Method of manufacturing a vehicle frame assembly including an integrated hitch having a coating

Abstract

A method of manufacturing a vehicle frame assembly including an integrated hitch having a coating of a material provided thereon includes the initial step of providing a vehicle frame assembly including an integrated hitch. A coating of a first material is provided on the integrated hitch. The coating of the first material provided on the integrated hitch is dehydrated, and a coating of a second material is provided over the coating of the first material provided on the integrated hitch. Lastly, the coating of the first material and the coating of the second material provided on the integrated hitch are cured.

1 . A method of manufacturing a vehicle frame assembly including an integrated hitch having a coating of a material provided thereon comprising the steps of:
 (a) providing a vehicle frame assembly including an integrated hitch;   (b) providing a coating of a first material on the integrated hitch;   (c) dehydrating the coating of the first material provided on the integrated hitch;   (d) providing a coating of a second material over the coating of the first material provided on the integrated hitch; and   (e) curing the coating of the first material and the coating of the second material provided on the integrated hitch.   
   
   
       2 . The method defined in  claim 1  wherein step (b) is performed by providing the coating of the first material on the vehicle frame assembly including the integrated hitch. 
   
   
       3 . The method defined in  claim 1  wherein step (b) is performed by providing a coating of a corrosion-resistant material on the integrated hitch. 
   
   
       4 . The method defined in  claim 1  wherein step (b) is performed by providing the coating of the first material on the vehicle frame assembly including the integrated hitch, and wherein step (c) is performed by dehydrating the coating of the first material provided only on the integrated hitch. 
   
   
       5 . The method defined in  claim 1  wherein step (c) is performed by the application of a high-velocity stream of air to the integrated hitch. 
   
   
       6 . The method defined in  claim 1  wherein step (c) is performed by a radiant heater. 
   
   
       7 . The method defined in  claim 6  wherein step (c) is performed by an infrared heater. 
   
   
       8 . The method defined in  claim 1  wherein step (b) is performed by providing the coating of the first material on the vehicle frame assembly including the integrated hitch, step (c) is performed by dehydrating the coating of the first material provided only on the integrated hitch, and step (d) is performed by providing the coating of the second material over the coating of the first material provided only on the integrated hitch. 
   
   
       9 . The method defined in  claim 1  wherein step (d) is performed by a coating of a material that blocks ultraviolet radiation. 
   
   
       10 . The method defined in  claim 1  wherein step (e) is performed by disposing the vehicle frame assembly in an oven and heating it to a predetermined temperature for a predetermined period of time. 
   
   
       11 . A method of manufacturing an assembly including a portion having a coating of a material provided thereon comprising the steps of:
 (a) providing an assembly including a portion;   (b) providing a coating of a first material on the portion of the assembly;   (c) dehydrating the coating of the first material provided on the portion of the assembly;   (d) providing a coating of a second material over the coating of the first material provided on the portion of the assembly; and   (e) curing the coating of the first material and the coating of the second material provided on the portion of the assembly.   
   
   
       12 . The method defined in  claim 11  wherein step (b) is performed by providing the coating of the first material on the assembly including the portion of the assembly. 
   
   
       13 . The method defined in  claim 11  wherein step (b) is performed by providing a coating of a corrosion-resistant material on the portion of the assembly. 
   
   
       14 . The method defined in  claim 11  wherein step (b) is performed by providing the coating of the first material on the assembly including the portion of the assembly, and wherein step (c) is performed by dehydrating the coating of the first material provided only on the portion of the assembly. 
   
   
       15 . The method defined in  claim 11  wherein step (c) is performed by the application of a high-velocity stream of air to the portion of the assembly. 
   
   
       16 . The method defined in  claim 11  wherein step (c) is performed by a radiant heater. 
   
   
       17 . The method defined in  claim 16  wherein step (c) is performed by an infrared heater. 
   
   
       18 . The method defined in  claim 11  wherein step (b) is performed by providing the coating of the first material on the assembly including the portion of the assembly, step (c) is performed by dehydrating the coating of the first material provided only on the portion of the assembly, and step (d) is performed by providing the coating of the second material over the coating of the first material provided only on the portion of the assembly. 
   
   
       19 . The method defined in  claim 11  wherein step (d) is performed by a coating of a material that blocks ultraviolet radiation. 
   
   
       20 . The method defined in  claim 11  wherein step (e) is performed by disposing the assembly in an oven and heating it to a predetermined temperature for a predetermined period of time.