Patent ID: 7735907

Claim:
A panel for use as part of a pillar that extends along a window of the motor vehicle, the panel comprising: an elongated member having a first end opposite a second end and a main wall extending between the first and second ends, the elongated member further includes an outer side wall extending from one side of the main wall and an inner side wall extending from the opposite side of the main wall, and the inner side wall, main wall, and outer side wall form a generally U-shaped cross section, and the inner side wall has a first wall angled relative to the inner side wall so as to extend towards the main wall, the first wall having a first wall edge extending between the first end and the second end, the elongated member further including a second wall having a second wall edge, a portion of the second wall edge is in communication with a corresponding portion of the first wall edge so as to form a corner, the corner extending transversely along a portion of the elongated member, and the second wall is generally orthogonal to the first wall and extends away from the outer side wall, the second wall is operable to support a side of the window; and a transitional portion interconnecting the remaining portion of the second wall edge to the remaining portion of the first wall edge, the transitional portion tapers as the transitional portion extends from the first end of the elongated member to the corner.