Pillar Patents (Class 296/193.06)
  • Patent number: 8419113
    Abstract: Through holes 14, which passes through a side wall portion 12b of an outer reinforcement 12, is formed at a lower portion of a center pillar 1. The through hole 14 is formed substantially in a D shape, and includes a linear portion 14a and a circular are portion 14b that is connected to both ends of the linear portion 14a. The length of the circular arc portion 14b is longer than that of the linear portion 14a. The linear portion 14a is disposed close to the inside of a vehicle, and the circular arc portion 14b is disposed close to the outside of a vehicle. If the circular arc portion 14b allows for deformation in length as described above, tensile stress is not easily applied to the circular arc portion when a load F is applied to the center pillar by a side collision. Accordingly, the fracturing of a center pillar 1 does not easily occur.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 17, 2008
    Date of Patent: April 16, 2013
    Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Daichi Kunishi, Takashi Ishihara
  • Patent number: 8419112
    Abstract: Pillar garnish (20) has: a fixation section (52) integrally provided on its rear wall section (51) adjacent to a vehicle occupant's seat (30), the fixation section being mounted to a portion (28) of the pillar (11) facing the occupant's seat; and a swing preventing section (54) provided on a side wall section (53) of the garnish forwardly of the fixation section for preventing the garnish from swinging about the fixation section, the side wall section (53) extending from the rear wall section toward a front wall section of the pillar for covering the inner side surface (11a) of the pillar. The pillar is accommodated in an area (81) between a front edge portion (74) of the side wall section and the lateral outward end (51a) of the rear wall section with a closed-sectional-shape section (22) of the pillar sandwiched therebetween.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 9, 2009
    Date of Patent: April 16, 2013
    Assignee: Honda Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Ryosuke Matsuoka
  • Patent number: 8414068
    Abstract: A vehicle body structure is configured such that not only can a pillar that is a vertical member of a vehicle body, for example, a bus, be joined to a rail that is a horizontal member without conducting a welding process, but also the strength of the vehicle body can be enhanced, thus preventing the generation of noise and vibrations, improving the durability of the vehicle body structure, and facilitating assembly work.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 11, 2012
    Date of Patent: April 9, 2013
    Assignees: Hyundai Motor Company, Kia Motors Corp.
    Inventors: Wook Jin Na, Jong Chan Park
  • Publication number: 20130082484
    Abstract: A roof support for a vehicle is provided containing a first side roof rail; a transverse roof bow fixed to and extending from the first side roof rail; and a first brace fixed to the first side roof rail at a forward point on the first side roof rail, wherein the first brace extends to the transverse roof bow and is fixed to a first aft point on the transverse roof bow, thereby advantageously defining a first angle between the first side roof rail and the first brace. The roof support may further include a second side roof rail opposite the first side roof rail such that the roof bow laterally extends from the first side roof rail to the second side roof rail. A second brace may be fixed to the second side roof rail at a forward point thereof, whereby the second brace also extends to the roof bow and is fixed to a second aft point thereof, thereby defining a second angle between the second side roof rail and the second brace.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 29, 2011
    Publication date: April 4, 2013
    Inventors: Darrin Neil Wagner, Duncan Whipps, Bruno Barthelemy, Srinivasan Sundararajan, Fubang Wu, Mohammed Omar Faruque, Leonard Anthony Shaner
  • Patent number: 8398157
    Abstract: A vehicle body construction, namely a front or A-pillar, extends between a windshield and a door opening. The construction includes an inner body panel with first and second flanges along opposite edges of a central portion, an outer body panel with first and second flanges along opposite edges of a central portion, and a stiffener received between the inner and outer body panels. The stiffener has first and second flanges disposed along opposite edges of a central portion. Each of the inner body panel, outer body panel, and stiffener second-edges are joined together while the first edges of the inner body panel and stiffener are joined together adjacent the windshield and the first edge of the outer body panel is joined to the central portion of the stiffener.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 26, 2010
    Date of Patent: March 19, 2013
    Assignee: Honda Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Brooks Goodrich Marquette
  • Patent number: 8393672
    Abstract: A structural member includes: a compression-side wall part disposed in a compressive stress field of a bend; a tension-side wall part disposed in a tensile stress field of the bend; and a coupling wall part that couples the compression-side wall part and the tension-side wall part. The neutral axis of the bend is disposed in the vicinity of the compression-side wall part. For example, the compression-side wall part is higher in material strength, and/or larger in sheet thickness, than the tension-side wall part.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 9, 2008
    Date of Patent: March 12, 2013
    Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Takeo Mori
  • Patent number: 8388046
    Abstract: The body structure of a motor vehicle has a reinforcing support that runs directly adjacent to an upper cutout edge for the rear side window. The reinforcing support has a downwardly curved rear end held in a body-mounted supporting bracket and is connected to a reinforcing element. The reinforcing element is arranged adjacent to a rear edge of the rear side window and is connected to an inner side part. The reinforcing element forms a vertically oriented C pillar for force flux diversion into the body shell structure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 4, 2011
    Date of Patent: March 5, 2013
    Assignee: Dr. Ing. H.C.F. Porsche Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Volker Hutter, Juergen Wittenberg
  • Patent number: 8388039
    Abstract: A trim part for a vehicle has a base part (1) and a design part (2) including a bulge (16) adjacent a rim (15).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 17, 2009
    Date of Patent: March 5, 2013
    Assignee: Dura Automotive Body & Glass Systems GmbH
    Inventors: Ralf Gerndorf, Frank Schneider, Ahmet Halilcavusogullari
  • Publication number: 20130049407
    Abstract: Provided is a vehicle body structure including: a front frame member disposed in a front part of a vehicle body; a rear frame member disposed in a rear part of the vehicle body; and paired left and right middle frame members disposed on outer sides, in a vehicle width direction, of the vehicle body, respectively, and extending in a vehicle front-rear direction between the front and rear frame members. Each middle frame member includes: a side sill disposed on an outer side in the vehicle width direction; and a center side member disposed inward, in the vehicle width direction, of the side sill and coupling the front and rear frame members. The center side member extends to shift farther outward in the vehicle width direction as it gets closer to rear of the vehicle. The center side member is set larger in strength than the side sill.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 20, 2012
    Publication date: February 28, 2013
    Inventor: Yusuke KAGEYAMA
  • Patent number: 8382197
    Abstract: A composite is provided that includes, but is not limited to a first steel plate, which is welded via a weld seam to a second steel plate, in which the two steel plates and the weld seam bonding them are hardened and the composite has a broadening in the area of the weld seam. Furthermore, a B-column is provided for a motor vehicle body that includes, but is not limited to a reinforcement B-column, the reinforcement B-column including, but not limited to a first steel plate, which is welded via a weld seam to a second steel plate, and the two steel plates include, but are not limited to a heat-treated steel and are hardened like the weld seam bonding them, and the reinforcement B-column has a broadening in the area of the weld seam.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 7, 2007
    Date of Patent: February 26, 2013
    Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC
    Inventor: Wolfgang Eberlein
  • Patent number: 8382195
    Abstract: A vehicle body forward portion structure is provided that can ensure necessary strength and reduce the weight of a front pillar portion. In vehicle body forward portion structure, front pillar lower is formed in an overall open cross section shape that opens inward in a vehicle width direction as seen in plan sectional view as a result of front pillar outer portion being joined to pillar reinforcement lower formed from high-tensile steel plate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 22, 2008
    Date of Patent: February 26, 2013
    Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Makoto Iwase, Takayuki Oidemizu, Yoshiteru Inamoto
  • Publication number: 20130043703
    Abstract: A node is configured for connecting body portions of a vehicle. The node includes a first portion configured for attachment to a first vehicle body portion, and a second portion configured for attachment to a second vehicle body portion.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 16, 2011
    Publication date: February 21, 2013
    Inventor: Duncan Whipps
  • Patent number: 8371634
    Abstract: A motor vehicle has a hollow space between a front pillar and a fender. A noise insulator panel is mounted within and fills the hollow the hollow space between the pillar and the fender panel to block and absorb the communication of noise to the weather strip that seals the door to the pillar. The noise insulator panel includes a housing portion of compressible foam material with a base wall that is oversized to fit in compression between the pillar and the fender panel to block the communication of noise and a sidewall that extend forwardly from the base wall to define a cavity facing the engine and tires. An absorber portion fills the open cavity of the housing portion. The absorber portion is made of a fibrous material that is secured within the cavity of the housing portion and acts to absorb noise.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 23, 2010
    Date of Patent: February 12, 2013
    Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC
    Inventor: Alejandro Hernandez Covarrubias
  • Publication number: 20130033072
    Abstract: A space between the trailing edge of a front fender and the outer surface of a front pillar lower in the vehicle width direction is covered with a synthetic resin enclosure inserted from the wheel housing side. The upper end of a main body of the enclosure is provided with an upper extending portion extending toward the lower end of the front pillar upper, and a reinforcing rib is formed on the outer surface of the upper extending portion so as to make the reinforcing rib in contact with the inner surface of a projecting portion of the front fender. A pressure applied to the projecting portion of the front fender is transmitted to the front pillar lower via the reinforcing rib, and thus the surface stiffness of the projecting portion of the front fender can be improved without adding a particular reinforcing member.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 25, 2012
    Publication date: February 7, 2013
    Applicant: HONDA MOTOR CO., LTD
    Inventors: Hirofumi Tanaka, Satoru Yamaguchi
  • Patent number: 8366184
    Abstract: A structure for a vehicle body upper portion, having sufficient rigidity, using a reduced number of parts, and capable of being assembled with reduced man-hours. A structure (15) for a vehicle body upper portion includes a roof rail (26) and a center pillar (27) which are connected together at respective ends thereof. The roof rail (26) is formed to have a closed cross-section by an upper member (31) and a lower member (32). An upper joint end section (45) of the upper member projects further toward the outside of the vehicle body than a lower joint end section (46) of the lower member. The center pillar (27) is formed to have a closed cross-section by an inner member (51) and an outer member (52). An outer joint end section (66) of the outer member extends up to the upper joint end section (45) while an inner joint end section (73) of the inner member extends up to the lower joint end section (46).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 22, 2009
    Date of Patent: February 5, 2013
    Assignee: Honda Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Yasunobu Ogawa
  • Patent number: 8366183
    Abstract: At an upper part of a center pillar, a length L1 of a covering portion of a pillar inner panel is set to be substantially equal to a distance L2 between a pair of flange-ridgeline portions of a pillar reinforcement. Meanwhile, at a lower part of the center pillar, a length L3 of a covering portion of the pillar inner panel is set to be longer than a distance L4 between a pair of flange-ridgeline portions of the pillar reinforcement. Accordingly, a vehicle-body structure of a vehicle which can secure the proper absorption function of the vehicle collision load with cooperation of the first and second members can be provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 14, 2010
    Date of Patent: February 5, 2013
    Assignee: Mazda Motor Corporation
    Inventors: Katsuyoshi Ishigame, Masaki Motoki, Yuichi Sugimura, Yoshikazu Nishimura
  • Publication number: 20130020835
    Abstract: A structural metal tube having a variable thickness varying between a minimum thickness and a maximum thickness providing structural rigidity and support for the tube. The structural tube may be polygonal, such as rectangular and utilized as an automotive A pillar, wherein the thicker wall provides a support for a hinge plate. The method includes rolling the desired configuration of the tube and welding the thinner edges.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 19, 2012
    Publication date: January 24, 2013
    Applicants: Value Extraction LLC, Szuba Consulting, Inc.
    Inventor: Joseph Szuba
  • Publication number: 20130020834
    Abstract: In a method of making a tubular structural part for a motor vehicle, a metal plate is contoured and preformed in at least one shaping step into a tubular body. Subsequently, the tubular body is end-formed into the structural part by internal high-pressure application while free contact regions snugly bear upon one another. The structural part is at least partially heated and quenched in a holding tool acted upon with a coolant.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 19, 2012
    Publication date: January 24, 2013
    Applicant: Benteler Automobiltechnik GmbH
    Inventors: Holger Diersmann, Hans-Jürgen Knaup, Rafael Garcia Gómez
  • Publication number: 20130020833
    Abstract: A vehicular center pillar with improved proof stress against loads input from above a vehicle includes a pillar body that extends in a vertical direction of the vehicle and has flanges, formed on the front and rear sides of the pillar body, that extend in a longitudinal direction of the vehicle, and a reinforcing member that connects the front flange to the rear flange. The reinforcing member includes a predetermined connection portion that rectilinearly connects the front flange to the rear flange in the longitudinal direction.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 12, 2011
    Publication date: January 24, 2013
    Applicant: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Takashi Yao
  • Patent number: 8348321
    Abstract: A vehicle body structure for fitting a pillar garnish and a fender panel is provided which surely prevents a space formed in the surface of a vehicle body from being viewed as black. The vehicle body structure includes a resin-made pillar garnish on a front surface side of a pillar of a vehicle body, a steel-made fender panel having an end on an end of the pillar garnish, and a seal member sealing a space between respective ends of the pillar garnish and the fender panel. The pillar garnish has an extending portion which extends in a direction from the end of the pillar garnish to the end of the fender panel. The fender panel has a flange which extends in a direction from the end of the fender panel to the end of the pillar garnish. The seal member is mounted on the extending portion and the flange.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 18, 2010
    Date of Patent: January 8, 2013
    Assignee: Honda Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Tomoya Yamazaki, Toshihiko Hatakeyama
  • Publication number: 20120313400
    Abstract: A vehicle pillar assembly is provided which includes a roof rail, a rocker, a first hollow support member, and a second hollow support member. The first hollow support member and the second hollow support member each includes a first wall, a second wall, a third wall and optionally a fourth wall. The first hollow support member and the second hollow support member each include a tubular lower area that extends upwardly from the rocker panel. The tubular lower area includes at least one crush initiator. The first hollow support member and the second hollow support member also each include an upper section that extends downwardly from the roof rail.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 13, 2011
    Publication date: December 13, 2012
    Inventors: Jason Scott Balzer, Ryan Craig
  • Publication number: 20120299334
    Abstract: A vehicle body side part structure having high strength against a load in a frontal collision and a load in a side collision. A side panel outer member (14) is provided with a front pillar lower 4 section (31) which is formed from a high-tensile steel sheet, a front pillar upper section (37a) which is formed from a normal steel sheet, and a reinforcement member (38) which is disposed along the front pillar upper section. The upper end (31a) of the front pillar lower section (31) is joined to the inner surface of the lower end (37c) of the front pillar upper section. The front end (38a) of the reinforcement member (38) is joined to the inner surface of the upper end (31a) of the front pillar lower section.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 24, 2010
    Publication date: November 29, 2012
    Applicant: HONDA MOTOR CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Yusuke Takayama, Hitoshi Mizohata, Takayuki Yamada, Kazunori Hida, Yasunori Watanabe
  • Patent number: 8317257
    Abstract: A pneumatic vehicle is provided with a first and second sub-assembly. The first sub-assembly has a chassis supporting an air tank. The second sub-assembly has part of the vehicle body and is bonded to the first-sub-assembly using a structural adhesive. Another pneumatic vehicle is provided with a first and second sub-assembly. The first sub-assembly has a chassis, air tank, part of the vehicle body, a pair of B-pillars, and a pair of rear rails. The second sub-assembly has a part of the vehicle body, a pair of A-pillars, and a pair of roof rails. A vehicle seat is provided with a seat base and upright seat back providing a seating area. A bladder located in the central region of the seating area inflates to provide two bucket seats, and deflates to provide a bench seat. The vehicle seat also has inflatable inserts to provide cushioning.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 29, 2008
    Date of Patent: November 27, 2012
    Assignee: Deakin University
    Inventors: Bernard Frank Rolfe, Timothy Ian De Souza, Gregory Ryan Pitts, Stuart James McFarlane Hanafin, Steven Lewis Anthony Agius, Benjamin Paul Adamson, Michael Pio Gordon Pereira, Timothy John Black, Christopher James Hurren, Noel Egan Miller
  • Patent number: 8317253
    Abstract: A door assembly for a vehicle includes an outer panel configured for defining an exterior surface of the vehicle, and an inner panel matable to the outer panel to define a cavity therebetween. The inner panel includes a lower portion having a first longitudinal axis and a B-pillar assembly extending from the lower portion. The B-pillar assembly includes a casting having an external surface configured for defining the exterior surface of the vehicle, an internal surface spaced apart from the external surface, a length, and a second longitudinal axis. The casting extends from the portion along the second longitudinal axis, and the second longitudinal axis is substantially perpendicular to the first longitudinal axis.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 22, 2011
    Date of Patent: November 27, 2012
    Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC
    Inventors: Anil K. Sachdev, James C. O'Kane
  • Publication number: 20120274098
    Abstract: A vehicle body structure includes a vehicle roof member, a first panel, a second panel, and a serpentine-shaped reinforcement structure. The first panel connects with and depends downwardly from the vehicle roof member. The second panel connects with the first panel. The first panel and the second panel form, when connected, a vehicle pillar. The serpentine-shaped reinforcement structure includes a plurality of peak sections and a plurality of valley sections and is disposed in the vehicle pillar between the first panel and the second panel. The reinforcement structure is fixed to the first panel via a weld at a peak section. The reinforcement structure is closest to the second panel at a valley section. A method for manufacturing a vehicle body structure is also disclosed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 29, 2011
    Publication date: November 1, 2012
    Applicant: HONDA MOTOR CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Timothy J. Palesano, Joseph M. Riggsby, W. Sanjaya A. Fonseka, Robert G. ZumMallen
  • Publication number: 20120274099
    Abstract: A structure for a side portion of a vehicle body, wherein the respective lower parts of a front pillar are joined to a side sill. A pillar's lower part (64) of a center pillar(21) and a pillar's lower part (65) of a front pillar (16) are provided with overlapping joining sections (31) having circular arc sections (68) which are formed so as to be separated outward from a corner (67) of a side sill (14). The overlapping joining sections (31) are overlapped on a vertical wall section (27) of the side sill (14). The overlapping joining sections (31) are provided with bead sections (72) separated from the vertical wall section (27). The overlapping joining sections (31) are also provided with contact sections (101) in contact with the vertical wall section (27).
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 5, 2010
    Publication date: November 1, 2012
    Applicant: HONDA MOTOR CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Naoyuki Tamura
  • Patent number: 8297676
    Abstract: A vehicle interior trim panel is provided with a main trim body and a tab extending from the bottom end of the main trim body. The main trim body is configured to releasably cover at least a portion of a pillar of a vehicle, and includes a pillar facing surface, a passenger compartment facing surface, a top end and a bottom end. The tab extends from the bottom end of the main trim body to a free end that is configured to be received in a vehicle component. The tab includes a first face, a second face and a peripheral edge surrounding the first and second faces, and further includes a retention member protruding from the first face of the tab, with the retention member being configured to retain the tab to the vehicle component while the main trim body is released from the pillar.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 12, 2010
    Date of Patent: October 30, 2012
    Assignee: Nissan North America, Inc.
    Inventors: Neal Osterhout, Yimin She, Prasath Balakrishnan, Jorge Adolfo Miranda Nieto
  • Patent number: 8297645
    Abstract: A vehicle interior trim panel is provided with a rigid trim portion and a first flexible trim portion. The rigid trim portion includes a first assist grip opening. The first flexible trim portion is attached to the rigid trim portion along an edge of the first assist grip opening with the first flexible trim portion at least partially covering the first assist grip opening of the rigid trim portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 11, 2010
    Date of Patent: October 30, 2012
    Assignee: Nissan North America, Inc.
    Inventors: Jeremy Thurston, Lauren Parkins
  • Publication number: 20120267882
    Abstract: The embodiments herein describe a fundamental layout between the inner panel of a door, side sill reinforcement, and uncrushable items within the door of the vehicle. During a side impact collision, a side impact sensor receives a G-signal resulting from the collision. The G-signal must ramp up to a threshold value in order to deploy the side airbag. The fundamental layout between the inner panel of a door, side sill reinforcement, and uncrushable items within the door of the vehicle ensures a more robust G-signal which results in early deployment of the side airbag relative to the movement of the door toward the occupant.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 19, 2011
    Publication date: October 25, 2012
    Applicant: HONDA MOTOR CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Lando Crispin Hamlett, Hajime Ishida, Siyang Yang
  • Patent number: 8292353
    Abstract: A construction for an automotive vehicle having a generally vertically extending pillar positioned adjacent a door opening as well as a laterally extending cross member having one end aligned with the pillar adjacent its bottom. A gusset has one end secured to one end of the cross member and a second end secured to the pillar. A crush box is attached to the pillar and includes at least a portion aligned with the second end of the gusset to provide a controlled pillar deformation resulting in a constant force-deformation loading of the gusset during a side impact.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 1, 2009
    Date of Patent: October 23, 2012
    Assignee: Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing North America, Inc.
    Inventors: Toro Ishimaru, Jonathan R. Young, Robert D. Smith
  • Patent number: 8292354
    Abstract: A B-pillar (12) for a vehicle is fastened between a roof member (13) and a sill member (15) of the vehicle. The pillar has a martensitic structure and the steel has an tensile strength of at least 1300 MPa. Close to the lower fastening portion (14) there is a soft portion (20) with a tensile strength of less than 800 MPa. This soft portion has a height of at least 30 mm, extend over less than ? of the pillar height, and is so positioned that the lower fastening portion is martensitic.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 12, 2008
    Date of Patent: October 23, 2012
    Assignee: Gestamp Hardtech AB
    Inventors: Hans Bodin, Daniel Berglund
  • Publication number: 20120261950
    Abstract: A vehicle roof support assembly is provided which includes a roof rail, a rocker panel, a first hollow support member and a second hollow support member. The first hollow support member and the second hollow support member each includes an inner wall, an outer wall, a front wall, a front wall and a rear wall. The first hollow support member and the second hollow support member each include a tubular lower area that extends upwardly from the rocker panel. The first hollow support member and the second hollow support member also each include an upper section that extends downwardly from the roof rail. The first hollow support member and the second hollow support member are spaced apart from one another in at least a middle area of the first and second hollow support members.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 13, 2011
    Publication date: October 18, 2012
    Applicant: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Jason Scott Balzer, Dustin Michael Hall, Roman Grygosinski, Vince Chimento, David Baerlin, Christopher L. Eikey, Ryan Craig
  • Publication number: 20120256445
    Abstract: The vehicle roof support pillar is provided which includes a pillar inner panel, a pillar outer panel and a unitary closed-section reinforcement member. The unitary closed-section reinforcement member is disposed entirely within a chamber defined by the pillar inner panel and the pillar outer panel. The unitary closed-section reinforcement member includes an upper area and a lower area. The lower area of the unitary close-section reinforcement member has an increasing cross-section below the buckling line. The pillar inner panel includes upper and lower ends. The lower inner end has a greater width relative to the upper inner end. The pillar outer panel also has a progressively increasing width relative to the upper outer end.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 5, 2011
    Publication date: October 11, 2012
    Inventors: Ridha Baccouche, Saied Nusier, David Anthony Wagner, Xiaowei Li, Duncan Whipps
  • Patent number: 8276974
    Abstract: There is disclosed a noise reduction member. Preferably, the noise reduction member is employed for sealing or baffling within a pillar or other structure of an automotive vehicle, although not required.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 23, 2011
    Date of Patent: October 2, 2012
    Assignee: Zephyros, Inc.
    Inventors: Mark J. Vilcek, Steve Zdrojewski
  • Publication number: 20120242112
    Abstract: A vehicle structure body includes roof side rails 10 that extend in the longitudinal direction of a vehicle on both sides in a vehicle width direction, and center pillars 20 that are connected to rear end portions 10a of the roof side rails 10 and extend in a vertical direction of the vehicle. The cross-sectional area of the roof side rail 10 is substantially constant from the front end of the roof side rail 10 to a front position P in front of the center pillar 20, and the cross-sectional area of the roof side rail is reduced from the front position P to a position S immediately before a joint portion between the roof side rail 10 and the center pillar 20. When a collision load acts on the roof side rail 10, the roof side rail 10 is easily folded at a portion of which the cross-sectional area is reduced. Accordingly, it is possible to reduce the input of moment to the center pillar 20.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 18, 2009
    Publication date: September 27, 2012
    Applicant: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Shuuitsu Yamamoto
  • Patent number: 8262153
    Abstract: A panel incorporated into a pillar of a vehicle body includes a base portion defining an opening, and a flange extending from an edge of the opening such that a portion of the flange forms an acute angle with the base portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 21, 2010
    Date of Patent: September 11, 2012
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Christopher John May, Darrin Neil Wagner, Rabin Bhojan, Dan O. Dague, John A. Speirs, Dennis P. Laakso
  • Patent number: 8262152
    Abstract: A pillar structure that reduces bending deformation of the pillar toward the vehicle interior, during a vehicle side collision, by suppressing cross-sectional collapse of the pillar. In a pillar which is erected on a side face of a body of an automobile and in which an outer panel and an inner panel form a closed cross-section, at sites where a collision load is likely to act strongly and locally during a side collision such as a site opposing an end of an impact beam that is provided inside a front door and that extends in the front-rear direction, and a site where a hinge joint is formed, grooves having a substantially square C-shaped cross section are formed in a front face portion, of an outer panel having a hat-shaped cross section, that faces toward the front of the vehicle, and/or a rear face portion thereof that faces toward the rear of the vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 10, 2008
    Date of Patent: September 11, 2012
    Assignee: Toyota Shatai Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Hiroshi Okumura, Akira Oosumi, Shinichi Shibasaki
  • Patent number: 8256828
    Abstract: A chassis component of a motor vehicle including a first outer component and a second inner component connected to the first outer component to form a composite, wherein the first outer component is formed of a material of greater ductility than the material of the second inner component whereby the force of impact on said composite component will be absorbed by deformation of said first outer component.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 18, 2008
    Date of Patent: September 4, 2012
    Assignee: Audi AG
    Inventors: Daniel Carle, Lutz-Eike Elend, Frank Venier
  • Patent number: 8251439
    Abstract: There is a pit-defining (17) housing in a vehicle pillar in a spaced relationship with a vehicle inner panel assembly. A load-transferring element includes an anchor plate (27a) attached to the vehicle inner panel assembly and arms (27b, 27c) extending away from the anchor plate. Each of the arms (27b, 27c) is joined to one of sidewalls (17b, 17c) of the pit-defining housing at that area region which extends inwardly from a terminal end (27bT, 27cT) of the arm along an inside of the arm.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 5, 2008
    Date of Patent: August 28, 2012
    Assignee: Nissan Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Koji Yasuda
  • Patent number: 8246108
    Abstract: A pillar structure of a vehicle body includes a pillar that forms a closed cross-sectional structure made up of an outer panel and an inner panel and that extends substantially along the vertical direction. The inner panel defines an opening and a reinforcing member is joined to a part including at least the periphery of the opening in the inner panel of the pillar.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 26, 2010
    Date of Patent: August 21, 2012
    Assignee: Suzuki Motor Coporation
    Inventor: Akira Itakura
  • Patent number: 8246106
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: October 16, 2009
    Date of Patent: August 21, 2012
    Assignee: BAE Systems Survivability Systems, LLC
    Inventors: Michael S. Boczek, Todd A. Huffington, Kevin M. Klatte, Robert C. Martin, Michael D. Reynolds, David J. Wolf
  • Publication number: 20120200120
    Abstract: A structure for the front section of a vehicle body, allowing a collision load to be efficiently transmitted from upper members to front pillars. A structure (20) for the front section of a vehicle body has L-shaped cross-sectioned frames (32) which bridge upper members (26) and front pillars (23). The L-shaped frames (32) are each connected to a front pillar (23) and an upper member (26) in such a manner that the upper surface of the L-shaped frame (32), the upper surface (26a) of the upper member (26), and the upper surface (23a) of the front pillar (23) from a continuous flat surface and that the outer side surface of the L-shaped frame (32), the outer side surface (26b) of the upper member (26), and the outer side surface (23b) of the front pillar (23) form a continuous flat surface.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 27, 2010
    Publication date: August 9, 2012
    Applicant: HONDA MOTOR CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Hideaki Yamagishi
  • Patent number: 8235458
    Abstract: Provided is a side part structure of a vehicle capable of efficiently suppressing deformation of a rocker using a center pillar when the rocker begins to buckle due to a load transmitted from the center pillar to the rocker in the event of a side collision or the like, so that the deformation amount of the rocker may be decreased. The side part structure of the vehicle includes a center pillar 2 that extends in the vertical direction, and the lower end of the center pillar 2 is connected to a rocker 1 that extends in the longitudinal direction. A portion bonded to the rocker 1 in the center pillar 2 is provided with a front ridge line 24 and a rear ridge line 25 respectively located at the front and rear sides of the vehicle, and the front ridge line 24 and the rear ridge line 25 are both formed toward the center portion of the width direction of the center pillar 2 and become close to each other as they go downward.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 2, 2009
    Date of Patent: August 7, 2012
    Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Takeo Mori
  • Publication number: 20120193939
    Abstract: A motor vehicle structure includes a metallic base body in the form of a three-dimensional metal sheet and a reinforcement element made of fiber composite having a matrix resin for coupling the reinforcement element with the base body in a coupling zone by a material joint. Arranged between the base body and the reinforcement element is a non-woven having voids through which the matrix resin is able to permeate.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 30, 2012
    Publication date: August 2, 2012
    Applicant: Benteler SGL GmbH & Co. KG
    Inventors: CHRISTIAN HOWE, JOHANNES BÖKE, MARCO MACIEJ
  • Patent number: 8226157
    Abstract: The present invention provides a pillar of a vehicle body structure for supporting the roof of an automotive vehicle. The pillar includes an outer panel having a side panel attached to an inner panel. The pillar further includes a first and second reinforcing member. The first reinforcing member has a planar surface and a first reinforcing edge. The second reinforcing member also has a planar surface and a second reinforcing edge. The first reinforcing member is spaced apart from the second reinforcing member, and the first and second reinforcing edges abut against respective side panel and inner panel portions so as to transmit load between the outer panel and the inner panel and reduce deformation of the outer panel under a predetermined load.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 1, 2009
    Date of Patent: July 24, 2012
    Assignee: Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing North America, Inc.
    Inventors: Megan Kathleen Mackenzie, Deanna Marie Vargo, Paul Edward Harmon
  • Publication number: 20120175915
    Abstract: The invention relates to a vehicle body structure in the region of the A-pillar and the windshield cross member, including an A-pillar on both sides of the body, wherein in the pillar construction of the A-pillar, the A-pillar has an A-pillar inner steel plate oriented approximately vertically and in the vehicle longitudinal direction. An approximately horizontal windshield cross member is connected at the ends thereof to the associated A-pillar inner steel plate by means of a welded connection. According to the invention, the windshield cross member is produced as a composite component made of an elongated aluminum beam having steel plate adapter parts that extend the aluminum beam at the ends thereof but are short in comparison to the overall beam length, and the steel plate adapter parts are connected to the associated A-pillar inner steel plate by means of the welded connection and to the aluminum beam by means of a riveted connection.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 10, 2010
    Publication date: July 12, 2012
    Applicant: Audi AG
    Inventors: Willibald Weigl, Martin Schromm, Nils Oleff, Stephan Gülich
  • Patent number: 8215704
    Abstract: A heat expandable baffle having a shape corresponding to, but smaller than, the shape of the cross section of a cavity to be sealed, and comprising a rigid support plate, a carrier for a heat expandable material and a heat expandable material mounted only to the outer periphery of the carrier. When activated by heating, the expandable material expand radially from the carrier to seal the cross sectional gap between the carrier and the cavity wall.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 19, 2009
    Date of Patent: July 10, 2012
    Assignee: Henkel AG & Co. KGaA
    Inventors: Jean-Pierre Monnet, Fabrice Prunarety, Sébastien Peget, Gregory Magnet
  • Patent number: 8210602
    Abstract: An automobile roof structure in which each end of the roof reinforcement member is connected to a roof side rail via a bracket, the base end of the bracket is fixed to the end of the roof reinforcement member, a base plate of the bracket has upstanding sections that extend to a head edge of the base plate, the upper end of an upstanding end edge of each upstanding section abuts the upper end of a vehicle interior side-surface of the roof side rail, a gap is provided between the lower portion of the upstanding end edge and the side surface. A rotational moment M that is induced in the roof side rail by a collision load acting from the center pillar is not transmitted to the roof reinforcement member 4.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 30, 2008
    Date of Patent: July 3, 2012
    Assignee: Toyota Shatai Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Masaya Kobayashi, Hiroshi Okumura, Yasunari Sakai
  • Publication number: 20120160592
    Abstract: A utility vehicle includes a vehicle body frame including a main frame to which an engine is mounted, the main frame including a round pipe having a circular cross-section and a rectangular pipe having a rectangular cross-section.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 28, 2010
    Publication date: June 28, 2012
    Inventors: Yoshinori Tsumiyama, Teruaki Yamamoto, Brian Butler
  • Publication number: 20120161475
    Abstract: Provided is a vehicle body structure that can increase the strength of desired positions in skeleton constituent members and improve shock-absorbing performance, without causing an increase in the weight of a vehicle. A vehicle body structure includes a front pillar, a center pillar, a roof side rail, and a side sill. A center pillar patch R/F is provided as a first reinforcing portion at a belt line portion of a front pillar outer R/F in the front pillar. Additionally, a high plate-thickness portion is formed as a second reinforcing portion over a region broader than a region including the center pillar patch R/F. Moreover, a high-strength portion is formed as a third reinforcing portion over a region broader than a region including the high plate-thickness portion.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 14, 2009
    Publication date: June 28, 2012
    Applicant: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Takeo Mori