Patent ID: 6073992
Filing Date: 2000-06-13
Classification: B62D

Abstract:
A body structure for vehicles comprising;a body roof equipped with at least one closed-in-cross-section roof reinforcement extending widthwise of the vehicle body along a roof panel, right-and-left end portions of one of the roof reinforcements being coupled to upper end portions of a right-and-left pair of closed-in-cross-section pillar members extending in an upper-and-lower direction in side portions of the vehicle body, respectively, and lower end portions of the pillar members are coupled to a pair of closed-in-cross-section side sills which extend longitudinally of the vehicle body to support right-and left side edge portions of a floor panel, respectively, so that the roof reinforcement, the right-and-left pillar members and the right-and-left side sills form a continuous closed cross section with which an upper portion and right-and-left side portions of the vehicle interior, as viewed from the front of the vehicle, are covered;a pair of closed-in-cross-section roof side rails extending longitudinally of the vehicle body placed at right-and-left side edge portions of the roof panel to support the side edge portions, the roof side rails, the side sills and the pillar members are each equipped with reinforcing members which extend longitudinally within a relevant closed cross-sectional space to partition the closed cross-sectional space, both right-and-left end sides of the roof reinforcement being coupled to the rein forcing members of the right-and-left roof side rails, respectively, while both upper-and-lower end sides of the reinforcing members of the pillar members are coupled to the reinforcing members of the roof side rails and the reinforcing members of the side sills, respectively, both the reinforcing members of the roof side rails and the reinforcing members of the side sills being provided so as to extend over a generally entire longitudinal length of the vehicle interior;wherein the right-and-left end positions of the roof reinforcement are coupled to upper end sides of a right-and-left pair of closed-in-cross-section center pillars located between front-and-rear door openings provided at body sides and extending in an upper-and-lower direction, respectively, the reinforcing members of the roof side rails and the reinforcing members of the side sills are set longer in a front-side portion extending forward from a joint part with the center pillar than in a rear-side portion extending rearward from the joint part with the center pillar; andwherein a front end portion of a first side sill reinforcement is joined to a lower end portion of a front pillar and a rear portion of the first side sill reinforcing member is lapped on a side end portion of a first cross member extending widthwise of the vehicle body behind the center pillar, with a front end portion of a second side sill reinforcing member being joined to the lower end portion of the front pillar, while a rear end portion of the second side sill reinforcing member extends at least to the side end portion of a second cross member extending widthwise of the vehicle body in front of the center pillar.