The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Apr. 15, 2008
Filed:
Feb. 22, 2006
Xiaoming Chen, Canton, MI (US);
Omar Faruque, Ann Arbor, MI (US);
Thierry Guimberteau, Livonia, MI (US);
Everett Kuo, Troy, MI (US);
Raj Mehta, Westland, MI (US);
David Wagner, Northville, MI (US);
Dean Gericke, Brighton, MI (US);
Daniel Szalay, Belleville, MI (US);
Xiaoming Chen, Canton, MI (US);
Omar Faruque, Ann Arbor, MI (US);
Thierry Guimberteau, Livonia, MI (US);
Everett Kuo, Troy, MI (US);
Raj Mehta, Westland, MI (US);
David Wagner, Northville, MI (US);
Dean Gericke, Brighton, MI (US);
Daniel Szalay, Belleville, MI (US);
Ford Global Technologies, LLC, Dearborn, MI (US);
Vari-Form, Inc., Warren, MI (US);
Abstract
A one-piece B-pillar having a front flange and a rear flange formed on an upper portion of the B-pillar. The front and rear flanges extend forwardly and rearwardly from a trapezoidal section of the B-pillar. An inner concave portion is provided in a lower portion of the B-pillar. The one-piece B-pillar is secured to the outer and upper surfaces of a roof rail and to the outer surface of a rocker to provide side impact strength. The B-pillar is hydroformed in one-piece to provide superior strength for roof crush performance. The tubular portion of the B-pillar is partially collapsed to form a trapezoidal section in the upper portion of the B-pillar.