Vehicle body structure

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2017233009-A1
Application number	US-201615044423-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Feb 16, 2016
Priority date	Feb 16, 2016
Publication date	Aug 17, 2017
Grant date	—

Abstract

A vehicle body structure includes an outer body panel and a reinforcement panel. The outer body panel at least partially defines a pillar portion that has a front edge that at least partially defines a door opening, and a rear edge that at least partially defines a rear window opening. The reinforcement panel is rigidly fixed to the outer body panel and includes an upper attachment section, a lower attachment section and a main section that extends between the upper attachment section and the lower attachment section. The upper attachment section is attached to the outer body panel. The lower attachment section extends downward from the main section to proximate a lower edge of the rear window opening. The main section includes a first contoured area defining a first seatbelt anchor support and a second area spaced apart from the first contoured area that defines a second seatbelt anchor support.

First claim

1 . A vehicle body structure comprising:
an outer body panel having a floor supporting portion, a roof rail portion and a pillar portion that at least partially defines a passenger compartment, the pillar portion at least partially defines a pillar assembly that extends from the floor supporting portion to the roof rail portion, the pillar portion having a front edge that at least partially defines a door opening, and a rear edge that at least partially defines a rear window opening; and a reinforcement panel rigidly fixed to the outer body panel and including an upper attachment section, a lower attachment section and a main section that extends between the upper attachment section and the lower attachment section, the upper attachment section being attached to the outer body panel along the roof rail portion, the lower attachment section extending downward from the main section to proximate a lower edge of the rear window opening, the lower attachment section including at least one vertically extending rib, the main section including a first contoured area that defines a first seatbelt anchor support and a second contoured area spaced apart from the first contoured area that defines a second seatbelt anchor support.

2 . The vehicle body structure according to claim 1 , wherein
the upper attachment section includes a contoured surface that extends upward and inward in a direction toward a vehicle longitudinal center of the passenger compartment.

3 . (canceled)

4 . The vehicle body structure according to claim 1 , wherein
the first contoured area is located vertically above the second contoured area.

5 . The vehicle body structure according to claim 1 , wherein
the first contoured area includes a first surface that defines a first plane, and the second contoured area includes a second surface that defines a second plane, the first plane and the second plane being angularly offset from one another by an angle that is approximately 10 degrees.

6 . The vehicle body structure according to claim 5 , wherein
the first contoured area includes first reinforcement area that extends in an outboard direction from the first surface, and the second contoured area includes a second reinforcement area that extends in an outboard direction from the second surface.

7 . The vehicle body structure according to claim 5 , wherein
the first surface of the first contoured area includes the first seatbelt anchor support, and the second surface of the second contoured area includes the second seatbelt anchor support.

8 . The vehicle body structure according to claim 5 , further comprising:
an inner body panel attached to the outer body panel.

9 . The vehicle body structure according to claim 8 , wherein
the inner body panel includes a first opening that aligns with the first seatbelt anchor support of the reinforcement panel and a second opening that aligns with the second seatbelt anchor support of the reinforcement panel.

10 . The vehicle body structure according to claim 5 , wherein
the reinforcement panel includes an intermediate area formed between the first contoured area and the second contoured area, the intermediate area defining a stiffening surface located below the first contoured area and above the second contoured area, the stiffening surface being located outboard relative to the first contoured area and the second contoured area.

11 . The vehicle body structure according to claim 1 , wherein
the first contoured area includes the first seatbelt anchor support, and the second contoured area includes the second seatbelt anchor support.

12 . The vehicle body structure according to claim 11 , further comprising:
an inner body panel attached to the outer body panel and the reinforcement panel.

13 . A vehicle body structure comprising:
an outer body panel having a floor supporting portion, a roof rail portion and a pillar portion that at least partially defines a passenger compartment, the pillar portion at least partially defines a pillar assembly that extends from the floor supporting portion to the roof rail portion, the pillar portion having a front edge that at least partially defines a door opening, and a rear edge that at least partially defines a rear window opening; a reinforcement panel rigidly fixed to the outer body panel and including an upper attachment section, a lower attachment section and a main section that extends between the upper attachment section and the lower attachment section, the upper attachment section being attached to the outer body panel along the roof rail portion, the lower attachment section extending downward from the main section to proximate a lower edge of the rear window opening, the main section including a first contoured area that defines a first seatbelt anchor support and a second contoured area spaced apart from the first contoured area that defines a second seatbelt anchor support, the first contoured area including the first seatbelt anchor support, the second contoured area including the second seatbelt anchor support; and an inner body panel attached to the outer body panel and the reinforcement panel, the inner body panel including a first opening that aligns with the first seatbelt anchor support of the reinforcement panel and a second opening that aligns with the second seatbelt anchor support of the reinforcement panel.

14 . The vehicle body structure according to claim 1 , wherein
the lower attachment section extends upward along a rearward side of the first seatbelt anchor support and the second seatbelt anchor support.

15 . The vehicle body structure according to claim 1 , further comprising:
a seatbelt assembly fixedly attached to the reinforcement panel.

16 . A vehicle body structure, comprising:
an outer body panel having a floor supporting portion, a roof rail portion and a pillar portion that at least partially defines a passenger compartment, the pillar portion at least partially defines a pillar assembly that extends from the floor supporting portion to the roof rail portion, the pillar portion having a front edge that at least partially defines a door opening, and a rear edge that at least partially defines a rear window opening; a reinforcement panel rigidly fixed to the outer body panel and including an upper attachment section, a lower attachment section and a main section that extends between the upper attachment section and the lower attachment section, the upper attachment section being attached to the outer body panel along the roof rail portion, the lower attachment section extending downward from the main section to proximate a lower edge of the rear window opening, the main section including a first contoured area that defines a first seatbelt anchor support and a second contoured area spaced apart from the first contoured area that defines a second seatbelt anchor support; and an inner body panel rigidly fixed to the outer body panel, and the seatbelt assembly includes a bracket fixed to the reinforcement panel with a portion of the inner body panel being clamped between the bracket and the reinforcement panel.

Assignees

• Nissan North America Inc

Inventors

• Miranda Francisco Aguirre

Classifications

• B62D25/02

  Side panels {(B62D33/046 takes precedence; sideboards for open load compartments B62D33/023)} · CPC title

• B62D25/04 Primary

  Door pillars {; windshield pillars} · CPC title

• B60R22/24

  secured to the side, door, or roof of the vehicle · CPC title