Patent ID: 7334813

Claim:
A vehicle ( 11 , 111 ) having: a body ( 12 , 112 ) defining a passenger compartment ( 13 , 113 ), the body including a side panel assembly ( 15 , 115 ) comprising an outer panel ( 18 , 118 ), an inner panel ( 19 , 119 ) connected to the outer panel, a trim panel ( 22 , 122 ) mounted on the inner panel and a pusher block arrangement ( 25 , 225 ) having an outer end face ( 26 A, 126 A) positioned immediately adjacent the outer panel and an inner end face ( 27 A, 127 A) positioned immediately adjacent the trim panel, the trim panel, at least in the region of the pusher block arrangement, being movable in a direction away from the inner panel; a seat ( 16 , 116 ) mounted within the passenger compartment ( 13 , 113 ) in close proximity to the side panel assembly ( 15 , 115 ), the pusher block arrangement ( 25 , 125 ) being aligned with the pelvic region of an occupant ( 31 , 131 ) of the seat and arranged to be displaced towards the occupant when the outer panel ( 18 , 118 ) is deformed due to an impact upon the side panel assembly; and an airbag ( 35 , 135 ) which, when inflated in the event of an impact upon the side panel assembly ( 15 , 115 ), expands into a volume between the trim panel ( 22 , 122 ) and the pelvic region of the occupant ( 31 , 131 ) so as to transfer load between the pusher block arrangement ( 25 , 125 ) and the pelvic region of the occupant.