Side impact protection system

• US 5,549,349 A
• Filed: 05/01/1995
• Issued: 08/27/1996
• Est. Priority Date: 05/01/1995
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: FCA US LLC (Stellantis NV)
• Original Assignee: Chrysler Corporation (Stellantis NV)
• Inventors: Wehner, Tim J., Gunderia, Ashutosh, Corporon, Max A.
• Primary Examiner(s): Pedder, Dennis H.
• Application Number:
  US08/432,480
• Time in Patent Office: 484 Days
• Field of Search: 296/186-189, 296/203, 296/204, 296/209
• US Class Current: 296/187.12
• CPC Class Codes: B62D 21/157 for side impacts
• CPC Class Codes: B62D 25/025 Side sills thereof
• CPC Class Codes: B62D 25/2036 the subunits being side panels, sills or pillars B62D21/157 takes precedence

Abstract

A side impact protection system for a vehicle is provided. The vehicle comprises a side impact zone and further comprises laterally spaced apart sills extending longitudinally of the vehicle. The laterally spaced apart sills have sill sealing flanges projecting vertically therefrom. The side impact protection system includes a continuous, linearly extending cross member disposed laterally in the vehicle for transferring load and redistributing energy away from an impact side of the vehicle. The linearly extending cross member extends between, and is in abutment with, the laterally spaced apart sills and the corresponding sill sealing flanges thereby allowing the linearly extending cross member to transfer load and redistribute energy immediately upon side impact of the vehicle.

Claims

1. In a side impact protection system for a vehicle, the vehicle comprising a side impact zone, laterally spaced apart sills extending longitudinally in the vehicle, each laterally spaced apart sill having a corresponding sill sealing flange projecting vertically therefrom, a floor pan, a seat riser, and a seat riser reinforcement disposed between the laterally spaced apart sills, the side impact protection system comprising:

a continuous, linearly extending cross member disposed laterally in the vehicle for transferring load and redistributing energy away from an impact side of the vehicle, the cross member extending between, and is in abutment at each end with one of the laterally spaced apart sills and the corresponding sill sealing flange thereby allowing the cross member to transfer load and redistribute energy immediately after the load and the energy is imparted to a sill and corresponding sill sealing flange on the impact side of the vehicle, the cross member being in abutment with the floor pan and the seat riser reinforcement in between each end so that upon side impact of the vehicle energy is redistributed to both the floor pan and the seat riser.

2. The side impact protection system of claim 1 wherein the linearly extending cross member and one of the laterally spaced apart sills and one of the corresponding flanges intersect the side impact zone.

3. The side impact protection system of claim 2 wherein the seat riser is disposed rearward in the vehicle.

4. The side impact protection system of claim 3 wherein the linearly extending cross member is disposed underneath the seat riser in the vehicle.

5. In a side impact protection system for a vehicle, the vehicle comprising a side impact zone, a floor pan having a foot well portion disposed therein, a rear seat riser, laterally spaced apart sills extending longitudinally in the vehicle, each laterally spaced apart sill having a corresponding sill sealing flange projecting vertically therefrom, and a seat riser reinforcement disposed between the sills, the side impact protection system comprising:

a continuous, linearly extending cross member fixedly attached to and disposed underneath the rear seat riser for transferring load and redistributing energy away from an impact side of the vehicle, the cross member extending between, and is in abutment with, the laterally spaced apart sills and each corresponding sill sealing flange thereby allowing the cross member to transfer load and redistribute energy immediately after the load and the energy is imparted to a sill and corresponding sill sealing flange on the impact side of the vehicle, the cross member being in abutment with the floor pan and the seat riser reinforcement in between each end so that upon side impact of the vehicle energy is redistributed to both the floor pan and the seat riser, the cross member and the laterally spaced apart sills being located in the vehicle such that the cross member intersects the side impact zone;

whereby the floor pan and the seat riser reinforcement form an upper apex at an abutting point and a lower apex at an abutting point, the lower apex being in abutment with the foot well portion of the floor pan.

6. The side impact protection system of claim 5 wherein the seat riser is disposed rearward in the vehicle.