Occupant protecting structures of vehicle body upper portions
US5575500A · kind A · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Sep 22, 1995 |
| Grant date | Nov 19, 1996 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Sep 22, 2015 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC B)Performing Operations; Transporting
- CPC primaryB60R2021/0435
- WIPO fieldTransport
- WIPO sectorMechanical engineering
Abstract
An occupant protecting structure of a vehicle body upper portion, which absorbs initial energy of the load caused by an occupant colliding against the body upper portion without increase in weight of the structure. A pillar outer panel, pillar inner panel and pillar reinforce respectively have flange portions at both ends thereof. The respective flange portions of the pillar outer panel, the pillar inner panel and the pillar reinforce are joined in layers by spot welding at each of the both ends. The pillar outer panel, the pillar inner panel and the pillar reinforce form a closed cross-sectional configuration when cut along a virtual line perpendicular to a longitudinal direction of the pillar outer panels, pillar inner panel and pillar reinforce. An energy absorbing panel is disposed further toward the interior of the vehicle than the pillar inner panel with a space therebetween. The energy absorbing panel has a pair of opposing side surface portions at both ends of a pressure-applied portion of the energy absorbing panel. The pair of side surface portions of the energy absorbing panel are respectively joined with side surface portions of the pillar inner panel by spot welding. T…
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.