Vehicle structural support assembly with a split inner panel
AssigneeFord Motor Company
InventorsRobert Franklin Yustick, Alexandre Cruz Silva, Nagaraj Mariyappa, Diego Freitas de Araújo
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Abstract
A structural support assembly for a vehicle that has a roof and a rocker assembly. The structural support assembly includes an outer panel extending from the rocker assembly to the roof, an inner reinforcement including an upper panel and a lower panel. A seat belt retractor is assembled to the structural support assembly between the upper panel and the lower panel of the inner reinforcement. The upper panel and the lower panel are separate parts that are assembled to the outer panel in a spaced apart relationship.
Claims17
A structural support assembly for a vehicle having a roof and a rocker assembly comprising:
- an outer panel extending from the rocker assembly to the roof;
- an inner/upper panel attached to the outer panel;
- an inner/lower panel attached to the outer panel below the inner/upper panel, wherein the inner/upper panel and the inner/lower panel define a gap;
- and
- a seat belt retractor assembled within the gap.
A structural support assembly for a vehicle having a roof panel and a rocker panel comprising:
- an outer panel;
- a split inner reinforcement including an inner/upper panel connected to the roof panel and an inner/lower panel spaced from the inner/upper panel and connected to the rocker panel, and wherein the rocker panel includes a rocker flange that is attached to a lower flange of the inner/lower panel, and wherein the inner/lower panel provides an anchor for a seat belt retractor;
- a first strap connected to the inner/upper panel and the inner/lower panel in front of a seat belt retractor;
- and
- a second strap connected to the inner/upper panel and the inner/lower panel in back of the seat belt retractor.
A structural support assembly for a vehicle having a roof and rocker panel, the assembly comprising:
- an outer panel;
- a split inner reinforcement including an inner/upper panel connected to the roof and an inner/lower panel spaced from the inner/upper panel and connected to the rocker panel, wherein the rocker panel has a rocker flange that extends upwardly from the rocker panel, wherein the inner/lower panel has a lower flange that is attached to an outer surface of the rocker flange;
- and
- a frame shaped connector plate having a top portion attached to the inner/upper panel, a base portion attached to the inner/lower panel and a front portion extending between the inner/upper panel and the inner/lower panel in front of a seat belt retractor, and a back portion extending between the inner/upper panel and the inner/lower panel in back of the seat belt retractor.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.