PILLAR STRUCTURE OF AUTOMOBILE

• US 20100060037A1
• Filed: 06/20/2008
• Published: 03/11/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 06/22/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Toyota Jidoshokki (Toyota Motor Corporation), Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha (Toyota Motor Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Toyota Jidoshokki (Toyota Motor Corporation), Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha (Toyota Motor Corporation)
• Inventors: Terai, Hideaki, Matsuda, Yukio
• Granted Patent: US 7,845,713 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 296/193.60
• CPC Class Codes: B60J 1/10 fixedly mounted B60J1/085 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 13/0206 Arrangements of fasteners and clips specially adapted for attaching inner vehicle liners or mouldings devices for fastening or securing F16B
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 13/025 Pillars; Roof rails
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 13/04 External Ornamental or guard strips; Ornamental inscriptive devices thereon fastening strips or bars to sheets or plates by means of clips F16B5/12
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2013/0287 integrating other functions or accessories
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2013/0293 Connection or positioning of adjacent panels
• CPC Class Codes: B62D 25/04 Door pillars ; windshield pillars

Abstract

A pillar structure of a vehicle is disclosed. The pillar structure includes a pillar, a front outer garnish, a triangular window, and a shielding portion. The pillar includes an outer panel and an inner panel. A flange portion of the outer panel and a flange portion of the inner panel are joined to each other so as to form a joint portion. The front outer garnish is attached to the pillar so as to cover the outer panel. The triangular window is supported by the pillar. The shielding portion shields the joint portion, thereby making invisible the joint portion from the outside of the vehicle through the triangular window. The front outer garnish and the triangular window are integrally molded, and the shielding portion is integrated with the front outer garnish. The joint portion is bent toward the inner panel or the outer panel.

Claims

1. A pillar structure of a vehicle, comprising:

a pillar having an outer panel located on a vehicle outer side and an inner panel located on a vehicle inner side, wherein the outer panel and the inner panel each have a flange portion, the flange portion of the outer panel and the flange portion of the inner panel are joined to each other so as to form a joint portion;

a cover member that is attached to the pillar so as to cover the outer panel from the vehicle outer side;

a window transparent portion supported by the pillar; and

a shielding portion that shields the joint portion from the vehicle outer side, thereby making invisible the joint portion from the outside of the vehicle through the window transparent portion,

wherein the cover member and the window transparent portion are integrally molded of a synthetic resin material, and the shielding portion is integrated with the cover member, and

wherein the joint portion is bent toward the inner panel or the outer panel.

2. The pillar structure according to claim 1, wherein the joint portion is arranged to be nonparallel to the window transparent portion, such that a width of the joint portion along a direction parallel to the window transparent portion is reduced.

3. The pillar structure according to claim 1, wherein the pillar further includes a reinforcement located between the outer panel and the inner panel.

4. The pillar structure according to claim 1, wherein the cover member is adhered to the pillar, and a fitting projection to be fitted to the pillar is integrally formed with the cover member.

5. The pillar structure according to claim 4, wherein the cover member is a front outer garnish attached to a front pillar of the vehicle,

wherein the window transparent portion is a front corner window located in a front portion of a side of the vehicle.

6. The pillar structure according to claim 4, wherein the cover member is a rear outer garnish attached to a rear pillar of the vehicle,

wherein the window transparent portion is a fixed window located in a rear portion of a side of the vehicle.