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US 8,262,153 B2Granted
Vehicle pillar with opening having angled flange
AssigneeFord Global Technologies, LLC
InventorsChristopher John May, Darrin Neil Wagner, Rabin Bhojan, Dan O. Dague, John A. Speirs, Dennis P. Laakso
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A panel incorporated into a pillar of a vehicle body includes a base portion defining an opening, and a flange extending from an edge of the opening such that a portion of the flange forms an acute angle with the base portion.
Claims20
A panel for a vehicle pillar, the panel comprising:
- a base portion defining an opening;
- and
- a flange extending from an edge of the opening such that a portion of the flange forms an acute angle with the base portion,
- wherein the flange is structured to deflect toward the base portion responsive to a force applied to the flange in a direction perpendicular to the base portion.
1 more element
A vehicle pillar defining an enclosure therein, the pillar comprising:
- a base portion defining at least a portion of the enclosure;
- and
- a flange extending from the base portion into the enclosure so as to form an acute angle with the base portion,
- wherein a free end of the flange is positioned such that a force resulting from an impact on the vehicle impinges upon the free end of the flange so as to rotate the free end of the flange toward the base portion.
1 more element
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.