Granted Patent B2

US 7,118,126 · App. 10/740,363 · Granted Oct 10, 2006

Abstract

Claims (36)

1. A vehicle safety system comprising:

a door beam having a first end and second end, said door beam extending along a first longitudinal axis;

a load transfer element disposed proximate said first end of said door beam;

an airbag sensor disposed proximate said load transfer element;

wherein said load transfer element is operable to receive a load from said door beam and transfer said load to said airbag sensor.

2. The vehicle safety system of claim 1 wherein said load transfer element comprises a door latch mechanism.

3. The vehicle safety system of claim 1 wherein said load transfer element comprises a striker assembly.

4. The vehicle safety system of claim 1 wherein said second end of said door beam includes a greater width than said first end of said door beam, said width measured in a direction generally perpendicular to said first longitudinal axis.

5. A vehicle safety system comprising:

a beam extending along a first longitudinal axis;

a bracket extending from said beam along a second longitudinal axis, said bracket including a first end fixed to said beam and a second end extending therefrom;

a first load transfer element disposed proximate said beam and said first end of said bracket, said first load transfer element operable to transmit a load along a third longitudinal axis;

a second load transfer element disposed adjacent said second end of said bracket, said second load transfer element operable to transmit a load along said third longitudinal axis; and

first and second reinforcement gussets, said first and second reinforcement gussets flanking said second end of said bracket and operable to transmit a load along said third longitudinal axis.

6. The vehicle safety system of claim 5 wherein said beam is positioned within 19 mm of said first load transfer element, along said third longitudinal axis.

7. The vehicle safety system of claim 5 wherein said first load transfer element is a latch mechanism.

8. The vehicle safety system of claim 5 further comprising an airbag sensor, said airbag sensor disposed adjacent said second reinforcement gusset along said third longitudinal axis.

9. The vehicle safety system of claim 5 wherein said third longitudinal axis is generally perpendicular to said first longitudinal axis.

10. The vehicle safety system of claim 5 wherein said bracket includes a reaction surface extending between said first and second end, said reaction surface operable to transmit a load to said beam and said second load transfer element via said first and second ends.

11. The vehicle safety system of claim 10 wherein said reaction surface includes a strengthening rib extending along its length between said first and second ends.

12. A vehicle body including:

a side aperture assembly including:

a B-pillar having an inner panel and an outer panel;

a door assembly hingedly supported by said side aperture assembly, said door assembly including an inner panel fixedly attached to an outer panel;

a door beam fixedly attached to said door assembly between said inner and outer panels, said door beam including a first end and second end;

a load transfer element disposed proximate said first end of said door beam; and

an airbag sensor disposed proximate said load transfer element;

wherein said load transfer element is operable to receive a load from said door outer panel and said door beam and transfer said load to said airbag sensor.

13. The vehicle body of claim 12 further comprising a reinforcement bracket extending from said door beam proximate said first end, said reinforcement bracket substantially mimicking a shape of the door outer panel.

14. The vehicle body of claim 13 wherein said arcuate surface of said reinforcement bracket is adjacent an inner surface of said door outer panel.

15. The vehicle body of claim 12 wherein said airbag sensor is fixedly attached to said B-pillar, said airbag sensor positioned within 50 mm of said load transfer element in a first direction and within 52 mm of said load transfer element in a second direction, said first direction generally perpendicular to said beam and said second direction generally parallel to said beam.

16. The vehicle body of claim 12 wherein said airbag sensor is disposed proximate said load transfer element.

17. The vehicle body of claim 12 further comprising a sill integrally formed with said body side aperture assembly, said sill including a first and second gusset.

18. The vehicle body of claim 12 wherein said load transfer element is a door latch mechanism, said door latch mechanism operable to transmit a dynamic load applied to said door inner panel.

19. The vehicle body of claim 12 wherein said load transfer element is a striker assembly, said striker assembly fixedly attached to said B-pillar.

20. The vehicle body of claim 12 wherein said B-pillar includes a reinforcement gusset disposed between said inner and outer panels.

Assignments (20)