Vehicle structural member for improved lateral loading

A method for improving lateral crash pushing and distributing a crash force within a vehicle, comprising:

• reinforcing a left hand frame rail and a right hand frame rail of the vehicle with a first frame cross member that extends laterally between the left hand frame rail and the right hand frame rail of the vehicle;
• further reinforcing the left hand frame rail and right hand frame rail with a second frame cross member, aft of the first frame cross member, that extends laterally between the left hand frame rail and the right hand frame rail;
• providing an outrigger projecting outward laterally from the first frame cross member and an impact member selected from the left hand frame rail or right hand frame rail;
• and
• connecting a distal end of the outrigger to a connection point on the second frame cross member, beneath the impact member, with a diagonally projecting connection arm,
• such that when the crash force travels longitudinally into the outrigger, the crash force is distributed to both the first frame cross member through the outrigger and the second frame cross member through the connection arm.

A system for improving lateral crash pushing and distributing crash energy within a vehicle, comprising:

• the vehicle;
• a first frame cross member extending laterally between a left hand frame rail and a right hand frame rail of the vehicle;
• a second frame cross member, aft of the first frame cross member, extending laterally between the left hand frame rail and the right hand frame rail;
• a hollow outrigger projecting outward laterally from the first frame cross member and an impact member selected from the left hand frame rail or right hand frame rail;
• a crush-resistant element within the hollow outrigger selected from an I-beam, a truss, or a bulkhead;
• and
• a connection arm projecting diagonally from a distal end of the hollow outrigger to a connection point on the second frame cross member, beneath the impact member.