# US 11,440,594 B2 · Front pillar outer > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 11,440,594 B2 - Document ID: US11440594B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 16/961,568 - Filed: 2019-01-11 - Published: 2021-03-04 - Granted: 2022-09-13 - Earliest claimed: 2018-01-12 - Assignees: Nippon Steel Corporation - Applicants: Nippon Steel Corporation - Inventors: Kenichiro Otsuka - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US11440594B2 ## CPC - B62D 25/04: Door pillars {; windshield pillars} - B62D 27/02: rigid - B62D 27/026: {Connections by glue bonding (in general F16B11/00; processes C09J5/00)} - B62D 27/06: readily releasable - 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 front pillar outer includes a first member and a second member. The first member includes a first glass-surface-side flange part and a first door-side flange part. The sheet thickness of the second member is thinner than the sheet thickness of the first member. The second member includes a second glass-surface-side flange part and a second door-side flange part. The first door-side flange part protrudes further towards the rear end of the front pillar outer than the first glass-surface-side flange part and a first main body part, and overlaps with the second door-side flange part. The second glass-surface-side flange part overlaps with a rearward region of the first glass-surface-side flange part. A second main body part overlaps with a rearward region of the first main body part. In a region in which the first member overlaps with the second member, the first member is joined to the second member. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A front pillar outer that includes a glass-surface-side flange part, a door-side flange part, and a main body part that connects the glass-surface-side flange part and the door-side flange part, the front pillar outer comprising: a first member extending from a fore end towards a rear end of the front pillar outer, the first member including a first glass-surface-side flange part constituting one part of the glass- surface-side flange part, a first door-side flange part constituting one part of the door-side flange part, and a first main body part that connects the first glass-surface-side flange part and the first door-side flange part; a second member extending from the rear end towards the fore end of the front pillar outer and having a thinner sheet thickness than the first member, the second member including a second glass-surface-side flange part constituting one part of the glass-surface-side flange part, a second door-side flange part constituting one part of the door-side flange part, and a second main body part that connects the second glass-surface-side flange part and the second door-side flange part, wherein: the first door-side flange part protrudes further towards the rear end of the front pillar outer than the first glass-surface-side flange part and the first main body part, and overlaps with the second door-side flange part, the second glass-surface-side flange part overlaps with a rearward region of the first glass-surface-side flange part, the second main body part overlaps with a rearward region of the first main body part, and the first member is joined to the second member in a region in which the first door-side flange part overlaps with the second door-side flange part, a region in which the second glass-surface-side flange part overlaps with the first glass-surface-side flange part, and a region in which the second main body part overlaps with the first main body part. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The front pillar outer according to claim 1, wherein: when a length of the glass-surface-side flange part of the front pillar outer is represented by “L”, a region where the first door-side flange part overlaps with the second door-side flange part is provided in at least one part of a range of L×⅔ from a position corresponding to a rear end of the glass-surface-side flange part in the door-side flange part. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The front pillar outer according to claim 1, wherein: when a length of the glass-surface-side flange part of the front pillar outer is represented by “L”, a region where the first door-side flange part overlaps with the second door-side flange part is provided over all of a range of L×⅔ from a position corresponding to a rear end of the glass-surface-side flange part in the door-side flange part. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The front pillar outer according to claim 1, wherein: when a length of the glass-surface-side flange part of the front pillar outer is represented by “L”, a region where the second glass-surface-side flange part overlaps with the first glass-surface-side flange part is provided in at least one part of a range between L×¼ and L×⅔ from a fore end of the glass-surface-side flange part. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The front pillar outer according to claim 1, wherein: when a length of the glass-surface-side flange part of the front pillar outer is represented by “L”, a region where the second glass-surface-side flange part overlaps with the first glass-surface-side flange part is provided over all of a range between L×¼ and L×⅔ from a fore end of the glass-surface-side flange part. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The front pillar outer according to claim 1, wherein: a sheet thickness of the second member is 0.60 mm or more and 1.60 mm or less. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The front pillar outer according to claim 1, wherein: a tensile strength of the first member and the second member is 800 MPa or more. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The front pillar outer according to claim 1, wherein: a tensile strength of the second member is higher than the tensile strength of the first member. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The front pillar outer according to claim 1, wherein: the first member is joined to the second member by laser welding, spot welding, mechanical fastening, an adhesive or by using a combination of these joining methods.