A structural load transfer member for a vehicle including a housing having a first open end, a second open end, and a central bore. A first end member having an inner side is attached to the housing and an outer side of the first end member is attached to a sill of the vehicle. A second end member having an inner side is attached to the housing and an outer side is attached to a frame rail of the vehicle.
There is described an impact force coupling assembly operable to couple impact forces from an upright member of a road vehicle to a horizontal transverse member thereof during an impact event. The assembly has a first region and a second region, and is operable to be impinged or captured between the members during the impact event. The assembly includes cavities including dividing walls therebetween, the dividing walls extending along the assembly in a direction from the first region to the second region. Capture of the assembly during the impact event is affected by intrusive deformation of the side walls at the regions of the assembly by portions of the transverse member and the upright member. The coupling assembly is preferably fabricated as a unitary extruded aluminum component. The upright member and the transverse member are preferably a heel-kick and a B-pillar respectively of the vehicle.
