US 12,233,941 B2
Body structure for vehicle having reinforcement member
Michael James Freeman, Allen Park, MI (US); and Joseph Prescott Hickey, Westland, MI (US)
Assigned to Ford Global Technologies, LLC, Dearborn, MI (US)
Filed by Ford Global Technologies, LLC, Dearborn, MI (US)
Filed on Jul. 22, 2022, as Appl. No. 17/871,736.
Prior Publication US 2024/0025483 A1, Jan. 25, 2024
Int. Cl. B62D 25/04 (2006.01); B62D 21/15 (2006.01); B62D 27/02 (2006.01)
CPC B62D 25/04 (2013.01) [B62D 21/15 (2013.01); B62D 27/023 (2013.01)] 20 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A vehicle body structure comprising:
a vehicle pillar comprising an inner panel and an outer panel secured to the inner panel to form an internal cavity; and
a first unitized reinforcement member disposed within the internal cavity of the vehicle pillar and extending along a longitudinal direction of the vehicle pillar, the first unitized reinforcement member comprising an inner panel portion spaced apart from the inner panel, an outer panel portion coupled to an inner surface of the outer panel, and a connecting portion connecting the inner panel portion and the outer panel portion
wherein a portion of the first unitized reinforcement member is made of a solid structure and another portion of the first unitized reinforcement member is made of a lattice structure.