Structural System For An Automotive Vehicle

Abstract

A structural reinforcement system is provided for an automotive vehicle. In another aspect of the present invention, a structural beam is employed which extends in a cross-vehicle direction spaced above a vehicle floor. A further aspect of the present invention provides a cross-vehicle reinforcement beam inside another structural member. Yet another aspect of the present invention uses a structural reinforcement system in a convertible roof vehicle.

1 . An automotive vehicle apparatus comprising:
 a structural pillar elongated in a substantially vertical direction behind a front door opening; and   a structural beam and a structural member surrounding a majority of the structural beam, the structural beam and member being elongated in a substantially horizontal direction and being substantially parallel to each other;   the structural beam and member being coupled to the pillar.   
     
     
         2 . The automotive vehicle apparatus of  claim 1  further comprising:
 a first passenger seating area, the front door opening located laterally adjacent the first seating area;   a second passenger seating area located rearwardly of the first seating area; and   a second door opening located laterally adjacent the second seating area, the second door opening being located on the same side as and rearwardly of the first door opening;   the structural beam and member being located substantially between the first and second seating areas.   
     
     
         3 . The automotive vehicle apparatus of  claim 2  further comprising a convertible roof movable to a raised position, covering the front and rear seating areas, to a retracted position. 
     
     
         4 . The automotive vehicle apparatus of  claim 1  further comprising a first diagonal beam downwardly extending from and coupling a lower side of the structural beam to the pillar. 
     
     
         5 . The automotive vehicle apparatus of  claim 4  further comprising a second diagonal beam upwardly extending from and coupling an upper side of the structural beam to the pillar. 
     
     
         6 . The automotive vehicle apparatus of  claim 1  wherein the structural beam is substantially straight between outboard portions of the vehicle. 
     
     
         7 . The automotive vehicle apparatus of  claim 1  further comprising aesthetically pleasing interior trim substantially hiding and substantially surrounding a majority of the structural beam and the structural member. 
     
     
         8 . The automotive vehicle apparatus of  claim 1  wherein the structural beam and structural member are elongated in a cross-vehicle direction. 
     
     
         9 . The automotive vehicle apparatus of  claim 1  further comprising a corrugated gusset diagonally extending from the structural member. 
     
     
         10 . The automotive vehicle apparatus of  claim 1  wherein at least a majority of the structural beam is spaced away from the structural member. 
     
     
         11 . The automotive vehicle apparatus of  claim 1  further comprising:
 at least three additional passenger door openings; and   the pillar is one of a pair of center pillars upwardly projecting between adjacent pairs of the door openings, at least one of the structural beam and the structural member being rigidly coupled to the pillars;   wherein the structural beam and the structural member assist the vehicle in satisfactorily passing Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard side impact test  214 .   
     
     
         12 . The automotive vehicle apparatus of  claim 1  further comprising:
 at least two front seats located in the front seating area, the front seats being independently movable and not restrained by the structural beam and the structural member;   a central floor tunnel;   the structural beam and structural member being located at or below a vehicular beltline, and above a vehicular floor, the structural beam and structural member being coupled to the floor tunnel.   
     
     
         13 . The automotive vehicle apparatus of  claim 1  wherein the structural beam is hydroformed metal of substantially circular cross-sectional shape. 
     
     
         14 . An automotive vehicle apparatus comprising:
 a structural, primary beam being elongated in a cross-vehicle direction;   a structural, diagonal beam upwardly extending from the primary beam and inclining away from a vehicular, fore-and-aft elongated centerline.   
     
     
         15 . The apparatus of  claim 14  further comprising a substantially vertical body pillar, the diagonal beam being coupled to the pillar. 
     
     
         16 . The apparatus of  claim 15  further comprising a substantially vertically extending and structural pillar reinforcement located inside of and affixed to the pillar, the diagonal beam and the primary beam being affixed to the pillar reinforcement. 
     
     
         17 . The apparatus of  claim 15  wherein the pillar is a B-pillar located between front and rear passenger door openings. 
     
     
         18 . The apparatus of  claim 14  further comprising a vehicle rocker panel and a second, structural diagonal beam downwardly extending from the primary beam and being coupled adjacent the rocker panel. 
     
     
         19 . The apparatus of  claim 14  further comprising a raised vehicle floor tunnel, the primary beam being straight between its ends and attaching to the floor tunnel. 
     
     
         20 . The apparatus of  claim 14  further comprising at least one roll bar coupled to at least one of the beams. 
     
     
         21 . The apparatus of  claim 14  further comprising an electronic device coupled to at least one of the beams. 
     
     
         22 . The apparatus of  claim 14  wherein the beams are tubular metal. 
     
     
         23 . The apparatus of  claim 14  wherein the primary beam includes a rigid wall with a substantially closed cross-section filled with foam. 
     
     
         24 . The apparatus of  claim 14  further comprising a vehicle floor, wherein at least a majority of the primary beam is spaced above the floor. 
     
     
         25 . The apparatus of  claim 14  further comprising:
 a convertible roof movable from an open position behind the primary beam to a closed position above the primary beam; and   a front seating area and a rear seating area, the primary beam being located substantially between the seating areas.   
     
     
         26 . An automotive vehicle apparatus comprising:
 a structural member extending in a substantially cross-vehicle direction; and   a structural gusset extending from an outboard portion of the structural member, the gusset having a corrugated configuration.   
     
     
         27 . The apparatus of  claim 26  further comprising a diagonal member upwardly and outwardly extending from the beam toward the same outboard end portion of the beam as the gusset, the diagonal member being structural, the beam being spaced above a vehicle floor. 
     
     
         28 . The apparatus of  claim 27  wherein the diagonal member is a gusset cover plate with a substantially flat middle section. 
     
     
         29 . The apparatus of  claim 27  wherein the diagonal member is an elongated and hollow tube. 
     
     
         30 . The apparatus of  claim 26  further comprising:
 a front door opening;   a rear door opening; and   a structural pillar disposed between the front and rear door openings;   wherein the member assists the vehicle in satisfactorily passing Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard side impact test  214 ; and   wherein at least one of the member and the gusset are coupled to the pillar.   
     
     
         31 . The apparatus of  claim 26  further comprising a convertible roof movable from a raised position to a retracted position substantially below a plane defined by a vehicular beltline, the structural member and gusset being located in a passenger compartment of the vehicle. 
     
     
         32 . The apparatus of  claim 26  wherein the structural member is a tubular beam. 
     
     
         33 . The apparatus of  claim 26  wherein the gusset has a substantially triangular rear view shape and upwardly extends from the structural member. 
     
     
         34 . An automotive vehicle apparatus comprising:
 a first structural beam being elongated in a substantially cross-vehicle direction;   a second structural beam being elongated in a substantially cross-vehicle direction, the first and second beams being coaxially aligned with each other; and   a coupler receiving adjacent in-board end portions of the first and second beams and maintaining the end portions in structural alignment with each other, the coupler allowing some cross-vehicle movement of the first beam relative to the second beam but causing the end portion of the first beam to abut into the end portion of the second beam during a side impact condition.   
     
     
         35 . The automotive vehicle apparatus of  claim 34  further comprising substantially vertically extending, structural pillars being coupled to out-board end portions of the respective beams. 
     
     
         36 . The automotive vehicle apparatus of  claim 35  further comprising:
 front door openings; and   rear door openings;   each of the pillars being disposed between their respective front and rear door openings;   wherein the beams assist the vehicle in satisfactorily passing Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard side impact test  214 .   
     
     
         37 . The automotive vehicle apparatus of  claim 34  further comprising at least two front seats substantially located forward of the beams and at least two rear seats being located rearward of the beams, the seats being independently movable and not restrained by the beams. 
     
     
         38 . The automotive vehicle apparatus of  claim 34  wherein the coupler is attached to a central and structural floor tunnel. 
     
     
         39 . The automotive vehicle apparatus of  claim 34  further comprising a diagonal beam upwardly extending from the first beam adjacent an outboard end portion of the first beam, the first and second beams being spaced above a vehicle floor. 
     
     
         40 . An automotive vehicle apparatus comprising:
 a structural beam;   a structural floor;   a structural pillar upwardly extending adjacent an outboard portion of the floor; and   a structural tunnel extending in a substantially fore-and-aft elongated direction, the tunnel being centrally joined to the floor; and   a reinforcement attached to the tunnel;   the structural beam extending through at least one of: the reinforcement and the tunnel, in a substantially cross-vehicle direction and having an outboard end portion of the beam coupled to the pillar.   
     
     
         41 . The automotive vehicle of  claim 40  wherein the beam is spaced above the floor to allow foot room between the beam and the floor. 
     
     
         42 . The automotive vehicle of  claim 40  further comprising:
 a front door opening; and   a rear door opening;   the pillar being disposed between the front and rear door openings;   wherein the beam assists the vehicle in satisfactorily passing Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard side impact test  214 .   
     
     
         43 . The automotive vehicle of  claim 40  further comprising at least two front seats located forward of the beam and at least two rear seats located rearward of the beam, the seats being independently movable and not restrained by the beam, and a structural outer member being elongated in a cross-vehicle direction and surrounding a section of the beam. 
     
     
         44 . The automotive vehicle of  claim 40  further comprising a convertible roof movable from a raised position to a retracted position substantially below a plane defined by a vehicular beltline.