Patent ID: 7001097
Filing Date: 2006-02-21
Classification: B62D,F16B,Y10T

Abstract:
1. A joint assembly joining a one-piece portion of a hydroformed hollow tubular vehicle body pillar to a one-piece portion of a hydroformed hollow tubular vehicle body rocker; the tubular vehicle body pillar portion having flanges extending from enclosing walls of an end segment, a receiving opening having a closed periphery defined by the walls of the end segment; and the tubular vehicle body rocker portion having enclosing walls and a closed end protrusion, the protrusion having sides extending from a wall of the rocker portion to the end of the protrusion; the protrusion being received in the receiving opening of the end segment with the sides of the protrusion in facing engagement with the walls of the receiving opening; the flanges engaging the walls of the rocker portion; and the pillar portion and the rocker portion being secured together by a plurality of connections between the flanges and the walls of the rocker portion and a plurality of connections between the walls of the end segment and the sides of the protrusion.