Side impact protection device as well as motor vehicle door having a side impact protection device

• US 6,976,728 B2
• Filed: 05/07/2004
• Issued: 12/20/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 05/09/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Dr Ing hc F Porsche AG (Volkswagen AG)
• Original Assignee: Dr ING HCF AG, Euromotive GmbH & Co. KG.
• Inventors: Froeschle, Mathias, Garnweidner, Peter
• Primary Examiner(s): Patel, Kiran B.
• Application Number:
  US10/840,419
• Publication Number:
  US 20050001443A1
• Time in Patent Office: 592 Days
• Field of Search: 296/146.6, 296/187.12, 296/203.03, 280/730.2
• US Class Current: 296/146.6
• CPC Class Codes: B60J 5/0437 characterised by the attachment means to the door, e.g. releasable attachment means

Abstract

A side impact protection device has a side impact carrier and a fastening device for the side impact carrier on a motor vehicle door part. The fastening device has at least one console and a holding bolt which reaches through the console and an end section of the side impact carrier in respective fastening openings. To simply fasten the side impact carrier, at least one load-alleviating opening is constructed at a distance, viewed in the longitudinal range of the side impact carrier, behind the fastening opening in the side impact carrier or in the console, and a material projection, as a deformation resistance, is situated between the fastening opening and the load-alleviating opening. After deformation of the deformation resistance, the holding bolt enters into the load-alleviating opening. The longitudinal axis of the holding bolt extends approximately parallel to the principal axis of inertia relevant to the load case of the side impact carrier.

Claims

1. A side impact protection device comprising:

a side impact carrier, and

a fastening device for the side impact carrier on a motor vehicle door part, the fastening device having at least one console and a holding bolt which reaches through respective fastening openings in the console and an end section of the side impact carrier,

wherein at least one load-alleviating opening is constructed in the side impact carrier or in the console at a distance, viewed in a longitudinal range of the side impact carrier, behind at least one of the fastening openings,

wherein, as a deformation resistance, a material projection is situated between the at least one of the fastening openings and the load-alleviating opening so that, after deformation of the deformation resistance, the holding bolt can enter into the load-alleviating opening, and

wherein a longitudinal axis of the holding bolt extends approximately parallel to a principal axis of inertia relevant to a load of the side impact carrier.

2. The side impact protection device according to claim 1, wherein the deformation resistance is formed by a tearing web.

3. The side impact protection device according to claim 1, wherein the load-alleviating opening is constructed as an elongated hole which extends approximately in the direction of the longitudinal range of the side impact carrier.

4. The side impact protection device according to claim 2, wherein the load-alleviating opening is one of several load-alleviating openings which, viewed in the longitudinal range of the side impact carrier, are arranged behind one another, and wherein at least one other tearing web is situated between two adjacent load-alleviating openings.

5. The side impact protection device according to claim 1, wherein the console has a support for the side impact carrier, and wherein the side impact carrier places itself against the support when the deformation resistance has been deformed and the holding bolt has entered the load-alleviating opening.

6. The side impact protection device according to claim 1, wherein a width of the load-alleviating opening is larger than an outside diameter of the holding bolt.

7. The side impact protection device according to claim 3, wherein a width of the elongated hole narrows in a hole section facing away from the fastening opening, and wherein the width in this hole section is, at least in sections, smaller than an outside diameter of the holding bolt.

8. The side impact protection device according to claim 1, wherein a width of the load-alleviating opening is smaller than an outside diameter of the holding bolt.

9. The side impact protection device according to claim 8, wherein the load-alleviating opening and the fastening opening have continuous constructions with a keyhole-shaped contour.

10. The side impact protection device according to claim 1, wherein a width of the load-alleviating opening is equal to an outside diameter of the holding bolt.

11. The side impact protection device according to claim 7, wherein, viewed transversely to the longitudinal range of the side impact carrier, the load alleviating opening is arranged to be offset with respect to the fastening opening.

12. The side impact protection device according to claim 1, wherein the side impact carrier is constructed as an extruded light-metal profile and the console is constructed as a light-metal casting.

13. The side impact protection device according to claim 1, wherein the side impact carrier is implemented as a closed hollow profile.

14. The side impact protection device according to claim 5, wherein the support is constructed as a projection and has a curved support surface.

15. The side impact protection device according to claim 8, wherein, viewed transversely to the longitudinal range of the side impact carrier, the load alleviating opening is arranged to be offset with respect to the fastening opening.

16. The side impact protection device according to claim 12, wherein the side impact carrier is implemented as a closed hollow profile.

17. A motor vehicle door having a side impact protection device comprising:

a side impact carrier, and

a fastening device for the side impact carrier on a motor vehicle door part, the fastening device having at least one console and a holding bolt which reaches through respective fastening openings in the console and an end section of the side impact carrier,

wherein at least one load-alleviating opening is constructed in the side impact carrier or in the console at a distance, viewed in a longitudinal range of the side impact carrier, behind at least one of the fastening openings,

wherein, as a deformation resistance, a material projection is situated between the at least one of the fastening openings and the load-alleviating opening so that, after deformation of the deformation resistance, the holding bolt can enter into the load-alleviating opening, and

wherein a longitudinal axis of the holding bolt extends approximately parallel to a principal axis of inertia relevant to a load case of the side impact carrier.

18. The motor vehicle door according to claim 17, wherein the console is constructed in one piece with the vehicle door part.

19. The motor vehicle door according to claim 17, wherein the motor vehicle door part and the console are produced as a light-metal casting.

20. The motor vehicle door according to claim 17, wherein the motor vehicle door part is constructed in a frame type manner with two mutually spaced, approximately upright-extending frame legs, wherein the console is arranged on at least one of the frame legs, and wherein the side impact carrier extends transversely between the two frame legs.

21. The motor vehicle door according to claim 18, wherein the longitudinal axis of the holding bolt extends approximately parallel to the vertical frame leg.

22. The motor vehicle door according to claim 19, wherein the console is cast into the motor vehicle door part.

23. The motor vehicle door according to claim 18, wherein the motor vehicle door part and the console are produced as a light-metal casting.

24. The motor vehicle door according to claim 17, wherein the console is cast into the motor vehicle door part.