IP Library › Granted Patent US 9,457,844
Granted Patent B2
US 9,457,844 · App. 14/645,909 · Granted Oct 4, 2016

Pillar structure and vehicle side portion structure

Inventor: Eiji Yoshida (Toyota, JP)
Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
B62D25/04
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 9,457,844
App. No.
14/645,909
Granted
Oct 4, 2016
Kind
B2
Abstract

There is provided a pillar structure comprising: an outer panel that extends in a vehicle up and down direction and that is equipped with a pair of outer flange portions that extend in a vehicle front and rear direction, and outer longitudinal wall portions that extend outward in a vehicle width direction from the pair of outer flange portions; an inner panel that is disposed on a vehicle width direction inside of the outer panel and extends in the vehicle up and down direction along the outer panel and that is equipped with a pair of inner flange portions joined to the pair of outer flange portions, and inner longitudinal wall portions that extend outward in the vehicle width direction from the inner flange portions; and longitudinal wall joint portions formed by joining the outer longitudinal wall portions and the inner longitudinal wall portions to one another.

Claims (28)

1. A pillar structure comprising:

an outer panel that extends in a vehicle up and down direction in a state in which the pillar structure is attached to a vehicle, the outer panel having (i) a pair of outer flange portions that extend in a vehicle front and rear direction, (ii) outer longitudinal wall portions that extend outward in a vehicle width direction from the pair of outer flange portions, and (iii) an outer crown portion that interconnects vehicle width direction outside end portions of the outer longitudinal wall portions;

an inner panel that is disposed on a vehicle width direction inside of the outer panel and extends in the vehicle up and down direction along the outer panel, the inner panel having (a) a pair of inner flange portions that are joined to the pair of outer flange portions, (b) inner longitudinal wall portions that extend outward in the vehicle width direction from the pair of inner flange portions, and (c) an inner crown portion that interconnects vehicle width direction outside end portions of the inner longitudinal wall portions; and

longitudinal wall joint portions that join the outer longitudinal wall portions and the inner longitudinal wall portions to one another.

2. A pillar structure comprising:

an outer panel that extends in a vehicle up and down direction in a state in which the pillar structure is attached to a vehicle, the outer panel having (i) a pair of outer flange portions that extend in a vehicle front and rear direction, (ii) outer longitudinal wall portions that extend outward in a vehicle width direction from the pair of outer flange portions, and (iii) an outer crown portion that interconnects vehicle width direction outside end portions of the outer longitudinal wall portions;

an inner panel that is disposed on a vehicle width direction inside of the outer panel and extends in the vehicle up and down direction along the outer panel, the inner panel having (a) a pair of inner flange portions that are joined to the pair of outer flange portions, (b) inner longitudinal wall portions that extend outward in the vehicle width direction from the pair of inner flange portions, and (c) an inner crown portion that interconnects vehicle width direction outside end portions of the inner longitudinal wall portions;

a reinforcement member that is disposed between the outer panel and the inner panel, the reinforcement member having (1) a pair of reinforcement flange portions that are joined to the outer flange portions and the inner flange portions, (2) reinforcement longitudinal wall portions that extend outward in the vehicle width direction from the pair of reinforcement flange portions, and (3) a reinforcement crown portion that interconnects vehicle width direction outside end portions of the reinforcement longitudinal wall portions; and

longitudinal wall joint portions that join the inner longitudinal wall portions and the reinforcement longitudinal wall portions to one another.

3. The pillar structure of claim 1 , wherein the outer panel and the inner panel define an enclosed chamber.

4. The pillar structure of claim 2 , wherein the reinforcement member and the inner panel define an enclosed chamber.

5. The pillar structure of claim 1 , wherein the longitudinal wall joint portions are at least disposed on a vehicle upper side of a door beltline in a state in which the pillar structure is attached to a vehicle.

6. The pillar structure of claim 2 , wherein the longitudinal wall joint portions are at least disposed on a vehicle upper side of a door beltline in a state in which the pillar structure is attached to a vehicle.

7. The pillar structure of claim 1 , wherein the longitudinal wall joint portions of the inner longitudinal wall portions have bearing surfaces that bulge out in opposite directions from directions heading toward the opposing inner longitudinal wall portions.

8. The pillar structure of claim 2 , wherein the longitudinal wall joint portions of the inner longitudinal wall portions have bearing surfaces that bulge out in opposite directions from directions heading toward the opposing inner longitudinal wall portions.

9. A vehicle side portion structure comprising:

a center pillar comprising:

an outer panel that extends in a vehicle up and down direction in a state in which the pillar structure is attached to a vehicle, the outer panel having (i) a pair of outer flange portions that extend in a vehicle front and rear direction, (ii) outer longitudinal wall portions that extend outward in a vehicle width direction from the pair of outer flange portions, and (iii) an outer crown portion that interconnects vehicle width direction outside end portions of the outer longitudinal wall portions;

an inner panel that is disposed on a vehicle width direction inside of the outer panel and extends in the vehicle up and down direction along the outer panel, the inner panel having (a) a pair of inner flange portions that are joined to the pair of outer flange portions, (b) inner longitudinal wall portions that extend outward in the vehicle width direction from the pair of inner flange portions, and (c) an inner crown portion that interconnects vehicle width direction outside end portions of the inner longitudinal wall portions; and

longitudinal wall joint portions that join the outer longitudinal wall portions and the inner longitudinal portions to one another; and

a vehicle side portion having the center pillar in a center portion, in the vehicle front and rear direction, of the vehicle side portion.

10. A vehicle side portion structure comprising:

a center pillar comprising:

an outer panel that extends in a vehicle up and down direction in a state in which the pillar structure is attached to a vehicle, the outer panel having (i) a pair of outer flange portions that extend in a vehicle front and rear direction, (ii) outer longitudinal wall portions that extend outward in a vehicle width direction from the pair of outer flange portions, and (iii) an outer crown portion that interconnects vehicle width direction outside end portions of the outer longitudinal wall portions;

an inner panel that is disposed on a vehicle width direction inside of the outer panel and extends in the vehicle up and down direction along the outer panel, the inner panel having (a) a pair of inner flange portions that are joined to the pair of outer flange portions, (b) inner longitudinal wall portions that extend outward in the vehicle width direction from the pair of inner flange portions, and (c) an inner crown portion that interconnects vehicle width direction outside end portions of the inner longitudinal wall portions; and

a reinforcement member that is disposed between the outer panel and the inner panel, the reinforcement member having (1) a pair of reinforcement flange portions that are joined to the outer flange portions and the inner flange portions, (2) reinforcement longitudinal wall portions that extend outward in the vehicle width direction from the pair of reinforcement flange portions, and (3) a reinforcement crown portion that interconnects vehicle width direction outside end portions of the reinforcement longitudinal wall portions; and

longitudinal wall joint portions that join the inner longitudinal wall portions and the reinforcement longitudinal wall portions to one another; and

a vehicle side portion having the center pillar in center portion, in the vehicle front and rear direction, of the vehicle side portion.

Assignments (1)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Mar 12, 2015
From: YOSHIDA, EIJI
To: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
Reel/Frame 035150/0594 →
Priority Claims (1)
JP 2014-083885 · Apr 15, 2014 · national
Continuity (1)
Related Publication 20150291218A1 · Oct 15, 2015