Patent ID: 8226156

Claim:
A reinforcing element, which is received in a lower part of a resinous center console disposed on a tunnel section, the tunnel section being formed on a floor of a vehicle at a transversely central position of the floor between left and right seats in a passenger compartment, said reinforcing element being configured to bear a load transmitted from the seats and, the reinforcing element structure comprising: an outer member having a pair of left and right side walls and an upper wall connecting upper ends of the side walls to form the outer member into a U-shape; and a reinforcing member extending transversely of the vehicle for connecting the side walls together to reinforce the outer member, wherein the left and right side walls have respective side wall flange sections extending transversely outwardly of the vehicle from respective ends thereof, the reinforcing member has reinforcing flange sections provided at lower ends thereof and extending transversely of the vehicle, and the reinforcing flange sections are inserted between the side wall flange sections and the tunnel section and fastened together with the latter.