US 7,364,225 B2
Vehicle body structure
Toshinori Tomioka, Fuchu-cho (Japan)
Assigned to Mazda Motor Corporation, Hiroshima (Japan)
Filed on Dec. 06, 2006, as Appl. No. 11/634,149.
Claims priority of application No. 2005-361876 (JP), filed on Dec. 15, 2005; application No. 2005-372128 (JP), filed on Dec. 26, 2005; and application No. 2006-091002 (JP), filed on Mar. 29, 2006.
Prior Publication US 2007/0138837 A1, Jun. 21, 2007
Int. Cl. B62D 25/08 (2006.01)
U.S. Cl. 296—203.04  [296/193.05] 26 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A vehicle body structure comprising:
a body sidewall which forms a side portion of a vehicle body;
a wheel house formed on a lower side of said body sidewall and provided with a mounting portion on which a rear suspension system mounts;
a side pillar reinforcing member arranged in a side pillar located above said wheel house, said side pillar reinforcing member extending in a vertical direction of the vehicle body to reinforce said side pillar;
a rear pillar reinforcing member arranged in a rear pillar located rearward of said wheel house, said rear pillar reinforcing member extending in the vertical direction of the vehicle body to reinforce said rear pillar;
a first connection member connecting said side pillar reinforcing member and a lower end of said wheel house;
a second connection member connecting said rear pillar reinforcing member and a vicinity of said mounting portion of said wheel house; and
a third connection member connecting said side pillar reinforcing member and said rear pillar reinforcing member, in a position above said wheel house.