Striker Reinforcement for Hydroformed Automotive Door Frame

• Main Authors: CHEN XIAOMING N, SZALAY DANIEL J, WAGNER DAVID ANTHONY, RATSOS LOU
• Format: Patent
• Language: English
• Published: 11.02.2010
• Subjects: ACCESSORIES THEREFOR; COMBINED OPERATIONS; FIXED CONSTRUCTIONS; GENERAL TAGGING OF CROSS-SECTIONAL TECHNOLOGIES SPANNING OVER SEVERAL SECTIONS OF THE IPC; GENERAL TAGGING OF NEW TECHNOLOGICAL DEVELOPMENTS; HANDCUFFS; KEYS; LAND VEHICLES FOR TRAVELLING OTHERWISE THAN ON RAILS; LOCKS; MACHINE TOOLS; METAL-WORKING NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR; MOTOR VEHICLES; OTHER WORKING OF METAL; PERFORMING OPERATIONS; SAFES; TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER US CLASSIFICATION; TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC; TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC CROSS-REFERENCE ART COLLECTIONS [XRACs] AND DIGESTS; TRAILERS; TRANSPORTING; UNIVERSAL MACHINE TOOLS; WINDOW OR DOOR FITTINGS

A striker reinforcement plate is configured for installation into the interior of a closed section, hydroformed tubular automotive frame member. The striker reinforcement plate is formed with an enlarged mounting tab at one end and a weld tab at the opposing end. The striker reinforcement plate is inserted through a slot formed into the wall of the tubular frame member, against which the enlarged mounting tab prevents the striker reinforcement plate from falling through the slot, and the weld tab is inserted through a special formed opening to receive the weld tab. The weld tab can then be welded to the exterior surface of the tubular frame member, which combined with the enlarged mounting tab secured against the slot holds the striker reinforcement plate in place for final assembly of the striker. The striker can then be bolted to the reinforcement plate and be positionally adjusted in a conventional manner.