adapted for being coupled to a rear of the body of the vehicle, said rear frame member being adapted for being positioned above the base frame of the vehicle such that said rear frame member is for stiffening the rear of the body of the vehicle;

each of said door frame assemblies having a bracing member, said bracing member of each of said door frame assemblies being selectively coupled to said front frame member and said rear frame member when the associated one of the doors is closed, said bracing member being for rigidly joining said front frame member and said rear frame member such that said bracing member of each of said door frame assemblies is adapted for inhibiting flexing of the body of the vehicle with respect to the frame;

each of said door frame assemblies having a front insert member, said front insert member being positioned at an end of said bracing member, said front insert member being selectively insertable into a front insert depression of said front frame member, said front insert member being for maintaining alignment of said bracing member of the associated one of said door frame assemblies and said front frame member when the doors of the vehicle is closed;

each of said door frame assemblies having a rear insert member, said rear insert member being positioned opposite said front insert member, said rear insert member being selectively insertable into a rear insert depression of said rear frame member, said rear insert member being for maintaining alignment of said bracing member of the associated one of said door frame assemblies and said rear frame member when the doors of the vehicle is closed;

said bracing member of each of said door frame assemblies having a lumen, said front insert member and said rear insert member being slidably positioned in said lumen of the associated one of said door frame assemblies; and

each of said door frame assemblies having an actuation assembly, said actuation assembly being positioned in said lumen of said bracing member, said actuation assembly being coupled between said front insert member and said rear insert member, said actuation assembly being for retracting said front insert member and said rear insert member into said lumen of said bracing member when the associated one of the doors of the vehicle is opened, said actuation assembly being for forcing said front insert member into said front insert depression and said rear insert member into said rear insert depression when the associated one of the doors of the vehicle is closed.

11. The expandable ram system as set forth in claim 10, further comprising:

said front frame member having a pair of front arm portions, each of said front arm portions being selectively coupled to one of said door frame assemblies, each of said front arm portions being adapted for extending along a fender of the body of the vehicle such that said arm portions are for inhibiting twisting of the front of body with respect to the base frame.

12. The expandable ram system as set forth in claim 11, further comprising:

said front frame member having a front cross portion, said front cross portion being coupled between said front arm portions such that said front cross portion is for inhibiting independent movement of one of said front arm portions with respect to the other of said front arm portions, said front cross portion of said front frame member being adapted for inhibiting flexing of the body of the vehicle with respect to the base frame of the vehicle.

13. The expandable ram system as set forth in claim 10, further comprising:

said rear frame member having a pair of rear arm portions, each of said rear arm portions being selectively coupled to one of said door frame assemblies, each of said rear arm portions being adapted for extending along a fender of the body of the vehicle such that said arm portions are for inhibiting twisting of the rear of body with respect to the base frame.

14. The expandable ram system as set forth in claim 13, further comprising:

said rear frame member having a rear cross portion, said rear cross portion being coupled between said rear arm portions such that said rear cross portion is for inhibiting independent movement of one of said rear arm portions with respect to the other of said rear arm portions, said rear cross portion of said rear frame member being adapted for inhibiting flexing of the body of the vehicle with respect to the base frame of the vehicle.

15. The expandable ram system as set forth in claim 10, further comprising:

said actuation assembly comprising a hydraulic ram, said hydraulic being positioned within said lumen of said brace member, said hydraulic ram having a base portion and a ram portion, said ram portion being selectively extendable from said base portion, said base portion being coupled to said front insert member, said ram portion being coupled to said rear insert member; and

a hydraulic pump assembly being operationally coupled to said base portion of said hydraulic ram, said hydraulic pump being adapted for being operationally coupled to an electrical system of the vehicle for supplying power to said hydraulic pump when the doors of the vehicle has been opened and closed, said hydraulic pump assembly being adapted for circulating hydraulic fluid through base portion of said hydraulic ram for forcing said front insert member into said front insert depression of said front frame member and said rear insert member into said rear insert depression of said rear frame member when the doors of the vehicle is closed, said hydraulic pump assembly being adapted for circulating hydraulic fluid through said base portion of said hydraulic ram for retracting said front insert member from said front insert depression of said front frame member and said rear insert member from said rear insert depression of said rear frame member when the doors of the vehicle is opened.

16. The expandable ram system as set forth in claim 10, further comprising:

said actuation assembly comprising a motor member, said motor member being adapted for being operationally coupled to an electrical system of the vehicle such that the electrical system is for supplying power to said motor member when the doors of the vehicle is opened and closed, a rod portion being engaged by said motor member such that said motor member is for rotating said rod portion, said first insert member being operationally coupled to a first end of said rod member such that rotation of said rod portion in a first direction forces said first insert member into said front insert depression of said front frame member when the doors of the vehicle is closed, said rod portion being rotated in a second direction for retracting said front insert member from said front insert depression when the doors of the vehicle is opened, said rear insert member being operationally coupled to a second end of said rod member such that rotation of said rod portion in said first direction forces said rear insert member into said rear insert depression of said rear frame member when the doors of the vehicle is closed, said rod portion being rotated in said second direction for retracting said rear insert member from said rear insert depression when the doors of the vehicle is opened.