Reinforcement Patents (Class 296/146.6)
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Patent number: 8226154Abstract: An impact beam that absorbs an impact of a vehicle collision is provided in a vehicle door, at a position between an inner panel and an outer panel. The impact beam has a wavy portion that undulates in the height direction of the vehicle door. The center axis of the wavy portion extends along the longitudinal direction of a vehicle.Type: GrantFiled: January 3, 2008Date of Patent: July 24, 2012Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki KaishaInventors: Takashi Nakano, Naoya Kosaka
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Patent number: 8226151Abstract: A rear door structure in which a rear door is openably and closably provided on a rear portion of a vehicle body, including a door panel, wherein: the door panel includes an upper door panel and a lower door panel provided on the lower portion of the upper door panel; and a lower edge portion of the upper door panel and an upper edge portion of the lower door panel mutually overlap so as to form a lateral beam having a closed cross section and extending in a vehicle width direction.Type: GrantFiled: October 20, 2009Date of Patent: July 24, 2012Assignee: Honda Motor Co., Ltd.Inventors: Yoshinori Miyake, Kenichi Munenaga
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Publication number: 20120181817Abstract: A field configurable vehicle armoring system and associated method allow a user to retrofit and reconfigure a combination of armor components in response to a perceived threat change and using original equipment manufacture fasteners and holes. The system includes pillar armor attachable after an original equipment manufacture door and hinge are removed. Fasteners extend through the hinge of the armored door, the pillar armor and an original equipment manufacture pillar using holes other than the original equipment manufacture holes. Rocker panel and underbody armor is further provided, along with a ballistic resistant windscreen and rear wall armor. Where desired, system armor includes a composite plate comprising a strike face that is constructed from softer metallic material than an inner metallic sheet.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 16, 2009Publication date: July 19, 2012Applicant: BAE Systems Survivability Systems, LLCInventors: Michael S. Boczek, Todd A. Huffington, Kevin M. Klatte, Robert C. Martin, Michael D. Reynolds, JR., David J. Wolf
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Publication number: 20120181815Abstract: A reinforcement arrangement inside a cavity of a door pillar of a passenger car includes at least one reinforcement profile element, which is supported in a lower area by a support device of the reinforcement arrangement. The reinforcement profile element is reinforced in the area of the support device by an inner profile element arranged inside the cavity of the reinforcement profile element.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 3, 2010Publication date: July 19, 2012Applicant: Daimler AGInventors: Sascha Gentsch, Engelbert Gramer, Johann Seefried
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Patent number: 8220850Abstract: The invention relates to an impact-absorbing element for a vehicle, in particular a car, comprising: a body comprising a thermoplastic polymer material; an elongate reinforcing structure provided in the body and comprising a number of metal reinforcing cords extending substantially parallel and a number of positioning elements arranged between the cords for holding the metal reinforcing cords substantially mutually parallel before and during the manufacturing process. The positioning elements ensure that the cords remain correctly positioned before, during and after the manufacturing process despite the forces occurring in the manufacturing process.Type: GrantFiled: March 23, 2007Date of Patent: July 17, 2012Assignee: Voestalpine Polynorm Plastics B.V.Inventors: Johannes Petrus Maria Opperman, Petrus Van Der Velden, Cornelis Gerardus Van Koert
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Patent number: 8220855Abstract: A tailgate structure having a tailgate (17) composed of an outer panel (31), a frame (32), and a lining (33); and a lock mechanism (43). The frame has an opening (61) formed between the lock mechanism and a mounting hole (35) for an externally mounted component, the hole being formed in the outer panel. The lining has a protrusion (68) that protrudes toward the exterior of the vehicle. The protrusion is positioned on a line that connects the mounting hole and the lock mechanism. When a rod-shaped member is inserted into the tailgate from the mounting hole, the rod-shaped member will come into contact with the protrusion and will not reach the lock mechanism.Type: GrantFiled: June 12, 2008Date of Patent: July 17, 2012Assignee: Honda Motor Co., Ltd.Inventor: Mitsuyoshi Nakamura
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Patent number: 8215706Abstract: A vehicle body side structure in which a load acting from the front of the vehicle body is efficiently transferred to a door beam, whereby the weight of a side sill is reduced. A vehicle body side structure includes a front door provided to a front vehicle body opening via a front hinge, a front door beam provided to the front door and coupled at the front end to the front hinge, and an interaction for transferring a load to a rear part of the vehicle body, the interaction being provided to the side of the front hinge facing the front of the vehicle body. The front hinge includes a front attachment part provided to the vehicle body, and a front coupling part rotatably supported on the front attachment part and coupled with the front door beam. The front attachment part has a front bearing for bearing a load acting from the interaction.Type: GrantFiled: May 27, 2010Date of Patent: July 10, 2012Assignee: Honda Motor Co., Ltd.Inventors: Yoshikatsu Ohta, Yuta Urushiyama, Hirokazu Kobayashi
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Patent number: 8215674Abstract: A vehicle structure arrangement includes a pressurizable reinforcement element that may be arranged interiorly a beam, such as an A-pillar to reinforce the beam. The reinforcement element may be a tubular element having a flexible wall portion, The tubular element may be adapted to be self-stiffened when in a pressurized active state. In the pressurized state, the material and dimension of the tubular element wall portion are adapted to withstand actual stresses along longitudinal direction of the wall portion. The reinforcement element may be activated by a pre-crash unit.Type: GrantFiled: June 14, 2006Date of Patent: July 10, 2012Assignee: Autoliv Development ABInventor: Dan Persson
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Patent number: 8215699Abstract: A mounting structure between a door trim and a door panel is provided and includes at least a shock absorbing member and movement restricting members. The shock absorbing member includes a cross-shaped rib including four ribs coupled into a cross shape and arranged perpendicular to the door trim, an outer wall portion coupled to a side edge of at least one of the ribs and has a contact edge in contact with the door trim, and a mounting bearing projecting from the contact edge along the door trim and configured to be fixed to the door trim together with the cross-shaped rib and the outer wall portion. The movement restricting members restrict the ribs from moving relative to the door trim at side impact.Type: GrantFiled: April 8, 2010Date of Patent: July 10, 2012Assignee: Toyota Boshoku Kabushiki KaishaInventors: Toshihiro Suzuki, Yohei Migaki
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Patent number: 8210596Abstract: A bracket is fixed to a door beam which is fixed to an inner panel between the inner panel and an outer panel of the door. The bracket extends from the door beam toward the outer panel and includes at an end thereof a curved part protruding toward the outer panel. The bracket is connected at the end thereof to the outer panel through the vibration damping member. The bracket has a predetermined length and is fixed to the inner panel at an angle between the inner panel reference plane and the extending direction. The angle is determined on the basis of a distance between the door beam and the outer panel.Type: GrantFiled: July 22, 2008Date of Patent: July 3, 2012Assignee: Honda Motor Co., Ltd.Inventor: Kenta Tate
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Publication number: 20120146359Abstract: 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: ApplicationFiled: June 9, 2011Publication date: June 14, 2012Applicant: Benteler Automobiltechnik GmbHInventors: Andreas Wille, Dariusz Straznikiewicz, Andreas Schiller
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Patent number: 8186743Abstract: A vehicle sliding door structure includes an inner door panel, an outer door panel, a reinforcing bracket and a first bulkhead. The inner door panel has a vertically oriented reinforced section extending along an outboard facing surface thereof adjacent to a rearward side of an outer peripheral edge thereof. The reinforced section has a latch mechanism supporting part proximate a mid-region of the rearward side of the outer peripheral edge. The outer door panel is fixed to the outer peripheral edge of the inner door panel. The reinforcing bracket is fixedly attached to the outboard facing surface of the inner door panel along a region of the reinforced section that extends from below the latch mechanism supporting part to above the latch mechanism supporting part. The first bulkhead is fixedly attached to the reinforcing bracket and extends from the reinforcing bracket toward the outer door panel.Type: GrantFiled: November 2, 2009Date of Patent: May 29, 2012Assignee: Nissan North America, Inc.Inventors: Erik Anderson, Micah P. Woolace, Naga A. Narayana, Tadashi Masuda
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Patent number: 8186742Abstract: A vehicle sliding door structure includes an inner door panel, an outer door panel, a reinforcing bracket and a first bulkhead. The inner door panel has a vertically oriented sash section extending along an outboard facing surface thereof adjacent to a rearward side of an outer peripheral edge thereof. The sash section has a latch mechanism supporting part proximate a mid-region of the rearward side of the outer peripheral edge. The outer door panel is fixed to the outer peripheral edge of the inner door panel. The reinforcing bracket is fixedly attached to the outboard facing surface of the inner door panel along a region of the sash section that extends from below the latch mechanism supporting part to above the latch mechanism supporting part. The first bulkhead is fixedly attached to the reinforcing bracket and extends from the reinforcing bracket toward the outer door panel.Type: GrantFiled: November 2, 2009Date of Patent: May 29, 2012Assignee: Nissan North America, Inc.Inventors: Naga A. Narayana, Erik Anderson, Micah P. Woolace, Tadashi Masuda
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Patent number: 8186131Abstract: The present invention provides a door panel that comprises an outer panel and an inner panel joined together at adhering portions and, regardless of whether rib portions are formed on the adhering portions in order to prevent deformation of the adhering portions or for other purpose, can be modified to withstand severe heat by means of formation of large ventilation openings in the adhering portions without significantly impairing the shape or the strength of the door panel.Type: GrantFiled: May 27, 2009Date of Patent: May 29, 2012Assignee: Caterpillar Japan, Ltd.Inventors: Ryoji Uto, Shigemi Takeuchi
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Patent number: 8177285Abstract: The present invention provides an automotive door enhanced with the absorption performance for the collision energy in the side collision. The automotive door constructed of an outer panel and an inner panel, comprising a door beam for a side collision therewithin, and provided with a glass ascending/descending space between the inner panel and the door beam for a side collision comprises a reinforcing panel disposed in a space between the outer panel and the glass ascending/descending space and joined with both of the outer panel and the door beam for a side collision.Type: GrantFiled: April 18, 2011Date of Patent: May 15, 2012Assignee: Kobe Steel, Ltd.Inventors: Hideki Ishitobi, Haruyuki Konishi
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Publication number: 20120098294Abstract: A multiple layer trim door module for a vehicle door is provided, the multiple layer trim door module having: a separately formed structural member having at least one column and at least one bar crossing each other to form a structural space frame grid, wherein the separately formed structural member is formed by a plastic molding process wherein the at least one column and at least one bar have a first structural rigidity associated therewith; a separately formed trim back plate with reduced structural properties attached to the structural member, wherein the separately formed trim back plate is formed by a plastic molding process and the separately formed trim back plate has a second structural rigidity associated therewith, the second structural rigidity being less than the first structural rigidity; and door trim with reduced structural properties attached to trim back plate.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 7, 2011Publication date: April 26, 2012Inventors: Michael Dancasius, Christian Ruegen, Geoff Barr
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Patent number: 8162360Abstract: A handle knob to conduct an opening/closing operation of a front door is provided on an outer-face side of an outer panel, and a handle base to pivotally support the handle knob is provided on an inner-face side of the outer panel. A beltline reinforcement to reinforce an beltline portion of the outer panel is provided on the inner-face side of the outer panel. The handle base is connected to the beltline reinforcement via an connecting portion. Thereby, the support rigidity of the handle base can be increased, thereby properly preventing the handle base from moving by an improper access.Type: GrantFiled: January 14, 2008Date of Patent: April 24, 2012Assignee: Mazda Motor CorporationInventors: Hirotaka Takaya, Kohji Takada, Toyohiko Kobayashi, Noboru Shono
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Publication number: 20120091750Abstract: 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: ApplicationFiled: October 14, 2010Publication date: April 19, 2012Applicant: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS, INC.Inventors: Kenneth G. Danaj, Shunmugam Baskar, Sarah J. Pike, Raymond Lyszczarz
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Patent number: 8152219Abstract: A vehicle door structure includes: a door body that includes an inner panel and an outer panel and that has a space between the inner panel and the outer panel; an acceleration detector that is arranged in the space; a support portion that supports the acceleration detector on the door body so that a direction of sensitivity of the acceleration detector differs from a direction in which the door body is closed; and a sensitivity direction changing portion that changes a position in which the acceleration detector is supported by the support portion so that the direction of sensitivity of the acceleration detector approaches a direction in which the inner panel faces the outer panel as the outer panel is relatively displaced toward the inner panel.Type: GrantFiled: October 13, 2009Date of Patent: April 10, 2012Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki KaishaInventor: Hiroto Suzuki
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Patent number: 8152218Abstract: A door trim substrate having a construction which includes, in combination, an energy-absorbing pre-crush protective portion and a pelvic bolster portion is provided for use in a vehicle. The pre-crush protective portion is configured so as to protect the pelvic bolster portion from pre-crush in a vehicle side-impact event. The pre-crush portion is defined by a rib cassette structure which is preferably integrally molded into the door trim substrate below the pelvic bolster portion.Type: GrantFiled: May 13, 2008Date of Patent: April 10, 2012Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLCInventors: Ian Brewster Hall, Zhibing Deng, Rabin Bhojan, John Pinkerton
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Patent number: 8141937Abstract: A vehicle body structure capable of preventing a bumper beam of another vehicle from riding over the rear part of the vehicle body. A vehicle body structure (10) is provided with a rear side door (13) located forward of a rear wheel (17) with respect to the vehicle body, and the rear side door is provided with a rear door beam (21) extended in the front-and-rear direction of the vehicle body. The vehicle body structure is provided with a side member upper section (56) extending toward the rear of the vehicle body from a rear wheel arch (33) and provided on a line extended from the rear door beam (21), and also with a side member lower section (57) extending on a down grade from the rear section (67) of the side member upper section toward a lower rear section (33c) of the rear wheel arch (33).Type: GrantFiled: December 11, 2009Date of Patent: March 27, 2012Assignee: Honda Motor Co., Ltd.Inventors: Takumi Tsuyuzaki, Toshizumi Yamaguchi, Hiro Nushii
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Patent number: 8132845Abstract: An outer door panel 2 defines a lower edge of a door window portion 8. An outer waist reinforcement 4 is disposed along the lower edge of the door window portion 8 on the inner side, in a vehicle-width direction, of the outer door panel 2, and fixed onto the inner side surface, in the vehicle-width direction, of the outer door panel 2. A door beam 5 is disposed in a front-rear direction below the outer waist reinforcement 4, and fixed onto the inner side surface, in the vehicle-width direction, of the outer door panel 2. A mirror-support stay is disposed on the outer side, in the vehicle-width direction, of the outer door panel 2, and supports a mirror. A mirror mounting member 30 is fixed to a front end portion of the outer waist reinforcement 4 and a front end portion of the door beam 5 while straddling these two front end portions to connect the two, and supports a lower end of the mirror-support stay.Type: GrantFiled: November 19, 2007Date of Patent: March 13, 2012Assignee: Isuzu Motors LimitedInventors: Kouji Kinoshita, Kikuo Onozaka
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Patent number: 8123276Abstract: A system for providing protection to a vehicle occupant during a side impact event is disclosed. The system includes an outer panel, which may be a vehicle door outer sheet metal, an inner panel, which may be a vehicle door trim, and an elongated structural member disposed between the outer panel and the inner panel. The elongated structural member is generally disposed perpendicularly with respect to the inner and outer panels and is in general alignment with the pelvic area of the adjacent occupant. The elongated structural member may have an I-beam configuration which extends from the outer panel to the inner panel in the occupant's pelvic zone. The elongated structure may progressively crush during the impact event while pushing the occupant. During an impact event, the elongated structure is pushed vehicle-inward and provides pelvic support to the adjacent occupant.Type: GrantFiled: February 6, 2009Date of Patent: February 28, 2012Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLCInventors: Thiag Subbian, Nagaraj Mariyappa, Wei Richard Wang
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Publication number: 20120038182Abstract: Disclosed is a passenger protection device (12) for a vehicle, which protects a passenger (Mn) sitting on a seat (11) when an external force (Fs) is applied to a side surface (16a) of a vehicle body (16). The passenger protection device has a side support (14). The side support is provided on the side portion of a seat back (46), and supports the upper body (Bu) of the passenger. The side support has a deformable portion (47). The deformable portion allows the side support to be deformed by an external force having a predetermined value or more.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 20, 2010Publication date: February 16, 2012Applicant: HONDA MOTOR CO., LTD.Inventors: Kazuhiro Onda, Nobuhiro Kawamoto, Itaru Genpei, Makoto Uchikawa, Takashi Kikuchi, Hajime Ishida
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Patent number: 8109558Abstract: A door structure includes a door for opening and closing a door opening formed in a vehicle body. The door has a side impact bar extending in the backward and forward direction of the vehicle body and a window regulator for lifting and lowering a glass of the door. The window regulator is mounted on the side impact bar and is disposed within a sectional width area of the side impact bar in a vehicle width direction.Type: GrantFiled: December 27, 2005Date of Patent: February 7, 2012Assignee: Mitsubishi Jidosha Kogyo K.K.Inventor: Yoji Nakamori
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Patent number: 8109559Abstract: A door structure of a vehicle, having an effective space within a vehicle compartment increased, is provided. The door structure has a carrier plate (4) fixed to an inner panel (3) for closing an opening portion (3a) formed in the inner panel (3); and a plurality of trim members (7, 8, 9) for covering an inside of the carrier plate (4) within a vehicle compartment, the plurality of trim members (7, 8, 9) including a belt line trim (7) disposed along a belt line in an upper end portion of the inner panel (3), a pocket trim (8) disposed in the vicinity of a lower portion of the inner panel (3), and an arm rest trim (9) disposed between the belt line trim (7) and the pocket trim (8).Type: GrantFiled: March 29, 2006Date of Patent: February 7, 2012Assignee: Mitsubishi Jidosha Kogyo Kabushiki KaishaInventors: Yoji Nakamori, Yutaka Fujiwara
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Publication number: 20120013144Abstract: The present disclosure relates to various vehicle structural reinforcement systems and methods of manufacturing the same. A latching system is included in the vehicle to mechanically link two vehicle structural members under preselected conditions.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 21, 2011Publication date: January 19, 2012Inventors: Stephen William Rouhana, Krish E. Aekbote, Mohamed Ridha Baccouche
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Patent number: 8096604Abstract: An energy absorber for use as impact protection in a motor vehicle, in particular in the region of the doors, is provided. The energy absorber can be formed as a plastics material component and comprises a plurality of ribs which together form polygonal hollow chambers. In manufacturing the energy absorber, a tool parting line of the manufacturing tool is defined such that the parting line defines at least two regions of the energy absorber displaying differing energy absorption characteristics. Upon impact, the energy absorber follows a force/distance curve which first rises linearly and then continues constantly.Type: GrantFiled: July 24, 2008Date of Patent: January 17, 2012Assignee: Lisa Dräxlmaier GmbHInventors: Dominik Asenkerschbaumer, Klaus Unterreiner, Thomas Sperl
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Patent number: 8091286Abstract: A front door 20 includes a first door component 22 and a second door component 34. The first door component 22 forms an inner side portion of a door main body 21, and the second door component forms an inner side portion of the door main body 21 and has functional parts located inside the vehicle. The first and second door components 22, 34 have honeycomb structural bodies 23, 41, respectively. The honeycomb structural bodies 23, 41 are entirely formed of synthetic resin. The honeycomb structural bodies 23, 41 include honeycomb portions 24, 42, which are composed of numerous tubular cells 26, 44, 45 separated by partition walls 25, 43, and sealing plate portions 27, 28, 46, 47 that are located on the outer side and the inner side of the honeycomb portions 24, 42 and seal the cells 26, 44. The door components 22, 34 are joined to each other at least at a part of the adjacent sealing plate portions 28, 46 of the honeycomb structural bodies 23, 41.Type: GrantFiled: December 23, 2008Date of Patent: January 10, 2012Assignee: Toyoda Gosei Co., Ltd.Inventors: Chiharu Totani, Katsuhiro Katagiri, Toshiro Shibagaki, Masayuki Kitashiba, Chie Ito
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Patent number: 8087714Abstract: The present disclosure relates to various vehicle structural reinforcement systems and methods of manufacturing the same. A latching system is included in the vehicle to mechanically link two vehicle structural members under preselected conditions.Type: GrantFiled: March 11, 2010Date of Patent: January 3, 2012Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLCInventors: Stephen William Rouhana, Krish E. Aekbote, Mohamed Ridha Baccouche
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Patent number: 8079632Abstract: A door structure of a vehicle includes a reinforcing member horizontally extending from a leading end, which is connected to a leading reinforce-installation fitting, and to a tail end, which is connected to a tail reinforce-installation fitting, an upper vertical beam extending from an upper end, which is connected to a head-installation fitting, to a lower end, which is connected to the tail reinforce-installation fitting, a lower vertical beam inclined to the upper vertical beam and extending from an upper end, which is connected to the tail reinforce-installation fitting, to a lower end, which is connected to a base-installation fitting, and a horizontal beam positioned below the reinforcing member and extending from a leading end, which is connected to a leading beam-installation fitting, to a tail end, which is connected to a tail beam-installation fitting, such that the horizontal beam intersects the lower vertical beam.Type: GrantFiled: November 25, 2009Date of Patent: December 20, 2011Assignees: Hyundai Motor Japan R&D Center, Hyundai Motor Company, Kia Motor CorporationInventor: Sinichi Yoshioka
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Patent number: 8061762Abstract: A vehicle door has an impact protection beam (12) which bears a sensor (20) for releasing one or more impact cushions. The beam (12) is a hat beam with its concave side facing towards the interior of the vehicle, and a fitting hole (18) in the central flange (12) for fitting the sensor (20) within the beam. One of the hat beam's webs (13) has clip holes for fitting the sensor's cabling along the beam.Type: GrantFiled: August 17, 2007Date of Patent: November 22, 2011Assignee: Gestamp Hardtech ABInventors: Stefan Arvidsson, Petrus Hedlund, Hans Bodin
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Patent number: 8061763Abstract: The invention relates to a device for a motor vehicle for protecting vehicle occupants when there is an impact of energy directed laterally at a motor vehicle door due to a collision, having a connecting structure which has at least two parts with a first part permanently connected with the motor vehicle door and a second part permanently connected with an energy-absorbing region of the motor vehicle body located in the vehicle interior. Both parts via at least one common joint region can be operationally connected with each other to conducting-away of at least part of the energy input laterally acting on the motor vehicle door in the region of the motor vehicle body. The energy impact acting on the motor vehicle door is conducted away from the pivot bearing by a force acting linearly and horizontally via the first and the second part to the first end of the second part permanently connected with the motor vehicle body.Type: GrantFiled: July 19, 2007Date of Patent: November 22, 2011Assignees: Fraunhofer-Gesellschaft zur Forderung der angewandten Forschung e.V., Faurecia Innenraum Systeme GmbHInventors: Tobias Melz, Björn Seipel, Thorsten Koch, Johannes Käsgen, Eric Zimmerman, Christo Gavrilov, Vlad Radu Muntean
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Patent number: 8056302Abstract: A door panel that is capable of maintaining the adhering strength of the adhesive is provided. An outer panel and an inner panel are joined together by an adhesive. Adhesive retaining portions, each of which includes an adhesive retaining channel for retaining the adhesive, are provided in adhering portions of the inner panel. Each adhering portion includes vertically extending portions, and the adhesive retaining portions of the inner panel are formed in the shape of an extended raised portion and extend vertically in the respective vertically extending portions of the adhering portions, along ventilation openings, which are formed at locations corresponding to groups of ventilation holes of the outer panel. Each adhesive retaining portion is provided at the middle of each vertically extending portion of the adhering portions so as to be flanked by adhesion margins of identical width.Type: GrantFiled: July 4, 2008Date of Patent: November 15, 2011Assignee: Caterpillar S.A.R.L.Inventors: Ryoji Uto, Isao Yoshijima
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Patent number: 8047602Abstract: The invention relates to a shock absorber for protection against side impact on a motor vehicle, which absorber is made of fiber material and has a cross-sectional profile comprising at least first, second, third and fourth flanks, wherein two consecutive flanks extend in opposite directions, respectively.Type: GrantFiled: July 14, 2005Date of Patent: November 1, 2011Assignee: Faurecia Innenraum Systeme GmbHInventors: Bernhard Sielhorst, Eric Zimmerman
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Patent number: 8042860Abstract: There is provided a door structure for a vehicle. The door structure comprises an upper door hinge; a lower door hinge; a door main body having an upper hinge mounting portion at which the door main body is mounted with the upper door hinge and a lower hinge mounting portion at which the door main body is mounted with the lower door hinge; an outer impact bar disposed in the door main body and extending in a longitudinal direction of the vehicle; an inner impact bar disposed in the door main body and extending in a longitudinal direction of the vehicle; and a connecting bracket connecting the front end of the outer impact bar and the front end of the inner impact bar to the upper hinge mounting portion of the door main body.Type: GrantFiled: October 27, 2009Date of Patent: October 25, 2011Assignee: Mazda Motor CorporationInventors: Tomoki Takahashi, Ryuji Nonaka, Hisatoshi Kinoshita, Keisuke Kondou
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Publication number: 20110254311Abstract: The present invention relates to a door structure module, preferably a door structure module for a motor vehicle, particularly preferably a motor vehicle door or a motor vehicle tailgate of metal-plastics-composite design (hybrid technology) and in which at least one panel profile is joined to at least two different plastics elements, where the two plastics elements are composed of different plastics materials which are simultaneously injection-moulded by the bi-injection-moulding process, and as a result of this when the melt fronts of these encounter one another they fuse with one another and simultaneously enter into a secure bond with the panel profile(s).Type: ApplicationFiled: April 14, 2011Publication date: October 20, 2011Applicant: LANXESS DEUTSCHLAND GMBHInventors: Ulrich DAJEK, Ralf ZIMNOL
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Patent number: 8033592Abstract: A door assembly for a vehicle includes an outer panel. A support panel is operatively connected to the outer panel and configured such that the support panel provides bending resistance to the outer panel when the outer panel is deflected toward the support panel during a first deflection distance of the outer panel. A cable is operatively connected in the door assembly between a first end and a second end of the outer panel such that the cable provides additional bending resistance to the outer panel when the outer panel is deflected toward the support panel during a second deflection distance of the outer panel, greater than the first deflection distance.Type: GrantFiled: August 27, 2008Date of Patent: October 11, 2011Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLCInventors: Chih-Cheng Hsu, Albert H. Butlin, John E. Carsley, Hui-Min Huang, Stephen R. Koshorek, John N. Owens
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Patent number: 8029041Abstract: An integrated door substrate and pelvic bolster is provided for use in a vehicle. The integrated component is formed from a polymerizable material by injection molding. The pelvic bolster is formed from thin lateral walls that buckle and tear under compressive loading. The pelvic bolster is designed to bend but not fracture under load, thus maintaining a continuous loading curve.Type: GrantFiled: April 12, 2008Date of Patent: October 4, 2011Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLCInventors: Ian Brewster Hall, John Pinkerton, Ammad Bhatti, Srinivas Sanikommu, Zhibing Deng, Leiping Huang
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Patent number: 8020355Abstract: The present invention relates to a process for the manufacture of a crossbeam and the respective crossbeam (1), intended to reinforce the instrument panel of a motor vehicle, guarantee its rigidity and support various devices, the said process being characterised by an alignment between only one main hollow metal body (2) with an elliptical cross-section and one secondary body (3) which is also metal and hollow and has an elliptical or circular cross-section, in that in this alignment the longitudinal axes of the said bodies are coaxial or parallel, in that also in this alignment the contour line of the outer wall of the secondary body is confined by the contour line of the inner wall of the main body, in that prior to this alignment the main body is conformed so as to adapt to the secondary body and in that, in the final phase, the two bodies are connected.Type: GrantFiled: June 6, 2008Date of Patent: September 20, 2011Assignee: Sodecia-Centro Technologico, S.A.Inventor: Rui de Lemos Monteiro
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Publication number: 20110221229Abstract: The present disclosure relates to various vehicle structural reinforcement systems and methods of manufacturing the same. A latching system is included in the vehicle to mechanically link two vehicle structural members under preselected conditions.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 11, 2010Publication date: September 15, 2011Inventors: Stephen William Rouhana, Krish E. Aekbote, Mohamed Ridha Baccouche
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Publication number: 20110210575Abstract: The present invention provides an automotive door enhanced with the absorption performance for the collision energy in the side collision. The automotive door constructed of an outer panel and an inner panel, comprising a door beam for a side collision therewithin, and provided with a glass ascending/descending space between the inner panel and the door beam for a side collision comprises a reinforcing panel disposed in a space between the outer panel and the glass ascending/descending space and joined with both of the outer panel and the door beam for a side collision.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 18, 2011Publication date: September 1, 2011Applicant: Kabushiki Kaisha Kobe Seiko Sho (Kobe Steel, Ltd.)Inventors: Hideki ISHITOBI, Haruyuki Konishi
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Patent number: 8001688Abstract: A method for producing attached parts for a motor vehicle, for example doors, dampers, mudguards formed by internal (1) and external (2) sheets. The external sheet (2) is inward bent in the visible areas of the door or attached part, the sheet edges being practically parallel to the plane of attached parts in the invisible (not apparently visible) areas of the door or attached part. The internal sheet (1) is pushed against the external sheet (2) in a flanged area in such a way that a small accurately defined gap for laser welding is produced. The internal (1) and external (2) sheets are welded to each other in the form of an overlap joint in the opposite invisible areas, thereby compensating tolerances.Type: GrantFiled: April 2, 2004Date of Patent: August 23, 2011Assignee: ThyssenKrupp Drauz Nothelfer GmbHInventors: Jens Husner, Peter Cornelius, Axel Luft
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Patent number: 7992920Abstract: An energy absorbing vehicle door having a door block strategically located within the door is disclosed. The door block has an upper portion and a lower portion. The upper portion is wider than the lower portion and is attached to the inner panel of the door. A door beam is provided between the inner panel of the door and the outer panel. A portion of the door beam is positioned between the inner panel and the lower portion of the door block. The door beam may be attached to the lower portion of the door block. The attachment surface of the lower portion of the door block may have a geometry that is the same as or is substantially the same as the geometry of the door beam.Type: GrantFiled: January 9, 2010Date of Patent: August 9, 2011Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLCInventors: Zhibing Deng, Djamal Eddine Midoun, Shekar Prabhakar Erasala, Chunhui Kevin Lee, Liqi Dong, Tracy Christopher Bakos
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Patent number: 7992925Abstract: A vehicle has a door system having at least a front and a rear door leaf which are each movable between an open and a closed position with respect to the cabin structure. The vehicle includes a door locking system which is provided to lock the door leaves in their closed position in case of collision of the vehicle. The locking system includes a locking mechanism and a triggering mechanism having a front operational portion which is located in vicinity of a front end of the cabin structure so as to be displaced in case the front end of the cabin structure is deformed due to a collision, the displacement mechanically triggering the locking mechanism towards an engaged position.Type: GrantFiled: October 19, 2006Date of Patent: August 9, 2011Assignee: Renault TrucksInventor: Jerome Lagrut
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Patent number: 7988221Abstract: An impact-absorbing member to be installed in a vehicle body component includes a main body positioned on an inner panel of the vehicle body component such that a portion of the main body is adjacent to an outboard surface of the inner panel, and a mount protruding from the main body to an opening in the inner panel such that the mount is adjacent to an inboard surface of the inner panel, wherein the impact-absorbing member is secured by gripping an edge portion of the inner panel surrounding the opening between the mount adjacent to the inboard surface and the portion of the main body adjacent to the outboard surface.Type: GrantFiled: January 13, 2010Date of Patent: August 2, 2011Assignee: Nissan Motor Co., Ltd.Inventor: Keita Abe
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Publication number: 20110169302Abstract: An energy absorbing vehicle door having a door block strategically located within the door. The door block has an upper portion and a lower portion. The upper portion is wider than the lower portion and is attached to the inner panel of the door. A door beam is provided between the inner panel of the door and the outer panel. A portion of the door beam is positioned between the inner panel and the lower portion of the door block. The door beam may be attached to the lower portion of the door block. The attachment surface of the lower portion of the door block may have a geometry that is the same as or is substantially the same as the geometry of the door beam.Type: ApplicationFiled: January 9, 2010Publication date: July 14, 2011Applicant: FORD GLOBAL TECHNOLOGIES, LLCInventors: Zhibing Deng, Djamal Eddine Midoun, Shekar Prabhakar Erasala, Chunhui Kevin Lee, Liqi Dong, Tracy Christopher Bakos
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Patent number: 7967368Abstract: A motor vehicle door including an outer panel and an inner shell panel that are interconnected at the lower ends thereof by a door sill plate that extends transversely in relation to the two panels. The door sill plate is reinforced with a reinforcing element that is fixed to the plate and that extends along most of the length and width thereof.Type: GrantFiled: June 12, 2006Date of Patent: June 28, 2011Assignee: Renault S.A.S.Inventors: Eric Duguet, Daniel Plantier
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Patent number: 7954879Abstract: 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.Type: GrantFiled: September 8, 2006Date of Patent: June 7, 2011Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLCInventors: Maurizio Roccato, Paolo Canato, Gunnar Lassl
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Patent number: 7934587Abstract: An injected part (26) designed to form by being folded, an energy absorbing device and a spacer, the energy absorbing device having a number of hollow elements (12) projecting from a first plate portion (10), and a number of hollow elements (16) projecting from a second plate portion (14), associated in pairs. The spacer includes a number of spacing elements (20) projecting from a third plate portion (18), one of the plate portions (10, 14, 18) is articulated on the other two, and the articulations (28, 30) are such that, after each of the plates has rotated by 180°, a first hollow element (12), a second hollow element (16) and a spacer element (20) are aligned. The energy absorbing device is designed to motor vehicle doors.Type: GrantFiled: March 9, 2006Date of Patent: May 3, 2011Assignee: Faurecia Interieur IndustrieInventors: Hervé Thenier, Nathalie David, Stéphane Baxiu