# US 8,465,089 B2 · Rocker moldings for vehicles > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 8,465,089 B2 - Document ID: US8465089B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 13/234,484 - Filed: 2011-09-16 - Published: 2013-03-21 - Granted: 2013-06-18 - Earliest claimed: 2011-09-16 - Assignees: Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing North America, Inc. - Applicants: Aaron W. J. Atkinson; Peter Kim; David Takeo Nakayama - Inventors: Aaron W. J. Atkinson; Peter Kim; David Takeo Nakayama - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US8465089B2 ## CPC - B60R 13/04: {External} Ornamental or guard strips; Ornamental inscriptive devices {thereon (fastening strips or bars to sheets or plates by means of clips F16B5/12)} - B60R 2013/046: {Foot boards} - B60R: VEHICLES, VEHICLE FITTINGS, OR VEHICLE PARTS, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR ## Abstract A rocker molding for attachment to a rocker panel of a vehicle includes a rocker garnish with an arcuate cross section. A garnish shelf extends from an upper edge of the rocker garnish such that the garnish shelf is substantially perpendicular to the rocker garnish. A riser portion extends from an inboard edge of the garnish shelf in a substantially vertical direction. A cap shelf extends from a top edge of the riser portion in an inboard direction. When the rocker molding is installed on the rocker panel of the vehicle, the garnish shelf extends from the rocker panel in an outboard direction, the riser portion is substantially flush with a skin of a vehicle door when the door is in a closed position, and a bottom edge of the vehicle door is spaced apart from the garnish shelf by at least a height H of the riser portion. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A rocker molding for attachment to a rocker panel of a vehicle, the rocker molding comprising: a rocker garnish having an arcuate cross section; a garnish shelf extending from an upper edge of the rocker garnish such that the garnish shelf is substantially perpendicular to the upper edge of the rocker garnish; a riser portion extending from an inboard edge of the garnish shelf in a substantially vertical direction; and a cap shelf extending from a top edge of the riser portion in an inboard direction, wherein, when the rocker molding is installed on the rocker panel of the vehicle: the garnish shelf extends from the rocker panel in an outboard direction; the riser portion is substantially flush with a skin of a vehicle door when the door is in a closed position; and a bottom edge of the vehicle door is spaced apart from the garnish shelf by at least a height H of the riser portion. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The rocker molding of claim 1 further comprising a first attachment flange and a second attachment flange, wherein: the rocker garnish extends between the first attachment flange and the second attachment flange, wherein the first attachment flange and the second attachment flange are substantially perpendicular to a length L of the rocker garnish; the garnish shelf extends at least partially between the first attachment flange and the second attachment flange; and the riser portion extends at least partially between the first attachment flange and the second attachment flange. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The rocker molding of claim 1, wherein a gap G separates the bottom edge of the vehicle door from the riser portion when the rocker molding is installed on the rocker panel of the vehicle and the vehicle door is in the closed position. ### Claim 4 (depends on 3) The rocker molding of claim 3, wherein the gap G is in the range from about 5 mm to about 6 mm. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The rocker molding of claim 1 further comprising a foam insert, wherein the foam insert is positioned on a back side of the rocker garnish. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The rocker molding of claim 1, wherein a depth D of the garnish shelf is about 25 mm. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The rocker molding of claim 1, wherein the height H of the riser portion is about 10 mm. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The rocker molding of claim 1, wherein the riser portion is substantially perpendicular to the garnish shelf. ### Claim 9 A vehicle comprising a vehicle door, a rocker panel, and a rocker molding for attachment to the rocker panel of the vehicle, the rocker molding comprising: a rocker garnish having an arcuate cross section; a garnish shelf extending from an upper edge of the rocker garnish such that the garnish shelf is substantially perpendicular to the upper edge of the rocker garnish; a riser portion extending from an inboard edge of the garnish shelf in a substantially vertical direction; and a cap shelf extending from a top edge of the riser portion in an inboard direction, wherein, when the rocker molding is installed on the rocker panel of the vehicle: the garnish shelf extends from the rocker panel in an outboard direction; the riser portion is substantially flush with a skin of the vehicle door when the door is in a closed position; and a bottom edge of the vehicle door is spaced apart from the garnish shelf by at least a height H of the riser portion. ### Claim 10 (depends on 9) The vehicle of claim 9, wherein the rocker molding further comprises a first attachment flange and a second attachment flange, wherein: the rocker garnish extends between the first attachment flange and the second attachment flange, wherein the first attachment flange and the second attachment flange are substantially perpendicular to a length L of the rocker garnish; the garnish shelf extends at least partially between the first attachment flange and the second attachment flange; and the riser portion extends at least partially between the first attachment flange and the second attachment flange. ### Claim 11 (depends on 9) The vehicle of claim 9, wherein a gap G separates the bottom edge of the vehicle door from the riser portion. ### Claim 12 (depends on 9) The vehicle of claim 9, wherein the rocker molding further comprises a foam insert wherein the foam insert is positioned on a back side of the rocker garnish. ### Claim 13 (depends on 9) The vehicle of claim 9 further comprising a plurality of attachment tabs coupled to an inboard side of the rocker molding for attaching the rocker molding to the rocker panel of the vehicle. ### Claim 14 (depends on 9) The vehicle of claim 9 further comprising a connector box pivotably attached to a lower edge of the rocker garnish for movement relative to the rocker garnish. ### Claim 15 A vehicle comprising a vehicle door, a rocker panel, and a rocker molding for attachment to the rocker panel of the vehicle, the rocker molding comprising: a rocker garnish having an arcuate cross section; a connector box pivotably attached to a lower edge of the rocker garnish for movement relative to the rocker garnish; a garnish shelf extending from an upper edge of the rocker garnish such that the garnish shelf is substantially perpendicular to the upper edge of the rocker garnish; a riser portion extending from an inboard edge of the garnish shelf in a substantially vertical direction; a plurality of attachment tabs positioned on an inboard side of the rocker molding for attaching the rocker molding to the rocker panel of the vehicle; and a cap shelf extending from a top edge of the riser portion in an inboard direction, wherein, when the rocker molding is installed on the rocker panel of the vehicle: the garnish shelf extends from the rocker panel in an outboard direction; the riser portion is substantially flush with a skin of the vehicle door when the door is in a closed position; and a bottom edge of the vehicle door is spaced apart from the garnish shelf by at least a height H of the riser portion. ### Claim 16 (depends on 15) The vehicle of claim 15 further comprising a first attachment flange and a second attachment flange, wherein: the rocker garnish extends between the first attachment flange and the second attachment flange, wherein the first attachment flange and the second attachment flange are substantially perpendicular to a length L of the rocker garnish; the garnish shelf extends at least partially between the first attachment flange and the second attachment flange; and the riser portion extends at least partially between the first attachment flange and the second attachment flange. ### Claim 17 (depends on 15) The vehicle of claim 15, wherein a living hinge pivotably attaches the connector box to the lower edge of the rocker garnish. ### Claim 18 (depends on 15) The vehicle of claim 15, wherein a gap G separates the bottom edge of the vehicle door from the riser portion when the rocker molding is installed on the rocker panel of the vehicle and the vehicle door is in the closed position. ### Claim 19 (depends on 18) The vehicle of claim 18, wherein the gap G is in the range from about 5 mm to about 6 mM. ### Claim 20 (depends on 15) The vehicle of claim 15 further comprising a foam insert, wherein the foam insert is positioned on a back side of the rocker garnish.