Vehicle pillar structure

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11292527-B2
Application number	US-201916655229-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Oct 17, 2019
Priority date	Oct 26, 2018
Publication date	Apr 5, 2022
Grant date	Apr 5, 2022

Abstract

A vehicle pillar structure including a first column, a second column, and a transparent member. The first column includes a first framework member in a substantially plate shape extending along a vehicle vertical direction, and a second framework member in a substantially plate shape extending along the vehicle vertical direction and opposite the first framework member. The second column is at the vehicle rear side of the first column with a spacing between the first column and the second column, and includes a third framework member in a substantially plate shape extending along the vehicle vertical direction, and a fourth framework member in a substantially plate shape extending along the vehicle vertical direction, and opposite the third framework member. The transparent member spans between the first column and the second column, and enables outside of a vehicle to be seen when viewed from a driving seat side.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A vehicle pillar structure, comprising:
a first column that configures a part of a front pillar, that includes a first framework member formed in a substantially plate shape extending along substantially a vehicle vertical direction, that includes a second framework member formed in a substantially plate shape extending along substantially the vehicle vertical direction and opposing the first framework member, and that is configured in a tube shape wherein vehicle front side end portions of the first framework member and the second framework member are superimposed and welded together and flanges at vehicle rear side end portions of the first framework member and the second framework member are welded together;
a second column that configures another part of the front pillar and is disposed at a vehicle rear side of the first column with a predetermined spacing between the first column and the second column, that includes a third framework member formed in a substantially plate shape extending along substantially the vehicle vertical direction, that includes a fourth framework member formed in a substantially plate shape extending along substantially the vehicle vertical direction and opposing the third framework member, and that is configured in a tube shape wherein vehicle front side end portions of the third framework member and the fourth framework member are superimposed and welded together and flanges at vehicle rear side end portions of the third framework member and the fourth framework member are welded together; and
a transparent member that extends between the first column and the second column, and that enables an exterior environment of a vehicle to be seen when viewed from a driving seat side.

2. The vehicle pillar structure of claim 1 , wherein a superimposed welding location of the first column and a superimposed welding location of the second column are provided at positions that do not overlap respective ridge lines extending along respective extension directions of the first column and the second column.

3. The vehicle pillar structure of claim 2 , wherein a vehicle width direction outer side portion of the second column is comprises the fourth framework member, which is configured from high tensile sheet steel, and a plurality of ridge lines of the fourth framework member are disposed at a vehicle width direction outer side of the superimposed welding location of the second column.

4. The vehicle pillar structure of claim 1 , wherein a side member outer panel is joined to a vehicle width direction outer side portion of the second column, and a superimposed welding location of the second column is provided at a portion other than the portion to which the side member outer panel is joined.

5. The vehicle pillar structure of claim 1 , wherein a superimposed welding location of the second column is inclined in a direction away from the first column in vehicle plan view.

6. The vehicle pillar structure of claim 1 , wherein:
a molding member is attached to a portion, of a vehicle inner face of the transparent member, that overlaps the first column; and
the molding member is provided with a front screening portion that is separated from, and on the second column side of, a superimposed welding location of the first column and that extends such that a leading end portion of the front screening portion approaches or abuts the first column.

7. The vehicle pillar structure of claim 1 , Wherein:
a molding member is attached to a portion, of a vehicle inner face of the transparent member, that overlaps the second column; and
the molding member is provided with a rear screening portion that is separated from, and on the first column side of, a superimposed welding location of the second column and that extends such that a leading end portion of the rear screening portion approaches or abuts the second column.

Assignees

• Toyota Motor Co Ltd

Inventors

• Kamimura Shinya
• Miyashita Toshiya
• Ikeda Koki

Classifications

• B62D25/04 Primary

  Door pillars {; windshield pillars} · CPC title

• B62D27/02

  rigid · CPC title

• B60J1/08

  arranged at vehicle sides · CPC title