Vehicle body structure
First Claim
Patent Images
1. A vehicle body structure comprising:
- a floor;
a roof rail;
a first pillar structure extending between the floor and the roof rail;
a second pillar structure spaced apart from the first pillar structure extending between the floor and the roof rail;
a first panel having a first main section and a sensor installation location, the first panel at least partially defining the first pillar structure and at least partially defining the second pillar structure, the first panel extending between the first pillar structure and the second pillar structure with first main section being located between the first pillar and the second pillar, the first main section being spaced apart from the first pillar structure and the second pillar structure, and the sensor installation location being spaced apart from the first main section and being adjacent to one of the first pillar structure and the second pillar structure;
a second panel extending between the first pillar structure and the second pillar structure, the first panel and the second panel being attached to one another along the roof rail and proximate the floor, the second panel having a second main section that is spaced apart from the first main section of the first panel and defining a gap therebetween;
a pulse detection sensor attached to the first panel at the sensor installation location; and
a gap reduction member installed to the first main section of the first panel, the gap reduction member extending from the first main section toward the second main section within the gap, with the gap reduction member being spaced apart from each of the first pillar structure and the second pillar structure.
2 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A vehicle body structure includes a first panel, a second panel, a pulse detection sensor and a gap reduction member. The first panel has a first main section and a sensor installation location that is spaced apart from the first main section. The second panel has a second main section that is spaced apart from the first main section of the first panel and defines a gap therebetween. The pulse detection sensor is attached to the first panel at the sensor installation location. The gap reduction member is installed to the first main section of the first panel. The gap reduction member extends from the first main section toward the second main section within the gap.
20 Citations
20 Claims
-
1. A vehicle body structure comprising:
-
a floor; a roof rail; a first pillar structure extending between the floor and the roof rail; a second pillar structure spaced apart from the first pillar structure extending between the floor and the roof rail; a first panel having a first main section and a sensor installation location, the first panel at least partially defining the first pillar structure and at least partially defining the second pillar structure, the first panel extending between the first pillar structure and the second pillar structure with first main section being located between the first pillar and the second pillar, the first main section being spaced apart from the first pillar structure and the second pillar structure, and the sensor installation location being spaced apart from the first main section and being adjacent to one of the first pillar structure and the second pillar structure; a second panel extending between the first pillar structure and the second pillar structure, the first panel and the second panel being attached to one another along the roof rail and proximate the floor, the second panel having a second main section that is spaced apart from the first main section of the first panel and defining a gap therebetween; a pulse detection sensor attached to the first panel at the sensor installation location; and a gap reduction member installed to the first main section of the first panel, the gap reduction member extending from the first main section toward the second main section within the gap, with the gap reduction member being spaced apart from each of the first pillar structure and the second pillar structure. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15)
-
-
16. A vehicle body structure comprising:
-
a floor of a passenger compartment; a roof rail; an inner panel having a plurality of first attachment locations along the roof rail and proximate the floor, a window receiving area, a first main section and a sensor installation location that is spaced apart from the first main section, the inner panel being attached to the floor, the first main section extending in a vertical direction beneath a central portion of the window receiving area; an outer panel having a plurality of second attachment locations along the roof rail and proximate the floor that are rigidly coupled to corresponding locations of the plurality of first attachment locations of the inner panel and a second main section defining a wall section of a vehicle, with the second main section being spaced apart from the first main section of the inner panel defining a gap therebetween, the outer panel being attached to the roof rail; a pulse detection sensor attached to the inner panel at the sensor installation location; an airbag assembly installed within the vehicle and connected to the pulse detection sensor; and a gap reduction member that is non-compressible installed to the first main section of the inner panel below the window receiving area and above the floor such that the gap reduction member is closer to the floor than to the window receiving area, the gap reduction member extending from the first main section toward the second main section within the gap, the gap reduction member being configured and located to define a force transmitting element such that in response to a predetermined level of force being applied to the outer panel proximate the gap reduction member, at least a portion of the predetermined level of force is transmitted from the outer panel through the gap reduction member to first main section of the inner panel such that the predetermined level of force is detected by the pulse detection sensor triggering deployment of the airbag assembly. - View Dependent Claims (17, 18, 19, 20)
-
Specification