Structural reinforcement system for an automotive vehicle
A structural reinforcement system is provided for an automotive vehicle. In another aspect of the present invention, an upper structural beam is employed which extends in a cross-vehicle direction adjacent to a vehicle belt-line. A further aspect of the present invention employs an upper structural beam with a recessed central portion. Yet another aspect of the present invention uses a structural reinforcement system in a convertible roof vehicle.
This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application No. 60/499,669, filed on Sep. 3, 2003. The disclosure of the above application is incorporated by reference herein.
BACKGROUND AND SUMMARY OF THE INVENTIONThe present invention generally relates to automotive vehicle structure and more particularly to a cross-vehicle structural reinforcement for an automotive vehicle.
Cross-vehicle body stiffness within automotive vehicles is important in reducing torsional twist and vibration of the body, but also improves the ride and handling of the vehicle. This issue is especially important for convertible vehicles where the removal of the traditional fixed roof structure further decreases vehicle stiffness to the point where four door convertible roof vehicles have been essentially impractical to achieve with conventional body structure. Furthermore, U.S. Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (“FMVSS”) 214 relates to side impact collision protection for vehicles. This governmental standard employs a moving barrier, equivalent to a truck bumper, which impacts the vehicle generally at and below a belt-line of the front door and B-pillar. FMVSS 214 puts an added premium on cross-vehicle stiffness.
U.S. Pat. No. 1,694,546 entitled “Motor Car,” which issued to Lancia on Dec. 11, 1928, and U.S. Pat. No. 5,788,322 entitled “Body Structure for a Rear Carriage of a Convertible,” which issued to Wolf et al. on Aug. 4, 1998, have both attempted to provide some cross-vehicle structure. It is noteworthy, however, that both constructions are attached to a fixed seat back and/or passenger compartment panel. Furthermore, the Lancia construction appears to lack any cross-vehicle structural support anywhere near the belt-line that would significantly resist side impacts or belt-line torsion, especially for a modern unibody construction vehicle.
In accordance with the present invention, a structural reinforcement system is provided for an automotive vehicle. In another aspect of the present invention, an upper structural beam is employed which extends in a cross-vehicle direction adjacent to a vehicle belt-line. A further aspect of the present invention provides an upper structural beam with a recessed central portion. Yet another aspect of the present invention uses a structural reinforcement system in a convertible roof vehicle.
The present invention is advantageous over conventional constructions, in that the present invention significantly improves cross-vehicle resistance to side impact collisions and provides torsional stiffness sufficient for use with a large four door vehicle, such as one having a convertible roof. The present invention further acts as a seat frame attachment thereby reducing parts and saving redundant weight as a multifunctional device. Moreover, the same structure that adds stiffness also retains rear passenger devices such as airbags, entertainment systems and the like. Additional features and advantages of the present invention will be shown and described with reference to the following description and appended figures.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
An automotive vehicle according to the present invention has a body, a convertible roof and a structural reinforcement system 19. In a first preferred embodiment of vehicle 21, shown in
Referring to
Returning to the preferred embodiment of
Reference should be made to
A fifth preferred embodiment system 19 is shown in
Referring to
While various aspects of the structural reinforcement system have been disclosed, it should be appreciated that variations may be made which fall within the scope of the present invention. For example, additional accessories can be attached to any of the structural reinforcement beams disclosed herein such as folding tables, lamps, telephones, computers and the like. Furthermore, the beams can alternately be manufactured from composite materials such as glass-filled polymers, metal inserts molded within polymers, and the like. The cross-vehicle beams and reinforcements can also be employed behind rear seats or in front of instrument panels although various advantageous of the present invention may not be fully achieved. Structural system 19 is preferably employed in a convertible vehicle having four, side passenger doors 213 but may also be used in a stretch limousine having four or more passenger doors and a stationary roof. Bullet-proof armor is optionally mounted along a cross-car plane parallel and internal to trim panels 105. Furthermore, it should be appreciated that alternate beam shapes can be employed. It is intended by the following claims to cover these and any other departures from the disclosed embodiments that fall within the true spirit of the invention.
Claims
1. An automotive vehicle comprising:
- a first passenger seating area;
- a front door located laterally adjacent the first seating area;
- a second passenger seating area located rearwardly of the first seating area;
- a second door located laterally adjacent the second seating area, the second door being located on the same side as and rearwardly of the first door; and
- a structural reinforcement located between the first and second seating areas, the reinforcement being laterally elongated and having a lower structural beam and an upper structural beam;
- a majority of the lower beam being located substantially adjacent a vehicle floor area; and
- the upper structural beam being located substantially adjacent a vehicular belt-line area.
2. The automotive vehicle of claim 1 wherein the structural reinforcement further comprises a first diagonal beam extending between the upper and lower beams.
3. he automotive vehicle of claim 2 wherein the structural reinforcement further comprises a second diagonal beam crossing the first diagonal beam and extending between the upper and lower beams.
4. The automotive vehicle of claim 1 wherein the upper beam of the structural reinforcement is lower in height adjacent a fore-and-aft extending centerline of the vehicle.
5. The automotive vehicle of claim 4 wherein the lower beam of the structural reinforcement is raised adjacent the fore-and-aft extending centerline of the vehicle, and the vehicle is of a unibody construction.
6. The automotive vehicle of claim 1 further comprising an entertainment system attached to the structural reinforcement.
7. The automotive vehicle of claim 6 wherein the entertainment system includes a rear passenger audio transmitting device.
8. The automotive vehicle of claim 1 further comprising a rear passenger safety restraint is attached to the structural reinforcement.
9. The automotive vehicle of claim 8 wherein the rear passenger safety restraint is an inflatable airbag.
10. The automotive vehicle of claim 1 further comprising at least one roll bar attached to the structural reinforcement.
11. The automotive vehicle of claim 1 further comprising an electronic device attached to the structural reinforcement.
12. The automotive vehicle of claim 1 further comprising armor attached to the structural reinforcement.
13. The automotive vehicle of claim 1 wherein the structural reinforcement assists the vehicle in satisfactorily passing Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard side impact test 214.
14. The automotive vehicle of claim 1 further comprising at least two front seats located in the front seating area, the front seats being independently movable and not restrained by the structural reinforcement.
15. The automotive vehicle of claim 1 further comprising a convertible roof movable to a raised position, covering the front and rear seating areas, to a retracted position.
16. The automotive vehicle of claim 1 wherein the structural reinforcement is hydroformed metal.
17. An automotive vehicle comprising:
- a front passenger seat;
- a rear passenger seat located substantially behind the front seat;
- a left structural rocker panel;
- a right structural rocker panel; and
- a structure extending in a substantially cross-vehicle direction between the front and rear seats, a first portion of the structure being adjacent at least a vehicular beltline, a second portion of the structure being directly attached to the rocker panels;
- the front seat being movable in a fore-and-aft direction independent of the structure.
18. The automotive vehicle of claim 17 wherein the first portion of the structure comprises an upper structural beam and the second portion of the structure comprises a lower structural beam.
19. The automotive vehicle of claim 18 wherein the structure further comprises a first diagonal beam extending between the upper and lower beams.
20. The automotive vehicle of claim 19 wherein the structure further comprises a second diagonal beam crossing the first diagonal beam and extending between the upper and lower beams.
21. The automotive vehicle of claim 17 further comprising at least four passenger doors, at least two in front of the structural device and at least two behind the structure.
22. The automotive vehicle of claim 21 further comprising left and right B-pillars extending substantially vertically above the rocker panels, the structure being directly attached to the B-pillars, the rocker panels and B-pillars being of unibody construction.
23. The automotive vehicle of claim 22 further comprising door hardware mounted to the structure.
24. The automotive vehicle of claim 17 further comprising an entertainment system attached to the structure.
25. The automotive vehicle of claim 24 wherein the entertainment system includes a rear passenger audio transmitting device.
26. The automotive vehicle of claim 17 further comprising a rear passenger safety restraint attached to the structure.
27. The automotive vehicle of claim 26 wherein the rear passenger safety restraint is an inflatable airbag.
28. The automotive vehicle of claim 17 wherein the first portion of the structure device is an upper structural beam which is lower in height adjacent a fore-and-aft extending centerline of the vehicle.
29. The automotive vehicle of claim 24 further comprising at least one roll bar attached to the structure.
30. The automotive vehicle of claim 17 further comprising an electronic device attached to the structure.
31. The automotive vehicle of claim 17 wherein the structure is hydroformed metal.
32. The automotive vehicle of claim 17 further comprising armor attached to the structure.
33. The automotive vehicle of claim 17 further comprising a convertible roof automatically movable to a raised position, covering the front and rear seats, to a retracted position.
34. An automotive vehicle comprising:
- a body having a front seating area and a rear seating area;
- at least one front passenger door opening positioned to allow access to the front seating area;
- at least one rear passenger door opening positioned to allow access to the rear seating area;
- a convertible roof movable from a raised position, covering at least one of the seating areas, to a retracted position; and
- a structural reinforcement extending in a substantially cross-vehicle direction between the seating areas, the structural reinforcement including a substantially hollow upper beam extending in a cross-vehicle direction substantially adjacent a beltline of the body.
35. The automotive vehicle of claim 34 further comprising an entertainment system attached to the structural reinforcement.
36. The automotive vehicle of claim 35 wherein the entertainment system includes a rear passenger audio transmitting device.
37. The automotive vehicle of claim 34 further comprising a rear passenger safety restraint attached to the structural reinforcement.
38. The automotive vehicle of claim 37 wherein the rear passenger safety restraint is an inflatable airbag.
39. The automotive vehicle of claim 34 wherein the structural reinforcement further comprises:
- a lower structure beam; and
- at least two crossing and diagonal, structural beams;
- wherein the lower and diagonal beams are all substantially hollow.
40. The automotive vehicle of claim 34 wherein the upper beam of the structural reinforcement is lower in height adjacent a fore-and-aft extending centerline of the vehicle.
41. The automotive vehicle of claim 34 further comprising at least one roll bar attached to the structural reinforcement.
42. The automotive vehicle of claim 34 further comprising at least two front seats located in the front seating area, the front seats being independently movable and not attached to the structural reinforcement.
43. The automotive vehicle of claim 34 wherein the convertible roof further comprises:
- an automatic actuator;
- roof rails and roof bows operably movable by the actuator; and
- a pliable roof cover attached to the roof bows.
44. The automotive vehicle of claim 34 wherein the convertible roof further comprises:
- an automatic actuator; and
- at least one hard-top roof panel operably movable by the actuator.
45. The automotive vehicle of claim 34 further comprising a structural rocker panel attached to the structural reinforcement.
46. The automotive vehicle of claim 34 further comprising a central floor tunnel attached to the structural reinforcement.
47. A structural reinforcement system for an automotive vehicle, the system comprising:
- an upper structural beam having at least three offset wall segments;
- a lower structural beam having at least three offset wall segments, majorities of the upper and lower beams being substantially parallel and spaced from each other; and
- at least two diagonal structural beams spanning between the upper and lower beams;
- a central portion of the upper beam being recessed below a majority height which is outboard on both sides of the central portion.
48. The system of claim 47 wherein the diagonal beams cross each other.
49. The system of claim 47 further comprising a floor tunnel attachment section extending from the lower beam.
50. The system of claim 47 further comprising rocker panel attachment sections.
51. The system of claim 47 further comprising an entertainment system attached to at least one of the beams.
52. The system of claim 47 further comprising B-pillar attachment sections.
53. The system of claim 47 further comprising at least one structural, substantially vertical beam extending between the upper and lower beams.
54. The system of claim 47 further comprising a rear passenger safety restraint is attached to at least one of the beams.
55. The system of claim 47 further comprising at least one roll bar attached to at least one of the beams.
56. The system of claim 47 further comprising an electronic device attached to at least one of the beams.
57. The system of claim 47 wherein the beams are hydroformed metal.
58. The system of claim 47 wherein there are at least four offset walls for each of the upper and lower beams defining hollow box-sections.
59. An automotive vehicle apparatus comprising a structural reinforcement having a top view shape including a first arcuately curved segment and a second arcuately curved segment, the arcuately curved segments being joined at a central segment, outboard ends of the curved segments and the central segment all projecting in substantially the same direction relative to the curved segments.
60. The apparatus of claim 59 further comprising substantially vertically extending, vehicle body pillars attached to the ends of the reinforcement.
61. The apparatus of claim 60 wherein the pillars are B-pillars.
62. The apparatus of claim 59 wherein the reinforcement is elongated in a cross-vehicle direction with the ends being located adjacent outboard edges of the vehicle body.
63. The apparatus of claim 59 wherein the ends and central segment of the reinforcement all extend in a forward direction relative to the vehicle.
64. The apparatus of claim 59 further comprising a passenger seat located adjacent to each curved segment.
65. An automotive vehicle apparatus comprising:
- a reinforcement extending in a cross-vehicle direction substantially from one outboard side of the vehicle to the other; and
- a passenger seat-retaining member attached to the reinforcement.
66. The apparatus of claim 65 further comprising a vehicle floor, wherein at least a majority of the reinforcement is spaced above the floor.
67. The apparatus of claim 65 further comprising a second passenger sear-retaining member attached to the reinforcement.
68. The apparatus of claim 65 further comprising a front passenger seat attached to the member and the member defines a hollow box section.
69. The apparatus of claim 65 further comprising substantially vertically extending, vehicle body pillars, wherein outboard ends of the reinforcement are secured to the pillars.
70. An automotive vehicle comprising:
- a body having a front seating area and a rear seating area, the body also having a floor;
- at least one front passenger door opening positioned to allow access to the front seating area;
- at least one rear passenger door opening positioned to allow access to the rear seating area;
- a convertible roof movable from a raised position, covering at least one of the seating areas, to a retracted position; and
- a structural reinforcement extending in a substantially cross-vehicle direction between the seating areas, the structural reinforcement including a beam having a majority portion extending in a cross-vehicle direction spaced away from the floor.
71. The automotive vehicle of claim 70 further comprising an entertainment system attached to the structural reinforcement.
72. The automotive vehicle of claim 70 further comprising a rear passenger safety restraint attached to the structural reinforcement.
73. The automotive vehicle of claim 70 wherein the structural reinforcement further comprises:
- a lower structure beam located adjacent the floor; and
- at least two crossing and diagonal, structural beams;
- wherein the lower and diagonal beams are all substantially hollow.
74. The automotive vehicle of claim 70 wherein the beam of the structural reinforcement is lower in height adjacent a fore-and-aft extending centerline of the vehicle.
75. The automotive vehicle of claim 70 further comprising at least one roll bar attached to the structural reinforcement.
76. The automotive vehicle of claim 70 further comprising at least two front seats located in the front seating area, the front seats being independently movable and not attached to the structural reinforcement.
77. The automotive vehicle of claim 70 wherein the convertible roof further comprises:
- an automatic actuator;
- roof rails and roof bows operably movable by the actuator; and
- a pliable roof cover attached to the roof bows.
78. The automotive vehicle of claim 70 wherein the convertible roof further comprises:
- an automatic actuator; and
- at least one hard-top roof panel operably movable by the actuator.
79. The automotive vehicle of claim 70 wherein the beam is an upper beam attached to B-pillars of the body substantially adjacent a beltline of the body.
80. The automotive vehicle of claim 70 wherein the structural reinforcement further comprises a lower beam extending in a substantially cross-vehicle direction and a first diagonal beam extending between the upper and lower beams.
81. A method of manufacturing a portion of an automotive vehicle including two front passenger door openings, at least two rear passenger door openings, substantially vertical pillars each located between the front and rear door openings, a vehicle floor, an internal structure, and front passenger seats, the method comprising:
- (a) creating the internal structure from a rigid material to comprise at least two elongated and generally parallel members;
- (b) securing the internal structure to the pillars with a majority of each of the members extending in a generally cross-vehicle direction from at least a center of the vehicle to at least one of the pillars, substantially below a vehicle beltline and above the vehicle floor; and
- (c) allowing the front passenger seats to move independently of the internal structure.
82. The method of claim 81 further comprising:
- (a) spacing one of the members above the other; and
- (b) affixing diagonal beams between the members.
83. The method claim 81 further comprising creating the members with a closed wall cross-sectional shape defining a substantially hollow center.
84. The method of claim 81 further comprising automatically opening and closing a movable roof section.
85. The method of claim 81 further comprising spacing at least one of the members away from a floor of the vehicle.
Type: Application
Filed: Apr 13, 2004
Publication Date: Mar 3, 2005
Inventors: James Robertson (Rochester, MI), Robert Storc (Rochester Hills, MI)
Application Number: 10/822,901