Vehicle body configurations
View Patent ↗Various body configurations capitalize upon the interchangeability of vehicle bodies on a flat rolling chassis. The ability to interchange vehicle bodies and exchange modular interior components enables substantial freedom and variation in the types of automobile, trucks, heavy equipment, machinery, RV bodies, etc. that can be interchanged on a rolling chassis. Various seating arrangements may be provided as well as enhanced space utilization, and different types of interior and exterior environments, aesthetics and functionality, including sound, lighting, and other technology enhancements may be provided on a body. Methods and structures facilitate the exchange of modular body components, such as via a removable body floor.
1. A vehicle body configured for attachment to a chassis, the body comprising:
a body floor configured to extend substantially the entire length of the chassis;
a seat assembly supported by the floor;
a driver interface supported with respect to the floor adjacent the seat assembly to communicate vehicle control signals to the chassis from a seated driver;
an interface operatively connected to the floor configured for attachment to the chassis, said interface including at least one electrical connector operatively connected to the driver interface to receive the vehicle control signals; and
wherein said interface is configured to conform to a standardized interface system wherein mechanical and electrical connection components of the body and chassis complement each other and are sufficiently aligned such that different styles of conforming bodies may be mated to any conforming chassis without need for modification to either the chassis or body to facilitate attachment.
2. The body of claim 1 , further comprising an enclosure connected to the floor for sheltering occupants within the body, wherein the enclosure is connected to opposing ends of the floor such that the enclosure extends substantially the entire length of the floor so tat substantially the entire length of the floor is accessible and usable space for occupants.
3. The body of claim 1 , wherein the body is selected from the group consisting of sedans, pickup trucks, convertibles, coupes, vans, station wagons, sport-utility vehicles, and other types of transports.
4. For use in combination with a vehicle chassis, a vehicle body comprising:
an enclosure configured to shelter a vehicle occupant;
a driver communication interface positioned within the enclosure to communicate electronic vehicle control signals to the chassis from a vehicle driver; and
a chassis-attachment interface connected to the enclosure and configured for selective attachment to the chassis, said chassis-attachment interface including an electrical connector being operatively connected to said driver communication interface to receive said electronic vehicle control signals and being engageable with a complementary connector on the vehicle chassis.
5. The body of claim 4 , wherein the enclosure is supported by a floor which extends substantially the entire length of the chassis, so that substantially the entire length of the floor is accessible and usable space for occupants.
6. The body of claim 5 , wherein the floor is substantially flat.
7. The body of claim 5 , further comprising at least one seat supported on the floor.
8. The body of claim 5 , further comprising at least one releasable connector for releasably attaching the enclosure to the floor.
9. The body of claim 4 , wherein the chassis-attachment interface includes a plurality of load-transmitting chassis-attachment couplings positioned for attachment to corresponding load-bearing couplings on the chassis.
10. The body of claim 4 , wherein the enclosure is selected from the body-style group consisting of sedans, pickup trucks, convertibles, coupes, vans, station wagons, sport-utility vehicles, and other types of transports.