Patent ID: 8186752

Claim:
A vehicle body structure having improved roof support characteristics, the vehicle body structure comprising: a first roof rail and a second roof rail each having an inner surface and an outer surface, each of the first and second roof rails extending downwardly at the front end of each of the first and second roof rails and extending downwardly at a rear end of each of the first and second roof rails each being integral to a one piece hollow A-pillar at the front end; a first rocker and a second rocker; a first hollow support pillar and a second hollow support pillar each having an inner wall, an outer wall, each of the first and second support pillar having a tubular lower section that extends upwardly from each of the first and second rockers and an upper section integral to the rear end of the roof rail; and a cross member having a first end and a second end, the cross member extending upwardly from the first rocker at the first end and extending upwardly from the second rocker at the second end, the cross member being affixed to the first and second roof rails at each of the tubular lower sections, the cross member and the first and second roof rails operatively configured to support a B-Pillar roof load.