Vehicle body interchangeability

Abstract

A method is provided for modifying the functionality and aesthetic characteristics of a vehicle. The method includes removing a first body from a vehicle chassis, wherein the first body and vehicle chassis form a first type of vehicle. A second body is then attached to the vehicle chassis without subjecting the second body to significant value-added manufacturing processes. The second body and vehicle chassis form a second type of vehicle different from the first type of vehicle and having different functionality and aesthetic characteristics. The bodies and chassis comply with a standardized body/chassis interface system which enables such interchangeability of bodies on a single chassis, or on a family of chassis.

1 . A method for modifying the functionality and aesthetic characteristics of a vehicle, comprising: 
 removing a first body from a vehicle chassis, wherein the first body and chassis form a first type of vehicle; and    attaching a second body to the chassis without subjecting the second body to significant value-added manufacturing processes, wherein the second body and chassis form a second type of vehicle different from the first type of vehicle and having different functionality and aesthetic characteristics.    
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the chassis includes: 
 a structural frame; a suspension system mounted with respect to the structural frame; at least three wheels rotatably mounted with respect to the suspension system; an energy conversion system mounted with respect to the structural frame, operably connected to at least one wheel, and controllable by wire; and a by-wire braking system mounted with respect to the frame and operably connected to at least one wheel.    
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising purchasing, exchanging, disposing of, or storing the first body.  
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising maintaining an inventory of vehicle bodies which are selectively engageable with the chassis.  
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 4 , wherein said inventory comprises a plurality of bodies having at least  3  different body styles of varying designs and body categories based upon aesthetics or functionality, each style of body being selectively attachable to the chassis.  
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 5 , wherein said inventory includes at least two body styles engageable with the chassis which are selected from the group consisting of sedans, pickup trucks, convertibles, coupes, vans, station wagons, sport-utility vehicles, and other types of transports.  
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 4 , further comprising offering the owner of the chassis a club membership wherein dues are paid for selective access to the vehicle body inventory.  
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 7 , wherein the club membership enables said owner to order, reserve, rent, lease or exchange vehicle bodies on demand.  
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 8 , wherein the owner is an individual end user of the chassis and body.  
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 7 , wherein the owner is a corporate consumer of the chassis and body.  
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 10 , wherein the corporate consumer is an auto rental company.  
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 4 , further comprising returning the first body to the inventory.  
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 12 , further comprising granting possession of the first body to a third party from the inventory for attachment to another vehicle chassis owned by the third party.  
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein said removing and attaching steps are performed at a location convenient to the possessor of the chassis, such as in the chassis possessor's driveway.  
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein said removing and attaching steps are performed in a specialized body exchange service station.  
     
     
         16 . A method of remanufacturing a vehicle comprising: 
 providing a first body attached to a chassis at an attachment interface having body retention couplings in a fixed positional relationship to each other in the interface and a control signal receiving electrical connector, said chassis having wheels, a propulsion system for driving at least one of the wheels, and a power source for the propulsion system;    detaching the first body from the chassis by disengaging the body retention couplings and control signal receiving electrical connector in a non-destructive manner; and    attaching a second body to the chassis at the attachment interface by engaging the body-retention couplings and control signal receiving electrical connector to the second body, wherein the second body has a different body type than the first body.    
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 16 , further comprising maintaining an inventory of vehicle bodies having at least 3 different body styles of varying designs and body categories based upon aesthetics or functionality, each style of body being selectively attachable to the chassis.  
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 17 , wherein said inventory includes at least two body styles engageable with the chassis which are selected from the group consisting of sedans, pickup trucks, convertibles, coupes, vans, station wagons, sport-utility vehicles, and other types of transports.  
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 17 , further comprising offering a club membership wherein dues are paid for selective access to the vehicle body inventory.  
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 19 , wherein the club membership enables a customer to order, reserve, rent, lease or exchange vehicle bodies on demand.  
     
     
         21 . The method of  claim 20 , wherein the customer is an individual end user of the chassis and body.  
     
     
         22 . The method of  claim 20 , wherein the customer is a corporate consumer of the chassis and body.  
     
     
         23 . The method of  claim 20 , wherein the corporate consumer is a rental company.  
     
     
         24 . The method of  claim 16 , wherein said step of attaching the second body to the chassis is performed without subjecting the attachment interface of the chassis or second body to value-added manufacturing operations.  
     
     
         25 . The method of  claim 16 , wherein said removing and attaching steps are performed at a location convenient to the possessor of the chassis.  
     
     
         26 . The method of  claim 16 , wherein said removing and attaching steps are performed in a specialized body exchange service station.  
     
     
         27 . A method of modifying a vehicle comprising: 
 delivering a replacement body to a customer;    detaching an attached body from the customer's chassis at a location selected by the customer; and    attaching the replacement body to the customer's chassis at said location.    
     
     
         28 . The method of  claim 27 , wherein said location is in the customer's driveway.  
     
     
         29 . The method of  claim 27 , wherein said chassis and each of said bodies conform to a standardized body/chassis interface system wherein connection components on the body and chassis are provided in a predetermined spatial relationship relative to each other to facilitate attachment of a variety of different types of bodies to a single chassis design.  
     
     
         30 . A method of modifying a customer's vehicle comprising: 
 detaching an attached body from the customer's chassis at a location selected by the customer; and    attaching a different body to the customer's chassis at said location.    
     
     
         31 . The method of  claim 30 , wherein said location is in the customer's driveway.  
     
     
         32 . The method of  claim 30 , further comprising delivering said different body to said location.  
     
     
         33 . The method of  claim 30 , wherein said chassis and each of said bodies conform to a standardized body/chassis interface system wherein connection components on the body and chassis are provided in a predetermined spatial relationship relative to each other to facilitate attachment of a variety of different types of bodies to a single chassis design or a family of chassis designs.  
     
     
         34 . The method of  claim 30 , wherein the customer owns said attached body and said different body.  
     
     
         35 . The method of  claim 30 , wherein the customer leases said chassis and said different body.  
     
     
         36 . The method of  claim 30 , wherein the customer owns said chassis and rents said different body.  
     
     
         37 . The method of  claim 30 , further comprising receiving the customer's request for said different body via the internet.  
     
     
         38 . The method of  claim 30 , wherein said different body is owned by a third party.