# US 8,783,721 B2 · Metallic hollow columnar member > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 8,783,721 B2 - Document ID: US8783721B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 14/008,269 - Filed: 2012-03-30 - Published: 2014-01-23 - Granted: 2014-07-22 - Earliest claimed: 2011-03-30 - Assignees: Nippon Steel & Sumitomo Metal Corporation - Applicants: Satoshi Hirose; Takashi Ariga; Shigeru Yonemura - Inventors: Satoshi Hirose; Takashi Ariga; Shigeru Yonemura - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US8783721B2 ## CPC - B62D 21/15: having impact absorbing means, e.g. a frame designed to permanently or temporarily change shape or dimension upon impact with another body (bumpers B60R19/02; shock absorbers in general F16F) - B62D: MOTOR VEHICLES; TRAILERS (steering, or guiding on a desired track, of agricultural machines or implements A01B69/00; wheels, castors, axles, increasing wheel adhesion B60B; vehicle tyres, tyre inflation or tyre changing B60C; connections between vehicles of a train or the like B60D; vehicles for use on rail and road, amphibious or convertible vehicles B60F; suspension arrangements B60G; heating, cooling, ventilating or other air treating devices B60H; windows, windscreens, non-fixed roofs, doors or similar devices, protective coverings for vehicles not in use B60J; propulsion plant arrangements, auxiliary drives, transmissions, controls, instrumentation or dashboards B60K; electric equipment or propulsion of electrically-propelled vehicles B60L; power supply for electrically-propelled vehicles B60M; passenger accommodation not otherwise provided for B60N; adaptations for load transportation or to carry special loads or objects B60P; arrangement of signalling or lighting devices, the mounting or supporting thereof or circuits therefor, for vehicles in general B60Q; vehicles, vehicle fittings or vehicle parts not otherwise provided for B60R; servicing, cleaning, repairing, supporting, lifting, or manoeuvring, not otherwise provided for, B60S; brake arrangements, brake control systems or parts thereof B60T; air-cushion vehicles B60V; motor-cycles, accessories therefor B62J, B62K; testing of vehicles G01M) ## Abstract A metallic hollow columnar member with a polygonal cross-section having at least five vertices and sides extending between the vertices, is disclosed. The polygonal cross-section is divided by two vertices (A, B) with small inside angles into two perimeter segments with a perimeter comprising one or more sides, and at least one of the two perimeter segments contains at least four sides. The respective inside angles of at least three vertices (V(i)) included in the perimeter segment which includes the at least four sides are equal to or less than 180°, the distance (SS(i)) between each of the at least three vertices (V(i)) and a straight line (L) connecting the two vertices (A, B) is shorter than ½ of the distance between the two vertices (A, B), and the inside angle of the vertex (C) with the smallest inside angle among the at least three vertices (V(i)) is larger than the inside angles of the two vertices (A, B). Vertices (VI) are present on the perimeter segment including the at least four sides, respectively between the vertex (C) with the smallest inside angle among the at least three vertices (V(i)) and one (A) of the two vertices (A, B), and between the vertex (C) with the smallest inside angle and the other (B) of the two vertices (A, B), said vertices (VI) having inside angles larger than the inside angle of the vertex (C) with the smallest inside angle. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A metallic hollow columnar member with a polygonal cross-section having at least five vertices and sides extending between the vertices, wherein: the polygonal cross-section is divided by two vertices (A, B) with small inside angles into two perimeter segments with a perimeter comprising one or more sides, the at least one of the two perimeter segments containing at least four sides, the respective inside angles of at least three vertices (V(i) (i=1, 2, 3, . . . )) included in the perimeter segment which includes the at least four sides are equal to or less than 180 degrees, a distance (SS(i) (i=1, 2, 3, . . . )) between each of the at least three vertices (V(i) (i=1, 2, 3, . . . )) and a straight line (L) connecting the two vertices (A, B) is shorter than ½ of a distance between the two vertices (A, B), the inside angle of a vertex (C) with the smallest inside angle among the at least three vertices (V(i)) is larger than the inside angles of the two vertices (A, B), and vertices (VI) are present on the perimeter segment including the at least four sides, respectively between the vertex (C) with the smallest inside angle among the at least three vertices (V(i)) and one (A) of the two vertices (A, B), and between the vertex (C) with the smallest inside angle and the other (B) of the two vertices (A, B), said vertices (VI) having inside angles larger than the inside angle of the vertex (C) with the smallest inside angle. ### Claim 2 A metallic hollow columnar member with a polygonal cross-section having at least five vertices and sides extending between the vertices, wherein: the metallic hollow columnar member comprises two joined sections (J), the polygonal cross-section is divided by two vertices (A, B) in the vicinity of the two joined sections (J) into two perimeter segments with a perimeter comprising one or more sides, the at least one of the two perimeter segments containing at least four sides, the respective inside angles of at least three vertices (V(i) (i=1, 2, 3, . . . )) included in the perimeter segment which includes the at least four sides are equal to or less than 180 degrees, a distance (SS(i) (i=1, 2, 3, . . . )) between each of the at least three vertices (V(i) (i=1, 2, 3, . . . )) and a straight line (L) connecting the two vertices (A, B) is shorter than ½ of a distance between the two vertices (A, B), and vertices (VI) are present on the perimeter segment including the at least four sides, respectively between the vertex (C) with the smallest inside angle among the at least three vertices (V(i)) and one (A) of the two vertices (A, B), and between the vertex (C) with the smallest inside angle and the other (B) of the two vertices (A, B), said vertices (VI) having inside angles larger than the inside angle of the vertex (C) with the smallest inside angle. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The metallic hollow columnar member according to claim 1, wherein an intended purpose of the metallic hollow columnar member is a frame of a motorcar. ### Claim 4 (depends on 2) The metallic hollow columnar member according to claim 2, wherein an intended purpose of the metallic hollow columnar member is a frame of a motorcar.