Vehicle side structure

1. A vehicle side structure ( 100 ; 101 ) comprising a side portion ( 102 ; 103 ) extending in a longitudinal direction ( 104 ), wherein the side portion ( 102 ) comprises a first member ( 106 ) extending in the longitudinal direction and a second member ( 108 ) extending in the longitudinal direction ( 104 ), the first member ( 106 ) being configured to face the inside ( 1 10 ) of a vehicle, and the second member ( 108 ) being configured to face the outside ( 1 12 ) of the vehicle, wherein the first and second members ( 106 , 108 ) are attached to one another to form a substantially closed space ( 1 14 ) between them, wherein the side portion ( 102 ) comprises a reinforcing member ( 124 ) located in the substantially closed space ( 1 14 ), the reinforcement member ( 124 ) extending in the longitudinal direction ( 104 ), wherein the reinforcement member ( 124 ) has a first leg ( 126 ) extending in a direction transverse to the longitudinal direction ( 104 ), wherein the reinforcement member ( 124 ) has a second leg ( 128 ) extending in a direction transverse to the longitudinal direction ( 104 ), wherein each leg has a foot ( 130 , 132 ) extending in the longitudinal direction ( 104 ), wherein the feet ( 130 , 132 ) of the first and second legs ( 126 , 128 ) are spaced apart from one another, wherein the first and second legs ( 126 , 128 ) are joined in a head section ( 134 ), wherein the head section ( 134 ) faces the first or second member ( 106 , 108 ), and the feet ( 130 , 132 ) face the other member ( 106 , 108 ) of the first and second members ( 106 , 108 ), wherein each leg ( 126 , 128 ) is corrugated in the longitudinal direction ( 104 ), wherein the corrugations of the first and second legs ( 126 , 128 ) comprise ridges ( 136 , 144 ) and grooves ( 138 , 142 ), the ridges ( 136 , 144 ) and grooves ( 138 , 142 ) extending from the head section ( 134 ) to the respective foot ( 132 , 130 ), characterized in that each ridge ( 136 , 144 ) is more prominent in the head section ( 134 ) than at the foot ( 130 , 132 ).

2. A vehicle side structure according to claim 1 , characterized in that each ridge ( 136 , 144 ) gradually increases in size from the foot ( 130 , 132 ) to the head section ( 134 ).

3. A vehicle side structure according to claim 1 , characterized in that the reinforcement member ( 124 ; 224 ) comprises a plurality of member sections ( 140 ; 240 ), wherein each member section ( 140 ; 240 ) comprises a ridge ( 144 ; 244 ) and a groove ( 142 ; 242 ) of the first leg ( 126 ; 226 ), wherein each member section ( 140 ; 240 ) comprises a ridge ( 136 ; 236 ) and a groove ( 138 ; 238 ) of the second leg ( 128 ; 228 ), and wherein each member section ( 140 ; 240 ) forms an S-shape in the head section.

4. A vehicle side structure according to claim 1 , characterized in that each groove ( 238 , 242 ) forms an inner ridge ( 250 , 252 ) in the region between the first and second legs ( 226 , 228 ), each inner ridge ( 250 , 252 ) extending from the head section ( 234 ) to the respective foot ( 230 , 232 ), and in that the inner ridges ( 250 ) of the first leg ( 226 ) overlap the inner ridges ( 252 ) of the second leg ( 228 ) in the longitudinal direction ( 304 ).

5. A vehicle side structure according to claim 1 , characterized in that each ridge ( 136 ) has a recess ( 146 ) extending from the head section ( 134 ) to the respective foot ( 132 ).

6. A vehicle side structure according to claim 1 , characterized in that each of the first and second members ( 106 , 108 ) is a hat profile, each hat profile having a compartment ( 116 , 118 ) extending in the longitudinal direction ( 104 ), each compartment ( 116 , 118 ) having a bottom surface ( 120 , 122 ), in that the hat profiles are attached to one another such that the compartments ( 116 , 118 ) form the substantially closed space ( 114 ), and in that the feet ( 130 , 132 ) of the first and second legs ( 126 , 128 ) are situated in the same compartment ( 116 , 118 ).

7. A vehicle side structure according to claim 6 , characterized in that the feet ( 130 , 132 ) of the first and second legs ( 126 , 128 ) are attached to the same bottom surface ( 120 , 122 ) of the first or second member ( 106 , 108 ).

8. A vehicle side structure according to claim 7 , characterized in that each foot ( 130 , 132 ) of the first and second legs ( 126 , 128 ) along its longitudinal extension is attached to the bottom surface ( 120 , 122 ) of the first or second member ( 106 , 108 ).

9. A vehicle side structure according to claim 8 , characterized in that each foot ( 130 , 132 ) of the first and second legs ( 126 , 128 ) along its entire longitudinal extension is attached to the bottom surface ( 120 , 122 ) of the first or second member ( 106 , 108 ).

10. A vehicle side structure according to claim 6 , characterized in that the head section ( 134 ) is situated in the compartment ( 116 , 118 ) of the first or second member ( 106 , 108 ).

11. A vehicle side structure according to claim 6 , characterized in that the head section ( 134 ) is attached to the bottom surface ( 120 , 122 ) of the first or second member ( 106 , 108 ).

12. A vehicle side structure according to claim 1 , characterized in that the reinforcement member ( 124 ) is formed from a plate, e.g. a metal plate.

13. A vehicle side structure according to claim 1 , characterized in that each of the first and second members ( 106 , 108 ) is formed from a plate, e.g. a metal plate.

14. A vehicle side structure according to claim 1 , characterized in that the side portion ( 102 ) is a side sill portion ( 102 ), and in that the side sill portion ( 102 ) extends in a longitudinal direction ( 104 ) of a vehicle body and is provided at a side of the vehicle body.

15. A vehicle side structure according to claim 14 , characterized in that the side sill portion ( 102 ) is connected to at least one cross beam ( 150 , 152 ) of the vehicle body.

16. A vehicle side structure according to claim 2 , characterized in that the reinforcement member ( 124 ; 224 ) comprises a plurality of member sections ( 140 ; 240 ), wherein each member section ( 140 ; 240 ) comprises a ridge ( 144 ; 244 ) and a groove ( 142 ; 242 ) of the first leg ( 126 ; 226 ), wherein each member section ( 140 ; 240 ) comprises a ridge ( 136 ; 236 ) and a groove ( 138 ; 238 ) of the second leg ( 128 ; 228 ), and wherein each member section ( 140 ; 240 ) forms an S-shape in the head section.

17. A vehicle side structure according to claim 2 , characterized in that each groove ( 238 , 242 ) forms an inner ridge ( 250 , 252 ) in the region between the first and second legs ( 226 , 228 ), each inner ridge ( 250 , 252 ) extending from the head section ( 234 ) to the respective foot ( 230 , 232 ), and in that the inner ridges ( 250 ) of the first leg ( 226 ) overlap the inner ridges ( 252 ) of the second leg ( 228 ) in the longitudinal direction ( 304 ).

18. A vehicle side structure according to claim 2 , characterized in that each ridge ( 136 ) has a recess ( 146 ) extending from the head section ( 134 ) to the respective foot ( 132 ).

19. A vehicle side structure according to claim 2 , characterized in that each of the first and second members ( 106 , 108 ) is a hat profile, each hat profile having a compartment ( 116 , 118 ) extending in the longitudinal direction ( 104 ), each compartment ( 116 , 118 ) having a bottom surface ( 120 , 122 ), in that the hat profiles are attached to one another such that the compartments ( 116 , 118 ) form the substantially closed space ( 114 ), and in that the feet ( 130 , 132 ) of the first and second legs ( 126 , 128 ) are situated in the same compartment ( 116 , 118 ).

20. A vehicle side structure according to claim 7 , characterized in that the head section ( 134 ) is situated in the compartment ( 116 , 118 ) of the first or second member ( 106 , 108 ).