Patent ID: 8491046
Filing Date: 2013-07-23
Classification: B62D

Abstract:
1. A vehicle side body structure including an outer side panel unit which covers a side of a vehicle body from outside, the outer side panel unit comprising: an outer side panel frame section including a roof rail section, an extension portion, and a rear panel section, the roof rail section, the extension portion, and the rear panel section formed as a single piece from an ordinary steel plate having a tensile strength exceeding 270 MPa, the roof rail section and the rear panel section together constituting an upper frame section, said outer side panel frame section also including a lower front pillar section and a side sill section formed as a single piece from a high-tensile strength steel plate having a tensile strength equal to or greater than 590 MPa, the lower front pillar section and the side sill section together constituting an L-shaped lower frame section, the upper frame section and the L-shaped lower frame section being fixedly joined to each other at respective opposite ends thereof to thereby constitute the outer side panel frame section; a center pillar section formed of a high-tensile strength steel plate having a tensile strength of 590 MPa to 1,180 MPa, the center pillar section being formed separately from the outer side panel frame section, the center pillar section being fixedly joined to the outer side panel frame section in such a manner that front and rear door openings are defined in the outer side panel unit; the roof rail section having corner portions facing toward the front and rear door openings; the extension portion of the roof rail section lapped over an upper end portion of the center pillar section from outside under the corner portions; and a reinforcing member disposed inside and along the roof rail section, the center pillar section being fixedly joined at the upper end portion thereof to an outer surface of a rear portion of the reinforcing member within the roof rail section and at a lower end portion thereof to the side sill section, the reinforcing member having a front portion fixedly joined to an upper end of the lower front pillar section.