Appeal No. 2001-0738
Application No. 08/953,606
Ni, the examiner’s primary reference, pertains to a method
for hydroforming a tubular structural member, such as the engine
cradle illustrated in Figure 1. Although not expressly
described, it would appear that the engine cradle is attached to
the vehicle frame by means of the diagonally extending
appendages at the corners of the cradle.
Wallace (Figures 6-7) is directed to an automobile frame
comprising a pair of frame rails 10, 10’, each frame rail having
a front section connected to a mid section by a downwardly
sloping intermediate section (adjacent element 24’ in Figure 7)
such that the front section is disposed in a generally
horizontal plane that is higher that the mid section.
Mukai discloses a vehicle frame having a structure for
fitting a suspension system to the frame. According to the
examiner, Mukai
teaches a subframe (17) wherein the side members
extend in a generally vertical direction from the
front cross member (see Figure 4; downward angled
piece 21 of 17). The subframe is has [sic] a pair of
front attachment members (14) extending in a generally
vertical direction from a front portion of the cradle
and a pair of rear attachment members (16) extending
in a generally vertical direction from a rear portion
of the side members, the attachment members being
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Last modified: November 3, 2007