IP Library Granted Patent US 7,614,687
Granted Patent B2
US 7,614,687 · App. 12/055,044 · Granted Nov 10, 2009

Pillar construction for vehicle

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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 7,614,687
App. No.
12/055,044
Granted
Nov 10, 2009
Kind
B2
Abstract

An upper member of a pillar has a substantially U-shaped cross section, and includes first side walls extending substantially in a transverse direction of the vehicle at least at a lower portion, and a connecting plate at a lower end while keeping the U-shaped cross section. A lower member includes a mounting plate opposed to the connecting plate at a lower portion being lower than an upper end, and second side walls extending substantially in the transverse direction at both end portions of the mounting plate in a longitudinal direction of the vehicle. The connecting plate and the mounting plate are welded to each other in a state that they are in abutment with each other, and the first side walls and the second side walls are joined to each other, and the upper member and the lower member are integrally fixed to each other.

Claims (13)

1. A pillar construction for a vehicle, comprising:

a pillar which is a part of a body of the vehicle, the pillar including an upper member and a lower member made of diecast aluminum alloy, wherein

the upper member has a substantially U-shaped cross section, and includes first side walls extending substantially in a transverse direction of the vehicle at least at a lower portion thereof, and the upper member further includes a connecting plate at a lower end thereof while keeping the U-shaped cross section,

the lower member includes a mounting plate, opposed to the connecting plate, at a lower portion thereof which is lower than an upper end thereof, and the lower member includes second side walls at both end portions of the mounting plate in a longitudinal direction of the vehicle, the second side walls extend substantially in the transverse direction of the vehicle the second side walls defining a substantially U-shaped cross section having an open portion facing outward of the vehicle, and

the connecting plate and the mounting plate are welded to each other in a state that the connecting plate and the mounting plate are in abutment with each other, and the first side walls and the second side walls or the first and second side walls and wall members attached to the first and second side walls, are joined to each other, such that the upper member and the lower member are integrally fixed to each other.

2. A pillar construction for a vehicle, comprising:

a pillar which is a part of a body of the vehicle, the pillar including an upper member and a lower member which are made of diecast aluminum alloy, wherein

the upper member has a substantially U-shaped cross section, and includes first side walls extending substantially in a transverse direction of the vehicle at least at a lower portion thereof, and the upper member further includes a connecting plate at a lower end thereof while keeping the U-shaped cross section,

the lower member includes a mounting plate, opposed to the connecting plate, at a lower portion thereof which is lower than an upper end thereof, and the lower member includes second side walls at both end portions of the mounting plate in a longitudinal direction of the vehicle, the second side walls extend substantially in the transverse direction of the vehicle,

the connecting plate and the mounting plate are welded to each other in a state that the connecting plate and the mounting plate are in abutment with each other, and the first side walls and the second side walls or the first and second side walls and wall members attached to the first and second side walls, are joined to each other, and the upper member, such that the lower member are integrally fixed to each other, and

the pillar includes a C pillar in which an upper end of the upper member is attached to a side roof rail and the lower portion of the lower member is attached to a side sill.

3. The pillar construction according to claim 2 , wherein

the upper end is provided with a depression, an end portion of a roof bow having an angularly annular cross section is fitted to the depression, and the end portion of the roof bow is fixed into the depression.

Assignments (2)
CHANGE OF ADDRESS Recorded Mar 1, 2021
From: MITSUBISHI JIDOSHA KOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHA
To: MITSUBISHI JIDOSHA KOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHA
Reel/Frame 055472/0944 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded May 22, 2008
From: NAKAMURA, TAKUO; NAKAGAWA, HAYAMI; YANASE, JUNICHI; SEINO, HIROYUKI; ITO, HIDEKI; FUJII, KOJI; YANAGIMOTO, SATOSHI; ONODERA, MASATO; AMANO, FUMIYA
To: MITSUBISHI JIDOSHA KOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHA; AHRESTY CORPORATION
Reel/Frame 020987/0776 →