A vehicle door assembly includes an inner door panel, an outer door panel and an energy absorbing member. The outer door panel being configured such that at least a portion of an outer periphery thereof is fixed to an outer periphery of the inner door panel, the inner door panel and the outer door panel defining a hollow interior therebetween. The hollow interior has an upper end and a lower end. The energy absorbing member is installed within the hollow interior between the inner door panel and the outer door panel. The energy absorbing member has an outboard end surface with a first predetermined surface area and an inboard end surface having a second predetermined surface area greater than the first predetermined surface area. The energy absorbing member is spaced apart from the upper end of the hollow interior and being spaced apart from the lower end of the hollow interior.

Systems and apparatus for a vehicle for improving occupant safety and covering a service hole of a door of the vehicle. The system includes a substantially flat body portion configured to cover the service hole. The system also includes a plurality of energy absorbers disposed across the body portion, each energy absorber having a top portion and one or more side walls surrounding the top portion and defining a cavity, each energy absorber having a closed end at the top portion and an open end opposite the closed end, each energy absorber configured to absorb energy and collapse when force is exerted by an object on the top portion, the object moving from the closed end toward the open end.

A fixation leg for a vehicle interior panel includes an impact energy absorption region having one or more partial or complete perforations. Each one of the perforations may be formed by laser ablating material from the fixation leg at the impact energy absorption region. The impact energy absorption region is weakened due to the partial or complete perforations such that upon impact with the vehicle interior panel, the fixation leg can break and absorb some of the impact energy. In one embodiment, the fixation leg attaches a substrate of a vehicle instrument panel to a structural crossmember.

Each side sill of a vehicle body structure includes in addition to an outer panel (21) and an inner panel (22) jointly forming a closed cross section structure (23), a first stiffener (25) extending in the fore and aft direction and interposed between the outer panel and the inner panel and having a lower edge joined to the lower edges of the outer panel and the inner panel, a second stiffener (26) formed as a channel member extending in the fore and aft direction and having an open side facing in the inboard direction, the second stiffener having an upper edge and a lower edge attached to an outboard side of the first stiffener, and a third stiffener (27) extending in the fore and aft direction and in a transverse direction to have an outboard edge joined to the first stiffener and an inboard edge joined to the inner panel.

A locking device is provided for a motor vehicle door. The locking device includes a body having a base, a stake, a lever, a gusset and a rotational axis. A method of locking a motor vehicle door closed in response to a side impact is also provided.

A vehicle door includes a first interlock coupled to an inner frame panel. A second interlock coupled to an inner trim panel. The first and second interlocks are separated to define a ready state. During an impact condition, the first and second interlocks selectively engage one another to define an impact state that resists deflection of the inner trim panel away from the inner frame panel.

A vehicle door assembly includes an inner door panel, an outer door panel and an energy absorbing member. The outer door panel being configured such that at least a portion of an outer periphery thereof is fixed to an outer periphery of the inner door panel, the inner door panel and the outer door panel defining a hollow interior therebetween. The hollow interior has an upper end and a lower end. The energy absorbing member is installed within the hollow interior between the inner door panel and the outer door panel. The energy absorbing member has an outboard end surface with a first predetermined surface area and an inboard end surface having a second predetermined surface area greater than the first predetermined surface area. The energy absorbing member is spaced apart from the upper end of the hollow interior and being spaced apart from the lower end of the hollow interior.

A vehicle door includes a first interlock coupled to an inner frame panel. A second interlock coupled to an inner trim panel. The first and second interlocks are separated to define a ready state. During an impact condition, the first and second interlocks selectively engage one another to define an impact state that resists deflection of the inner trim panel away from the inner frame panel.

A mounting structure of interior trim includes a handle-shaped grip arranged on the interior trim and a bracket connecting a vehicle body panel and the grip. The grip has a fixing base. The fixing base includes a base portion, a cylindrical boss portion, and an opening. The bracket includes a grip attachment part arranged on the fixing base, a pair of panel attachment portions arranged at both ends of the bracket, each of the panel attachment portions attached to the vehicle body panel, and a pair of connecting pieces straddling between the pair of the panel attachment portions with the grip attachment portion sandwiched in the center. One of the pair of connecting pieces has a fragile portion that becomes a deformation starting point of the bracket when a load is applied from the fixing base to the grip attachment portion.

An apparatus and method for improving the safety and performance of an automobile in crash events is disclosed. The apparatus includes a front crash pad, rear crash pad, and a connection beam. Both crash pads and the connection beam are coupled to an automobile in such fashion as to absorb and dissipate energy by converting kinetic energy into strain energy.