IP Library › Granted Patent US 12,583,525
Granted Patent B2
US 12,583,525 · App. 18/345,058 · Granted Mar 24, 2026

Side structure of vehicle body

Inventors: Jin Han Chang (Ansan-si, KR); Minsoo Kim (Suwon-si, KR); Yoonkyoung Han (Suwon-si, KR); Jae Kuk Park (Seoul, KR); Chang Hee Lee (Seoul, KR)
Assignees: Hyundai Motor Company; Kia Corporation; KOLON SPACEWORKS CO, LTD.
B62D25/025B60R13/07B62D25/04B62D25/16
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 12,583,525
App. No.
18/345,058
Granted
Mar 24, 2026
Kind
B2
Abstract

An embodiment side structure of a vehicle body includes a side body, a surround panel coupled to the side body and having an opening, and a side outer panel including a plastic composite material coupled to the surround panel. In an embodiment, the surround panel includes a plurality of pillar reinforcement parts coupled to a plurality of pillars provided on the side body, a side sill reinforcement part coupled to a side sill provided on the side body and connected to the plurality of pillar reinforcement parts, and a rear wheel arch reinforcement part coupled to a rear wheel arch provided on the side body and connected to the plurality of pillar reinforcement parts.

Claims (45)

1 . A side structure of a vehicle body, the side structure comprising:

a side body;

a surround panel coupled to the side body and having a plurality of openings;

a plurality of side outer panels comprising a plastic composite material and coupled to the surround panel; and

a water drain unit provided on the surround panel,

wherein:

the surround panel comprises a panel mounting part provided at outer edges of the plurality of openings and bonded to the plurality of side outer panels by an adhesive, and

the water drain unit comprises a water pass part provided on an outer edge of the panel mounting part.

2 . The side structure of claim 1 , wherein the surround panel comprises a reinforcement part extending from the panel mounting part and having a step shape at inner edges of the plurality of openings.

3 . The side structure of claim 1 , wherein:

the surround panel comprises a plurality of panel mounting parts comprising the panel mounting part; and

the water pass part extends from the outer edges of the plurality of openings between adjacent panel mounting parts of the plurality of panel mounting parts that are adjacent to each other.

4 . The side structure of claim 1 , wherein the water drain unit further comprises a plurality of water drain grooves connected to the water pass part in a vertical direction under the surround panel.

5 . The side structure of claim 4 , wherein the surround panel comprises a plurality of pillar reinforcement parts, a side sill reinforcement part, and a rear wheel arch reinforcement part.

6 . The side structure of claim 5 , wherein the plurality of water drain grooves are provided in the side sill reinforcement part and the rear wheel arch reinforcement part under the plurality of openings.

7 . The side structure of claim 1 , further comprising a panel coupling unit provided at edge portions of the plurality of side outer panels that are adjacent to each other.

8 . The side structure of claim 7 , wherein:

the panel coupling unit comprises, at the edge portions of the plurality of side outer panels that are adjacent to each other;

a fitting protrusion provided on a first edge portion of a first side outer panel of the plurality of side outer panels; and

a fitting groove provided on a second edge portion of a second side outer panel adjacent to the first side outer panel, and

the fitting groove of the second side outer panel is coupled to the fitting protrusion of the first side outer panel.

9 . The side structure of claim 8 , wherein the fitting protrusion is coupled to the fitting groove along a vehicle width direction.

10 . The side structure of claim 8 , wherein the fitting protrusion comprises:

a water guide part bent in a side inner direction at the first edge portion and connected to a parting line of the first side outer panel and the second side outer panel adjacent to each other; and

a water blocking part bent in a side outer direction from the water guide part and coupled to the fitting groove along a vehicle width direction.

11 . The side structure of claim 8 , wherein the fitting groove is provided with a round-shaped fitting guide part to guide the fitting protrusion.

12 . The side structure of claim 1 , wherein each of the plurality of side outer panels comprises a plate part and a reinforcement layer on the plate part.

13 . A vehicle comprising:

a vehicle body; and

a pair of side structures respectively provided on both sides of the vehicle body and extending in a vehicle length direction, each of the pair of side structures comprising:

a side body;

a plurality of pillars spaced apart on the side body and extending in a vehicle height direction;

a side sill extending in the vehicle length direction at a lower end of the side body;

a rear wheel arch on the side body behind the side sill in the vehicle length direction;

a surround panel coupled to the side body and having an opening; and

a side outer panel coupled to the surround panel, the side outer panel comprising a plastic composite material; and

a water drain unit provided on the surround panel,

wherein:

the surround panel comprises a panel mounting part provided at a first outer edge of the opening and bonded to the side outer panel by an adhesive, and

the water drain unit comprises a water pass part provided on a second outer edge of the panel mounting part.

14 . The vehicle of claim 13 , wherein the surround panel further comprises:

a plurality of pillar reinforcement parts coupled to the plurality of pillars;

a side sill reinforcement part coupled to the side sill and connected to the plurality of pillar reinforcement parts; and

a rear wheel arch reinforcement part coupled to the rear wheel arch and connected to the plurality of pillar reinforcement parts.

15 . The vehicle of claim 13 , wherein the side outer panel is coupled to an edge portion of the opening of the surround panel by the adhesive.

Assignments (2)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Dec 12, 2024
From: KOLONGLOTECH. INC
To: KOLON SPACEWORKS CO.,LTD.
Reel/Frame 069564/0955 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Jun 30, 2023
From: CHANG, JIN HAN; KIM, MINSOO; HAN, YOONKYOUNG; PARK, JAE KUK; LEE, CHANG HEE
To: HYUNDAI MOTOR COMPANY; KIA CORPORATION; KOLONGLOTECH. INC
Reel/Frame 064125/0705 →
Priority Claims (1)
KR 10-2022-0169518 · Dec 7, 2022 · national
Continuity (1)
Related Publication 20240190507A1 · Jun 13, 2024
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