Roof inner body structure
AssigneeNissan Technical Center North America, Inc.
InventorsMatthew Mollick, Mark Snyder, Hirofumi Eta
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A roof structure for a vehicle can include a tailor-welded-blank, inner roof frame. The inner roof frame can include, at least in part, an elongated, transversely extending, intermediate roof rail having a first material thickness, and a plurality of reinforced roof rails. Each of the reinforced roof rails can extend away from the intermediate roof rail in a common direction toward a remote end of the inner roof frame. Each of the reinforced roof rails can have a different material thickness than the first material thickness of the intermediate roof rail.
Claims25
A roof structure for a vehicle comprising:
- a tailor-welded-blank, inner roof frame comprising, at least in part:
- an elongated, transversely extending, intermediate roof rail having a first material thickness;
- and
- a plurality of reinforced roof rails, each of the reinforced roof rails extending away from the intermediate roof rail in a common direction toward a remote end of the inner roof frame, each of the reinforced roof rails having a different material thickness than the intermediate roof rail,
- wherein the plurality of reinforced roof rails are spaced apart and define at least one gap extending fully between the intermediate roof rail and the remote end of the inner roof frame.
A roof structure for a vehicle comprising:
- a tailor-welded-blank, inner roof frame comprising, at least in part:
- an elongated, transversely extending, intermediate roof rail having a first material thickness;
- and
- a plurality of reinforced roof rails, each of the reinforced roof rails extending away from the intermediate roof rail in a common direction toward a remote end of the inner roof frame, each of the reinforced roof rails having a different material thickness than the intermediate roof rail,
- wherein each of the reinforced roof rails has a transverse cross section defined by a base wall, two outwardly angled side walls extending from opposite transverse edges of the base wall, and a flange extending from an outer end of each side wall;
- wherein the intermediate roof rail has a longitudinal cross section at least partially defined by a base wall, an outwardly angled side wall extending from a longitudinal edge of the base wall, and a flange extending from an outer end of the side wall;
- and
- wherein the side wall and flange of the intermediate roof rail define a plurality of indentations conforming in shape to the respective base walls and side walls of the reinforced roof rails;
- and
- at least one lateral outer roof element connected to one of the flanges of at least one of the plurality of reinforced roof rails.
A roof structure for a roof of a vehicle extending transversely between two lateral outer roof elements and extending in a lengthwise direction between a front roof element and a rear roof element, the roof structure comprising:
- a tailor-welded-blank, inner roof frame connectible between the lateral roof elements and to the rear roof element comprising, at least in part:
- an elongated, transversely extending, intermediate roof rail located between the front roof element and the rear roof element and having a first material thickness;
- and
- a plurality of the reinforced roof rails, each of the reinforced roof rails connected to the intermediate roof rail and extending away from the intermediate roof rail in a common direction toward the rear roof element, each of the reinforced roof rails having a different material thickness than the intermediate roof rail
- wherein the intermediate roof rail defines a plurality of indentations conforming in shape to respective shapes of the plurality of reinforced roof rails;
- and
- an outer vehicle skin connected to the inner roof frame,
- wherein the plurality of reinforced roof rails are spaced apart and define at least one gap extending fully between the intermediate roof rail and the rear roof element.
The roof structure of 15, wherein the outer vehicle skin is formed, at least in part, of a material permitting light rays to pass through.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.