# US 10,766,541 B2 · Front pillar structure > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 10,766,541 B2 - Document ID: US10766541B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 15/933,761 - Filed: 2018-03-23 - Published: 2018-09-27 - Granted: 2020-09-08 - Earliest claimed: 2017-03-27 - Assignees: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha - Applicants: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha - Inventors: Koki Ikeda; Motoya Sakabe; Kazuki Komoriya; Kazuyoshi Ogata - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US10766541B2 ## CPC - B62D 25/04: Door pillars {; windshield pillars} - B60J 1/02: arranged at the vehicle front {, e.g. structure of the glazing, mounting of the glazing (on windscreen mounted antenna wire H01Q1/1271)} - B60J 1/06: comprising more than one pane - B62D 29/04: predominantly of synthetic material (working of plastics or substances in a plastic state B29) - B62D 29/043: {Superstructures (B62D25/161 takes precedence)} - B60J 1/004: {Mounting of windows} - 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) - B60J: WINDOWS, WINDSCREENS, NON-FIXED ROOFS, DOORS, OR SIMILAR DEVICES FOR VEHICLES; REMOVABLE EXTERNAL PROTECTIVE COVERINGS SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR VEHICLES (fastening, suspending, closing, or opening of such devices E05) ## Abstract A front pillar structure includes a first skeleton portion, a second skeleton portion extending along the first skeleton portion with a gap therebetween, and a connecting member. A cross-section of the first skeleton portion is a hollow closed cross-section and a width of the first skeleton portion in a horizontal direction orthogonal to a gaze direction of a driver seated in a driver's seat is equal to or less than a standard pupillary distance. A cross-section of the second skeleton portion is a hollow closed cross-section and a width of the second skeleton portion in the horizontal direction orthogonal to the gaze direction is equal to or less than the standard pupillary distance. The connecting member is transparent and is disposed between the first skeleton portion and the second skeleton portion. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A front pillar structure on a driver's seat side of a vehicle, the front pillar structure comprising: a first skeleton portion extending along a peripheral edge portion of a windshield glass of the vehicle on an outer side in a vehicle width direction of the vehicle, the first skeleton portion having a hollow closed cross-section seen from a longitudinal direction of the first skeleton portion; a second skeleton portion extending along the first skeleton portion and separated by a gap from the first skeleton portion, the second skeleton portion extending along a side door on the driver's seat side of the vehicle, the second skeleton portion having a hollow closed cross-section seen from a longitudinal direction of the second skeleton portion; and a transparent connecting portion disposed between the first skeleton portion and the second skeleton portion, the transparent connecting portion including a solid portion interposed between the first skeleton portion and the second skeleton portion, and connecting the first skeleton portion and the second skeleton portion to each other, wherein: the solid portion of the transparent connecting portion includes (i) a first extending portion disposed on one of a vehicle outer side and a vehicle inner side of the first skeleton portion and extending from the solid portion toward the first skeleton portion side and (ii) a second extending portion disposed on one of a vehicle outer side and a vehicle inner side of the second skeleton portion and extending from the solid portion toward the second skeleton portion side; a front surface portion of the solid portion on the first skeleton portion side and a first side surface portion of the first extending portion on the first skeleton portion side are joined to the first skeleton portion via a first joining portion that is elastically deformable; and a rear surface portion of the solid portion on the second skeleton portion side and a second side surface portion of the second extending portion on the second skeleton portion side are joined to the second skeleton portion via a second joining portion that is elastically deformable. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The front pillar structure according to claim 1, wherein: the solid portion is a first transparent plate; the transparent connecting portion includes a second transparent plate; the first transparent plate connects a vehicle inner side part of the first skeleton portion and a vehicle inner side part of the second skeleton portion to each other; and the second transparent plate connects a vehicle outer side part of the first skeleton portion and a vehicle outer side part of the second skeleton portion to each other. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The front pillar structure according to claim 1, wherein the transparent connecting portion is a transparent plate and connects a vehicle outer side part of the first skeleton portion and a vehicle outer side part of the second skeleton portion to each other. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The front pillar structure according to claim 1, wherein the first skeleton portion and the second skeleton portion are made of high-tensile steel.