Patent ID: 6267436
Filing Date: 2001-07-31
Classification: B60R

Abstract:
An impact energy absorbing structure in an upper vehicle body portion, comprising:a vehicle body structural member;an interior trim spaced from the structural member by an interval extending inwardly from the structural member; andan energy absorbing member disposed in the interval between the interior trim and the structural member and extending along the structural member;wherein the energy absorbing member is a hybrid pipe comprising a core member formed from a metal foil, and sheets laminated on opposite surfaces of the core member, each of the sheets being formed from a material other than metal, the core member and the sheets being shaped so that the hybrid pipe has protruded portions and recessed portions that are contiguous in a direction of a longitudinal axis of the hybrid pipe; andwherein the hybrid pipe is formed so that a length of an outer periphery of a section of the hybrid pipe taken on an imaginary plane perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the hybrid pipe is substantially consistent in the direction of the longitudinal axis, the hybrid pipe having a portion in which a shape of the section of the hybrid pipe gradually changes in the direction of the longitudinal axis, and the hybrid pipe being twisted about the longitudinal axis.