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.

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.

Method for producing a reinforcement beam for a vehicle, comprising at least one weak zone arranged in such a way that the bending resistance of the beam is less in said weak zone than in the rest of the beam, characterized in that it comprises, in order, a step (A) of extruding a profile part, a step (B) of cutting the profile part so as to obtain at least one profile segment, a step (C) of locally deforming the segment of the profile part in order to create the weak zone or zones.

Provided is an armrest device that can be positioned in an appropriate position suitable for the build of the vehicle occupant. The armrest device (10) comprises an interior member (1) provided on an inboard side of a vehicle door, and an armrest main body (9) supported by the interior member so as to be moveable between an initial position and a projecting position more inboard and forward than the initial position.

A vehicle back door main body includes (1) an outer upper panel made of carbon-fiber-reinforced-plastic that is joined to an upper portion of an inner panel made of carbon-fiber-reinforced-plastic, and (2) an outer lower panel made of a resin that is weaker than the carbon-fiber-reinforced-plastic and that is joined to a lower portion of the inner panel. A first portion of the inner panel is reinforced by the outer upper panel. A second portion of the inner panel has a lower strength than the first portion. A boundary between the first and second portions, at which there is a strength difference, is located adjacent to a small window opening in the vehicle back door.

An upper reinforcement for a door trim panel includes a reinforcement channel, softening features within reinforcement channel, a tab depending from the reinforcement channel, and a trigger feature between the reinforcement channel and the tab whereby the reinforcement channel is released from the tab during a side impact. A method of tuning performance characteristics of the upper reinforcement is also described.

A safety device for a vehicle, in particular a motor vehicle, including a door that is movably situated at a body of the vehicle, a crash bolt that protrudes laterally from the body at a retaining section, in the direction of the door, and a recess that is provided at the door and designed to partly accommodate the crash bolt. It is provided that the crash bolt is fastened to the body, and a crash element that extends at least essentially over the length of the door is situated at the door, the crash element being designed to be supported, at a first end thereof having the recess, on the retaining section of the body in the event of a side collision.

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 shock absorbing structure of a vehicle door including a vehicle body panel with a service hole includes a door trim and a shock absorber. The door trim covers the vehicle body panel from an interior side of a vehicle. The shock absorber is mounted to the vehicle body panel to cover the service hole. The shock absorber includes a shock absorbing portion that is inserted in the service hole. The shock absorbing portion is disposed such that an end of the shock absorbing portion on an exterior side of the vehicle is disposed more to the exterior side of the vehicle than the service hole and between the vehicle body panel and the door trim.

A vehicle door structure includes an outer door panel made of resin, etc. The outer door panel has an attenuated portion. The attenuated portion is provided along a boundary line that divides the outer door panel into at least a first region that includes the outer door handle and other regions.