# US 9,517,800 B2 · Vehicle side section structure

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- Number: US 9,517,800 B2
- Document ID: US9517800B2
- Status: Granted
- Kind: B2
- Application number: 14/821,919
- Filed: 2015-08-10
- Published: 2016-03-24
- Granted: 2016-12-13
- Earliest claimed: 2014-09-19
- Assignees: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
- Applicants: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
- Inventors: Tatsuya Komamura
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US9517800B2

## CPC

- B62D 21/152: {Front or rear frames}
- B62D 25/04: Door pillars {; windshield pillars}
- B62D 25/025: {Side sills thereof}
- 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 first opening is formed in a bent portion at a lower end portion of a pillar outer panel, and a second opening is formed in the bent portion at a lower end portion of pillar outer reinforcement. The strength of a front outside portion is reduced at the lower end portions of the pillar outer panel and the pillar outer reinforcement. When load toward the rear oblique inside acts on a lower end portion of a front pillar, the front pillar deforms about an origin at the front outside portions of the pillar outer panel and the pillar outer reinforcement. Namely, the front pillar can be deformed such that a front end portion of a front wheel moves further toward the vehicle width direction outside. The front end portion of the front wheel moves further toward the vehicle width direction outside, thereby promoting toe-out of the front wheel.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A vehicle side section structure comprising:
a rocker extending in a vehicle longitudinal direction at a vehicle rear side of a front wheel;
a front pillar configured with a closed cross-section structure and extending from a front end portion of the rocker toward a vehicle upper side;
a front pillar outer panel that configures a vehicle width direction outside portion of the front pillar, that is bent into a recessed shape open toward the vehicle width direction inside as viewed in cross-section from the vehicle upper side, and that includes a bent portion configuring a corner at the vehicle front side and vehicle width direction outside of the front pillar outer panel; and
a first hole formed at the corner, at a lower end portion of the front pillar outer panel at a height in a vehicle vertical direction that overlaps with the front wheel.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The vehicle side section structure of claim 1, wherein:
a reinforcement that reinforces the front pillar is provided inside the front pillar; and
the reinforcement is formed with a second hole disposed facing the first hole, or formed with a set-back portion that is set back to the vehicle rear side and vehicle width direction inside with respect to the first hole.

### Claim 3 (depends on 2)

The vehicle side section structure of claim 2, wherein:
the front pillar outer panel is configured including a front wall extending from the bent portion toward the vehicle width direction inside, and a side wall extending from the bent portion toward the vehicle rear side; and
the set-back portion is configured by a step, or by an angled portion, that forms a closed cross-section with the front wall and the side wall as viewed from the vehicle upper side.

### Claim 4 (depends on 1)

The vehicle side section structure of claim 1, wherein:
the front pillar outer panel is configured including a front wall extending from the bent portion toward the vehicle width direction inside, and a side wall extending from the bent portion toward the vehicle rear side,
the bent portion includes a bend ridge line which extends in a vertical direction, and
the first hole extends from a longitudinal direction intermediate portion of the side wall toward the vehicle front side, and extends past the bent portion to a vehicle width direction intermediate portion of the front wall such that the bend ridge line is interrupted by the first opening.