Patent ID: 8757709

Claim:
A vehicle pillar to rocker assembly comprising: a rocker panel, said rocker panel comprising an outer mounting surface, an upper mounting surface and a rear mounting surface; a B-pillar brace mechanically coupled to said upper mounting surface of said rocker panel, wherein said B-pillar brace extends above said upper mounting surface of said rocker panel; a B-pillar, wherein a first portion of said B-pillar proximate to a lower end of said B-pillar is mechanically coupled to said outer mounting surface of said rocker panel, and wherein a second portion of said B-pillar is mechanically coupled to a mounting surface of said B-pillar brace; and a first B-pillar reinforcement member, wherein a lower portion of said B-pillar reinforcement member is mechanically coupled to said outer mounting surface of said rocker panel and to said first portion of said B-pillar, and wherein said B-pillar reinforcement member extends from said lower end of said B-pillar to at least 50% of a B-pillar height.