Patent ID: 8042863
Filing Date: 2011-10-25
Classification: B62D

Abstract:
1. A vehicle body structure comprising: a vehicle roof panel having an interior surface; a pair of roof side rails disposed on opposite sides of the vehicle roof panel; a first roof bow assembly extending laterally between the roof side rails at a first location beneath the vehicle roof panel, the first roof bow assembly having a first roof bow member and at least one first telescoping roof bow mounting bracket coupled to one end of the first roof bow member such that the first roof bow member and the first telescoping mounting bracket are positionable relative to one another at a first of a plurality of telescoping positions with the first roof bow member and the first telescoping roof bow mounting bracket overlapping by a first overlap amount corresponding to the first of the plurality of telescoping positions such that the first roof bow assembly spans a first distance between the roof side rails, the first roof bow member being fixedly attached to the interior surface of the vehicle roof panel, the first telescoping roof bow mounting bracket being fixedly attached to at least one of the vehicle roof panel and one of the pair of roof side rails, such that the first telescoping roof bow mounting bracket is not movable relative to the first roof bow member, the first telescoping roof bow mounting bracket including a side rail attachment flange that is connected to an inboard side surface of one of the pair of vehicle roof side rails, the first telescoping mounting bracket having a first end with the side rail attachment flange extending therefrom and a second end fixed to the roof bow member, the second end of the telescoping mounting bracket having a vertical height and a width when viewed in cross-section, the vertical height multiplied by the width defining an area of the second end, and the side rail attachment flange having a surface area that is greater than the area of the second end; and a second roof bow assembly configured to extending laterally between the roof side rails at a second location beneath the vehicle roof panel, the second roof bow assembly having a second roof bow member and at least one of a second telescoping roof bow mounting bracket coupled to one end of the second roof bow member such that the second roof bow member and the second telescoping mounting bracket are positionable relative to one another at a second of the plurality of telescoping positions with the second roof bow member and the second telescoping roof bow mounting bracket overlapping by a second overlap amount corresponding to the second of the plurality of telescoping positions, the second overlap amount being different from the first overlap amount such that the second roof bow assembly spans a second distance between the roof side rails, with the first and second distances being different lengths and the first roof bow member and the second roof bow member are formed with the same overall dimensions, the second roof bow member being fixedly attached to the interior surface of the vehicle roof panel, the second telescoping roof bow mounting bracket being fixedly attached to at least one of the vehicle roof panel and one of the pair of roof side rails, such that the second telescoping roof bow mounting bracket is not movable relative to the second roof bow member.