Roof-side structure of vehicle

• US 7,988,182 B2
• Filed: 11/25/2008
• Issued: 08/02/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 08/28/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Hyundai Motor Company (Hyundai Motor Group)
• Original Assignee: Hyundai Motor Company (Hyundai Motor Group)
• Inventors: Park, Hyeong Gyu
• Primary Examiner(s): Ilan; Ruth
• Assistant Examiner(s): WILHELM, TIMOTHY
• Application Number:
  US12/323,348
• Publication Number:
  US 20100052369A1
• Time in Patent Office: 980 Days
• Field of Search: 280/728.2, 280/730.2, 280/728.3, 296/210, 296/214
• US Class Current: 280/728.2
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/213 in vehicle roof frames or pillars
• CPC Class Codes: B62D 25/06 Fixed roofs non-fixed roofs or like shelters B60J7/00; roof liners B60R13/02; insulating elements B60R13/08

Abstract

A roof-side structure includes a roof center rail which is engaged with the bottom surface of a roof panel and one end of which extends to a position of a curtain airbag, a roof rail gusset engaged between a roof side outer reinforcing panel and the one end of the roof center rail, and a side inner panel which is engaged with the roof rail gusset in a state that a curtain airbag is engaged with a front side of the one end of the roof center rail. Accordingly, since the roof rail gusset is arranged inside of the side inner panel so that it does not interfere with the curtain airbag, a layout of the curtain airbag is advantageous. Also, since it is not required to bend the roof rail gusset to connect the roof center rail and the side inner panel, in the event a broadside collision is applied to a vehicle, the roof rail gusset remains unbroken, and thus the rigidity of the roof center rail can be sufficiently reinforced.

Claims

1. A roof-side structure of a vehicle, comprising:

a roof center rail, one end of which extends to a portion of a curtain airbag and the other end of which is engaged with a bottom surface of a roof panel;

a roof rail gusset engaged between a roof side outer reinforcing panel and the one end of the roof center rail; and

a side inner panel, one end of which is coupled to the roof rail gusset, wherein the curtain airbag is coupled to a rear side of the one end of the side inner panel;

wherein the roof rail gusset comprises;

a gusset body coupled to the one end of the roof center rail;

first and second flanges bent from both distal ends of the gusset body, the first flange being bent toward the roof side outer reinforcing panel and engaged with the roof side outer reinforcing panel and the second flange being bent downwards with respect to a horizontal axis with a predetermined angle; and

a third flange integrally extending from an end of the second flange downwards with a predetermined angle therebetween and connected to the roof side outer reinforcing panel;

wherein after the first and third flanges of the roof rail gusset are welded with the roof side outer reinforcing panel, the side inner panel welded with the curtain airabg and disposed at the outer side of the roof rail gusset is welded with a center pillar outer reinforcing panel disposed at the outer side of the roof side outer reinforcing panel, one end of the roof center rail intergrated in the bottom surface of the roof panel is inserted into a gap between the side inner panel and the gusset body; and

wherein the curtain airbag, the one end of the side inner panel, the end of the roof center rail and the guesset body of the roof rail gusset are mounted in common with a fastening member.

2. A passenger vehicle comprising the roof-side structure as claimed in claim 1.

3. The roof-side structure of a vehicle of claim 1, wherein the first and second flanges extend outwards to form an opening therebetween.

4. The roof-side structure of a vehicle of claim 1, wherein a portion in which the roof side outer reinforcing panel and the third flange of the roof rail gusset is connected is not connected to the side inner panel.