Patent ID: 8491047
Filing Date: 2013-07-23
Classification: B62D

Abstract:
1. A vehicle body structure comprising: an inner pillar panel including an upper end, a lower end, a vehicle interior side surface, a vehicle exterior side surface, and lateral edges; an outer pillar panel including an upper end, a lower end, a vehicle interior side surface, a vehicle exterior side surface, and lateral edges, the lateral edges of the outer pillar panel coupled to the lateral edges of the inner pillar panel to define a vehicle pillar with a closed box cross section in a transverse direction of the vehicle pillar and a vertically extending cavity between the inner and outer pillar panels, the vehicle interior side surface of the outer pillar panel including a first contact portion facing the vehicle exterior side surface of the inner pillar panel; and a brace rigidly fixed to the vehicle exterior side surface of the inner pillar panel, the brace including a second contact portion that faces the first contact portion of the outer pillar panel, the second contact portion of the brace being spaced apart from the first contact portion of the outer pillar panel by a predetermined gap with the inner and outer pillar panels in an undeformed state, the predetermined gap having a dimension such that the first contact portion of the outer pillar panel contacts the second contact portion of the brace in response to compression of the inner pillar panel such that while the inner pillar panel is in compression and the first contact portion of the outer pillar panel contacts the second contact portion of the brace, the outer pillar panel is in tension, the second contact portion having an upper end that is below and spaced apart from the upper end of the outer pillar panel.