Reinforcement Patents (Class 296/146.6)
  • Publication number: 20140110964
    Abstract: In an embodiment, a side door for a vehicle can comprise: a structure comprising a plastic inner shell comprising a fiber strip, and a plastic outer shell comprising an outer shell support beam positioned across a width of the outer shell. The outer shell support beam can comprise a fiber strip with ?50 wt. % fibers oriented at an angle of less than or equal to ±45° to a main axis. In an embodiment, a method for making the side door for a vehicle can comprise: flow molding a fiber-reinforced polymer over a fiber strip to form a plastic inner shell; flow molding a fiber-reinforced polymer over a fiber strip deposited to form a plastic outer shell, wherein the outer shell comprises an outer shell support beam positioned across a width of the outer shell; and joining the inner shell and the outer shell together to form a composite structure.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 24, 2012
    Publication date: April 24, 2014
    Applicant: SABIC INNOVATIVE PLASTICS IP B.V.
    Inventors: Warden Schijve, Harold van Aken
  • Patent number: 8702153
    Abstract: Provided is a vehicular door including a load transfer member. The load transfer member includes a transfer member body disposed in a wide-thickness portion in a door body, and a projection projecting downward from the transfer member body. The transfer member body has a lower region whose surface on a door-outer-panel side abuts on, or comes close to, the inner surface of the door outer panel, and an inclined region whose door-outer-panel side surface is inclined to come apart from the door outer panel and whose surface on a door-inner-panel side abuts on, or comes close to, the inner surface of the door inner panel. The thickness of the lower region and the inclined region in a door-thickness direction is set narrower than the width of an insertion portion between the door inner panel and a door beam.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 12, 2012
    Date of Patent: April 22, 2014
    Assignee: Honda Motor Co., Ltd
    Inventors: Kiyohito Kurokawa, Masakazu Takahashi, Itaru Genpei, Shingo Hakamata, Isamu Nakanishi, Tomofumi Ichinose, Daichi Okamoto, Hakurei Watanabe, Mai Kato, Yuji Nozawa, Yoshihisa Sugamata
  • Publication number: 20140077523
    Abstract: A connecting structure of a sliding door and a swing door for a vehicle includes a front door swingably, and a rear door slidably installed; a first vertical beam vertically installed at the front door of the vehicle body and including upper and lower latch reinforcements which are horizontally installed at the upper and lower portions thereof, respectively; a second vertical beam vertically installed at the rear door of the vehicle body and including an upper and lower roller arm reinforcements which are horizontally installed at the upper and lower portions thereof, respectively; and a female and male pole brackets formed at rear and front sides of the front and rear doors, respectively. It is possible to improve safety by ensuring a side strength of the vehicle and increase marketable quality by reinforcing the connecting structure of the sliding door and the swing door at the same time.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 5, 2012
    Publication date: March 20, 2014
    Applicant: Hyundai Motor Company
    Inventor: Jae Hong Choi
  • Publication number: 20140077522
    Abstract: The invention relates to a bumper bracket for a motor vehicle body, comprising a first profiled section having a three-dimensional structure and a second component, which spatially closes the first profiled section. The two components have overlapping surfaces used for welding, wherein the welding is carried out by way of impulse capacitor discharge welding.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 24, 2013
    Publication date: March 20, 2014
    Inventors: Edward Schleichert, Oliver Kostka
  • Patent number: 8672369
    Abstract: A lock indicator arm for a door having a latch mechanism includes a rod portion connectable on a first end to the latch mechanism, and a knob portion located on a second end of the rod portion opposite the first end and formed as a one-piece structure with the rod portion. The rod portion may include a spring region configured to bias the rod portion against either an interior panel, an exterior panel, or both panels. The knob portion and the rod portion of the lock indicator arm may be formed from a matrix material and a filler material. The filler material may include a plurality of fibers, and the plurality of fibers may be oriented substantially longitudinally along the rod portion. The rod portion of the lock indicator arm may have one of an H-shape cross section and a W-shape cross section.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 20, 2010
    Date of Patent: March 18, 2014
    Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC
    Inventors: Lorin A. Mazur, James C. O'Kane, Sara M Repen, Kouichi Inaba, Rinaldo M. Lucchesi, James Axiotis
  • Publication number: 20140062123
    Abstract: A vehicle door includes an elongated upper door beam and an elongated lower door beam each fixed horizontally to an inner surface of a door outer panel. Respective ends of the door beams are fixed to the inner surface of the door outer panel by fixing members. A portion of the upper door beam at an intermediate position between the ends in a longitudinal direction is coupled to the inner surface of the door outer panel by a first coupling bracket and a second coupling bracket with a seal member (a mastic sealer) interposed between the coupling brackets and the inner surface. A harness for a window regulator and a wire harness for an outer handle are installed inside a door main body. The wire harness is mounted on the first coupling bracket and the second coupling bracket.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 3, 2013
    Publication date: March 6, 2014
    Inventors: Ryo Suesada, Kazutaka Imamura
  • Patent number: 8661617
    Abstract: A hooking structure disposed on a door of a vehicle ensures safety of a passenger by preventing the door from being pushed inside in a side collision of the vehicle, by fastening a hooking structure integrally formed with the lower end of the door. The hooking structure may include: a welding flange that is fastened in parallel to an inner panel of a vehicle door; a hooking flange formed perpendicularly to an outer panel of the vehicle door; a connecting portion integrally connecting the welding flange with the hooking flange; a first closed-section flange disposed in an inverted wall shape between the welding flange and the connecting portion; and a second closed-section flange disposed in an inverted wall shape between the hooking flange and the connecting portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 31, 2012
    Date of Patent: March 4, 2014
    Assignees: Hyundai Motor Company, Kia Motors Corporation
    Inventor: Si-Yun Kim
  • Patent number: 8651557
    Abstract: A door frame for a vehicle includes a vertical portion fixed to an upper end portion of a door body, and a main frame portion connected to an upper end of the vertical portion and fixed to the upper end portion of the door body. The vertical portion includes an envelope portion and a fixing portion. The envelope portion includes a bottom wall, an outer wall extending in an outward direction of the vehicle from an end portion of the bottom wall at an outer side of the door frame, and an inner wall extending in the outward direction from an end portion of the bottom wall at an inner side of the door frame. The bottom wall of which a width in a longitudinal direction of the vehicle is greater in a vicinity of the door body than at an upper end side of the vertical portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 26, 2012
    Date of Patent: February 18, 2014
    Assignee: Aisin Seiki Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Shunsuke Suzuki
  • Patent number: 8628134
    Abstract: A lining for a vehicle part is disclosed. The lining has a main body that comprises a reinforcement. The main body and the reinforcement are made of the same material. The reinforcement may be made of a material removed from the main body. The lining may also include a decorative layer. A method for producing such a lining is also disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 15, 2010
    Date of Patent: January 14, 2014
    Assignee: Johnson Controls Technology Company
    Inventors: Robert Weber, Karsten Pursche, Josef Budke, Michael Welz
  • Publication number: 20140001788
    Abstract: [Object] It is an object of the present invention to provide a crash reinforcing member for a vehicle capable of preventing reduction in flexural rigidity as much as possible even if deformation progresses when a load at the time of crash of the vehicle is input. [Solution] A crash reinforcing member for a vehicle (e.g., door impact beam) includes a long body 10. The body 10 has a hat-shaped opened cross-sectional shape by connecting, with one another, a pair of walls 11, a pair of curved corners 12, a center flange 13, and a pair of outer flanges 14. The body 10 is divided into three sections P1, P2 and P3. A width (C1) of the center flange in the section P1 is wider than a width (C2) of the center flange in the section P2. A cross-sectional area of the curved corner 12 in the section P1 is narrower than a cross-sectional area of the curved corner in the section P2. A cross-sectional height (H1) of the section P1 is higher than a cross-sectional height (H2) of the section P2.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 26, 2011
    Publication date: January 2, 2014
    Inventor: Yoshinori Ito
  • Patent number: 8602483
    Abstract: A vehicle door is provided with a reinforcing structure which improves handling of impact energy in the longitudinal direction of the vehicle by transferring impact energy received by the A-pillar to the door through the door hinges and the reinforcing structure to the B-pillar of the vehicle frame.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 17, 2009
    Date of Patent: December 10, 2013
    Assignee: Volvo Lastvagnar AB
    Inventors: Jonas Svedberg, Andreas Wikman, Errol Michaud, Carl Stalhammar, Svante Borged
  • Publication number: 20130300150
    Abstract: A door edge protection device for a motor vehicle door, with a door edge protection profile (5) which is guided movably with respect to the door at at least two points lying one behind the other in the longitudinal direction of the door, the door edge protection profile (5) being driven via an eccentric lever (7) mounted rotatably in the door and the door edge protection profile (5) having a holding rod (6) which is guided by a linear guide (10) which is fixed in the door, the holding rod (6) being bent in the region of the linear guide (8, 9; 11).
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 8, 2013
    Publication date: November 14, 2013
    Inventor: Matthias Tensing
  • Patent number: 8544935
    Abstract: A door impact beam for a motor vehicle includes a pot-shaped member made from a metal sheet and extending over a major part of a length of the beam to define two legs and a bridge interconnecting the legs. The bridge has a central length portion which is formed with an embossment defined by a depth, with a ratio of the depth of the embossment to a height of the pot-shaped member in midsection ranging between 1:3 and 1:6. The pot-shaped member has side flanges extending transversely from lower longitudinal edges of the legs in the central length portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 9, 2011
    Date of Patent: October 1, 2013
    Assignee: Benteler Automobiltechik GmbH
    Inventors: Andreas Wille, Dariusz Straznikiewicz, Andreas Schiller
  • Patent number: 8540306
    Abstract: Wide brackets of door impact beams are formed in a Z shape such that beam contact parts are extended horizontally in one direction above oblique force support parts and wide overlap parts are extended horizontally in the opposite direction below the oblique force support parts. Therefore, while an overlap section of a door with respect to a B pillar is further widened, a body frame and a B pillar of a 2-door coupe vehicle exhibit the same safety performance as a body frame and a B pillar of a 4-door sedan vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 13, 2012
    Date of Patent: September 24, 2013
    Assignees: Hyundai Motor Company, Kia Motors Corporation
    Inventor: Yongha Han
  • Patent number: 8528961
    Abstract: The invention is directed to an electric swing plug door operator with a remotely powered auxiliary lock mechanism, door striker, catch and manual release system for use on light to medium duty shuttle or utility vehicles. The swing plug door system includes a door operator and base plate assembly, a shaft and arm assembly, a guide rod assembly, a lower shaft pivot, a door panel with a leading edge catch and lock striker assembly, an auxiliary lock and a manual release cable. The auxiliary lock assembly includes a lock bar engaging the lock striker mounted to the trailing edge of the door panel when the door reaches the fully closed position. The door operator includes a manual release lever and gear motor subassembly to drive the door system linkage and to manually disengage the door linkage and lock assembly to gain manual egress from the vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 29, 2008
    Date of Patent: September 10, 2013
    Assignee: Wabtec Holding Corp.
    Inventors: Gregory S. Beck, Fotios Golemis, Rodrigo E. Guajardo
  • Patent number: 8517450
    Abstract: A sliding door arrangement for a motor vehicle is provided with a safeguard for securing and/or reinforcing the sliding door against exposure to external forces. The arrangement includes safeguard elements arranged on a column-side and door-side carrier, which in the closed position of the sliding door viewed in the transverse direction of the vehicle come to overlap each other at least regionally. At least one of the safeguard elements is arranged with a mounting plate on a column- or door-side carrier, and abuts a rear side of the carrier facing away from the opposing carrier.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 1, 2010
    Date of Patent: August 27, 2013
    Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC
    Inventor: Marcus Lange
  • Patent number: 8510997
    Abstract: A door construction includes a door, comprising an outer panel, and adapted to cover an opening formed in a vehicle body; a side impact bar, disposed in an interior of the door, and extending in a longitudinal direction of the vehicle body; a window regulator, disposed in the interior of the door, and operable to raise and lower a window glass; and a plate-shaped member, disposed in the interior of the door, and adapted to support the window regulator. The plate-shaped member is connected to the side impact bar. The plate-shaped member has a shape following the outer panel. A width of the side impact bar and a width of the window regulator are overlapped with each other in a width direction of the vehicle body.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 27, 2006
    Date of Patent: August 20, 2013
    Assignee: Mitsubishi Jidosha Kogyo K.K.
    Inventors: Yoji Nakamori, Yutaka Fujiwara
  • Patent number: 8511740
    Abstract: A vehicle door comprises an outer door panel, and inner door panel, and a reinforcement member. The outer door panel includes a pair of vertically extending free ends and a pair of horizontally extending free ends forming a peripheral edge portion. The inner door panel is rigidly attached to the peripheral edge portion of the outer door panel such that an internal door cavity is defined between the outer and inner door panels. The reinforcement member is disposed in the internal door cavity. The reinforcement member includes a first attachment portion rigidly attached to an inner surface of the outer door panel at a first location adjacent the peripheral edge portion of the outer door panel, and a second attachment portion rigidly attached to an inner surface of the inner door panel at a second location.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 9, 2011
    Date of Patent: August 20, 2013
    Assignee: Nissan North America, Inc.
    Inventors: Erik Anderson, Jonathan Patty, David Kovie, Charles Cutting
  • Patent number: 8491046
    Abstract: A center pillar section formed of a high-tensile steel plate is fixed to a side panel frame section including a roof rail section formed of an ordinary-tensile steel plate. A reinforcing member formed of a high-tensile steel plate is provided inside the roof rail section, and the center pillar section is fixed at its upper end portion to the outer surface of the reinforcing member and at its lower end portion to the side sill section. A door beam provided within a front door overlaps the center pillar section and lower portion of a front pillar section. Front and rear end portions of the door beam are opposed to respective increased-width portions of the front pillar section and center pillar section.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 22, 2011
    Date of Patent: July 23, 2013
    Assignee: Honda Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Shigeyuki Nagai, Tomohisa Tanaka, Yusuke Takayama, Hitoshi Mizohata, Yasunori Watanabe
  • Publication number: 20130168996
    Abstract: A vehicle door is provided with a reinforcing structure which improves handling of impact energy in the longitudinal direction of the vehicle by transferring impact energy received by the A-pillar to the door through the door hinges and the reinforcing structure to the B-pillar of the vehicle frame.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 17, 2009
    Publication date: July 4, 2013
    Applicant: Volvo Lastvagnar AB
    Inventors: Jonas Svedberg, Andreas Wikman, Errol Michaud, Carl Stalhammar, Svante Borged
  • Publication number: 20130168997
    Abstract: Provided is a vehicular door including a load transfer member. The load transfer member includes a transfer member body disposed in a wide-thickness portion in a door body, and a projection projecting downward from the transfer member body. The transfer member body has a lower region whose surface on a door-outer-panel side abuts on, or comes close to, the inner surface of the door outer panel, and an inclined region whose door-outer-panel side surface is inclined to come apart from the door outer panel and whose surface on a door-inner-panel side abuts on, or comes close to, the inner surface of the door inner panel. The thickness of the lower region and the inclined region in a door-thickness direction is set narrower than the width of an insertion portion between the door inner panel and a door beam.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 12, 2012
    Publication date: July 4, 2013
    Applicant: HONDA MOTOR CO., LTD
    Inventor: Honda Motor Co., Ltd.
  • Publication number: 20130147229
    Abstract: Wide brackets of door impact beams are formed in a Z shape such that beam contact parts are extended horizontally in one direction above oblique force support parts and wide overlap parts are extended horizontally in the opposite direction below the oblique force support parts. Therefore, while an overlap section of a door with respect to a B pillar is further widened, a body frame and a B pillar of a 2-door coupe vehicle exhibit the same safety performance as a body frame and a B pillar of a 4-door sedan vehicle.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 13, 2012
    Publication date: June 13, 2013
    Applicants: Kia Motors Corporation, Hyundai Motor Company
    Inventor: Yongha HAN
  • Publication number: 20130140845
    Abstract: A supporting structure of a door impact beam for a vehicle mounted on an inner panel of a door for the vehicle, may include a coupling part formed with a coupling groove to which the impact beam may be coupled, a supporting part bent downwardly from the coupling part and supporting the coupling part, and mounting parts provided along side portions of the coupling part and the supporting part and mounted on the inner panel of the door, wherein the coupling part, the supporting part, and the mounting part may be integrally formed, and the coupling part and the supporting part may be protruded from the inner panel of the door to form a reinforcing part.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 16, 2012
    Publication date: June 6, 2013
    Applicants: Kia Motors Corporation, Hyundai Motor Company
    Inventors: Hyundai Motor Company, Kia Motors Corporation
  • Patent number: 8454078
    Abstract: One embodiment includes a lightweight automotive vehicle door construction including an inner panel partially formed from a lightweight metal casting. The casting provides a toe pan, hinge pillar and beltline. A lightweight stamping connected with the casting provides a remainder of the inner skin. The stamping provides an opposite pillar and latch mount. A header connected to the casting along a first end and with the beltline at a second end provides a window frame. A side intrusion beam extends between the hinge pillar and the opposite pillar. An outer panel is connected with the inner panel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 17, 2009
    Date of Patent: June 4, 2013
    Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC
    Inventors: Anil K. Sachdev, Chih-Cheng Hsu, Sooho Kim, Raja K Mishra
  • Patent number: 8444208
    Abstract: An attachment member has a first holding member and a second holding member that are oppositely positioned on a door impact beam while holding the door impact beam therebetween. The first holding member has a claw portion formed therein. The claw portion is capable of being elastically deformed by contacting the door impact beam when the attachment member is attached to the door impact beam. At least one of the first holding member and the second holding member is adhered to the door impact beam. The first holding member and the second holding member are bonded while being electrically connected to each other. The attachment member is attached to the door impact beam while the claw portion contacts the door impact beam.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 17, 2009
    Date of Patent: May 21, 2013
    Assignee: Toyota Shatai Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Norihito Inoue, Nobuo Hayama
  • Patent number: 8443552
    Abstract: A vehicle has a mounting structure for mounting a door guard bar. An insertion hole is formed in an upper portion of a trim pad, and a lever-handle accommodating hole is formed in a side portion of the trim pad below the insertion hole. An end portion of a lever handle is inserted into the lever-handle accommodating hole. A cover portion of a bezel is disposed on the inner side of the lever-handle accommodating hole, and covers a part of the lever-handle accommodating hole while exposing an operation portion of the lever handle to the inner side of the vehicle. A door guard bar is inserted into the insertion hole, and fixed to the inner door panel of the vehicle door. The cover portion of the bezel covers the portion of the door guard bar.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 19, 2007
    Date of Patent: May 21, 2013
    Assignee: Isuzu Motors Limited
    Inventors: Kouji Kinoshita, Kazuhisa Chiba, Yukihito Suzuki, Hiroki Okada
  • Patent number: 8418408
    Abstract: In a vehicle door structure, a beam member (21) having a S-shaped cross section and extending in a fore-and-aft direction of a vehicle body is attached to an inner panel (15), and the upper edge of the inner panel (15) is formed by the beam member (21). Thereby, a crash load of a frontal crash is transmitted in a favorable manner, and energy of a side impact is adequately absorbed without incurring a cost increase or a weight increase owing to the use of the door beam.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 21, 2009
    Date of Patent: April 16, 2013
    Assignee: Honda Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Shigeto Yasuhara, Shingo Segawa, Masatoshi Horino, Masami Kominamidate
  • Patent number: 8419091
    Abstract: A bumper for an automobile includes a crossbeam which is formed from at least two separate hollow profiles, wherein the hollow profiles abut one another along a longitudinal wall and are joined with one another. The abutting longitudinal walls form a double web oriented in the longitudinal direction of the automobile. The hollow profiles may have an identical cross-sectional configuration. The hollow profiles may be roll-formed or extruded. The modular construction of the crossbeam from separate hollow profiles allows a lightweight construction and allows the load characteristic of the crossbeam to be functionally adapted to different requirements depending on the vehicle or vehicle class.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 13, 2011
    Date of Patent: April 16, 2013
    Assignee: Benteler Automobiltechnik GmbH
    Inventors: Michael Roll, Christian Handing, Martin Schröter, Andreas Schiller
  • Patent number: 8419111
    Abstract: Using as a vehicle body reinforcing member a bent tube with mixed bends of inward and outward projection according to the present invention makes it possible, during a vehicle body collision, to absorb more energy than and exhibit better impact resistance than a vehicle body reinforcing member that uses one of a known straight tube and a curved tube of radius R entirely. Thus the dimensions (outside diameter, wall thickness) of the steel tube that is used as the vehicle body reinforcing member can be reduced, and the tube shape can be modified, while impact resistance is maintained. Modifying the shape in this manner makes it possible to provide the ever higher required level of vehicle body impact resistance at the same time that it reduces the weight of the vehicle body and lowers the cost. The present invention can therefore be widely used as an occupant protection technology.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 16, 2010
    Date of Patent: April 16, 2013
    Assignees: Nippon Steel & Sumitomo Metal Corporation, H-ONE Co., Ltd., Sumitomo Pipe & Tube Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Mitsutoshi Uchida, Yoshitaka Hattori, Kenji Moroi, Saburo Inoue, Fumihiko Kikuchi
  • Patent number: 8414038
    Abstract: A vehicle door latch structure is basically provided with a door latch mechanism and a door latch engagement bracket. The door latch mechanism includes a latch release lever that is movably arranged between a rest position and a release position. The door latch engagement bracket defines an opening that is aligned with the latch release lever while the latch release lever is in the rest position such that the latch release lever extends through the opening upon movement of the door latch engagement bracket toward the latch mechanism while the latch release lever is in the rest position, and such that the door latch engagement bracket prevents movement of the latch release lever from the rest position to the release position while the latch release lever is extending through the opening in the door latch engagement bracket.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 12, 2010
    Date of Patent: April 9, 2013
    Assignee: Nissan North America, Inc.
    Inventors: Kaustubh Bedekar, Jeffrey Tobey, Gunnar Mason
  • Patent number: 8412415
    Abstract: An impact detection arrangement for a motor vehicle has at least one pressure body in a side door region of the motor vehicle. The at least one pressure body is connected to a pressure sensor via a connecting line. Additionally, the at least one pressure body is provided in an impact region that is relevant to a fixed pole side crash test, and is adapted to this region.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 12, 2009
    Date of Patent: April 2, 2013
    Assignee: Dr. Ing. h.c.f. Porsche Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventor: Jurgen Metzler
  • Patent number: 8403399
    Abstract: The present invention is a thermoplastic composite liftgate system with reinforcements in key areas to allow the system to meet performance requirements, while lowering the tooling investment, lowering the system mass, and improving the styling flexibility. The present invention includes an inner panel and at least one bracket or reinforcement member connected to the inner panel such that when a force is applied to the bracket, the force is distributed to the inner panel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 1, 2009
    Date of Patent: March 26, 2013
    Assignee: Magna International Inc.
    Inventors: Christopher J. Kuntze, Stephen R. Roddy, Martin McLeod, Michelle Vanbuskirk, Alexander Kiselev, Gari M. Schalte, Norman Guschewski
  • Patent number: 8398149
    Abstract: The invention relates to a door of a motor vehicle having an outer panel (1), an inner panel (2), a plate-shaped member (6), which is arranged on the door inside, for various add-on and mounting units, and reinforcement regions (14 to 17) for door functional elements and an installed stiffening member (3, 4) as a side-impact protector. In order to optimize the ratio of stiffness to side-impact protection of the door and to optimize the production expenditure of the door, the inner panel (2) and the stiffening member (3, 4) are formed as an integral frame-shaped component (5) which includes the reinforcement regions (14 to 17) from high-strength to superhigh strength steel sheet, and that are hot-worked. In order to be able to install the add-on and mounting units with sufficient mounting length, the plate-shaped member (6) is fastened to the inner panel (2) by means of a holding frame (7) which provides the desired mounting depth.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 8, 2008
    Date of Patent: March 19, 2013
    Assignee: ThyssenKrupp System Engineering GmbH
    Inventors: Peter Weiter, Michael Braun
  • Publication number: 20130057018
    Abstract: A door for a motor car includes a door support with at least one metal carrier element at least partially provided with plastic. The at least one metal carrier element is formed as an internal high pressure formed part. At least one metal reinforcement part and/or support part is/are attached to the metal carrier element.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 3, 2011
    Publication date: March 7, 2013
    Applicant: Daimler AG
    Inventor: Eckhard Reese
  • Publication number: 20130049397
    Abstract: A door beam assembly for a passenger vehicle comprises a roll formed longitudinally-swept tubular beam having a constant cross section defining a generally-orthogonal shape, with the outside wall having an integral channel rib formed into the wall to stiffen the wall. C-shaped mounting brackets are attached to beam ends, with opposing walls welded to and supporting walls of the beam, and with a transverse wall spaced from the adjacent wall of the beam. In one aspect, right and left door beam assemblies includes identical beams, front and rear mounting brackets attached to each end, and identical center brackets.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 28, 2012
    Publication date: February 28, 2013
    Inventors: Aimee N. Cohoon, Corey J. Hoff
  • Patent number: 8371639
    Abstract: A door assembly for a vehicle includes an exterior panel and an impact beam coupled to the exterior panel and spaced from an interior surface of the exterior panel a gap distance. A bracket is attached to the impact beam via a snap fit connection. The bracket includes an outboard surface disposed between the impact beam and the interior surface to at least partially span the gap distance. The snap fit connection allows for repositioning and removal of the bracket from the door assembly without negatively affecting the structural integrity of the impact beam.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 14, 2010
    Date of Patent: February 12, 2013
    Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC
    Inventors: Kenneth G. Danaj, Shunmugam Baskar, Sarah J. Pike, Raymond Lyszczarz
  • Patent number: 8371640
    Abstract: A motor vehicle with a sliding door has a safeguard with two mounting elements. One of the mounting elements is secured to the sliding door, while the other mounting element is arranged on a column bordering the sliding door. The mounting elements pass by each other given a sliding motion by the sliding door, and end up opposite each other during the motion of the sliding door, transversely to the sliding motion. As a result, the safeguard holds the sliding door against the column during a crash in which forces act perpendicularly on the sliding door.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 5, 2008
    Date of Patent: February 12, 2013
    Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC
    Inventors: Michael Horneck, Markus Fischer
  • Publication number: 20130033065
    Abstract: A safety beam (11) in a vehicle door comprises an attachment end with a plurality of grooves (22, 23, 24) forming through channels to the underlying structure. The grooves have a height of 1-6 mm and an inner width of 3-7 mm and flat surfaces (18-21) between the grooves and to the outside of the outermost grooves have a width of 15-30 mm. Each of the flat surfaces comprises only one spot weld (26-29) to the underlying structure (12). The safety beam is immersed in a bath of anti-corrosive paint after assembly and is thus protected against crevice corrosion.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 19, 2011
    Publication date: February 7, 2013
    Inventor: Joakim Johansson
  • Patent number: 8360495
    Abstract: A fixture, in particular for a motor vehicle, comprises a first partial region and a second partial region. The first partial region is integrally connected to the second partial region by a connecting region. The first partial region is configured to permit the pre-assembly thereof relative to the second partial region by the connecting region. The connecting region may permit the first partial region to be movable, such as foldable relative to the second partial region.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 16, 2007
    Date of Patent: January 29, 2013
    Assignee: Johnson Controls Technology Company
    Inventors: Antonios Simeonidis, Frank Gerhardt, Jorg Mantke
  • Publication number: 20120280481
    Abstract: A refuse collection vehicle has a receiving area in a refuse collection device. The receiving area includes a body cradle to receive at least one CNG tank. At least one CNG tank is positioned in the body cradle. At least one door covers the receiving area. The at least one door is pivotally secured on the refuse collection device to enable access to the at least one CNG tank without use of external lift device.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 24, 2012
    Publication date: November 8, 2012
    Applicant: The Heil Co.
    Inventor: David C. Gentry
  • Patent number: 8303021
    Abstract: A door edge protection device for a motor vehicle door which comprises a door edge protection member guided movably with respect to the door at at least two points lying one behind the other in a longitudinal direction of the door. The door edge protection member is driven via an eccentric lever mounted rotatably in the door.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 1, 2008
    Date of Patent: November 6, 2012
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Martin Lichter, Thomas Benderoth, Armando Lopes dos Santos
  • Patent number: 8303022
    Abstract: A vehicle structural reinforcement system includes: a first pillar; a second pillar; a vehicle door between the first and second pillars; a first crossbeam attached to the door; and a first locking hinge attached to the second pillar. The first crossbeam comprises a first hooked end configured to engage the first locking hinge. The second pillar includes a reinforcement ring and wherein the first locking hinge is attached to the reinforcement ring.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 21, 2011
    Date of Patent: November 6, 2012
    Inventors: Stephen William Rouhana, Krish E. Aekbote, Mohamed Ridha Baccouche
  • Patent number: 8276977
    Abstract: It is an object of the present invention to prevent a vehicle door from protruding into a vehicle cabin when a collision load is applied to the door from a lateral side thereof, and to reduce costs that are required for measures to prevent the door from protruding into the vehicle cabin.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 30, 2008
    Date of Patent: October 2, 2012
    Assignee: Toyota Shatai Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Yukio Tanaka, Masayuki Taguchi, Yasunari Sakai, Masaru Morita, Natsuki Kotera, Akikazu Hashizume
  • Patent number: 8272679
    Abstract: A strategically located door spacer block for transferring door beam bend/kink away from the occupant seating position is provided. The door spacer block is positioned between the door inner panel and the door outer panel and is aligned with the door beam. The door spacer block of the disclosed invention is placed between door inner panel and the door outer panel with the intention of minimizing the effect that the bend/kink in the door beam has on the occupant loading. The door spacer block engages the door beam and transfers the effective position of the kink of the door structure in a side impact away from the occupant seating position, thus freeing up crushable space in the occupant loading zone. The door spacer block of the disclosed invention eliminates or delays the loading of the beam surface to the pelvis bolster material, thus enabling additional free-crush space and allowing for a lower force transfer to the occupant.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 25, 2010
    Date of Patent: September 25, 2012
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Zhibing Deng, Joseph Edward Abramczyk, Djamal Eddine Midoun, Richard Lee Matson, Matthew Ammons
  • Patent number: 8267463
    Abstract: A door impact beam for a motor vehicle includes a formed metal sheet defined by a longitudinal axis and having a tubular cross section which has a closed circumference in a center portion of the metal sheet, and is configured with open circumference at both end portions of the metal sheet which adjoin the center portion in a direction of the longitudinal axis. Each end portion is defined by an opening angle which continuously increases from the center portion to respective ends of the end portions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 5, 2010
    Date of Patent: September 18, 2012
    Assignee: Benteler Automobiltechnik GmbH
    Inventors: Otto Buschsieweke, Andreas Hitz, Mirko Paare
  • Patent number: 8267464
    Abstract: A door latching system for a vehicle and method of latching are provided. The system includes a carrier and a receiver each connected to one of a door and a door interface. The latching system, when non-actuated, does not substantially protrude from the latching faces of the door and door interface into an opening therebetween. The latching system is adaptable to a vehicle defining a continuous access opening closed by independently openable and closeable doors. The latching member is actuated to move from a retracted position to a protracted position in response to a triggering event, which may be defined by a sensor. In the protracted position, the latching member engages the receiver and the carrier to operatively latch the door and door interface portion. A latching feature defined by the latching member may be selectively engageable with a retaining member when the latching member is in the protracted position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 1, 2010
    Date of Patent: September 18, 2012
    Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC
    Inventors: Jeffrey L. Konchan, Balakrishna Chinta, Louis J. Conrad, Ronald P. McKenney
  • Publication number: 20120228897
    Abstract: A vehicle door comprises an outer door panel, and inner door panel, and a reinforcement member. The outer door panel includes a pair of vertically extending free ends and a pair of horizontally extending free ends forming a peripheral edge portion. The inner door panel is rigidly attached to the peripheral edge portion of the outer door panel such that an internal door cavity is defined between the outer and inner door panels. The reinforcement member is disposed in the internal door cavity. The reinforcement member includes a first attachment portion rigidly attached to an inner surface of the outer door panel at a first location adjacent the peripheral edge portion of the outer door panel, and a second attachment portion rigidly attached to an inner surface of the inner door panel at a second location.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 9, 2011
    Publication date: September 13, 2012
    Applicant: NISSAN NORTH AMERICA, INC.
    Inventors: Erik ANDERSON, Jonathan PATTY
  • Patent number: 8240415
    Abstract: An intermediate plate member (22) having a plate thickness equal to or less than that of a door body (19) is provided between the door body (19) and a reinforcing member (24) constituting a right side door (18). The door body (19) and the intermediate plate member (22) are jointed by spot welding, and the intermediate plate member (22) and the reinforcing member (24) are jointed by fillet welding, thereby jointing the reinforcing member (24) through the intermediate plate member (22) on the inner side surface (19A) of the door body (19). Through the use of the intermediate plate member (22), the generation of distortion in the door body (19) is reduced and the outer appearance of the right side door (18) is maintained in good condition.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 21, 2009
    Date of Patent: August 14, 2012
    Assignee: Hitachi Construction Machinery Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Kazumasa Okada, Masao Nakamura, Makoto Matsushita
  • Patent number: 8231167
    Abstract: In a vehicle body side structure, an impact beam (116) is mounted to a door inner panel (110) by an impact beam extension (118). A part of the impact beam extension (118) that extends from an impact beam fixing part (126) to the door inner panel (110) serves as a load transmission part (128) capable of transmitting a load from the impact beam (116) to the door inner panel (110), and the extension line therefrom is directed at the centroid C2 of the body pillar (106). With a simple structure such as this, at the time of a side impact it is possible to transfer a load from the impact beam (116) in a straight line to the centroid C21 of the body pillar (106) while suppressing the twisting moment of the body pillar (106).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 1, 2007
    Date of Patent: July 31, 2012
    Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Yoshihide Endo, Koji Makino, Shigeru Inamori
  • Publication number: 20120187718
    Abstract: A vehicle door safety device for a vehicle, especially for an armored vehicle, includes at least one door casing which runs peripherally essentially in the side edges of the vehicle door and which is located on the inside of a vehicle door leaf, and of at least one body casing which is arranged running peripherally on the door frame of the vehicle body. The casings of the inside of the door leaf and of the door frame mutually supplement one another in a complementary manner, each being made with at least one component such that they overlap one another in the closed position of the vehicle door, as a result of which a gap between the casings is covered.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 11, 2011
    Publication date: July 26, 2012
    Inventor: Klaus ACKERMANN