Robert K Koehr

US Patent:

6015182, Jan 18, 2000

Filed:

Feb 25, 1999

Appl. No.:

9/257029

Inventors:

Ulrich Weissert - Rochester MI
Marco Cercone - Troy MI
Ross Winslow - Royal Oak MI
Andy Wolf - Parkland FL
Robert Koehr - Harrison Township MI
Rolf Heyll - Renningen, DE

Assignee:

Porsche Engineering Services - Troy MI

International Classification:

B60J 504
B60J 510

US Classification:

2961466

Abstract:

A vehicle side door or hatchback structure incorporates at least one hydroformed component. In one configuration, a window frame, a door frame and a reinforcement member are press-fit together by pressurized fluid during a hydroforming process to join the frames and the reinforcement member together. In another configuration, a vehicle hatchback frame subassembly includes a one-piece hydroformed window frame with a central portion disposed between opposing end portions. Inner and outer panels are attached to each other and secured to the opposing end portions of the window frame. In yet another configuration, a vehicle door and window frame subassembly includes a hydroformed one-piece first door frame, a roll formed second door frame and a reinforcement member secured to the tubular one-piece first door frame. An outer front panel is attached to the reinforcement member by at least one mirror bracket. In a modification of this configuration, a mirror bracket which additionally defines a door hinge element interconnects an end of the reinforcement member to an end of the tubular one-piece first door frame.