# US 10,308,286 B2 · Light weight rocker reinforcement

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- Number: US 10,308,286 B2
- Document ID: US10308286B2
- Status: Granted
- Kind: B2
- Application number: 15/701,012
- Filed: 2017-09-11
- Published: 2019-03-14
- Granted: 2019-06-04
- Earliest claimed: 2017-09-11
- Assignees: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
- Applicants: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
- Inventors: Herbert Yang; Praveenmanickam Renganathan; Shekar Prabhakar Erasala; John Michael McGuckin; Shawn Michael Morgans
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US10308286B2

## CPC

- B62D 21/157: {for side impacts}
- B62D 25/025: {Side sills thereof}
- B62D 27/026: {Connections by glue bonding (in general F16B11/00; processes C09J5/00)}
- B62D 29/005: {preformed metal and synthetic material elements being joined together, e.g. by adhesives}
- B62D: MOTOR VEHICLES; TRAILERS (steering, or guiding on a desired track, of agricultural machines or implements A01B69/00; wheels, castors, axles, increasing wheel adhesion B60B; vehicle tyres, tyre inflation or tyre changing B60C; connections between vehicles of a train or the like B60D; vehicles for use on rail and road, amphibious or convertible vehicles B60F; suspension arrangements B60G; heating, cooling, ventilating or other air treating devices B60H; windows, windscreens, non-fixed roofs, doors or similar devices, protective coverings for vehicles not in use B60J; propulsion plant arrangements, auxiliary drives, transmissions, controls, instrumentation or dashboards B60K; electric equipment or propulsion of electrically-propelled vehicles B60L; power supply for electrically-propelled vehicles B60M; passenger accommodation not otherwise provided for B60N; adaptations for load transportation or to carry special loads or objects B60P; arrangement of signalling or lighting devices, the mounting or supporting thereof or circuits therefor, for vehicles in general B60Q; vehicles, vehicle fittings or vehicle parts not otherwise provided for B60R; servicing, cleaning, repairing, supporting, lifting, or manoeuvring, not otherwise provided for, B60S; brake arrangements, brake control systems or parts thereof B60T; air-cushion vehicles B60V; motor-cycles, accessories therefor B62J, B62K; testing of vehicles G01M)

## Abstract

A rocker assembly for a vehicle comprising a rocker panel and a side sill that enclose an injection molded reinforcement. The reinforcement includes a plurality of intersecting fins that may be provided in horizontal and vertical planes. An intermediate wall formed by frames within four sided cells that define windows. The rocker assembly may include two different types of reinforcements, one with intersecting fins, or walls, extending laterally and one formed by a plurality of longitudinally extending tubular members.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A rocker assembly for a vehicle comprising:
a rocker;
a side sill attached to the rocker; and
a reinforcement including plural first fins disposed in a longitudinal and transverse plane, and plural second fins disposed in the transverse plane and a vertical plane that intersect with the first fins, and a wall disposed in the longitudinal plane and the vertical plane at an intermediate location on the first fins.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The rocker assembly of claim 1 wherein the wall includes plural frames that define a window, wherein the frames extend between the window and the first and second fins.

### Claim 3 (depends on 2)

The rocker assembly of claim 2 wherein a size of the windows defined by the frames is changed to adjust the stability of the wall.

### Claim 4 (depends on 1)

The rocker assembly of claim 1 wherein the first and second fins have first and second outer edges that conform to an inner surface of the rocker and an inner surface of the side sill and are secured with an adhesive to the rocker and the side sill.

### Claim 5 (depends on 1)

The rocker assembly of claim 1 wherein the first and second fins have a front column and a rear column of cells that are open to the rocker and side sill, and wherein the first fins have an upper row and lower row of cells that are open to the rocker and side sill.

### Claim 6 (depends on 5)

The rocker assembly of claim 5 wherein the first and second fins are arranged to form plural four sided cells inside the front column and the rear column of cells and the upper row and the lower row of cells.

### Claim 7 (depends on 6)

The rocker assembly of claim 6 wherein plural frames that define a window are only provided on the rows of cells between the upper and lower rows of cells.

### Claim 8 (depends on 1)

The rocker assembly of claim 1 wherein the second fins have an outer edge that conforms to an inner surface of the rocker and an inner surface of the side sill.

### Claim 9 (depends on 1)

The rocker assembly of claim 1 wherein the first fins are spaced apart to a lesser extent to increase rigidity of the reinforcement.

### Claim 10 (depends on 1)

The rocker assembly of claim 1 wherein the second fins are spaced apart to a lesser extent to increase rigidity of the reinforcement.

### Claim 11 (depends on 1)

The rocker assembly of claim 1 wherein thickness of the first fins is increased to increase rigidity of the reinforcement.

### Claim 12 (depends on 1)

The rocker assembly of claim 1 wherein thickness of the second fins is increased to increase rigidity of the reinforcement.