A-pillar force transfer structure
AssigneeToyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing North America, Inc.
InventorsJaime N. Moore, Tomoki Matsuzawa, Stuart W. Bailey
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A load transfer structure in an A-pillar assembly for transferring force from a frontal impact to the vehicle rail, rocker and door reinforcement. The load transfer structure having a support wall, a pair of transverse walls, and a longitudinal wall and is disposed in a space within the A-pillar assembly. Accordingly, the load transfer structure reduces material required in conventional A-pillar assemblies while maintaining the same load transfer capabilities.
Claims6
A load transfer structure for an A-pillar assembly of a vehicle for transferring load of a frontal impact to the rail, door reinforcement, and rocker of the vehicle, in an A-pillar assembly having a transverse upper wall having an intermediate portion, the transverse upper wall being spaced apart and opposite a transverse lower wall, and enclosing a space, the load transfer structure disposed within said space, the load transfer structure comprising:
- a support wall;
- a pair of transverse walls spaced apart and opposite each other, the pair of transverse walls extending outwardly from the support wall;
- a longitudinal wall, the longitudinal wall extending outwardly from the support wall and between the pair of transverse walls;
- and
- wherein one of the pair of transverse walls being in contact with the transverse upper wall, and the other of the pair of transverse walls being in contact with the transverse lower wall, and the longitudinal wall being in contact with the intermediate portion such that the force of a frontal impact is transferred through the load transfer structure to the rail, door reinforcement, and rocker of the vehicle thereby reducing the amount of material used in an A-pillar assembly while maintaining the A-pillar assembly's load transferring capabilities.
A load transfer structure for an A-pillar assembly of a vehicle for transferring load of a frontal impact to the rail, door reinforcement, and rocker of the vehicle, in an A-pillar assembly having a transverse upper wall having an intermediate portion, the transverse upper wall being spaced apart and opposite a transverse lower wall, and enclosing a space, the load transfer structure disposed within said space, the load transfer structure comprising:
- a support wall;
- a pair of transverse walls spaced apart and opposite each other, the pair of transverse walls extending outwardly from the support wall;
- a longitudinal wall, the longitudinal wall extending outwardly from the support wall and between the pair of transverse walls;
- a strengthening emboss disposed on the surface of the support wall and extending between the pair of transverse walls;
- a plurality of transverse embosses, the transverse embosses extending transversely across each of the pair of transverse walls, and the longitudinal wall;
- and
- wherein one of the pair of transverse walls being in contact with the transverse upper wall, and the other of the pair of transverse walls being in contact with the transverse lower wall, and the longitudinal wall being in contact with the intermediate portion such that the force of a frontal impact is transferred through the load transfer structure to the rail, door reinforcement, and rocker of the vehicle thereby reducing the amount of material used in an A-pillar assembly while maintaining the A-pillar assembly's load transferring.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.