# US 11,299,209 B1 · Vehicle pillar pass through for sealing baffle > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 11,299,209 B1 - Document ID: US11299209B1 - Status: Granted - Kind: B1 - Application number: 17/094,517 - Filed: 2020-11-10 - Granted: 2022-04-12 - Earliest claimed: 2020-11-10 - Assignees: Ford Global Technologies, LLC - Applicants: Ford Global Technologies, LLC - Inventors: Maciej Bednarek; Aakash Patel; Chienhom Lee; Jesús Alfredo Mendoza González - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US11299209B1 ## CPC - B62D 25/04: Door pillars {; windshield pillars} - B62D 25/16: Mud-guards or wings; Wheel cover panels (equipped with means for freeing wheels or tyres from foreign matter B60S) - B62D 29/002: {a foamable synthetic material or metal being added in situ (shaping of substances in a plastic state by foaming, in general B29C44/00)} - 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 The present disclosure describes a vehicle including an inner wheelbase panel, a first panel, a second panel and a pillar that is coupled to the wheelbase panel. The pillar includes a wall, a first flange, a second flange, and a tunnel. The wall defines an inner cavity and an outer cavity. The first flange extends outwardly from the wall and the second flange extends inwardly from the wall. The vehicle includes baffle which extends through the tunnel and is sized and shaped to seal both the inner cavity and the outer cavity. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A vehicle, comprising: an inner wheelbase panel; a first panel; a second panel; a pillar coupled to the wheelbase panel, the pillar having: a wall which defines an inner cavity and an outer cavity; a flange that extends outwardly from the wall; and a baffle cavity extending, at least in part, through the wall; and a baffle that extends through the baffle cavity, the baffle sized and shaped to seal the inner cavity and the outer cavity. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The vehicle of claim 1 wherein the flange is sized and shaped to couple the pillar to the inner wheelbase panel. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) The vehicle of claim 2 wherein the inner wheelbase panel has an arcuate shape. ### Claim 4 (depends on 3) The vehicle of claim 3 wherein the flange is sized and shaped to mate with the arcuate shape of the inner wheelbase panel. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The vehicle of claim 1 wherein the baffle cavity is defined by a first portion, a second portion, and a third portion. ### Claim 6 (depends on 5) The vehicle of claim 5 wherein the first portion and the second portion are parallel to each other, and the third portion extends curvilinearly from the first portion to the second portion. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The vehicle of claim 1 wherein the baffle includes a finger portion that extends through the baffle cavity. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The vehicle of claim 1 wherein the baffle includes a pair of tabs, each of the pair of tabs including a protrusion which removably couples the baffle to the pillar. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The vehicle of claim 1 wherein the baffle includes a carrier and an expandable layer. ### Claim 10 (depends on 1) The vehicle of claim 1 wherein the baffle includes: a first finger portion that extends through the baffle cavity; a second finger portion that is positioned adjacent to the first panel; and a base portion, the first and second portions each extending outwardly from the base portion. ### Claim 11 A vehicle apparatus, comprising: a pillar having a wall which defines an inner cavity and an outer cavity, a flange that extends outwardly from the wall, and a baffle cavity that extends, at least in part, through the flange; and a sealing baffle that extends through the baffle cavity, the baffle sized and shaped to seal the inner cavity and the outer cavity. ### Claim 12 (depends on 11) The vehicle apparatus of claim 11 wherein the baffle cavity is defined by a first portion, a second portion, and a third portion. ### Claim 13 (depends on 11) The vehicle apparatus of claim 11 wherein a first portion and a second portion are parallel to each other, and a third portion extends curvilinearly from the first portion to the second portion. ### Claim 14 (depends on 11) The vehicle apparatus of claim 11 wherein the baffle includes a finger portion that extends through the baffle cavity. ### Claim 15 (depends on 11) The vehicle apparatus of claim 11 wherein the baffle includes a pair of tabs, each of the pair of tabs including a protrusion which removably couples the baffle to the pillar.