Modular passenger compartment for motor vehicle

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT Referring to the drawings wherein is illustrated a preferred example of the invention, FIG.
1 illustrates a pick-up truck 10 of the conventional type provided with a factory installed cargo box 12 mounted behind a cab portion 14 of truck 10.
Alternately, light and medium duty trucks such as pick-ups can be secured from the factory without a cargo box installed.
A pick-up truck provides a readily available and inexpensive basis on which to practice the present invention.
However, any light to medium-duty truck or utility vehicle having a chassis capable of supporting the unitized module can be used.
Referring to FIG.
2, pick-up truck 10 has started to undergo modification for the present invention, having had cargo box 12 removed down to chassis 16.
Typical construction for chassis 16 will be an open channel or tubular rail construction forming a rigid frame assembly 17.
The vehicle drivetrain 18 and suspension components 20 remain secured to chassis 16.
A rear wall 22 of cab 14 has been modified to include an enlarged aperture, as illustrated by aperture periphery 24.
In a preferred embodiment, aperture periphery 24 is located approximately 3 inches inward from the outer periphery of cab rear wall 22.
Typically, aperture periphery 24 would be located approximately adjacent to the innermost end of a factory-installed reinforcement member 26 (shown in FIG.
5) that is secured to a portion of rear wall 22 within cab 14.
In another embodiment, aperture periphery 24 may define an opening only behind the passenger area of the front seat, leaving the cab rear wall intact behind the driver.
With reference now to FIGS.
3 through 5, further modifications to the vehicle according to the present invention are illustrated.
An aperture reinforcement member or "stiffener" 28 is secured to rear wall 22 of cab 14 to assist in maintaining the structural integrity of cab 14.
The size and stiffness of stiffener 28 will vary based on application and particularly the size of aperture 24 in the cab rear wall and the amount of structural rigidity lost when creating the aperture