18491801. VEHICLE SIDE PORTION STRUCTURE simplified abstract (TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA)

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 18491801 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 that opens and closes a side portion of the vehicle. The horizontal portion of the lower hinge is disposed at the outer side of the battery case in elevation view and includes a weakened portion that can deform or fracture under load from the outer side.

• The lower hinge of the vehicle side portion structure supports the sliding door to slide in the front-and-rear direction of the vehicle.
• The horizontal portion of the lower hinge is located at the outer side of the battery case and includes a weakened portion to deform or fracture under load from the outer side.

Potential Applications

The technology described in the patent application could be applied in the automotive industry for vehicles with sliding doors, such as vans or buses.

Problems Solved

This technology solves the problem of providing a structure that allows for the smooth operation of sliding doors while ensuring safety in case of excessive load or impact from the outer side.

Benefits

The benefits of this technology include improved functionality and safety of sliding doors in vehicles, as well as potentially reducing maintenance costs due to the design of the lower hinge.

Potential Commercial Applications

The potential commercial applications of this technology could be in the manufacturing and design of vehicles with sliding doors, particularly in the commercial transportation sector.

Possible Prior Art

One possible prior art for this technology could be existing hinge designs for sliding doors in vehicles, but with a focus on the specific features of the lower hinge described in the patent application.

Unanswered Questions

How does the weakened portion of the horizontal hinge contribute to the overall safety of the sliding door mechanism?

The weakened portion is designed to deform or fracture under load from the outer side, potentially absorbing impact energy and preventing damage to the sliding door or other components of the vehicle.

Are there any alternative materials or designs that could achieve similar results in terms of safety and functionality for the sliding door mechanism?

Exploring different materials or structural designs for the lower hinge could potentially offer similar safety benefits while improving durability or cost-effectiveness.

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.