Method of forming extruded vehicle body component

Abstract

A method includes extruding an elongate member that has a longitudinally extending cross section, bending the elongate member about a first axis and subsequently about a second axis, non-parallel to the first axis, to form a vehicle body component.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A method comprising:
 extruding an elongate member having a longitudinally extending cross section; and   bending the elongate member about a first axis and sequentially about a second axis non-parallel to the first axis to form a vehicle body component.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising bending the elongate member about a third axis non-parallel to the first axis or second axis to form the vehicle body component. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising forming one or more apertures in the elongate member. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 3 , wherein the forming step includes drilling into the vehicle body component to form the one or more apertures. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 3 , wherein the forming step is performed before the bending step. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the elongate member includes at least one flange extending laterally from the longitudinally extending cross section. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 6 , wherein the flange extends longitudinally along a portion of the length of the elongate member. 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the longitudinally extending cross section is a closed cross section. 
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the vehicle body component is a roof rail, A-pillar, and hinge pillar combination. 
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the vehicle body component is a shotgun member. 
     
     
         11 . A method comprising:
 extruding an elongate member having first and second ends;   bending the elongate member about a first axis at a first location between the first and second ends; and   bending the elongate member about a second axis, non-parallel to the first axis, at a second location between the first and second ends to form a vehicle body component having first, second, and third sections.   
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 11 , further comprising bending the elongate member about a third axis, non-parallel to the first axis or second axis, at a third location between the first and second ends to form a fourth section on the vehicle body component. 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 11 , further comprising forming one or more apertures in the elongate member. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 13 , wherein the forming step includes drilling into the vehicle body component to form the one or more apertures. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 13 , wherein the forming step is performed before the bending step. 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein the vehicle body component is a roof rail, A-pillar, and hinge pillar combination. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein the vehicle body component is a shotgun member. 
     
     
         18 . A method comprising:
 extruding an elongate member;   bending the elongate member about a first axis to form a roof rail extending from a remaining portion of the elongate member; and   bending the remaining portion about a second axis non-parallel to the first axis to sequentially form an A-pillar and a hinge pillar extending from the roof rail.   
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 18 , further comprising forming one or more apertures in the elongate member. 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 19 , wherein the forming step is performed before the bending steps.