Methods of conducting vehicle business transactions

• US 7,292,992 B2
• Filed: 07/24/2002
• Issued: 11/06/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 08/23/2001
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC (General Motors Company)
• Original Assignee: General Motors Corporation (Motors Liquidation Co. GUC Trust)
• Inventors: Shabana, Mohsen D., Chernoff, Adrian B., Borroni-Bird, Christopher E., Vitale, Robert Louis
• Primary Examiner(s): ZURITA, JAMES H
• Application Number:
  US10/202,396
• Publication Number:
  US 20030040977A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,931 Days
• Field of Search: 705/26
• US Class Current: 705/26.1
• CPC Class Codes: B23P 2700/50 Other automobile vehicle parts, i.e. manufactured in assembly lines
• CPC Class Codes: B60G 13/14 having dampers accumulating utilisable energy, e.g. compressing air fluid springs with an accumulator B60G11/30
• CPC Class Codes: B60G 17/015 the regulating means comprising electric or electronic elements B60G17/002, B60G17/005 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B60G 17/0195 characterised by the regulation being combined with other vehicle control systems conjoint control of vehicle sub-units including control of suspension systems B60W10/22
• CPC Class Codes: B60G 2200/10 Independent suspensions
• CPC Class Codes: B60G 2200/144 with two lateral arms forming a parallelogram
• CPC Class Codes: B60G 2200/18 Multilink suspensions, e.g. elastokinematic arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: B60G 2200/44 steerable
• CPC Class Codes: B60G 2200/46 camber angle
• CPC Class Codes: B60G 2200/462 Toe-in/out
• CPC Class Codes: B60G 2202/40 Type of actuator
• CPC Class Codes: B60G 2202/42 Electric actuator
• CPC Class Codes: B60G 2204/10 Mounting of suspension elements
• CPC Class Codes: B60G 2204/11 Mounting of sensors thereon
• CPC Class Codes: B60G 2204/14 Mounting of suspension arms
• CPC Class Codes: B60G 2204/16 Mounting of vehicle body on chassis
• CPC Class Codes: B60G 2204/20 Mounting of accessories, e.g. pump, compressor
• CPC Class Codes: B60G 2204/202 of cables
• CPC Class Codes: B60G 2206/011 Modular constructions
• CPC Class Codes: B60G 2206/0114 Independent suspensions on subframes
• CPC Class Codes: B60G 2206/50 : Constructional features of wheel supports or knuckles, e.g. steering knuckles, spindle attachments
• CPC Class Codes: B60G 2206/99 : Suspension element selection procedure depending on loading or performance requirements, e.g. selection of damper, spring or bush
• CPC Class Codes: B60G 2300/45 : Rolling frame vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: B60G 2300/50 : Electric vehicles; Hybrid vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: B60G 2300/60 : Vehicles using regenerative power
• CPC Class Codes: B60G 2800/21 : Traction, slip, skid or slide control
• CPC Class Codes: B60G 2800/802 : Diagnostics
• CPC Class Codes: B60G 2800/90 : System Controller type
• CPC Class Codes: B60G 2800/91 : Suspension Control
• CPC Class Codes: B60G 2800/92 : ABS - Brake Control
• CPC Class Codes: B60G 2800/963 : Steer-by-wire
• CPC Class Codes: B60G 3/18 : with two or more pivoted arms, e.g. parallelogram
• CPC Class Codes: B60G 7/003 : of adjustable length
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 1/00 : Arrangement or mounting of electrical propulsion units B60K7/00 takes precedence; arrangement or mounting of plural diverse prime-movers for mutual or common propulsion B60K6/00; electric transmission arrangements B60K17/12; electric equipment or propulsion of electrically-propelled vehicles per se B60L; current-collectors for power supply lines of electrically-propelled vehicles B60L5/00
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 1/04 : of the electric storage means for propulsion exchanging batteries for electric propulsion of vehicles B60L53/80; for auxiliary purposes only B60R16/04; supplying batteries to, or removing batteries from, vehicles B60S5/06
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 15/07 : of gas tanks
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 2001/001 : one motor mounted on a propulsion axle for rotating right and left wheels of this axle
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 2001/005 : the electric storage means
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 7/0007 : the motor being electric
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 58/40 : for controlling a combination of batteries and fuel cells
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/14 : rotatable, e.g. to permit easy access B60N2/10 , B60N2/2869 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/90 : Details or parts not otherwise provided for
• CPC Class Codes: B60T 1/065 : employing disc B60T1/062 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B60T 1/10 : by utilising wheel movement for accumulating energy, e.g. driving air compressors
• CPC Class Codes: B60T 13/66 : Electrical control in fluid-pressure brake systems
• CPC Class Codes: B60T 13/662 : characterised by specified functions of the control system components
• CPC Class Codes: B60T 13/74 : with electrical assistance or drive
• CPC Class Codes: B60T 2270/82 : Brake-by-Wire, EHB
• CPC Class Codes: B60T 7/00 : Brake-action initiating means
• CPC Class Codes: B60T 7/042 : by electrical means, e.g. using travel or force sensors
• CPC Class Codes: B60T 8/00 : Arrangements for adjusting wheel-braking force to meet varying vehicular or ground-surface conditions, e.g. limiting or varying distribution of braking force by changing number of effective brake cylinders in power brake systems B60T17/10
• CPC Class Codes: B62D 21/02 : comprising longitudinally or transversely arranged frame members
• CPC Class Codes: B62D 21/15 : having impact absorbing means, e.g. a frame designed to permanently or temporarily change shape or dimension upon impact with another body bumpers B60R19/02; shock absorbers in general F16F
• CPC Class Codes: B62D 24/02 : Vehicle body, not intended to move relatively to the vehicle frame, and mounted on vibration absorbing mountings, e.g. rubber pads
• CPC Class Codes: B62D 35/02 : Streamlining the undersurfaces B62D35/005, B62D35/007, B62D35/008 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B62D 5/00 : Power-assisted or power-driven steering for non-deflectable wheels B62D11/00; fluid-pressure servomotors in general F15B
• CPC Class Codes: B62D 7/18 : Steering knuckles; King pins
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/06 : Buying, selling or leasing transactions
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0601 : Electronic shopping [e-shopping]
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 40/04 : Trading; Exchange, e.g. stocks, commodities, derivatives or currency exchange
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 10/70 : Energy storage systems for electromobility, e.g. batteries
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 10/88 : Optimized components or subsystems, e.g. lighting, actively controlled glasses
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 90/40 : Application of hydrogen technology to transportation, e.g. using fuel cells

Abstract

Methods are provided for conducting a vehicle business transaction with a customer. Possession of a vehicle chassis is offered and/or granted to a customer in a first financial transaction for consideration. Possession of a vehicle body for engagement with the chassis is offered and/or granted in a second financial transaction for consideration independently of the vehicle chassis, wherein the chassis and body are separately priced. The body may be selected from an inventory of vehicle bodies each having a chassis attachment interface engageable with the chassis. The chassis may be financed for an extended period of time, such as 20 years, while various bodies are interchanged with the chassis.

Claims

1. A method of conducting a vehicle business transaction with a customer, comprising:

granting possession of a common vehicle chassis having a standardized body-attachment interface to the customer in a first financial transaction for consideration; and

granting possession of an interchangeable vehicle body to the customer in a second financial transaction for consideration independently of the common vehicle chassis, the interchangeable vehicle body selected from a maintained inventory of interchangeable vehicle bodies each having a common base with a standardized chassis attachment interface that is matable with the standardized body-attachment interface of the common chassis.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the customer is an end-user of the vehicle.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the second financial transaction is a lease or rental agreement having a term less than or equal to one year.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein said first and second financial transactions are defined by a single contract establishing different terms for the chassis and body.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the common chassis comprises:

a structural frame having a first rail;

a second rail spaced a distance apart from the first rail and cooperating with the first rail to at least partially define a protected cavity, a third rail outboard of the first rail and cooperating with the first rail to at least partially define a first lateral cavity outboard of the protected cavity, a fourth rail outboard of the second rail and cooperating with the second rail to at least partially define a second lateral cavity outboard of the protected cavity, said first and second rails extending forward of said third and fourth rails;

a suspension system mounted with respect to the structural frame;

at least three wheels rotatably mounted with respect to the suspension system;

an energy conversion system mounted with respect to the structural frame, operably connected to at least one wheel, an controllable by wire; and

a by-wire braking system mounted with respect to the frame and operably connected to at least one wheel;

wherein said standardized body-attachment interface has a plurality of body connection components including at least one load bearing body-retention coupling and at least one control signal receiving electrical connector; and

wherein said standardized body-attachment interface is mateable with said standardized chassis attachment interface to enable each of said bodies in said maintained inventory to be quickly disconnected from and connected to said common chassis.

4. The method of clam 1, wherein said step of granting possession of the chassis comprises leasing.

7. A method of conducting a vehicle business transaction with a customer, comprising:

granting possession of a vehicle chassis to the customer in a first financial transaction for consideration, wherein the chassis comprises;

a structural frame;

a suspension system mounted with respect to the structural frame;

at least three wheels rotatably mounted with respect to the suspension system;

an energy conversion system mounted with respect to the structural frame, operably connected to at least one wheel, and controllable by wire;

a by-wire steering system mounted with respect to the frame and operably connected to at least one wheel;

a by-wire braking system mounted with respect to the frame and operably connected to at least one wheel; and

a standardized body attachment interface having a plurality of body connection components, the body connection components including at least one load bearing body-retention coupling and at least one control signal receiving electrical connector; and

granting possession of an interchangeable vehicle body to the customer in a second financial transaction for consideration independently of the vehicle chassis, the interchangeable vehicle body selected from a maintained inventory of interchangeable vehicle bodies each having a common base with a standardized chassis attachment interface that is engageable with the standardized body attachment interface of the common chassis.