US Patent 7481485 Vehicle body to frame load absorbing structure

An apparatus is provided for transferring a side load from a vehicle body rocker structure to a vehicle body frame rail that is spaced laterally away from the rocker structure. The apparatus is an energy absorbing strut that is attached to one of the rocker structure and the frame rail and extends toward the other of the rocker structure and the frame rail and into proximity therewith but spaced therefrom. Accordingly, during normal operating conditions of the vehicle the strut carries no load, but upon side load induced excursion of the rocker structure toward the frame rail, the strut deforms and absorbs energy as it transfers the side load from the rocker structure to the frame rail.