Richard J Matson

US Patent:

8272679, Sep 25, 2012

Filed:

Feb 25, 2010

Appl. No.:

12/712259

Inventors:

Zhibing Deng - Northville MI, US
Joseph Edward Abramczyk - Farmington Hills MI, US
Djamal Eddine Midoun - Ann Arbor MI, US
Richard Lee Matson - Canton MI, US
Matthew Ammons - Plymouth MI, US

Assignee:

Ford Global Technologies, LLC - Dearborn MI

International Classification:

B60J 5/00

US Classification:

2961466, 29618712

Abstract:

A strategically located door spacer block for transferring door beam bend/kink away from the occupant seating position is provided. The door spacer block is positioned between the door inner panel and the door outer panel and is aligned with the door beam. The door spacer block of the disclosed invention is placed between door inner panel and the door outer panel with the intention of minimizing the effect that the bend/kink in the door beam has on the occupant loading. The door spacer block engages the door beam and transfers the effective position of the kink of the door structure in a side impact away from the occupant seating position, thus freeing up crushable space in the occupant loading zone. The door spacer block of the disclosed invention eliminates or delays the loading of the beam surface to the pelvis bolster material, thus enabling additional free-crush space and allowing for a lower force transfer to the occupant.