# US 9,517,749 B2 · Vehicle body side structure > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 9,517,749 B2 - Document ID: US9517749B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 14/854,417 - Filed: 2015-09-15 - Published: 2016-03-17 - Granted: 2016-12-13 - Earliest claimed: 2014-09-17 - Assignees: Honda Motor Co., Ltd. - Applicants: Honda Motor Co., Ltd. - Inventors: Hirotaka Iguchi - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US9517749B2 ## CPC - B60R 22/341: {comprising energy-absorbing means} - B62D 25/04: Door pillars {; windshield pillars} - B62D 25/08: Front or rear portions {(sub-frames for mounting engine or suspensions B62D21/11)} - B60R: VEHICLES, VEHICLE FITTINGS, OR VEHICLE PARTS, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR - 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 vehicle body side structure includes a pair of left and right pillars, a center bulk, and gussets. The pair of pillars extend in an up-down direction in side parts of a vehicle body. The center bulk is disposed behind a seat of a vehicle and extends between the pillars in a vehicle width direction. The gussets are connected to the pillars and the center bulk. The gussets each include a first connecting portion connected to a corresponding one of the pillars, a second connecting portion connected to the center bulk, a retractor attachment portion provided below the first connecting portion and the second connecting portion and serving as a component attachment portion where a vehicle body component is attached, and a fragile portion provided between the second connecting portion and the retractor attachment portion. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A vehicle body side structure comprising: a pair of left and right pillars, each extending in an up-down direction at respective side parts of a vehicle body; a center bulk that is disposed behind a seat of a vehicle and that extends between the pair of pillars in a vehicle width direction; and a gusset connected to one of the pillars and the center bulk, wherein the gusset includes a first connecting portion connected to the one of the pillars, a second connecting portion connected to the center bulk, a component attachment portion that is provided below the first connecting portion and the second connecting portion and that is to be attached with a vehicle body component, and a fragile portion provided between the second connecting portion and the component attachment portion. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The vehicle body side structure according to claim 1, wherein the gusset includes a bead that is provided between the first connecting portion and the second connecting portion above the fragile portion and that extends in the vehicle width direction. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The vehicle body side structure according to claim 1, wherein the fragile portion is defined by a through hole formed in the gusset, and wherein an upper edge portion of the through hole is disposed along a virtual straight line that connects the first connecting portion and the second connecting portion to each other. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The vehicle body side structure according to claim 1, further comprising: a cross member that is coupled to a rear surface of the center bulk and that defines a closed section extending in the vehicle width direction; and a patch interposed between the center bulk and the cross member, wherein the second connecting portion of the gusset is connected to the center bulk together with the patch. ### Claim 5 (depends on 4) The vehicle body side structure according to claim 4, wherein the cross member has a U-shaped portion in section formed by a pair of an upper wall and a lower wall which face each other and a rear wall that connects a rear end of the upper wall and a rear end of the lower wall to each other, and wherein the patche includes a leg portion connected to the lower wall of the cross member. ### Claim 6 (depends on 5) The vehicle body side structure according to claim 5, wherein the cross member has a hat-shaped section formed by an upper flange portion that extends upward from a front end of the upper wall and a lower flange portion that extends downward from a front end of the lower wall, wherein the patch includes patch flange portions, one of the patch flange portions interposed between the center bulk and the upper flange portion of the cross member, and the other of the patch flange portions interposed between the center bulk and the lower flange portion of the cross member, and wherein the vehicle body side structure further comprises a first spot welded portion at which at least three of the center bulk, the upper flange portion or the lower flange portion, and the respective patch flange portions are welded to one another by spot welding is provided. ### Claim 7 (depends on 6) The vehicle body side structure according to claim 6, wherein the center bulk includes a bulk upper portion that is included in an upper part of the center bulk, and a bulk lower portion that is coupled to a lower end of the bulk upper portion and that is included in a lower part of the center bulk, and wherein the vehicle body side structure further comprises second spot welded portions at each of which at least three pieces including the bulk upper portion, the bulk lower portion, and the lower flange portion of the cross member are spot welded to one another, the second spot welded portions being provided at positions on the left and on the right of the patch flange portions of the patch in the vehicle width direction. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The vehicle body side structure according to claim 1, wherein the gusset is spaced apart from the center bulk toward a front side by a specified distance so as to have a gap between the gusset and the center bulk, and wherein an insertion opening for a seat belt is formed by the gap. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The vehicle body side structure according to claim 1, wherein the vehicle body component is a retractor for a seat belt, and the retractor includes a pretensioner sensor, wherein the gusset includes an extension portion that extends lower than the pretensioner sensor, and wherein the component attachment portion to be connected to the retractor is provided in the extension portion. ### Claim 10 (depends on 1) The vehicle body side structure according to claim 1, wherein the component attachment portion has a slit shape that extends in the vehicle width direction. ### Claim 11 (depends on 1) The vehicle body side structure according to claim 1, wherein the fragile portion is provided between the first connecting portion and the component attachment portion. ### Claim 12 (depends on 1) The vehicle body side structure according to claim 1, wherein the first connecting portion and the second connecting portion are located along the vehicle width direction. ### Claim 13 (depends on 1) The vehicle body side structure according to claim 1, wherein the gusset includes a left gusset connected to the left pillar and the center bulk, and a right gusset connected to the right pillar and the center bulk. ### Claim 14 (depends on 1) A vehicle comprising the vehicle body side structure according to claim 1. ### Claim 15 (depends on 1) The vehicle body side structure according to claim 1, wherein the first connecting portion and the second connecting portion are disposed in an upper part of the gusset, the fragile portion is disposed in a substantially middle part of the gusset, and the component attachment portion is disposed in a lower part of the gusset. ### Claim 16 A vehicle body side structure comprising: a pair of left and right pillars, each extending in an up-down direction at respective side parts of a vehicle body; a center bulk that extends between the pair of pillars in a vehicle width direction; and a gusset connected to one of the pillars and the center bulk, wherein the gusset includes a first connecting portion connected to the one of the pillars, a second connecting portion connected to the center bulk, a component attachment portion that is to be attached with a vehicle body component, the component attachment portion is disposed away from an axis connecting between the first connecting portion and the second connecting portion, the component attachment portion is disposed at a position located in a direction intersecting the axis, and a fragile portion provided between the axis and the component attachment portion. ### Claim 17 (depends on 16) The vehicle body side structure according to claim 16, wherein the fragile portion absorbs collision load applied to the first connecting portion and transmitted to the component attachment portion.