Abstract:
The center pillar outer member ( 36 ) of a center pillar ( 22 ) which supports a roof ( 17 ) is halved into a center pillar outer upper section ( 37 ) and a center pillar outer lower section ( 38 ). The center pillar outer member ( 36 ) is provided with a connection recess ( 41 ) at which the center pillar outer lower section ( 38 ) is joined to the center pillar outer upper section ( 37 ), and is also provided with a seal member ( 42 ) which covers the connection recess ( 41 ). The seal member ( 42 ) continues to the front upper seal ( 43 ) and the rear upper seal ( 44 ), respectively, of a front door opening seal ( 31 ) and a rear door opening seal ( 33 ), the front and rear upper seals ( 43, 44 ) extending along a roof side rail ( 24 ).

Description:
TECHNICAL FIELD 
       [0001]    The present invention relates to a vehicle body side structure including a seal member for covering a coupling recessed portion formed on a surface of a vehicle by coupling a plurality of outer panels. 
       BACKGROUND ART 
       [0002]    Among this type of vehicle body side structures, there is a structure for coupling a portion extending from a roof to an upper portion of a center pillar. A center pillar is plastically formed as a separate body by using a high tension steel plate, a roof rail is plastically formed by using a normal steel plate, and a vehicle body outer panel coupling portion couples the center pillar and the roof rail near the roof rail (e.g., refer to Patent Literature 1). 
         [0003]    There is also a vehicle body in which coupled portions are covered. In this vehicle body, respective pillars such as a center pillar are divided into upper and lower two portions. Stepped portions are formed at boundary portions where the upper portions and the lower portions are coupled and seal tape is stuck to the stepped portion, with which a seal member provided to a door comes in contact, out of the stepped portions (e.g., refer to Patent Literature 2). 
         [0004]    However, an outward appearance of the vehicle body side structure disclosed in Patent Literature 1 is not good, because a step is formed by a plate material laid on the coupling portion between the upper portion of the center pillar and the roof rail or a welding mark remains. 
         [0005]    In the vehicle body side structure disclosed in Patent Literature 2, the seal tape is stuck only to a position corresponding to the seal member provided to the door and therefore seal tape does not exist at the remaining stepped portions. 
         [0006]    In this manner, the stepped portions formed at the coupling portions are exposed and remain, which detracts from visual quality. If large seal tape adapted to the remaining stepped portions is used to cover the remaining stepped portions, thin edges of the seal tape (seal member) corrugate and it is difficult to carry out the operation. Moreover, the thin edges of the seal tape (seal member) may not uniformly come in contact, which may detract from visual quality. 
       PRIOR ART LITERATURE 
     Patent Literature 
       [0007]    Patent Literature 1: JP 2011-195107 A 
         [0008]    Patent Literature 2: JP 2011-88494 A 
       SUMMARY OF INVENTION 
     Technical Problem 
       [0009]    It is an object of the present invention to provide a vehicle body side structure which improves visual quality, even when a center pillar outer member or panel is divided into two portions, and facilitates a mounting operation of a seal member. 
       Solution to Problem 
       [0010]    According to a first aspect of the present invention, there is provided a vehicle body side structure in which a center pillar outer member of a center pillar supporting a roof of a vehicle body is divided into two portions, i.e., a center pillar outer member upper portion and a center pillar outer member lower portion and a front door opening seal and a rear door opening seal corresponding to a front door and a rear door are mounted to a roof side rail continuous from the center pillar and the roof and extending in a front-back direction of the vehicle body, the vehicle body side structure including: a coupling recessed portion where the center pillar outer member lower portion is coupled to the center pillar outer member upper portion; and a seal member for covering the coupling recessed portion, wherein the seal member is continuous with a front upper seal and a rear upper seal, along the roof side rail, of the front door opening seal and the rear door opening seal. 
         [0011]    In a second aspect of the invention, preferably, the seal member includes a main body portion facing the coupling recessed portion, a first lip portion continuous with the main body portion and to be laid on an outer face of the center pillar outer member upper portion, and a second lip portion continuous with the main body portion and to be laid on an outer face of the center pillar outer member lower portion, a front door seal on a side of the door and extending along the center pillar outer member comes in close contact with the center pillar outer member, a seal line area of the seal member is formed to have a smooth surface shape without steps from the main body portion to a tip end of the first lip portion and a tip end of the second lip portion and between the tip ends and the center pillar outer member, and a remaining tip end other than the tip ends in the seal line area is formed to be thick-walled. 
         [0012]    In a third aspect of the invention, the seal member is preferably stuck to the coupling recessed portion. 
         [0013]    In a fourth aspect of the invention, the seal member preferably has one end pinched by the front door opening seal and the other end pinched by the rear door opening seal. 
         [0014]    In a fifth aspect of the invention, preferably, the center pillar outer member lower portion has a recessed portion formed by pressing an upper portion of the center pillar outer member lower portion toward a vehicle interior, the center pillar outer member upper portion has a roof rail coupling T-shaped portion continuous with the recessed portion, extending in a longitudinal direction of the roof side rail, and coupled to an outer face of a stiffener which is provided inside a roof rail outer plate of the roof side rail and which has a closed section, the coupling recessed portion is formed by coupling a stepped portion, formed by bending a lower portion of the center pillar outer member upper portion of the roof rail outer plate toward the vehicle interior, to the recessed portion, and the coupling recessed portion is disposed at substantially the same height as a front door opening upper edge and a rear door opening upper edge to which the front upper seal and the rear upper seal are respectively mounted and which are included in the roof side rail. 
       Advantageous Effects of Invention 
       [0015]    In the first aspect of the invention, the center pillar outer member of the center pillar is divided into the two portions, i.e., the center pillar outer member upper portion and the center pillar outer member lower portion and the vehicle body side structure includes the coupling recessed portion where the center pillar outer member lower portion is coupled to the center pillar outer member upper portion and the seal member for covering the coupling recessed portion. The seal member is continuous with the front upper seal and the rear upper seal, along the roof side rail, of the front door opening seal and the rear door opening seal. Therefore, the seal member is continuous with the door opening seal and aligned with the door opening seal in a height direction of a vehicle. The seal member can be provided continuously with the door opening seal, which avoids a feeling of strangeness caused by an outward appearance of the coupling recessed portion and improves visual quality. 
         [0016]    In second aspect of the invention, the seal member includes the main body portion, the first lip portion, and the second lip portion. The seal line area of the seal member to which the door seal on the side of the door comes in contact is formed to have the smooth surface shape without the steps from the main body portion to the tip end of the first lip portion and the tip end of the second lip portion and between the tip ends and the center pillar outer member and the remaining tip end other than the tip ends in the seal line area is formed to be thick-walled. Because the tip end is thick-walled, shapes of the thin tip ends in the seal line area can be maintained, falling off of the thin tip ends in the seal line area from the outer face of the center pillar outer member upper portion and the outer face of the center pillar outer member lower portion can be suppressed, and the tip ends in the seal line area can be brought into close contact with the outer faces. 
         [0017]    In the third aspect of the invention, the seal member is stuck to the coupling recessed portion, which facilitates a mounting operation of the seal member. 
         [0018]    In the fourth aspect of the invention, the seal member has one end pinched by the front door opening seal and the other end pinched by the rear door opening seal. Therefore, the one end and the other end of the seal member become less liable to fall off from the center pillar outer member and detachment of the one end and the other end can be suppressed. Moreover, a line continuous with the door opening seals becomes clearer, which further improves visual quality. 
         [0019]    In the fifth aspect of the invention, the recessed portion is formed by pressing the upper portion of the center pillar outer member lower portion toward the vehicle interior and the roof rail coupling T-shaped portion coupled to the outer face of the stiffener of the roof side rail is formed continuously with the recessed portion. The coupling recessed portion is formed by coupling the stepped portion, formed by bending the lower portion of the center pillar outer member upper portion toward the vehicle interior, to the recessed portion. The coupling recessed portion is disposed at substantially the same height as the front door opening upper edge and the rear door opening upper edge. Therefore, it is possible to couple the upper portion of the center pillar to the stiffener (the roof side rail reinforcing member) of the roof side rail without reducing an area of the closed section extending to the upper portion of the center pillar to thereby increase strength against a load input to the roof from above the roof. 
         [0020]    Furthermore, because the coupling recessed portion is disposed at substantially the same height as the front door opening upper edge and the front door opening upper edge, a feeling of strangeness caused by an outward. appearance of the coupling recessed portion can be reduced. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS 
         [0021]      FIG. 1  is a side view illustrating a vehicle body employing a vehicle body side structure according to an embodiment of the present invention; 
           [0022]      FIG. 2  is a view as seen in the direction of arrow  2  of  FIG. 1 ; 
           [0023]      FIG. 3  is a front view illustrating a coupling recessed portion of the vehicle body side structure; 
           [0024]      FIG. 4  is a cross-sectional view taken along line  4 - 4  of  FIG. 3 ; 
           [0025]      FIG. 5  is an enlarged cross-sectional view taken along line  5 - 5  of  FIG. 2 ; 
           [0026]      FIG. 6  is an enlarged cross-sectional view taken along line  6 - 6  of  FIG. 2 ; 
           [0027]      FIG. 7  is an enlarged cross-sectional view taken along line  7 - 7  of  FIG. 4 ; and 
           [0028]      FIG. 8  is an enlarged view as seen in the direction of arrow  8  of  FIG. 4 . 
       
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS 
       [0029]    A preferred embodiment of the present invention will be described in detail below with reference to the accompanying drawings. 
       Embodiment 
       [0030]    As illustrated in  FIGS. 1 and 2 , a vehicle body  12  includes an underbody  16  forming a floor of a vehicle interior  15 , a side body  13  forming a side wall of the vehicle interior  15 , and a roof  17  supported by the side body  13 . 
         [0031]    The side body  13  includes a side sill  18 , a front pillar  21  rising from the side sill  18 , a center pillar  22 , a rear pillar  23 , and a roof side rail  24 . The side body  13  has a front door opening  25  formed by the side sill  18 , the pillars  21  and  22 , and the roof side rail  24  and a rear door opening  26  formed by the side sill  18 , the pillars  22  and  23 , and the roof side rail  24 . 
         [0032]    To the front door opening  25 , a front door  28  and a front door opening seal  31  are mounted. To the rear door opening  26 , a rear door  32  and a rear door opening seal  33  are mounted. In this description, the front door opening seal  31  and the rear door opening seal  33  are included in the side body  13 . 
         [0033]    In the side body  13 , a center pillar outer member or panel  36  of the center pillar  22  supporting the roof  17  of the vehicle body  12  is divided into two portions, i.e., a center pillar outer member upper portion  37  and a center pillar outer member lower portion  38 . To the roof side rail  24  continuing from the center pillar  22  and the roof  17  and extending in a front-back direction of the vehicle body, the front door opening seal  31  and the rear door opening seal  33  corresponding to the front door  28  and the rear door  32  are mounted. 
         [0034]    As illustrated in  FIGS. 2 and 5 , the center pillar  22  includes a coupling recessed portion  41  for coupling the center pillar outer member lower portion  38  to the center pillar outer member upper portion  37  and a seal member  42  for covering the coupling recessed portion  41 . 
         [0035]    The seal member  42  is continuous with a front upper seal  43  and a rear upper seal  44  of the front door opening seal  31  and the rear door opening seal  33  along the roof side rail  24 . 
         [0036]    As illustrated in  FIGS. 5 and 6 , the seal member  42  includes a main body portion  46  facing the coupling recessed portion  41 , a first lip portion  48  continuous with the main body portion  46  and to be laid on an outer face  47  of the center pillar outer member upper portion  37 , and a second lip portion  52  continuous with the main body portion  46  and to be laid on an outer face  51  of the center pillar outer member lower portion  38 . 
         [0037]    A front door seal  53  ( FIG. 2 ) of the front door  28  ( FIG. 1 ) and a rear door seal  54  of the rear door  32  extending along a longitudinal direction of the center pillar outer member  36  come in close contact with the center pillar outer member  36  and come in close contact with seal line areas  55  of the seal member  42 . The seal line areas  55  have smooth surface shapes without steps from the main body portion  46  to tip ends  56  of the first lip portion  48  and tip ends  57  of the second lip portion  52  and between the tip ends  56 ,  57  and the center pillar outer member  36 . The seal line areas  55  are illustrated with dotted patterns in  FIG. 2 . As illustrated in  FIG. 6 , remaining tip ends  58  and  61  other than the tip ends  56  and  57  in the seal line areas  55  are formed to be thick-walled. 
         [0038]    The seal member  42  is stuck to the coupling recessed portion  41 . For example, the seal member  42  is stuck by using double-sided tape  62 . Then, as illustrated in  FIG. 2 , one end  63  and the other end  64  of the seal member  42  are pinched by the front door opening seal  31  and the rear door opening seal  33 . 
         [0039]    As illustrated in  FIGS. 5 and 6 , at the center pillar outer member  36 , a recessed portion  67  is formed by pressing an upper portion  66  of the center pillar outer member lower portion  38  toward the vehicle interior  15  (in a direction of arrow a 1 ). As illustrated in  FIG. 4 , a stiffener  71  having a closed section is continuous with the recessed portion  67 , extends in a longitudinal direction of the roof side rail  24 , and is provided inside a roof rail outer plate  68  of the roof side rail  24  (in a direction of arrow a 2 ). A roof rail coupling T-shaped portion  73  is coupled to an outer face  72  of the stiffener  71 . The coupling recessed portion  41  is formed by coupling a stepped portion  75 , formed by bending a lower portion  74  of the center pillar outer member upper portion  37  of the roof rail outer plate  68  toward the vehicle interior  15 , to the recessed portion  67 . 
         [0040]    As illustrated in  FIG. 2 , the coupling recessed portion  41  is disposed at substantially the same height as a front door opening upper edge  76  and a rear door opening upper edge  77  to which the front upper seal  43  and the rear upper seal  44  are respectively mounted and which are included in the roof side rail  24 . 
         [0041]    If the coupling recessed portion  41  is disposed “at substantially the same height as the front door opening upper edge  76  and the rear door opening upper edge  77 ”, it means that, when a height of the rear door opening upper edge  77  from the side sill  18  is H and a height of the coupling recessed portion  41  from the side sill  18  is H 1 , H 1  is higher than H by δ, but H 1  is substantially the same height as H as illustrated in  FIG. 3 . 
         [0042]    As illustrated in  FIG. 2 , the side body  13  includes the center pillar  22 , the roof  17 , the roof side rail  24 , and the seal member  42 . 
         [0043]    As illustrated in  FIGS. 3 ,  4 ,  7 , and  8 , the center pillar  22  includes the center pillar outer member  36  and a center pillar inner member  81  ( FIG. 8 ). The center pillar outer member  36  and the center pillar inner member  81  form a closed sectional shape. A seat belt anchor mounting bracket  82  is provided in the center pillar  22 . 
         [0044]    As illustrated in  FIG. 7 , the center pillar outer member  36  has a hat-shaped section and includes a main body wall portion  85 , a front wall portion  86  continuous with the main body wall portion  85 , a rear wall portion  87 , and first flanges  83  and  84  continuous with the front and rear wall portions  86  and  87 . The roof rail coupling T-shaped portion  73  extends in a longitudinal direction of the stiffener  71  and is coupled to the stiffener  71  by spot welding (welded portions  73   a ). 
         [0045]    As illustrated in  FIG. 8 , the center pillar inner member  81  has a hat-shaped section and includes a main body wall portion  93 , a front wall portion  94  continuous with the main body wall portion  93 , a rear wall portion  95 , and second flanges  91  and  92  continuous with the front and rear wall portions  94  and  95  and respectively coupled to the first flanges  83  and  84 . A roof rail coupling T-shaped portion  96  extends in a longitudinal direction of the stiffener  71  and is coupled to the stiffener  71  and the roof  17 . 
         [0046]    When the second flanges  91  and  92  are respectively coupled to the first flanges  83  and  84  of the center pillar outer member  36 , the center pillar inner member  81  forms a front door opening vertical edge  98  ( FIG. 3 ) and a rear door opening vertical edge  101  ( FIG. 3 ) and the front door opening vertical edge  98  and the rear door opening vertical edge  101  are continuous with the roof side rail  24  of the roof  17 . 
         [0047]    As illustrated in  FIGS. 2 to 4  and  8 , the roof  17  includes a roof panel outer  103  and a roof arch  104 . A side end portion  105  of the roof panel outer  103  is coupled to the roof side rail  24 . 
         [0048]    As illustrated in  FIG. 4 , the roof side rail  24  includes the roof rail outer plate  68  and the stiffener  71 . The roof rail outer plate  68  includes a roof rail outer plate main body portion  106  which has an outer face facing an outside of the vehicle body  12  (in a direction of arrow a 3  in  FIG. 4 ) and a top portion  107  which is continuous with the roof rail outer plate main body portion  106 , has a face oriented upward, and is coupled with the side end portion  105  of the roof panel outer  103  laid on itself. From this top portion  107 , a coupling end  108  extends. 
         [0049]    Furthermore, the roof side rail  24  includes an opening upper end portion  111  which is continuous with the roof rail outer plate main body portion  106  and has a face oriented downward, an outer flange  112  which is continuous with the opening upper end portion  111  and included in the front door opening upper edge  76 , and an outer flange  77   a  which is included in the rear door opening upper edge  77 . At a center in a longitudinal direction of the opening upper end portion  111 , the center pillar outer member upper portion  37  is formed. 
         [0050]    The center pillar outer member upper portion  37  has the stepped portion  75  formed by bending the second main body wall portion (the lower portion  74 ) at a center, the second main body wall portion (the lower portion  74 ) disposed to he an extension of the main body wall portion  85  of the center pillar outer member  36 . As illustrated in  FIG. 5 , the stepped portion  75  has a pushed-in portion  113  formed by bending the second main body wall portion (the lower portion  74 ) at the center. By bending the second main body wall portion (the lower portion  74 ) at a position continuous with the pushed-in portion  113 , a coupling edge  114  substantially parallel to the main body wall portion  85  is formed. The coupling edge  114  is coupled onto a bottom portion  67   a  of the recessed portion  67 . The coupling edge  114  is formed at a higher position than a lower edge (the front door opening upper edge  76  and the rear door opening upper edge  77 ) of the stiffener  71  by a distance h ( FIG. 4 ). 
         [0051]    As illustrated in  FIGS. 4 ,  7 , and  8 , the stiffener  71  includes a stiffener outer  116  and a stiffener inner  117 . 
         [0052]    The stiffener outer  116  has a substantially U-shaped section and includes a stiffener first wall portion  121  along the roof rail outer plate main body portion  106  of the center pillar outer member  36 , a stiffener second wall portion  122  extending from the stiffener first wall portion  121  toward the roof  17 , a stiffener third wall portion  123  facing the stiffener second wall portion  122 , and a flange  124  continuous with the stiffener third wall portion  123 . The stiffener second wall portion  122  is coupled to the coupling end  108  of the top portion  107  of the roof rail outer plate  68  by spot welding (welded portions  125 ). 
         [0053]    As illustrated in  FIG. 4 , the stiffener inner  117  has a dogleg section and includes a stiffener fourth wall portion  127  facing the stiffener first wall portion  121  and the stiffener third wall portion  123  of the stiffener outer  116  and rising substantially vertically, a stiffener fifth wall portion  128  continuous with the stiffener fourth wall portion  127  and extending downward toward the center pillar  22 , and a flange  131  orthogonal to the stiffener fourth wall portion  127  to be continuous with the stiffener fourth wall portion  127  and coupled to the coupling end  108  of the top portion  107  of the roof rail outer plate  68  with the stiffener second wall portion  122  interposed therebetween. 
         [0054]    The stiffener fifth wall portion  128  is coupled to an end portion  133  of the roof arch  104  by spot welding (welded portions  134 ). An end of the stiffener fifth wall portion  128  is coupled to the flange  124  of the stiffener outer  116  and the outer flanges  112  and  77   a  ( FIG. 3 ) of the roof rail outer plate  68  are coupled to the flange  124  to thereby form the front door opening upper edge  76  and the rear door opening upper edge  77 . 
         [0055]    As illustrated in  FIG. 3 , the front door opening seal  31  ( FIG. 2 ) is mounted to the front door opening upper edge  76  and the front door opening vertical edge  98 . The front door opening seal  31  is in an annular shape and also mounted to the side sill  18  ( FIG. 1 ) and the front pillar  21 . 
         [0056]    The rear door opening seal  33  ( FIG. 2 ) is mounted to the rear door opening upper edge  77  and the rear door opening vertical edge  101 . The rear door opening seal  33  is in an annular shape and also mounted to the side sill  18  ( FIG. 1 ) and the rear pillar  23 . 
         [0057]    As illustrated in  FIG. 2 , the front door opening seal  31  includes a grasping portion  136  for grasping the front door opening upper edge  76  and the front door opening vertical edge  98  ( FIG. 3 ) by pinching them and a close contact portion  137  integrally continuous with the grasping portion  136  and to be pressed by the front door  28  ( FIG. 1 ) to come in close contact with the front door  28 . The rear door opening seal  33  has a similar structure to the front door opening seal  31 . As already described, the front door opening seal  31  and the rear door opening seal  33  respectively retain the one end  63  and the other end  64  of the seal member  42 . 
         [0058]    As illustrated in  FIG. 5 , the main body portion  46  of the seal member  42  has a thickness (e.g., thickness T) corresponding to a depth of the coupling recessed portion  41 . Thickness T corresponds to depth B from the main body wall portion  85  of the center pillar outer member  36  and depth B from the second main body wall portion (the lower portion  74 ). 
         [0059]    A thickness of the first lip portion  48  gradually reduces from thickness t 1  of the first lip portion  48  of the seal line area  55  to thickness t 2  (not illustrated, e.g., 0.01 mm) of the tip end  56 . A thickness of the second lip portion  52  gradually reduces from thickness t 1  of the second lip portion  52  of the seal line area  55  to thickness t 2  (e.g., 0.01 mm) of the tip end  57 . 
         [0060]    On the other hand, a thickness of the remaining first lip portion  48  other than the first lip portion  48  of the seal line areas  55  gradually reduces from thickness t 1  to thickness t 3  (e.g., 0.5 mm) of the tip end  58  ( FIG. 6 ). In other words, t 3 &gt;t 2  and the tip end  58  of the remaining first lip portion  48  is thicker than the tip end  56 . 
         [0061]    A thickness of the remaining second lip portion  52  other than the second lip portion  52  of the seal line areas  55  gradually reduces from thickness t 1  to thickness t 3  (e.g., 0.5 mm) of the tip end  61  ( FIG. 6 ). In other words, t 3 &gt;t 2  and the tip end  61  of the remaining second lip portion  52  is thicker than the tip end  57 . 
         [0062]    As illustrated in  FIG. 2 , the one end  63  of the seal member  42  extends to reach the front door opening vertical edge  98  ( FIG. 3 ) and the front door opening upper edge  76  and the other end  64  of the seal member  42  extends to reach the rear door opening vertical edge  101  ( FIG. 3 ) and the rear door opening upper edge  77 . 
         [0063]    Next, a mounting procedure of the seal member  42  will be briefly described. 
         [0064]    First, a painting step of the vehicle body  12  is completed. Here, a coating is not illustrated. Next, as illustrated in  FIGS. 5 and 6 , one side of the double-sided tape  62  is stuck to an inner end  138  of the main body portion  46  of the seal member  42  and the other side of the double-sided tape  62  is stuck to a bottom (the coupling edge  114 ) of the coupling recessed portion  41 . 
         [0065]    Lastly, when the front door opening seal  31  and the rear door opening seal  33  are mounted to the vehicle body  12 , the grasping portion  136  of the front door opening seal  31  is laid on the one end  63  of the seal member  42  to thereby pinch the one end  63 . Similarly, the grasping portion  136  of the rear door opening seal  33  is laid on the other end  64  of the seal member  42  to thereby pinch the other end  84 . This ends the mounting of the seal member  42 . 
         [0066]    In this manner, in the vehicle body side structure, the seal member  42  is continuous with the front upper seal  43  of the front door opening seal  31  and the rear upper seal  44  of the rear door opening seal  33  and the same in color as the door opening seal. In this manner, it is possible to avoid a feeling of strangeness caused by outward appearances of the seal member  42  and the coupling recessed portion  41  to thereby improve visual quality. 
         [0067]    Moreover, because the seal member  42  is stuck after the vehicle body  12  is painted, it is easy to obtain the seal member  42  in the same color as the front door opening seal  31  and the rear door opening seal  33 . However, it is also possible that the seal member  42  is in the same color as the center pillar  22 . 
         [0068]    Furthermore, because the remaining tip ends  58  and  61  of the seal member  42  are thick-walled (thickness t 3 ), shapes of the thin tip ends  56  and  57  in the seal line areas  55  can be maintained, falling off of the thin tip ends  56  and  57  in the seal line areas  55  from the outer face  47  of the center pillar outer member upper portion  37  and the outer face  51  of the center pillar outer member lower portion  38  can be suppressed, and the tip ends  56  and  57  in the seal line areas  55  can be brought into close contact with the outer faces  47  and  51 . 
         [0069]    In the vehicle body side structure, as illustrated in  FIG. 4 , it is possible to couple the upper portion (the recessed portion  67 ) of the center pillar  22  to the stiffener (the roof side rail reinforcing member)  71  of the roof side rail  24  without reducing an area of the closed section extending to the upper portion (the recessed portion  67 ) of the center pillar  22  to thereby increase strength against a load input to the roof  17  from above the roof  17 . 
       INDUSTRIAL APPLICABILITY 
       [0070]    The vehicle body side structure according to the present invention is suitable for use on automobiles. 
       REFERENCE SIGNS LIST 
       [0071]      12  . . . vehicle body,  13  . . . side body,  15  . . . vehicle interior,  17  . . . roof,  22  . . . center pillar,  24  . . . roof side rail,  28  . . . front door,  31  . . . front door opening seal,  32  . . . rear door,  33  . . . rear door opening seal,  36  . . . center pillar outer member,  37  . . . center pillar outer member upper portion,  38  . . . center pillar outer member lower portion,  41  . . . coupling recessed portion,  42  . . . seal member,  43  . . . front upper seal,  44  . . . rear upper seal,  46  . . . main body portion,  47  . . . outer face of center pillar outer member upper portion,  48  . . . first lip portion,  51  . . . outer face of center pillar outer member lower portion,  52  . . . second lip portion,  53  . . . front door seal,  54  . . . rear door seal,  55  . . . seal line area of seal member,  56  . . . tip end of first lip portion,  57  . . . tip end of second lip portion,  58 ,  61  . . . remaining tip end,  63  . . . one end of seal member,  64  . . . the other end of seal member,  66  . . . upper portion of center pillar outer member lower portion,  67  . . . recessed portion,  68  . . . roof rail outer plate,  71  . . . stiffener,  72  . . . outer face of stiffener,  73  . . . roof rail coupling T-shaped portion,  74  . . . lower portion of center pillar outer member upper portion,  75  . . . stepped portion of center pillar outer member upper portion,  76  . . . front door opening upper edge,  77  . . . rear door opening upper edge