Patent ID: 6308411
Filing Date: 2001-10-30
Classification: B21D,B62D,Y10T

Abstract:
A method of making a truck exterior sidewall comprising the acts of:forming a sidewall skin having major opposed interior and exterior surfaces, the major interior surface facing toward the interior of the truck and the exterior major surface facing toward the exterior of the truck when the truck exterior sidewall is assembled into the truck;forming a sidewall frame including plural frame elements having interior and exterior surfaces, the exterior surfaces facing toward the exterior of the truck when the truck exterior sidewall is assembled into the truck;applying adhesive to the exterior surfaces of the frame elements;positioning the sidewall skin onto the adhesive containing exterior surfaces of the frame elements;at least partially curing the adhesive to adhere the sidewall skin to the frame elements;wherein the sidewall skin has front, rear and top and bottom edge portions, the method further includes the acts of providing a door frame and fastening the front edge portion of the sidewall skin to the door frame; andwherein the positioning act comprises applying tension to the sidewall skin in a front to rear direction after it is fastened to the door frame.