Vehicle body side structure

• US 6,312,045 B2
• Filed: 05/23/2001
• Issued: 11/06/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 03/19/1999
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Nissan Motor Co., Ltd.
• Original Assignee: Nissan Motor Co., Ltd.
• Inventors: Kitagawa, Yuichi
• Primary Examiner(s): Pape, Joseph D.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Coletta, Lori L.
• Application Number:
  US09/862,315
• Publication Number:
  US 20010022456A1
• Time in Patent Office: 167 Days
• Field of Search: 296/188, 296/189, 296/146.6, 296/202, 292/DIG.65, 292/DIG.22, 292/341.16, 292/144, 292/24, 292/25
• US Class Current: 296/187.12
• CPC Class Codes: B62D 25/02 Side panels B62D33/046 takes precedence; sideboards for open load compartments B62D33/023
• CPC Class Codes: B62D 25/025 Side sills thereof
• CPC Class Codes: B62D 25/04 Door pillars ; windshield pillars
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 292/65 Emergency or safety
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 292/0825 Hooked end
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 292/0826 Operating means
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 292/699 Motor controlled

Abstract

A vehicle body side structure is provided to prevent deformation of a structural member due to deformation of a door during a side collision. The vehicle body structure reduces the possibility that the structural member contacts an occupant and obtains an excellent impact absorption effect when the door contacts the occupant. The vehicle body structure has a body side portion with the structural member, and a door coupled to the body side portion to open and close relative to the structural member. An energy absorption member is coupled to the door. A door engagement mechanism is coupled between the door and the side structural member. The door engagement mechanism is arranged to hold the door and the structural member together. A collision sensor generates a collision signal when a side collision is detected by the collision sensor. A door release mechanism is connected to the door engagement mechanism to release the door from the structural member in response to the collision signal. The energy absorption member can be a block of compressible material located in the door, or an air bag, or a frame member with a fragile portion.

Claims

1. A vehicle body structure comprising:

a body side portion including vertical and horizontal structural members;

a door coupled to said body side portion to open and close relative to said vertical structural member;

an energy absorption member coupled to said door;

a door engagement mechanism coupled between said door and said vertical structural member, and arranged to hold said door and said vertical structural member together;

a collision sensor generating a collision signal when a side collision is detected by said collision sensor;

a door release mechanism connected to said door engagement mechanism to release said door from said vertical structural member in response to said collision signal; and

a door lock coupled between said horizontal structural member and said door, said door lock being operatively coupled to said collision sensor, and being activated to enter a locking state when the side collision is detected.

2. A vehicle body structure according to claim 1, wherein

said energy absorption member includes a compressible energy absorbing material compressed during the side collision.

3. A vehicle body structure according to claim 1, wherein

said energy absorption member includes an air bag that is operatively coupled to said collision sensor, said air bag being deployed when the side collision is detected.

4. A vehicle body structure according to claim 1, wherein

said energy absorption member includes a frame member with a fragile portion located between a front end and a rear end of said frame member relative to the vehicle body structure.

5. A vehicle body structure according to claim 1, wherein

said door lock includes a movably locking member and a mating member.

6. A vehicle body structure according to claim 1, wherein

said door engagement mechanism includes a striker and a latch.

7. A vehicle body structure according to claim 1, wherein

said door engagement mechanism includes a hinge.

8. A vehicle body structure according to claim 1, wherein

said collision sensor is an object contacting detection sensor that detects contact by another vehicle with one of said body side portion and said door.

9. A vehicle body structure according to claim 1, wherein

said collision sensor is a distance detector that detects a collision by detecting a collision-expected approach of another vehicle toward one of said body side portion and said door.

10. A vehicle body structure according to claim 1, further comprising

an additional door coupled to said body side portion to open and close;

an additional energy absorption member coupled to said additional door;

an additional door engagement mechanism coupled between said additional door and said structural member and arranged to hold said additional door and said structural member together; and

an additional door release mechanism connected to said additional door engagement mechanism to release said additional door from said structural member when a side collision is detected by said collision sensor.

11. A vehicle body structure according to claim 10, wherein

each of said energy absorption members includes an air bag that is operatively coupled to said collision sensor, and said airbag being deployed when the side collision is detected.

12. A vehicle body structure according to claim 10, wherein

said door engagement mechanism includes a striker and a latch, and said additional door engagement mechanism includes a hinge.

13. A vehicle body structure according to claim 1, further comprising

an additional door coupled to said body side portion to open and close;

an additional energy absorption member coupled to said additional door;

an additional door engagement mechanism coupled between said additional door and said structural member and arranged to hold said additional door and said structural member together;

an additional collision sensor generating a collision signal when a side collision is detected by said additional collision sensor; and

an additional door release mechanism connected to said additional door engagement mechanism to release said additional door from said structural member in response to said collision signal.

14. A vehicle body structure according to claim 13, wherein

each of said energy absorption members includes an air bag, said air bags of said members being operatively coupled to said collision sensors for deployment of at least one of said air bags depending upon which one of said collision sensors detected said side collision.

15. A vehicle body structure according to claim 13, further comprising

an additional door lock being coupled between said horizontal structural member and said additional door, said additional door lock being operatively coupled to said collision sensors for activating said additional door lock to enter a locking state when the side collision is detected.

16. A vehicle body structure according to claim 15, wherein

each of said door locks includes a movably locking member, and a mating member coupled to said movably locking member during the side collision.

17. A vehicle body structure comprising:

a body side portion including a structural member;

a door coupled to said body portion to open and close relative to said structural member;

energy absorption means for absorbing energy during a side collision being coupled to said door;

door engagement means for engaging said door with said structural member of said body side portion in a closed state of said door;

collision sensing means for detecting the side collision;

door engagement releasing means for releasing engagement of said door engagement means between said door and said structural member when the side collision is detected by said collision sensing means so that said door will be separated from said structural member; and

door locking means for locking said body side portion and said door together at a location spaced from said structural member upon said collision being detected by said collision sensing means.

18. A vehicle body structure according to claim 17, further comprising

an additional door coupled to said body side portion to open and close;

an additional door engagement means coupled between said additional door and said structural member and arranged to hold said additional door and said structural member together; and

an additional door releasing means connected to said additional door engagement means to release said additional door from said structural member when the side collision is detected by said collision sensing means.

19. A vehicle body structure comprising:

a body side portion including a center pillar, a side roof rail, and a side sill;

a door coupled to said body side portion to open and close relative to said body side portion;

an energy absorption member coupled to said door;

a door engagement mechanism coupled between said door and said center pillar, and arranged to hold said door and said center pillar together;

a collision sensor generating a collision signal when a side collision is detected by said collision sensor;

a door release mechanism connected to said door engagement mechanism to release said door from said center pillar in response to said collision signal; and

a door lock coupled between said door and one of said side roof rail and said side sill, said door lock being operatively coupled to said collision sensor, and being activated to enter a locking state when the side collision is detected.

20. A vehicle body structure according to claim 19, wherein

said energy absorption member includes a compressible energy absorbing material compressed during the side collision.

21. A. vehicle body structure according to claim 19, wherein

said energy absorption member includes a frame member with a fragile portion located between a front end and a rear end of said frame member relative to the vehicle body structure.

22. A vehicle body structure according to claim 19, wherein

said door lock includes a movably locking member and a mating member.

23. A vehicle body structure according to claim 19, wherein

said door engagement mechanism includes a striker and a latch.

24. A vehicle body structure according to claim 19, wherein

said door engagement mechanism includes a hinge.

25. A vehicle body structure according to claim 19, wherein

said collision sensor is an object contacting detection sensor that detects contact by another vehicle with one of said body side portion and said door.

26. A vehicle body structure according to claim 19, wherein

said collision sensor is a distance detector that detects a collision by detecting a collision-expected approach of another vehicle toward one of said body side portion and said door.