Offset shear plate

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9545958-B1
Application number	US-201514865192-A
Country	US
Kind code	B1
Filing date	Sep 25, 2015
Priority date	Sep 25, 2015
Publication date	Jan 17, 2017
Grant date	Jan 17, 2017

Abstract

A reinforcement plate is assembled inside a D-pillar of a pick-up truck to prevent twisting or matchbox deflection of the D-pillar when an accessory, such as a hydraulic lift gate, is assembled inside the tailgate opening of the pick-up truck. The plate includes a horizontal planar portion that is attached by a front flange to a front wall of the D-pillar. An outer flange connects the plate to an outer wall of the D-pillar. An offset flange is secured to a rear cross member by fasteners inside the D-pillar.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. An assembly comprising:
a plate attached inside a D-pillar including a first flange contacting and parallel to a front wall, a second flange contacting and parallel to an outer wall, an offset portion contacting and parallel to a rear cross member; and
a plurality of fasteners connecting the first flange to the front wall, the second flange to the outer wall and the offset portion to the rear cross member inside the D-pillar.

2. The assembly of claim 1 further comprising:
a third flange in contact with and parallel to a rear wall of the D-pillar.

3. The assembly of claim 1 , wherein the fasteners connecting the first flange to the front wall and the second flange to the outer wall are rivets.

4. The assembly of claim 1 , wherein the fasteners connecting the offset portion to the rear cross member are rivets.

5. The assembly of claim 1 , wherein the fasteners connecting the offset portion to the rear cross member are threaded fasteners.

6. The assembly of claim 1 , wherein the plate defines an opening in a planar portion of the plate extending between the first and second flanges.

7. The assembly of claim 1 , wherein the front wall of the D-pillar is adapted to receive an accessory that applies a load to the front wall.

8. The assembly of claim 1 , wherein the outer wall of the D-pillar extends at an angle of about 90 degrees relative to the front wall.

9. The assembly of claim 1 , wherein the plate includes a horizontal planar portion that spans a base portion of the D-pillar.

10. The assembly of claim 9 , wherein the first flange and the second flange extend in a direction perpendicular to the planar portion.

11. A pick-up truck bed comprising:
a rear cross member;
a D-pillar defining an inner cavity bounded by a loaded wall and an intersecting wall disposed at an angle to the loaded wall; and
a reinforcement in a horizontal plane and fastened to the loaded wall and the intersecting wall, and an offset portion fastened to the rear cross member.

12. The pick-up truck bed of claim 11 , wherein the loaded wall is a front wall of the D-pillar.

13. The pick-up truck bed of claim 11 , wherein the intersecting wall is an outer wall of the D-pillar that extends at an angle of about 90 degrees relative to the loaded wall.

14. The pick-up truck bed of claim 11 , wherein the reinforcement includes a horizontal planar portion that spans the inner cavity of the D-pillar.

15. The pick-up truck bed of claim 14 , wherein a front flange extends perpendicular to the planar portion and is parallel to a front wall, and wherein an outer flange extends perpendicular to the planar portion and is parallel to an outer wall.

16. The pick-up truck bed of claim 15 , wherein the front flange is riveted to the front wall and the outer flange is riveted to the outer wall.

17. The pick-up truck bed of claim 11 , wherein the offset portion is disposed in the horizontal plane and is disposed inside the D-pillar.

18. The pick-up truck bed of claim 17 , wherein the offset portion is fastened to a top surface of the rear cross member with a threaded fastener.

19. The pick-up truck bed of claim 11 in combination with an accessory that is attached to the loaded wall of the D-pillar to apply a load to the loaded wall.

20. An assembly connecting a D-pillar of a pick-up truck to a rear cross member, the D-pillar including a front wall and an outer wall, the assembly comprising:
a plate attached inside a base portion of the D-pillar including a first flange contacting and parallel to the front wall, a second flange contacting and parallel to the outer wall, an offset portion of the plate contacting and parallel to the rear cross member; and
a plurality of fasteners connecting the first flange to the front wall, the second flange to the outer wall and the offset portion to the rear cross member inside the D-pillar.

Assignees

• Ford Global Tech Llc

Inventors

• Marchlewski Jack
• Comiez John

Classifications

• B60P1/4485 Primary

  Attaching the complete loading platform unit to the vehicle · CPC title

• B62D33/0207 Primary

  Connections of movable or detachable racks or stanchions to platforms · CPC title