Structural System For An Automotive Vehicle
AssigneeSpecialty Vehicle Acquisition Corp.
InventorsMostafa Rashidy, George Wolenter, Robert G. Storc, James E. Robertson
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A structural reinforcement system is provided for an automotive vehicle. In another aspect of the present invention, a structural beam is employed which extends in a cross-vehicle direction spaced above a vehicle floor. A further aspect of the present invention provides a cross-vehicle reinforcement beam inside another structural member. Yet another aspect of the present invention uses a structural reinforcement system in a convertible roof vehicle.
Claims44
An automotive vehicle apparatus comprising:
- a structural pillar elongated in a substantially vertical direction behind a front door opening;
- and
- a structural beam and a structural member surrounding a majority of the structural beam, the structural beam and member being elongated in a substantially horizontal direction and being substantially parallel to each other;
- the structural beam and member being coupled to the pillar.
An automotive vehicle apparatus comprising:
- a structural, primary beam being elongated in a cross-vehicle direction;
- a structural, diagonal beam upwardly extending from the primary beam and inclining away from a vehicular, fore-and-aft elongated centerline.
An automotive vehicle apparatus comprising:
- a structural member extending in a substantially cross-vehicle direction;
- and
- a structural gusset extending from an outboard portion of the structural member, the gusset having a corrugated configuration.
An automotive vehicle apparatus comprising:
- a first structural beam being elongated in a substantially cross-vehicle direction;
- a second structural beam being elongated in a substantially cross-vehicle direction, the first and second beams being coaxially aligned with each other;
- and
- a coupler receiving adjacent in-board end portions of the first and second beams and maintaining the end portions in structural alignment with each other, the coupler allowing some cross-vehicle movement of the first beam relative to the second beam but causing the end portion of the first beam to abut into the end portion of the second beam during a side impact condition.
An automotive vehicle apparatus comprising:
- a structural beam;
- a structural floor;
- a structural pillar upwardly extending adjacent an outboard portion of the floor;
- and
- a structural tunnel extending in a substantially fore-and-aft elongated direction, the tunnel being centrally joined to the floor;
- and
- a reinforcement attached to the tunnel;
- the structural beam extending through at least one of:
- the reinforcement and the tunnel, in a substantially cross-vehicle direction and having an outboard end portion of the beam coupled to the pillar.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.