Skeletal load-bearing structures for motor vehicles

Claim 1

A skeletal load-bearing structure for a motor vehicle, said structure comprising: a plurality of girders each of which is comprised of at least two shell elements of thin sheet metal provided with longitudinal flanges, said shell elements being joined together by their flange so as to form a tube having a substantially circular profile, and a plurality of connectors joining the ends of at least two of said girders together into a unified structure, each said connector comprising at least two shell elements of thin sheet metal having a curved cross-sectional configuration and provided with respective flanges extending uninterruptedly along the longitudinal edges thereof, the said shell elements being connected together by the joining of the flanges along their extent and each said connector shell element having a plurality of arm portions which together with corresponding portions of the other shell elements of the same connector form a plurality of tubular connection stubs to which said ends of said girders are rigidly fixed; said arm portions of each connector shell element merging smoothly with each other across substantially their entire width with the ends of said connector shell elements being provided with rebated extensions coextensive only with the curved portions of said shell elements so as to permit the ends of said girder shell elements to be connected together by overlapping joints and the longitudinal flanges of the girders extending on the prolongation of the flanges of the connector shell elements forming the respective tubular connection stubs of said connectors.