Framing structure around vehicle door opening

Details Framing structure around vehicle door opening Framing structure around vehicle door opening

2002-05-31

2004-02-17

Pape, Joseph D. (Department: 3612)

Land vehicles: bodies and tops

Bodies

Structural detail

C296S203030, C296S146900

Reexamination Certificate

active

06692065

ABSTRACT:

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a framing structure around a door opening of a vehicle.
2. Description of the Related Art
Referring to
FIG. 8
, a conventional framing structure
10
around a vehicle door opening includes an outer panel
11
and an inner panel
12
. A stiffening panel
13
is a reinforcing member disposed in a space closed between outer panel
11
and inner panel
12
. All of outer panel
11
, inner panel
12
and stiffening panel
13
are stamped steel. Outer panel
11
, inner panel
12
and stiffening panel
13
are joined together by conventional spot welding. Generally, the thickness of outer panel
11
is about 0.8 mm. Outer panel
11
provides the outer appearance of the vehicle. Inner panel
12
and stiffening panel
13
each have a thickness of about 2 mm to perform the function of contributing to the frame strength of the vehicle body.
In the conventional framing structure
10
, inner panel
12
and stiffening panel
13
must be formed using four to five press molds. Another disadvantage is that the conventional process generates much scrap during the manufacture of inner panel
12
and stiffening panel
13
. Further, inner panel
12
and stiffening panel
13
are joined together by spot welding and their joining portions are spaced a certain distance from each other, so that the disadvantage of such construction is inferior in view of strength and stiffness.
Referring now to
FIG. 9
, another conventional framing structure, disclosed in Japanese Laid-open Patent Publication No. 2000-219154, includes a side structure
20
in a vehicle having an outer panel
21
and an inner closed tube
22
. Inner closed tube
22
is formed by a tube hydraulic-forming process. Outer panel
21
and inner closed tube
22
are partially joined together by an inner band
23
. Such partial joining is inferior in view of strength and stiffness. In addition, inner band
23
entails additional weight and an increase in the number of parts. Furthermore, in addition to joining of inner closed tube
22
and inner band
23
, inner band
23
and outer panel
21
must be also joined together. Thus, the joining process must be done at least twice.
A construction similar to side structure
20
is also disclosed in Japanese Laid-open Patent Publications Nos. 2000-219153, 2000-219152 and 2000-219150.
Referring now to
FIG. 10
, a conventional framing structure in a vehicle, disclosed in Japanese Laid-open Patent Publication No. 2000-95146, includes a center pillar
30
consisting of an outer panel
31
, an outer reinforced frame
32
and a tubular reinforced frame
33
. Outer panel
31
and tubular reinforced frame
33
are joined together by way of outer reinforced frame
32
. That is, outer reinforced frame
32
and tubular reinforced frame
33
are welded together. Then outer reinforced frame
32
is welded to outer panel
31
. Accordingly, outer reinforced frame
32
as an intermediate means adds weight, constitutes an additional part and adds a welding process. Since outer reinforced frame
32
is disposed extensively along the entire surface of tubular reinforced frame
33
, adds more weight than does side structure
20
in FIG.
9
.
The above, and other objects, features and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from the following description read in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which like reference numerals designate the same elements.


REFERENCES:
patent: 4552400 (1985-11-01), Harasaki et al.
patent: 4826238 (1989-05-01), Misono et al.
patent: 5048887 (1991-09-01), Kunishima et al.
patent: 5131710 (1992-07-01), Kamiguchi et al.
patent: 5246264 (1993-09-01), Yoshii
patent: 5269585 (1993-12-01), Klages et al.
patent: 5839777 (1998-11-01), Vlahovic
patent: 5941597 (1999-08-01), Horiuchi et al.
patent: 6217109 (2001-04-01), Okana et al.
patent: 6315353 (2001-11-01), Brodt et al.
patent: 2000-095146 (2000-04-01), None
patent: 2000-219150 (2000-08-01), None
patent: 2000-219152 (2000-08-01), None
patent: 2000-219153 (2000-08-01), None
patent: 2000-219154 (2000-08-01), None
patent: 2000-219155 (2000-08-01), None
patent: 2001-010533 (2001-01-01), None
Kalpakjian, Serope, Manufacturing Processes for Engineering Materials, 1991, Addison-Wesley Publishing Companty, second edition, p 136.

Affiliated with

Also associated with

Rating

Framing structure around vehicle door opening does not yet have a rating. At this time, there are no reviews or comments for this patent.

If you have personal experience with Framing structure around vehicle door opening, we encourage you to share that experience with our LandOfFree.com community. Your opinion is very important and Framing structure around vehicle door opening will most certainly appreciate the feedback.

Rate now

Comments { 0 }

Profile ID: LFUS-PAI-O-3347781