VEHICLE SIDE PORTION STRUCTURE

Organization Name

toyota jidosha kabushiki kaisha

Inventor(s)

Kosuke Sakakibara of Toyota-shi (JP)

Takaharu Tateishi of Nagoya-shi (JP)

Kyosuke Matsumoto of Miyoshi-shi (JP)

VEHICLE SIDE PORTION STRUCTURE - A simplified explanation of the abstract

This abstract first appeared for US patent application 20240174295 titled 'VEHICLE SIDE PORTION STRUCTURE

Simplified Explanation

The vehicle side portion structure described in the abstract includes a lower hinge with a vertical and horizontal portion, supporting a sliding door to be slidable in a vehicle front-and-rear direction. The horizontal portion is disposed at the vehicle width direction outer side of the battery case, with a weakened portion to be deformed or fractured by a load from the outer side.

Vertical and horizontal portions of the lower hinge support sliding door movement.
Weakened portion in the horizontal portion allows for controlled deformation or fracture.

Potential Applications

The technology can be applied in various vehicle designs where sliding doors are used, such as vans, buses, or even some passenger cars.

Problems Solved

1. Provides a stable and secure structure for sliding doors. 2. Allows for controlled deformation under load to prevent damage to the vehicle.

Benefits

1. Improved functionality of sliding doors. 2. Enhanced safety features for vehicle occupants.

Potential Commercial Applications

"Enhancing Vehicle Door Structures for Improved Safety and Functionality"

Possible Prior Art

There may be prior art related to vehicle door structures and hinges, but specific information is not provided in the abstract.

Unanswered Questions

How does this technology compare to traditional vehicle door structures with standard hinges?

The technology described in the patent application offers a more robust and controlled approach to supporting sliding doors on vehicles. By incorporating a weakened portion in the horizontal hinge, the structure can deform or fracture under load, potentially reducing damage to the vehicle in case of impact.

What materials are typically used in manufacturing the lower hinge for vehicle side portion structures?

The abstract does not specify the materials used in the construction of the lower hinge. It would be interesting to know if there are specific materials that are commonly used for this component in the automotive industry and if the patent application introduces any new materials or manufacturing processes.

Original Abstract Submitted

a vehicle side portion structure includes a battery case and a lower hinge. the lower hinge includes a vertical portion and a horizontal portion. the vertical portion is attached to a lower portion of a sliding door that opens and closes a side portion of the vehicle. the horizontal portion extends from a lower end portion of the vertical portion. the lower hinge supports the sliding door to be slidable in a vehicle front-and-rear direction, and in a state in which the sliding door is closed, at least the horizontal portion is disposed at a vehicle width direction outer side of the battery case in elevation view. a weakened portion that is to be deformed or fractured by a load applied from the vehicle width direction outer side is formed in the horizontal portion.