Vehicle side structure

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9914482-B2
Application number	US-201515027670-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	May 29, 2015
Priority date	Jun 3, 2014
Publication date	Mar 13, 2018
Grant date	Mar 13, 2018

Abstract

The configuration of a vehicle side structure according to the present invention is characterized by including an upper pillar reinforcing member that forms an upper edge of a front door opening of a vehicle, a pillar hinge reinforcing member that forms a front edge of the front door opening, and a side sill strengthening member that forms a lower edge of the front door opening, wherein the pillar hinge reinforcing member has a hinge bulged portion that is bulged toward the vehicle exterior, along a vertical direction, the hinge bulged portion has at least one ridge line that is curved so as to protrude toward the vehicle front side, and the at least one ridge line links a joining point between the pillar hinge reinforcing member and the upper pillar reinforcing member and a joining point between the pillar hinge reinforcing member and the side sill strengthening member.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. A vehicle side structure comprising:
an upper pillar reinforcing member that forms an upper edge of a front door opening of a vehicle;
a pillar hinge reinforcing member that extends downward from a lower end of the upper pillar reinforcing member and forms a front edge of the from door opening; and
a side sill strengthening member that extends rearward from a lower end of the pillar hinge reinforcing member and forms a lower edge of the front door opening;
wherein the pillar hinge reinforcing member includes a hinge bulged portion that is bulged toward the vehicle exterior, along a vertical direction;
wherein the upper pillar reinforcing member and the side sill strengthening member respectively have an upper bulged portion and a lower bulged portion that are bulged toward the vehicle exterior, along a longitudinal direction;
wherein the hinge bulged portion is composed of:
an upper ridge line that is continuous with the upper bulged portion and extends to a middle in a height direction of the pillar hinge reinforcing member;
a lower ridge line that is continuous with the lower bulged portion and extends to a middle in the height direction of the pillar hinge reinforcing member; and
a middle ridge line that: (a) is positioned closer to the vehicle from side than each of the upper ridge line and the lower ridge line; and (b) links the upper ridge line and the lower ridge line;

wherein a lower end of the upper ridge line is placed lower than an upper end of the middle ridge line, and a lower end of the middle ridge line is placed lower than an upper end of the lower ridge line; and
wherein the upper ridge line intersects a joining point between the pillar hinge reinforcing member and the upper pillar reinforcing member, and the lower ridge line intersects a joining point between the pillar hinge reinforcing member and the side sill strengthening member.

2. The vehicle side structure according to claim 1 , further comprising a cowl side member that is joined to the pillar hinge reinforcing member and extends toward the vehicle front side, wherein:
the upper ridge line is disposed closer to the rear side than the joining point of the cowl side member is; and
the lower end of the upper ridge line is positioned below a middle in the height direction of the joining point of the cowl side member.

3. The vehicle side structure according to claim 1 , wherein:
the pillar hinge reinforcing member further includes a flange that forms the front edge of the front door opening and is oriented to the vehicle rear side;
the vehicle side structure further comprises a side body outer panel that is joined to the pillar hinge reinforcing member so as to cover the hinge bulged portion and the flange and forms a vehicle side face; and
the pillar hinge reinforcing member and the side body outer panel form a closed cross-section.

4. The vehicle side structure according to claim 2 , wherein:
the pillar hinge reinforcing member further includes a flange that forms the front edge of the front door opening and is oriented to the vehicle rear side;
the vehicle side structure further comprises a side body outer panel that is joined to the pillar hinge reinforcing member so as to cover the hinge bulged portion and the flange and forms a vehicle side face; and
the pillar hinge reinforcing member and the side body outer panel form a closed cross-section.

5. The vehicle side structure according to claim 1 , wherein:
the upper ridge line, the lower ridge line, and the middle ridge line are on the vehicle rear side of the hinge bulged portion; and
the pillar hinge reinforcing member further includes hinge attachment portions that are arranged closer to the vehicle front side than the upper ridge line and the lower ridge line are, on a top panel of the hinge bulged portion, and to which door hinges of a front door are attachable.

6. The vehicle side structure according to claim 2 , wherein:
the upper ridge line, the lower ridge line, and the middle ridge line are on the vehicle rear side of the hinge bulged portion; and
the pillar hinge reinforcing member further includes hinge attachment portions that are arranged closer to the vehicle front side than the upper ridge line and the lower ridge line are, on a top panel of the hinge bulged portion, and to which door hinges of a front door are attachable.

7. A vehicle side structure comprising:
an upper pillar reinforcing member that forms an upper edge of a front door opening of a vehicle;
a pillar hinge reinforcing member that extends downward from a lower end of the upper pillar reinforcing member and forms a front edge of the front door opening; and
a side sill strengthening member that extends rearward from a lower end of the pillar hinge reinforcing member and forms a lower edge of the front door opening;
wherein the pillar hinge reinforcing member includes a hinge bulged portion that is bulged toward the vehicle exterior, along a vertical direction;
wherein the hinge bulged portion has one continuous ridge line that is curved so as to arch convexly toward the vehicle front side, and the one ridge line intersects a joining point between the pillar hinge reinforcing member and the upper pillar reinforcing member and a joining point between the pillar hinge reinforcing member and the side sill strengthening member;
wherein the pillar hinge reinforcing member further includes a flange that forms the front edge of the front door opening and is oriented to the vehicle rear side;
wherein the vehicle side structure further comprises a side body outer panel that is joined to the pillar hinge reinforcing member so as to cover the hinge bulged portion and the flange and forms a vehicle side face;
wherein the pillar hinge reinforcing member and the side body outer panel form a closed cross section;
wherein the pillar hinge reinforcing member further includes hinge attachment portions that are arranged on a top panel of the hinge bulged portion, and to which door hinges of a front door are attachable; and
wherein the closed cross-section is disposed closer to the vehicle rear side than each of the hinge attachment portions.

8. The vehicle side structure according to claim 3 , wherein:
the pillar hinge reinforcing member further includes hinge attachment portions that are arranged on a top panel of the hinge bulged portion, and to which door hinges of a front door are attachable; and
the closed cross-section is disposed closer to the vehicle rear side than each of the hinge attachment portions.

9. The vehicle side structure according to claim 4 , wherein:
the pillar hinge reinforcing member further includes hinge attachment portions that are arranged on a top panel of the hinge bulged portion, and to which door hinges of a front door are attachable; and
the closed cross-section is disposed closer to the vehicle rear side than each of the hinge attachment portions.

10. The vehicle side structure according to claim 2 , wherein:
the pillar hinge reinforcing member further includes a hinge attachment portion that is disposed on a top panel of the hinge bulged portion, and to which a door hinge of a front door is attachable;
the hinge attachment portion is disposed between the upper ridge line and the joining point of the cowl side member; and
the hinge attachment portion, the upper ridge line, and the joining point of the cowl side member are positioned on a straight line when viewed from the side of the vehicle.

11. The vehicle side structure according to claim 2 , further comprising a dash side panel that extends toward the vehicle front side from an end portion in a vehicle width direction of a dash panel that s

Assignees

• Suzuki Motor Corp

Inventors

• Hirata Takuya

Classifications

• B62D25/025

  Side sills thereof · CPC title

• B62D25/14

  Dashboards as superstructure sub-units (other dashboard aspects B60K) · CPC title

• B62D25/04 Primary

  Door pillars {; windshield pillars} · CPC title

• B62D25/081

  Cowls (ventilating openings situated directly in front of the vehicle front window B60H1/28) · CPC title