Abstract: There is provided a hydroformed automotive pillar arrangement operable to provide impact or crash protection in a vehicle. The pillar arrangement includes one or more hydroformed pillars. Each pillar is of unitary elongate construction. Moreover, each pillar is of open or closed substantially tubular cross-section. Furthermore, each pillar has a first end and a second end. Additionally, each pillar is adapted when included in the vehicle to continuously extend at the first end substantially from a socket arrangement coupled to a longitudinal strengthening sill of the vehicle upwardly to the second end.

Abstract: There is provided a vehicle door system for a door of a road vehicle, for example an open-top or convertible vehicle. The door includes a first hinged region thereof and a second openable region thereof. Moreover, the assembly comprises a reinforcement member for inclusion within the door substantially from the hinged region thereof to the second openable region thereof. Furthermore, the assembly further includes a first retention mechanism at the first region and a second retention mechanism at the second region, the mechanisms being resilient in operation to impact or crash forces applied to the door to resist lateral movement of the door when the door is in a closed state.

Abstract: There is disclosed herein an impact protection structure for providing lateral or side impact energy absorption and a method for manufacturing the same.

Abstract: There is provided an impact protection structure for providing impact energy absorption at a region substantially between a first transverse strengthening member and a second substantially upright strengthening member of a road vehicle. In operation, the first and second members are disposed substantially mutually perpendicularly. The impact protection structure comprises an energy absorbing block arrangement and a cover arrangement for maintaining the absorbing block arrangement substantially in position during impact. In operation, the impact protection structure is susceptible to reducing lateral damage to the road vehicle in crash or impact situations, thereby potentially increasing passenger and driver safety.

Abstract: There is provided a vehicular impact energy absorption block arrangement adapted to provide impact energy absorption at a region substantially between a first strengthening member and a second strengthening member of a road vehicle. The energy absorption block arrangement comprises one or more energy absorber blocks operable to suffer deformation, for example substantially non-elastic deformation, when subject to forces arising from an impact or crash of the vehicle, thereby at least partially absorbing the impact energy. The one or more energy absorber blocks are fabricated from expanded plastics material foam, for example expanded polypropylene plastics material foam including pores therein. The pores may be substantially opened or closed.

Abstract: There is provided a vehicular impact energy absorption block arrangement adapted to provide impact energy absorption at a region substantially between a first strengthening member and a second strengthening member of a road vehicle. The energy absorption block arrangement comprises one or more energy absorber blocks operable to suffer deformation, for example substantially non-elastic deformation, when subject to forces arising from an impact or crash of the vehicle, thereby at least partially absorbing the impact energy. The one or more energy absorber blocks are fabricated from expanded plastics material foam, for example expanded polypropylene plastics material foam including pores therein. The pores may be substantially opened or closed.

Abstract: There is provided a hydroformed automotive pillar arrangement operable to provide impact or crash protection in a vehicle. The pillar arrangement includes one or more hydroformed pillars. Each pillar is of unitary elongate construction. Moreover, each pillar is of open or closed substantially tubular cross-section. Furthermore, each pillar has a first end and a second end. Additionally, each pillar is adapted when included in the vehicle to continuously extend at the first end substantially from a socket arrangement coupled to a longitudinal strengthening sill of the vehicle upwardly to the second end.

Abstract: There is provided an impact protection structure for providing impact energy absorption at a region substantially between a first transverse strengthening member and a second substantially upright strengthening member of a road vehicle. In operation, the first and second members are disposed substantially mutually perpendicularly. The impact protection structure comprises an energy absorbing block arrangement and a cover arrangement for maintaining the absorbing block arrangement substantially in position during impact. In operation, the impact protection structure is susceptible to reducing lateral damage to the road vehicle in crash or impact situations, thereby potentially increasing passenger and driver safety.

Abstract: There is provided a vehicle door system for a door of a road vehicle, for example an open-top or convertible vehicle. The door includes a first hinged region thereof and a second openable region thereof. Moreover, the assembly comprises a reinforcement member for inclusion within the door substantially from the hinged region thereof to the second openable region thereof. Furthermore, the assembly further includes a first retention mechanism at the first region and a second retention mechanism at the second region, the mechanisms being resilient in operation to impact or crash forces applied to the door to resist lateral movement of the door when the door is in a closed state.

Abstract: There is provided a vehicular impact energy absorption block arrangement adapted to provide impact energy absorption at a region substantially between a first strengthening member and a second strengthening member of a road vehicle. The energy absorption block arrangement comprises one or more energy absorber blocks operable to suffer deformation, for example substantially non-elastic deformation, when subject to forces arising from an impact or crash of the vehicle, thereby at least partially absorbing the impact energy. The one or more energy absorber blocks are fabricated from expanded plastics material foam, for example expanded polypropylene plastics material foam including pores therein. The pores may be substantially opened or closed.