Patent Publication Number: US-2018043939-A1

Title: Vehicle front pillar

Description:
TECHNICAL FIELD 
     The present invention relates to the art of front pillars of a vehicle, which are parts of the vehicle body, that reduces the width of the front pillar to improve the driver vision and improving the bending strength. 
     BACKGROUND ART 
     A front pillar of a vehicle is known that includes a front pillar outer member, which is an outer part of the vehicle body, and a front pillar inner member, which is an inner part of the vehicle body, together forming a closed cross section of the front pillar in the entire length, wherein the length of the front pillar oriented generally in the vehicle longitudinal direction. The vehicle front pillar described in Patent Document 1 is an example. This vehicle front pillar does not include overlapping flanges of the front pillar inner and outer members that project toward the center of the vehicle to receive the windshield glass. The front pillar instead has the flange of the front pillar inner member folded back to form a first front flange, and the flange of the front pillar outer member partly cut to form a second front flange in the front portion. The first and second front flanges overlap to form a closed cross section of the pillar, while the second front flange is adapted to receive the windshield glass. 
     PRIOR ART DOCUMENTS 
     Patent Documents 
     Patent Document 1: Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 2006-347740 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     Problems to be Solved by the Invention 
     The conventional front pillar described above no longer include overlapping flanges of the front pillar inner and outer members which project toward the center of the vehicle for receiving the windshield glass, but instead uses the second front flange, a front portion, of the front pillar outer member to receive the windshield glass, thereby improving driver vision. 
     Since the flanges of the front pillar inner and outer members that project toward the center of the vehicle have been eliminated, the bending strength of the front pillar reduces correspondingly. There is thus a need for further improved bending strength. 
     The present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances, and aims to provide a vehicle front pillar having improved bending resistance while improving the driver vision. 
     Means of Solving the Problem 
     In order to achieve the above object, one aspect of the present invention provides a front pillar of a vehicle, including: (A) a front pillar outer member which is an outer part of a vehicle body, and a roof inner reinforcement and a front pillar inner member which are inner parts of the vehicle body, the front pillar having a length oriented in the vehicle longitudinal direction and a closed cross section over the entire length, (B) wherein the front pillar outer member and the roof inner reinforcement each include an inward flange directed laterally inward in the vehicle, (C) wherein the front pillar inner member includes an outward flange directed laterally outward in the vehicle, (D) wherein the inward flange of the front pillar outer member is overlapped and joined to the outward flange of the front pillar inner member thereby forming the closed cross section of the front pillar, (E) wherein the inward flange of the roof inner reinforcement is overlapped and joined to the inward flange of the front pillar outer member, and (F) wherein at least either: the front pillar inner member includes a first ridge projecting toward the inside of the vehicle, defining a first groove open toward the outside of the vehicle, or the front pillar outer member includes a second ridge projecting toward the outside of the vehicle, defining a second groove open toward the inside of the vehicle. 
     Effect of the Invention 
     The vehicle front pillar of the present invention thus configured includes the inward flange of the front pillar outer member overlapped and joined to the outward flange of the front pillar inner member, forming the closed cross section of the front pillar. This configuration allows for the width of the front pillar to be preferably reduced as compared with, for example, the case of including the inward flange extending laterally inward in the vehicle instead of the outward flange of the front pillar inner member, so that drive vision past the front pillar is improved. Furthermore, the inward flange of the roof inner reinforcement is overlapped and joined to the inward flange of the front pillar outer member. Therefore, when, for example, another part of the vehicle body such as a front header panel is joined to the overlap of the inward flange of the roof inner reinforcement and the inward flange of the front pillar outer member, the junction of the front pillar and the other part of vehicle body has an improved strength as compared with conventional pillars. The vehicle front pillar thus provides an improved driver vision, and an improved strength of the junction where the pillar is joined to the vehicle body as compared with conventional pillars. 
     Furthermore, the vehicle front pillar of the present invention includes at least either the first ridge formed in the front pillar inner member and projecting toward the inside of the vehicle, defining the first groove open toward the outside of the vehicle, and the second ridge formed in the front pillar outer member and projecting toward the outside of the vehicle, defining the second groove open toward the inside of the vehicle. This configuration further increases the bending strength of the front pillar due to the rigidifying effect of either the first or the second ridge. 
     Preferably, the front pillar inner member is positioned on the vertically lower side of the front pillar outer member. This configuration allows for the inward flange of the roof inner reinforcement and the inward flange of the front pillar outer member to be overlapped and joined together without any spacing, thereby further increasing the joint strength. When, for example, another part of the vehicle body such as a front header panel is joined to the overlap, the junction of the front pillar and the vehicle body has a further improved strength as compared with conventional pillars. 
     Preferably, (A) the front pillar inner member unitarily includes a front pillar inner front member on the vehicle front side and a front pillar inner rear member on the vehicle rear side, and (B) the front pillar inner front member includes an inward flange directed laterally inward in the vehicle, and (C) the front pillar inner rear member includes an outward flange directed laterally outward in the vehicle, and (D) the inward flange of the front pillar outer member is overlapped and joined to the outward flange of the front pillar inner rear member, forming the closed cross section of the front pillar, and (E) a cowl is joined to the inward flange of the front pillar inner front member. This configuration allows for the cowl to be joined to the inward flange of the front pillar inner front member that is unitarily included in the front pillar inner member, thereby preferably improving the strength of the junction of the front pillar and the cowl as compared with, for example, the case where the front pillar inner member is partly cut to unitarily form the outward flange and the inward flange, wherein the cowl is joined to the inward flange. 
     Preferably, (A) the roof inner reinforcement and the front pillar inner rear member have a rear overlap where they overlap in the vehicle longitudinal direction, and the inward flange of the roof inner reinforcement and the outward flange of the front pillar inner rear member are joined to the inward flange of the front pillar outer member, and (B) the front pillar inner rear member and the front pillar inner front member have a front overlap where they overlap in the vehicle longitudinal direction, and the outward flange of the front pillar inner rear member and the inward flange of the front pillar inner front member are joined to the inward flange of the front pillar outer member, thereby forming the closed cross section of the front pillar. Particularly, in the rear overlap that joins the roof inner reinforcement and the front pillar inner rear member, the front pillar outer member is overlapped and joined to the roof inner reinforcement and the front pillar inner rear member. In the front overlap that joins the front pillar inner rear member and the front pillar inner front member, the front pillar outer member is overlapped and joined to the front pillar inner rear member and the front pillar inner front member. These configurations preferably prevents reduction in the bending strength of the front pillar at the joints. 
     Preferably, the rear overlap includes a junction where the inward flange of the roof inner reinforcement and the inward flange of the front pillar outer member overlap, and a front header panel is joined thereto. This configuration allows for the front header panel to be joined to two frame members constituting the front pillar, namely, the roof inner reinforcement and the front pillar outer member, making it easy to obtain a sufficient strength of the junction. This effectively ensures the load distribution to the front header panel and the rigidity of the vehicle body. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  is a perspective view of a vehicle front pillar that suitably embodies the present invention. 
         FIG. 2  is a perspective view of the vehicle front pillar of  FIG. 1  with the front pillar outer member removed. 
         FIG. 3  is an enlarged perspective view of the junction of the front pillar and the front header panel in the front pillar of  FIG. 1 . 
         FIG. 4  is a cross sectional view at line IV-IV of  FIGS. 1 and 3 . 
         FIG. 5  is a cross sectional view at line V-V of  FIG. 1 . 
         FIG. 6  is a cross sectional view at line VI-VI of  FIG. 1 . 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
     Embodiments of the present invention will be described below in detail with reference to the drawings. The figures drawn for the embodiments below are simplified and/or deformed, and therefore features are not necessarily drawn accurately with respect to their dimensional ratios and shapes. 
     Embodiments 
       FIG. 1  is a perspective view of a front pillar  10  of a vehicle that suitably embodies the present invention. As shown in  FIG. 1 , the front pillar  10  is a part of a vehicle body having a length oriented in the vehicle longitudinal direction and a closed cross section over the entire length. The end on the vehicle rear side of the front pillar  10  is connected to an elongated roof side rail (not shown), which is a part of the car body, and the end on the vehicle front side of the front pillar  10  is connected to a cowl top panel (or cowl; not shown).  FIG. 1  omits the other front pillar on the laterally opposite side in the vehicle, which may be configured similarly to the front pillar  10 . The front pillar  10  is unitarily formed by welding together a plurality of parts each pressed from a steel sheet. In  FIG. 1  and the other figures, the arrow FR indicates the forward direction in the vehicle longitudinal; the arrow RR indicates the rearward direction in the vehicle longitudinal; the arrow IN indicates the inward direction in the vehicle width; the arrow OUT indicates the outward direction in the vehicle width; the arrow UP indicates the upward direction in the vehicle vertical; and the arrow DOWN indicates the downward direction in the vehicle vertical. 
     As shown in  FIGS. 1 to 3 , the front pillar  10  includes: a front pillar outer member  14  which is an elongated frame member (an outer part of the vehicle body) in the laterally outer side of the front pillar  10  in the vehicle and extends in the vehicle longitudinal direction, a front pillar inner member  16  which is an elongated frame member (an inner part of the vehicle body) in the laterally inner side of the front pillar  10  in the vehicle and extends in the vehicle longitudinal direction, and a roof inner reinforcement  18  which is an elongated frame member (an inner part of the vehicle body) extending in the vehicle longitudinal direction continuing from the front pillar inner member  16 .  FIG. 2  is a perspective view of the front pillar  10  shown in  FIG. 1  with the front pillar outer member  14  removed. In  FIG. 3 , a part of the side outer panel (also called as a side member outer)  19 , constituting a vehicle body exterior along the front pillar  10 , is indicated by a dot-dash line. 
     As shown in  FIG. 2 , the front pillar inner member  16  comprises: an elongated front pillar inner rear member  20  on the vehicle rear side of the front pillar inner member  16 , extending in the vehicle longitudinal direction, and a front pillar inner front member  22  connected to the end on the vehicle front side of the front pillar inner rear member  20 . 
     The elongated front pillar outer member  14  is formed by, for example, press working from a sheet material such as a steel sheet. As shown in  FIGS. 4 to 6 , the front pillar outer member  14  includes: an outer wall  14   a  on the laterally outer side of the front pillar outer member  14  in the vehicle extending in the vehicle longitudinal direction; a planar downward flange  14   b  bent vertically downward in the vehicle from the vertically lower end of the outer wall  14   a ; and a planar inward flange  14   c  bent laterally inward in the vehicle from the vertically upper end of the outer wall  14   a . The outer wall  14   a  of the front pillar outer member  14  includes a second ridge  14   p  extending along the length of the front pillar outer member  14  and projecting toward the outside of the vehicle, defining a second groove G 2  open toward the inside of the vehicle. The second ridge  14   p  is for improving the bending strength of the front pillar outer member  14 . 
     The elongated front pillar inner rear member  20  is formed from a sheet material such as a steel sheet, for example, by pressing or other forming method. As shown in  FIGS. 2 and 3 , the front pillar inner rear member  20  unitarily includes: a sheet inner wall  20   a  on the laterally inner side of the front pillar inner rear member  20  in the vehicle and extending in the vehicle longitudinal direction; a planar downward flange  20   b  bent vertically downward in the vehicle from the vertically lower end of the inner wall  20   a ; and a planar outward flange  20   c  bent laterally outward in the vehicle from the vertically upper end of the inner wall  20   a . The inner wall  20   a  of the front pillar inner rear member  20  includes a first ridge  20   p  extending along the length of the front pillar inner rear member  20  and projecting toward the inside of the vehicle to form a first groove G 1  open toward the outside of the vehicle. The first ridge  20   p  is for improving the bending strength of the front pillar inner rear member  20 . 
     The front pillar inner front member  22  is formed from a sheet material such as a steel sheet by, for example, press working. As shown in  FIGS. 2 and 6 , the front pillar inner front member  22  unitarily includes: a sheet wall  22   a  close to the inner wall  20   a  of the front pillar inner rear member  20 ; a planar downward flange  22   b  bent from the vertically lower end of the wall  22   a  so as to be close to the downward flange  20   b  of the front pillar inner rear member  20 ; and a planar inward flange  22   c  bent from the vertically upper end of the wall  22   a  toward the opposite to the outward flange  20   c  of the front pillar inner rear member  20 , that is, laterally inward in the vehicle. 
     The longitudinal roof inner reinforcement  18  is made from a sheet material such as a steel sheet by, for example, press working. The roof inner reinforcement  18  unitarily includes: a sheet wall  18   a  close to the inner wall  20   a  of the front pillar inner rear member  20 ; a planar downward flange  18   b  bent from the vertically lower end of the wall  18   a  so as to be close to the downward flange  20   b  of the front pillar inner rear member  20 ; and a planar inward flange  18   c  bent from the vertically upper end of the wall  18   a  toward the opposite to the outward flange  20   c  of the front pillar inner rear member  20 , that is, laterally inward in the vehicle. 
     As shown in  FIGS. 2 and 3 , the roof inner reinforcement  18  and the front pillar inner rear member  20  of the front pillar  10  have a rear overlap A, where the end on the vehicle front side of the roof inner reinforcement  18  and the end on the vehicle rear side of the front pillar inner rear member  20  unitarily overlap in the vehicle longitudinal direction. In this rear overlap A, the end on the vehicle front side of the roof inner reinforcement  18  and the end on the vehicle rear side of the front pillar inner rear member  20  are resistance welded or otherwise joined together. As shown in  FIG. 4 , the rear overlap A is where the end on the vehicle front side of the wall  18   a  of the roof inner reinforcement  18  overlap the end on the vehicle rear side of the inner wall  20   a  of the front pillar inner rear member  20 , and where the end on the vehicle front side of the downward flange  18   b  of the roof inner reinforcement  18  overlap the end on the vehicle rear side of the downward flange  20   b  of the front pillar inner rear member  20 . 
     As shown in  FIG. 2 , the front pillar inner rear member  20  and the front pillar inner front member  22  of the front pillar  10  have a rear overlap B, where the end on the vehicle front side of the front pillar inner rear member  20  and the end on the vehicle rear side of the front pillar inner front member  22  unitarily overlap in the vehicle longitudinal direction. In this front overlap B, the end on the vehicle front side of the front pillar inner rear member  20  and the end on the vehicle rear side of the front pillar inner front member  22  are resistance welded or otherwise joined together. As shown in  FIG. 6 , the front overlap B is where the end on the vehicle front side of the inner wall  20   a  of the front pillar inner rear member  20  overlap the end on the vehicle rear side of the wall  22   a  of the front pillar inner front member  22 , and where the end on the vehicle front side of the downward flange  20   b  of the front pillar inner rear member  20  overlap the end on the vehicle rear side of the downward flange  22   b  of the front pillar inner front member  22 . 
     As shown in  FIGS. 1 and 3 , the inward flange  14   c  of the front pillar outer member  14  is formed such as to cover, or lie over, the inward flange  18   c  of the roof inner reinforcement  18 , the outward flange  20   c  of the front pillar inner rear member  20 , and the inward flange  22   c  of the front pillar inner front member  22 . The inward flange  14   c  of the front pillar outer member  14  unitarily includes: a first wider section  14   d  having a larger width W 1 , as measured in the vehicle width direction, such as to lie over the inward flange  18   c  of the roof inner reinforcement  18  and the outward flange  20   c  of the front pillar inner rear member  20  in the rear overlap A; a second wider section  14   e  having the larger width W 1  such as to lie over the inward flange  22   c  of the front pillar inner front member  22  and the outward flange  20   c  of the front pillar inner rear member  20  in the front overlap B; a narrower section  14   f  having a smaller width than the width W 1  of the first wider section  14   d  and the second wider section  14   e , and connecting between the first wider section  14   d  and the second wider section  14   e.    
     In the end on the vehicle rear side, or rear overlap A, of the elongated front pillar  10 , the inward flange  18   c  of the roof inner reinforcement  18  and the outward flange  20   c  of the front pillar inner rear member  20 , are resistance welded or otherwise joined to the first wider section  14   d  of the inward flange  14   c  of the front pillar outer member  14 , forming a closed cross section of the pillar, as shown in  FIG. 6 , defined by the front pillar outer member  14 , the front pillar inner rear member  20 , and the roof inner reinforcement  18 . In the end on the vehicle front side, or front overlap B, of the elongated front pillar  10 , the outward flange  20   c  of the front pillar inner rear member  20  and the inward flange  22   c  of the front pillar inner front member  22  are resistance welded or otherwise joined to the second wider section  14   e  of the inward flange  14   c  of the front pillar outer member  14 , forming a closed cross section of the pillar, as shown in  FIG. 6 , defined by the front pillar outer member  14 , the front pillar inner rear member  20 , and the front pillar inner front member  22 . In the middle section of the elongated front pillar  10 , the narrower section  14   f  of the inward flange  14   c  of the front pillar outer member  14  and the outward flange  20   c  of the front pillar inner rear member  20  are overlapped and resistance welded or otherwise joined together, forming a closed cross section of the pillar, as shown in  FIG. 5 , defined by the front pillar outer member  14  and the front pillar inner rear member  20 . The downward flange  14   b  of the front pillar outer member  14  and the downward flange  20   b  of the front pillar inner rear member  20  are overlapped and resistance welded or otherwise joined together. As a result, the elongated front pillar  10  has a closed cross section formed in its entire length by the front pillar outer member  14 , the front pillar inner rear member  20 , the front pillar inner front member  22 , and the roof inner reinforcement  18 .  FIGS. 3 to 6  shows the welding trace C in the front pillar  10  caused by the resistance welding used for joining the front pillar outer member  14 , the front pillar inner rear member  20 , the front pillar inner front member  22 , and the roof inner reinforcement  18 . A cowl top panel (not shown) is resistance welded or otherwise joined to the inward flange  22   c  of the front pillar inner front member  22  at the end on the vehicle front side of the front pillar  10 . 
     As shown in  FIG. 3 , the end on the vehicle rear side, or rear overlap A, of the front pillar  10  includes a junction D where the inward flange  18   c  of the roof inner reinforcement  18  and overlap the first wider section  14   d  of the inward flange  14   c  of the front pillar outer member  14 , and an elongated front header panel  24  is joined thereto. In this junction D, the inward flange  18   c  of the roof inner reinforcement  18  and the first wider section  14   d  of the inward flange  14   c  of the front pillar outer member  14  are overlapped and resistance welded or otherwise joined together. The elongated front header panel  24  connects between the front pillar  10  and the other front pillar on the laterally opposite side in the vehicle, which may be configured similarly to the front pillar  10 . The front header panel  24  receives the upper edge of a windshield (not shown). 
     As shown in  FIG. 3 , the front header panel  24  may include an elongated planar front side flange  24   a  on the vehicle front side of the front header panel  24 , an elongated planar rear side flange  24   b  on the vehicle rear side of the front header panel  24 . The laterally outer ends of the front side flange  24   a  and the rear side flange  24   b  are both resistance welded or otherwise joined in the junction D to the front pillar  10 . 
     As described above, the front pillar  10  in the embodiments above particularly includes: the inward flange  14   c  of the front pillar outer member  14  and the outward flange  20   c  of the front pillar inner rear member  20  of the front pillar inner member  16 , are overlapped and joined together, forming a closed cross section of the front pillar. This configuration allows for the width of the front pillar  10  to be made narrower to improve driver vision past the front pillar  10  than when including an inward flange directed laterally inward in the vehicle instead of the outward flange of the front pillar inner member. Furthermore, the inward flange  18   c  of the roof inner reinforcement  18  is overlapped and joined to the inward flange  14   c  of the front pillar outer member  14 . Therefore, when, for example, another part of the vehicle body such as a front header panel  24  is joined to the overlap of the inward flange  18   c  of the roof inner reinforcement  18  and the inward flange  14   c  of the front pillar outer member  14 , the strength of the junction of the front pillar  10  and the other part of the vehicle body is improved as compared with conventional pillars. The front pillar  10  thus provides an improved driver vision and an improved strength of the junction where the pillar is connected to the vehicle body, as compared with conventional pillars. 
     The front pillar  10  in the embodiments above particularly includes: the first pillar outer member  14  includes the first ridge  20   p  projecting toward the inside of the vehicle to form a first groove open toward the outside of the vehicle, and the front pillar inner member  16  (including the front pillar inner rear member  20  and the front pillar inner front member  22 ) includes the second ridge  14   p  projecting toward the outside of the vehicle to form a second groove open toward the inside of the vehicle. This configuration further increases the bending strength of the front pillar  10  due to the rigidifying effect of the first ridge  20   p  and the second ridge  14   p.    
     The front pillar  10  in the embodiments above particularly includes: the front pillar inner member  16  (including the front pillar inner rear member  20  and the front pillar inner front member  22 ) positioned on the vertically lower side of the front pillar outer member  14 . As shown in  FIGS. 3 to 6 , the outward flange  20   c  of the front pillar inner rear member  20  is positioned below the inward flange  14   c  of the front pillar outer member  14 , and the downward flange  20   b  of the front pillar inner rear member  20  is positioned below the downward flange  14   b  of the front pillar outer member  14 . This configuration allows for the inward flange  18   c  of the roof inner reinforcement  18  and the inward flange  14   c  of the front pillar outer member  14  to be overlapped and joined together without any spacing, thereby further increasing the joint strength. When, for example, another part of the vehicle body such as a front header panel  24  is joined to the overlap, the strength of the junction of the front pillar and the other part of the vehicle body is further improved as compared with conventional pillars. 
     The front pillar  10  in the embodiment above particularly includes: the front pillar inner member  16  that unitarily comprises a front pillar inner front member  22  on the vehicle front side and a front pillar inner rear member  20  on the vehicle rear side, wherein the front pillar inner front member  22  includes an inward flange  22   c  directed laterally inward in the vehicle, the front pillar inner rear member  20  includes an outward flange  20   c  directed laterally outward in the vehicle, and wherein the outward flange  20   c  of the front pillar inner rear member  20  is overlapped and joined to the inward flange  14   c  of the front pillar outer member  14 , forming the closed cross section of the front pillar  10 , and wherein a cowl top panel (not shown) is joined to the inward flange  22   c  of the front pillar inner front member  22 . Therefore, the cowl top panel (not shown) is joined to the inward flange  22   c  of the front pillar inner front member  22  that is unitarily included in the front pillar inner member  16 . This configuration preferably improves the strength of the junction of the front pillar  10  and the cowl top panel (not shown) as compared with, for example, the case where the front pillar inner member  16  is partly cut to unitarily form outward and inward flanges to join the cowl top panel to the inward flange. 
     The front pillar  10  in the embodiment above particularly includes: the roof inner reinforcement  18  and the front pillar inner rear member  20  that have a rear overlap A where they overlap in the vehicle longitudinal direction, and inside flange  18   c  of the roof inner reinforcement  18  and inside flange  14   c  of the front pillar outer member  14  are joined to the outward flange  20   c  of the front pillar inner rear member  20 ; and the front pillar inner rear member  20  and the front pillar inner front member  22  that have a front overlap B where they overlap in the vehicle longitudinal direction, and the inward flange  22   c  of the front pillar inner front member  22  the outward flange  20   c  of the front pillar inner rear member  20  are joined to the inside flange  14   c  of the front pillar outer member  14 , thereby forming the closed cross section of the pillar. Therefore, in the rear overlap A joining the roof inner reinforcement  18  and the front pillar inner rear member  20 , the front pillar outer member  14 , is overlapped and joined to the roof inner reinforcement  18  and the front pillar inner rear member  20 , while in the front overlap B joining the front pillar inner rear member  20  and the front pillar inner front member  22 , the front pillar outer member  14 , is overlapped and joined to the front pillar inner rear member  20  and the front pillar inner front member  22 . This configuration preferably prevents reduction in the bending strength of the connecting portion of the front pillar  10 . 
     The front pillar  10  in the embodiment above particularly includes the rear overlap A that includes a junction D where the inward flange  18   c  of the roof inner reinforcement  18  and the inward flange  14   c  of the front pillar outer member  14  overlap, and the front header panel  24  is joined thereto. Since the front header panel  24  is thus joined to two frame members constituting the front pillar  10 , namely, the roof inner reinforcement  18  and the front pillar outer member  14 , it is easy to obtain the strength of the junction. This effectively ensures the load distribution to the front header panel  24  and the rigidity of the vehicle body. 
     Although embodiments of the present invention have been described in detail with reference to the drawings, the invention can be implemented in various modifications and improvements based on knowledge of those skilled in the art. 
     For example, the front pillar  10  has been described in the embodiments above as including: the front pillar outer member  14  that includes the first ridge  20   p  projecting toward the inside of the vehicle, defining a first groove open toward the outside of the vehicle; and the front pillar inner member  16  (including the front pillar inner rear member  20  and the front pillar inner front member  22 ) that includes the second ridge  14   p  projecting toward the outside of the vehicle, defining a second groove open toward the inside of the vehicle. However, it is not necessary to include both the first ridge  20   p  and the second ridge  14   p . Either one of the first rid g e  20   p  and the second ridge  14   p  may have an effect of improving the bending strength. In short, at least one of the first ridge  20   p  and the second ridge  14   p  may be included. 
     DESCRIPTION OF REFERENCE NUMERALS 
     
         
           10 : Front pillar of a vehicle 
           14 : Front pillar outer member 
           14   c : Inward flange 
           14   p : Second ridge 
           16 : Front pillar inner member 
           18 : Roof inner reinforcement 
           18   c : Inward flange 
           20 : Front pillar inner rear member 
           20   c : Outward flange 
           20   p : First ridge 
           22 : Front pillar inner front member 
           22   c : Inward flange 
           24 : Front header panel 
         A: Rear overlap 
         B: Front overlap 
         C: Weld mark 
         G 1 : First groove 
         G 2 : Second groove