Vehicle closure panel having an intrusion beam as primary structure
US6196619A · kind A · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Sep 14, 1998 |
| Grant date | Mar 6, 2001 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Sep 14, 2018 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC B)Performing Operations; Transporting
- CPC primaryB60J5/107
- WIPO fieldTransport
- WIPO sectorMechanical engineering
Abstract
A vehicle closure panel includes an outer frame that is connected to a central beam portion to provide a primary structure that resists deformation and efficiently distributes impact forces during a collision. The present invention can be used with or without structural key members and mating recesses to integrate the closure panel with the rest of the vehicle body, depending on design criteria. Also, primary structure of the present invention provides a structural modularity for closure panels that simplifies design by reducing the number of overall parts and uses the primary structure alone to meet the demands for crash testing. Thus, a basic structure is relied on for crash strength while accompanying secondary structures provide cosmetic differences. The inventive intrusion frame can be used with conventionally hinged passenger doors (both front and rear), vertically sliding doors, rear minivan doors, utility vehicle lift-gates, tailgates, and cargo doors, trunks, sliding van doors, or any vehicle door opening where it is desired to limit intrusion into the vehicle during a collision.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.