Patent ID: 8657368

Claim:
A vehicle having a side-support structure, the side support structure comprising: a tubular member having a vertical portion, a horizontal portion and a central arcuate portion connecting the vertical and horizontal portions; and a structural member configured to receive the horizontal portion of the tubular member, the horizontal portion being fixedly attached to the structural member, wherein: the vertical portion of the tubular member is attached to the lower portion of a side-pillar of the vehicle, and the tubular member is configured to transfer load from the side pillar to an underbody structure of the vehicle, the tubular member having a continuously flattening cross-section from a lower end thereof to an upper end thereof; and an elongate beam attached to a bottom side structure of the vehicle, the elongate beam being configured to receive the structural member at least partially, the structural member being fixedly attached to, and remaining substantially within an end portion of the elongate beam.