# US 11,897,544 B2 · Center pillar inner and center pillar

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- Number: US 11,897,544 B2
- Document ID: US11897544B2
- Status: Granted
- Kind: B2
- Application number: 17/640,631
- Filed: 2019-09-11
- Published: 2022-11-10
- Granted: 2024-02-13
- Earliest claimed: 2019-09-11
- Assignees: Nippon Steel Corporation
- Applicants: Nippon Steel Corporation
- Inventors: Koichi Hamada
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US11897544B2

## CPC

- B62D 25/04: Door pillars {; windshield pillars}
- 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

Both weight reduction and impact resistance of a center pillar are satisfied while increase in cost is suppressed. A center pillar inner 20 is configured to include: an inner member 21 having an opening 21a to be a place where a retractor of a seat belt is mounted and a side sill mounting portion 21b to be a place where a side sill 30 is mounted; and a CFRP member 22 joined to a surface of the inner member 21, wherein the CFRP member 22 is provided at least between the opening 21a and the side sill mounting portion 21b.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A center pillar inner comprising:
an inner member having an opening to be a place for mounting a retractor of a seat belt is mounted and a side sill mounting portion to be a place for mounting a side sill; and
a CFRP member joined to a surface of the inner member at a lower portion region between the side sill mounting portion and the opening in the inner member, wherein
the CFRP member includes a carbon fiber with a fiber direction falling within a range of 5 degrees to 5 degrees in relation to a longitudinal direction of the inner member and a matrix resin is a thermoplastic resin,
the thermoplastic resin is a phenoxy resin, and
the CFRP member is provided at least between the opening and the side sill mounting portion.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The center pillar inner according to claim 1, wherein
the CFRP member is provided further in a flange portion of the inner member on a side of the opening.

### Claim 3 (depends on 2)

The center pillar inner according to claim 2, wherein
the CFRP member is provided further in a flange portion of the inner member which is positioned upper than the opening.

### Claim 4 (depends on 1)

A center pillar, comprising:
a center pillar outer; and
the center pillar inner according to claim 1, wherein
the center pillar outer and the center pillar inner are joined in flange portions of each other.