Convertible rear structure for a modular vehicle body

Details Convertible rear structure for a modular vehicle body Convertible rear structure for a modular vehicle body

1998-06-23

2001-02-06

Dayoan, D. Glenn (Department: 3612)

Land vehicles: bodies and tops

Bodies

Lining

C296S107080, C296S190050, C296S124000, C296S186300

Reexamination Certificate

active

06183030

ABSTRACT:

FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to modular vehicle bodies in general, and more specifically to a convertible rear structure for such bodies.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Convertible vehicle tops or vehicle tops that fold back have been used in the automotive vehicle industry for years. The attraction of convertible tops is that they may be raised to cover a passenger compartment of the vehicle during inclement weather and folded down to expose the passenger compartment to an open air environment during periods of fair weather. When folded down, the convertible top is stored in an area behind the back seat and in front of the trunk of the vehicle.
Conventional unitized vehicle bodies use steel stampings for the unibody structure necessary to carry the convertible componentry and form the convertible storage area. The convertible componentry includes the cover as well as various hydraulic and electronic equipment necessary to actuate the cover. One problem with unitized bodies having convertible tops is that the components must be added to the vehicle on the assembly line. The components and their resulting assemblies, therefore, must be tested on the assembly line, which can slow the manufacturing process if the componentry or assemblies should fail. Furthermore, the steel stampings for the unibody structure are necessary to carry the convertible componentry and structurally reinforce the unibody in order to provide vehicle torsional rigidity, thereby adding to overall vehicle cost.
Modular vehicle bodies have been introduced to address the problem of manufacturing slow down resulting from the failure of components added to unitized bodies on the assembly line. Modular vehicle bodies have the advantage of being independent body structures that have componentry added thereto and tested prior to assembly line installation.
What is desired then is a convertible rear structure that allows for assembly of the convertible top componentry to the rear structure, facilitates testing of the assembled componentry prior to joining the structure to the vehicle body and adds torsional rigidity to the vehicle body.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The present invention overcomes the disadvantages of the related art by providing a convertible rear structure for a modular vehicle body having a floor panel, a rear panel projecting upwardly from the floor panel, a front panel projecting upwardly from the floor panel and joining the rear panel to form a trough like region therebetween, and a seat back panel projecting downwardly from the front panel.
An object of the present invention is to provide a convertible rear structure that allows for assembly of the convertible top componentry to the structure and facilitates testing of the componentry prior to joining the structure to the vehicle body.
An advantage of the present invention is that the rear structure is adapted to receive convertible top componentry prior to joining the structure to the vehicle body.
A feature of the present invention is that the seat back panel and the front panel form a downwardly facing channel adapted to receive a foam core. A foam core received in the channel advantageously reinforces the rear structure as well as the vehicle body once the structure is joined to the vehicle body.


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