US 2012/0256445 A1 · VEHICLE ROOF SUPPORT PILLAR

Abstract

The vehicle roof support pillar is provided which includes a pillar inner panel, a pillar outer panel and a unitary closed-section reinforcement member. The unitary closed-section reinforcement member is disposed entirely within a chamber defined by the pillar inner panel and the pillar outer panel. The unitary closed-section reinforcement member includes an upper area and a lower area. The lower area of the unitary close-section reinforcement member has an increasing cross-section below the buckling line. The pillar inner panel includes upper and lower ends. The lower inner end has a greater width relative to the upper inner end. The pillar outer panel also has a progressively increasing width relative to the upper outer end.

Claims20

Dependent claims

A vehicle roof support pillar comprising:

a pillar inner panel having an upper inner end and a lower inner end, the lower inner end having a progressively increasing width relative to the upper inner end;
a pillar outer panel affixed to the pillar inner panel, the pillar outer panel having an upper outer end and a lower outer end, the lower outer end having a progressively increasing width relative to the upper outer end;
and
a unitary closed-section reinforcement member disposed entirely within a chamber defined by the pillar inner panel and the pillar outer panel, the unitary closed-section reinforcement member having an upper area and a lower area, the lower area of the unitary closed-section reinforcement member progressively increasing in cross section relative to the upper area of the unitary closed-section reinforcement member.

1 more element

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Vehicle roof support pillar

Life of this patent

Vehicle roof support pillar

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims20