Patent ID: 8870260

Claim:
A side protection device for a motor vehicle including a body and an opening for at least one passenger to access the vehicle, the side protection device comprising: a side protection element, configured to be shifted from a closed position, in which it blocks off the opening at least partly, to an open position; an attachment device, configured to assure attachment between the body of the vehicle and the side protection element; a hinge and balancing system, disposed at a first end of the side protection element; a latch element, configured to cooperate with a lock element attached to the body of the vehicle and disposed at an opposite end of the side protection element; and at least a first guide means, extending from a bottom edge of the side protection element and toward a bottom of the vehicle when the side protection element is in the closed position, the first guide means being configured to cooperate with a first centering means fixed to the body, so as to guide closing of the side protection element, wherein the side protection element includes an internal skeleton including a structural module of plastic and a stiffener tube of metal, the structural module including a multi-ribbed first portion, configured to receive the stiffener tube, and a second open portion, configured to define a frame for a translucent panel.