Bowtie Shaped Roof Bow

Abstract

A roof bow for a vehicle is provided that has a “bow-tie” shape including a central portion flanked by two triangular portions. The triangular portions are joined to right and left roof brackets that are, in turn, joined to right and left roof rails. The bow-tie roof bow may be assembled from extruded tubular parts. The bow-tie roof bow may be assembled in a clamshell structure including an upper shell and a lower shell that are joined together by welding. The roof bow may be formed in one piece as a sheet metal stamping having side portions that are wider than the central portion.

1 . A roof bow for a vehicle having a roof comprising:
 a central portion having a first width extending transversely across the roof;   a first side portion on a first lateral end of the central portion; and   a second side portion on a second lateral end of the central portion, wherein the first and second lateral ends have a second width that is more than twice as wide as the first width.   
     
     
         2 - 9 . (canceled) 
     
     
         10 . The roof bow of  claim 1  further comprising:
 a front step flange that extends across a front edge of the first side portion, the central portion, and the second side portion; and 
 a rear step flange that extends across a rear edge of the first side portion, the central portion and the second side portion. 
 
     
     
         11 . The roof bow of  claim 10  further comprising:
 a forward rib extending laterally across the roof bow; and 
 a rearward rib extending laterally across the roof bow, wherein the forward rib and the rearward rib diverge outwardly in the first and second side portions, and wherein the forward rib and rearward rib are parallel in the central portion. 
 
     
     
         12 . A support structure for a vehicle roof panel comprising:
 a right roof rail supporting a right side of the roof panel;   a left roof rail supporting a left side of the roof panel;   a roof bow including a central portion extending transversely across the roof panel, a first side portion on a first lateral end of the central portion, and a second side portion on a second lateral end of the central portion;   a right side bracket attached to the right roof rail and the first side portion; and   a left side bracket attached to the left roof rail and the second side portion.   
     
     
         13 . The support structure of  claim 12  further comprising a right B-pillar and a left B-pillar, and wherein the right side bracket and the left side bracket each extend both in front of and in back of the B-pillars to a greater extent that the first and second side portions of the roof bow. 
     
     
         14 . The support structure of  claim 13  wherein the right B-pillar and the left B-pillar are laterally aligned with the central portion. 
     
     
         15 . A vehicle body structure for supporting a roof panel comprising:
 a roof rail supporting a side of the roof panel;   a B-pillar supporting an intermediate portion of the roof rail;   a bracket attached to the roof rail that extends fore-and-aft of the B-pillar; and   a roof bow having a central portion that extends transversely across the roof panel, wherein the roof bow has first and second side portions that extend outwardly from the central portion in a forward direction and a rearward direction, wherein an impact force from a side impact collision is transferred to the bracket, that transfers the impact force to one of the side portions, and that transfers the impact force to the central portion of the roof bow.   
     
     
         16 - 20 . (canceled)