Patent ID: 6824204
Filing Date: 2004-11-30
Classification: B62D

Abstract:
A space frame for a motor vehicle, comprising:a pair of hydroformed longitudinally extending lower side rail members; a pair of hydroformed upper longitudinal members, each of said pair of said upper longitudinal members including a rear, pillar-forming portion and a rail-forming portion, each of said pillar-forming portions being coupled to an end of a respective one of said lower side rail members and extending upwardly from said respective lower side rail member to define a rearward-most pillar of said motor vehicle, each of said rail-forming portions extending forwardly from said pillar-forming portion to define a roof support rail of said motor vehicle; a pair of forward-most pillar assemblies, each of said pair of forward-most pillar assemblies being coupled a respective one of said pair of lower side rail members and extending upwardly from said respective lower side rail member and being coupling with a respective one of said upper longitudinal members, and each of said forward-most pillar assemblies being formed from stamped sheet metal; and a laterally extending connecting structure mounted between said pair of lower side rail members, said connecting structure being constructed and arranged to hold said pair of lower side rail members in laterally spaced relation to one another.