IP Library Granted Patent US 8,113,572
Granted Patent B2
US 8,113,572 · App. 12/569,373 · Granted Feb 14, 2012

Rocker panel structure

Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 8,113,572
App. No.
12/569,373
Granted
Feb 14, 2012
Kind
B2
Abstract

In a motor vehicle body, plates of a rocker panel reinforcement situated inside a rocker panel are led up to a terminus part manufactured from plastic. A front wall of the terminus part is led up almost to a tire envelope curve. In the event of a crash of the motor vehicle, occurring forces are introduced particularly early into the plates of the rocker panel reinforcement.

Claims (17)

1. A motor vehicle body for a motor vehicle, comprising:

at least two rocker panels laterally situated and pointing in a travel direction, and implemented as a hollow profile comprising a terminus part manufactured from a plastic for covering at least one end of the at least two rocker panels;

a rocker panel reinforcement comprising a first plate situated in the hollow profile of the at least two rocker panels; and

a front wall of the terminus part overlapping the first plate of a rocker panel reinforcement.

2. The motor vehicle body according to claim 1 , wherein an upper delimitation of the terminus part protrudes beyond a lower delimitation of the terminus part viewed in the travel direction of the motor vehicle.

3. The motor vehicle body according to claim 1 , wherein the terminus part comprises at least one peripheral channel comprising a plastic foam situated therein.

4. The motor vehicle body according to claim 1 , wherein the terminus part comprises at least one peripheral channel comprising an adhesive situated therein.

5. The motor vehicle body according to claim 3 , wherein the plastic foam situated in the at least one peripheral channel is a foam that expands under an influence of heat.

6. The motor vehicle according to claim 4 , wherein the adhesive is a structural adhesive.

7. The motor vehicle body according to claim 1 , wherein at least one of the at least two rocker panels comprises an inner side wall and an outer side wall, and wherein the terminus part is sealed relative to the inner side wall and the outer side wall.

8. The motor vehicle body according to claim 1 , wherein the terminus part has a detent connection to at least one of the at least two rocker panels.

9. The motor vehicle body according to claim 8 , wherein at least one of the at least two rocker panels comprises an inner side wall and an outer side wall, and wherein the detent connection has an opening in the inner side wall, the outer side wall, or the first plate and a detent hook that is integrally manufactured with the terminus part and engages in the opening.

10. The motor vehicle body according to claim 9 , wherein the opening is defined in the first plate.

11. The motor vehicle body according to claim 1 , wherein the terminus part has a flange pointing in a longitudinal direction of at least one of the at least two rocker panels, and the flange presses directly against the first plate.

12. The motor vehicle body according to claim 11 , wherein the flange protrudes from the front wall, and the flange and the front wall are connected via a reinforcement rib.

13. The motor vehicle body according to claim 11 , wherein the terminus part has a wing projecting beyond the flange to overlap the first plate of the rocker panel reinforcement.

14. The motor vehicle body according to claim 1 , wherein the first plate of the rocker panel reinforcement has a reinforcement bead extending in a longitudinal direction of at least one of the at least two rocker panels.

Assignments (8)
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Nov 7, 2014
From: WILMINGTON TRUST COMPANY
To: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS LLC
Reel/Frame 034287/0001 →
CHANGE OF NAME Recorded Feb 10, 2011
From: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS, INC.
To: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS LLC
Reel/Frame 025781/0299 →
SECURITY AGREEMENT Recorded Nov 8, 2010
From: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS, INC.
To: WILMINGTON TRUST COMPANY
Reel/Frame 025324/0555 →
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Nov 5, 2010
From: UAW RETIREE MEDICAL BENEFITS TRUST
To: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS, INC.
Reel/Frame 025315/0091 →
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Nov 4, 2010
From: UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF THE TREASURY
To: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS, INC.
Reel/Frame 025246/0234 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Mar 30, 2010
From: MILDNER, UDO; ENDERICH, THOMAS; TESKE, LOTHAR
To: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS, INC.
Reel/Frame 024156/0033 →
SECURITY AGREEMENT Recorded Feb 25, 2010
From: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS, INC.
To: UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF THE TREASURY
Reel/Frame 023989/0155 →
SECURITY AGREEMENT Recorded Feb 25, 2010
From: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS, INC.
To: UAW RETIREE MEDICAL BENEFITS TRUST
Reel/Frame 023990/0001 →
Priority Claims (1)
DE 10 2008 049 758 · Sep 30, 2008 · national
Continuity (1)
Related Publication 20100140981A1 · Jun 10, 2010