Patent ID: 7121586

Claim:
A frame assembly for a motor vehicle comprising: a forward module comprising a pair of forward side rail portions interconnected by a cross portion, said forward side rail portions disposed at an angle with respect to one another such that said forward side rail portions have an increasing distance therebetween as they extend rearwardly; a rearward module comprising a pair of rearward side rail portions interconnected by a cross portion, rearward ends of said forward side rail portions being connected to associated forward ends of said rearward side rail portions, at least said forward ends of said rearward side rail portions being disposed at the same angle with respect to one another as said forward side rail portions are disposed with respect to each other; at least one of said side rail portions comprising a tubular structure having a first notch formed in an end portion thereof to enable connection thereof to the side rail portion associatively connected thereto; said first notch forming first and second split portions in said end portion and said first notch includes an open end and a closed end, said open end adjacent a free edge of said end portion and said closed end being an arcuate section providing a bending point enabling said first split portion of said end portion of the at least one side rail portion to be bent laterally to permit widening of said first notch from an original configuration and interface of said end portion with the associated side rail portion connected thereto, and then to permit said first split portion to be bent back toward said original position to permit said first split portion to be welded to the associated side rail portion connected thereto, and said closed end being wider than said open end.