US 12,005,957 B2
Variable gauge cradle
Darren Womack, Windsor (CA); and Nikhil Kripasagar Bolar, Royal Oak, MI (US)
Assigned to MAGNA INTERNATIONAL INC., Aurora (CA)
Appl. No. 17/607,542
Filed by MAGNA INTERNATIONAL INC., Aurora (CA); Darren Womack, Windsor (CA); and Nikhil Kripasagar Bolar, Royal Oak, MI (US)
PCT Filed May 1, 2020, PCT No. PCT/US2020/030953
§ 371(c)(1), (2) Date Oct. 29, 2021,
PCT Pub. No. WO2020/223599, PCT Pub. Date Nov. 5, 2020.
Claims priority of provisional application 62/842,212, filed on May 2, 2019.
Prior Publication US 2022/0242486 A1, Aug. 4, 2022
Int. Cl. B62D 21/11 (2006.01); B32B 15/01 (2006.01)
CPC B62D 21/11 (2013.01) [B32B 15/011 (2013.01)] 21 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A structural frame for a vehicle, the structural frame comprising:
a plurality of interconnected panel portions defining a shape of the frame;
wherein each panel portion has a variable thickness;
wherein the panel portions include a first thickness at a first zone and a second thickness at a second zone;
wherein the first thickness defines a minimum thickness of the panel portion;
wherein the second thickness defines a maximum thickness of the panel portion;
wherein the first thickness is defined by a first sheet of material;
wherein the second thickness is defined by the first sheet of a material and at least one patch attached to the first sheet of material;
wherein the panel portions define a curved cross-section profile.