Patent ID: 9630651
Date: 2017-04-25
CPC Classifications: B62D

Claim:
1. A b-pillar assembly for a vehicle comprising: a vehicle body including a roof rail; a steel T-bracket including a first portion for securing to the roof rail and a second portion extending perpendicularly therefrom and including a hinge member; a carbon fiber b-pillar inner including a first upper end secured to the first portion of the steel T-bracket and a first lower end secured to a rocker; a b-pillar outer including a second upper end secured to the roof rail and a second lower end secured to the rocker; and a carbon fiber b-pillar reinforcement disposed between the b-pillar inner and the b-pillar outer, wherein the T-bracket is arranged with the vehicle body such that the hinge member deforms to absorb a portion of a load applied to the roof rail.