Patent ID: 6623067
Filing Date: 2003-09-23
Classification: B62D

Abstract:
A door seal interface structure for a motor vehicle space frame, said door seal interface structure comprising:a longitudinally extending hydroformed tubular rail portion; a hydroformed tubular pillar portion connected at a joint to said rail portion, said rail portion and said pillar portion providing respective surfaces constructed and arranged to sealingly engage a door seal to seal a peripheral portion of a closed vehicle door, said surfaces being angularly related to one another in the vicinity of said joint; and a transition structure being distinct and separately formed with respect to said rail portion and said pillar portion and being mounted on said rail portion and said pillar portion and positioned over said rail portion and said pillar portion at said joint, said transition structure providing a transition surface that provides a transition between said surface of said rail portion and said surface of said pillar portion, said transition surface being constructed and arranged to sealingly engage a portion of said door seal and thereby provide a door seal-engagable surface in the vicinity of the joint.