Chrysler Corporation

Patrick H Geyer

Eugene M Schoenherr

Hari K Kosaraju

Thomas K Boyd

An apparatus for a motor vehicle which reinforces the body side panel comprises an unitarily constructed reinforcement member. The reinforcement member includes first and second hinge mounting portions interconnected by an intermediate portion. The reinforcement member is fixedly secured to the B-pillar and the hinge plates of a passenger door are interconnected to the first and second hinge mounting portions. In one embodiment, the reinforcement member includes first and second spaced apart flanges which extend substantially in an inboard direction. The first and second spaced apart flanges are welded or otherwise securely attached to the B-pillar. Further, in the preferred embodiment, the reinforcement member includes a first tab upwardly extending from the first hinge mounting portion and a second tab downwardly extending from the second hinge mounting portion which provide additional points for securing the reinforcement member to the B-pillar of the body side panel.

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Metamora, MI, United States of America

Patrick H Geyer