Vehicle closure panel having an intrusion beam as primary structure

A movable closure for selectively covering an opening in a vehicle comprising:

• an outer frame having at least one frame member for defining an outer periphery;
• a central beam portion connected to said outer frame wherein said central beam portion includes at least one first U-shaped element having a base and first and second outwardly extending arms having distal ends, said base having a length substantially less than a length of said outer frame, wherein said first U-shaped element is disposed such that said base is generally perpendicular to top and bottom portions of said outer frame with one arm extending generally upwardly and outwardly and the second aim extending generally downwardly and outwardly;
• said distal ends of said outwardly extending arms being connected to said outer frame;
• and
• an exterior panel connected to and at least partially covering said outer frame.

A door for selectively closing a vehicle opening comprising:

• a door ring defining a secondary structure and having a recess defined by a flange;
• a tubular impact intrusion frame located in the recess and positioned adjacent the flange, said impact intrusion frame comprising:
• a primary structural outer frame having at least one frame member for defining an outer periphery,
• a central beam portion rigidly connected to said primary structural outer frame so as to be positioned within said outer periphery and including a plurality of outwardly extending arms, each arm have at least one distal end;
• said distal ends of said outwardly extending arms being connected to said primary structural outer frame and wherein said central beam portion includes first and second U-shaped elements each having two of said plurality of outwardly extending arms and a base positioned between said outwardly extending arms, said second U-shaped element being positioned in an inverted, overlapping orientation relative to said first U-shaped element such that said bases of said first and second U-shaped elements are spaced apart;
• and
• an exterior panel connected to and at least partially covering said primary structural outer frame.

A door for selectively closing a vehicle opening comprising:

• a door ring having a recess defined by a flange;
• a tubular impact intrusion frame located in the recess and positioned adjacent the flange, said impact intrusion frame comprising:
• an outer frame having at least one frame member for defining an outer periphery;
• a central beam portion connected to said outer frame and including a plurality of outwardly extending arms, each arm have at least one distal end;
• said distal ends of said outwardly extending arms being connected to said outer frame and wherein said central beam portion includes first and second U-shaped elements each having two of said plurality of outwardly extending arms, said second U-shaped element being positioned in an inverted, overlapping orientation relative to said first U-shaped element and wherein said first U-shaped element includes recesses for receiving intersecting portions of said second U-shaped element;
• wherein said first U-shaped element is disposed with a base thereof generally vertical with the one arm extending generally upwardly and outwardly and the second arm extending generally downwardly and outwardly;
• and
• an exterior panel connected to and at least partially covering said outer frame.

A door for selectively closing a vehicle opening comprising:

• a primary structural outer frame having at least one frame member for defining an outer periphery, said primary structural outer frame member connected to a secondary structure;
• a central beam portion rigidly connected to said primary structural outer frame within said outer periphery wherein said central beam portion is divergent, being positioned at approximately the center of said outer frame and having a center portion of central beam portion having a length substantially less than a length of said outer frame and two upwardly and outwardly extending arms and two downwardly and outwardly extending arms, each of said arms having a distal end;
• said distal ends of said outwardly extending arms being rigidly connected to said outer frame;
• and
• an exterior panel connected to and at least partially covering said outer frame.