Front Patents (Class 296/203.02)
  • Patent number: 8789875
    Abstract: Provided is a vehicle body structure including: a front frame member disposed in a front part of a vehicle body; a rear frame member disposed in a rear part of the vehicle body; and paired left and right middle frame members disposed on outer sides, in a vehicle width direction, of the vehicle body, respectively, and extending in a vehicle front-rear direction between the front and rear frame members. Each middle frame member includes: a side sill disposed on an outer side in the vehicle width direction; and a center side member disposed inward, in the vehicle width direction, of the side sill and coupling the front and rear frame members. The center side member extends to shift farther outward in the vehicle width direction as it gets closer to rear of the vehicle. The center side member is set larger in strength than the side sill.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 20, 2012
    Date of Patent: July 29, 2014
    Assignee: Nissan Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Yusuke Kageyama
  • Patent number: 8789874
    Abstract: There is provided a front vehicle body structure. A radiator panel lower is mounted between front ends of side frames, crash boxes at the front ends of the side frames, and a bumper beam between front ends of the crash boxes. The radiator panel lower includes a bracket offset toward the inside in the vehicle width direction from the side frame. Upon an offset front collision, a shock load is absorbed by an axial compression deformation of one of the crash boxes and a drag of the side frames. Upon a full-overlap front collision, the right and left crash boxes are subjected to the axial compression deformation, and the shock load is input to the bracket, thereby bending the side frames. Accordingly, and a sufficient axial compression deformation of the crash boxes is secured, and the shock load is absorbed by the reduction in the drag of the side frames.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 27, 2012
    Date of Patent: July 29, 2014
    Assignees: Fuji Jukogyo Kabushiki Kaisha, Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Jyunya Okamura, Takehisa Tsukada, Kouichi Imamura, Takatomo Watamori, Shinya Inoue
  • Patent number: 8783760
    Abstract: A vehicle suspension strut tower bracing system includes a first suspension strut tower and a second suspension strut tower spaced from the first strut tower. At least one wall extends between and interconnects the first strut tower to the second strut tower. At least one strut tower brace is attached to the wall and spaced from the first and second strut towers. The strut tower brace includes a first support member having a first end and an opposite second end, and a second support member attached to the first support member at location spaced inward from the first and second ends of the first support member. The second support member is arranged at an oblique angle relative to the first support member so as to form a generally Y-shaped configuration.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 25, 2012
    Date of Patent: July 22, 2014
    Assignee: Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing North America, Inc.
    Inventor: George J. Van Kaam
  • Patent number: 8777300
    Abstract: A shock absorber housing supporting apparatus for a vehicle installed in a front body including a shock absorber housing disposed between a fender apron upper member provided in an upper portion of a fender apron and a front side member provided in a length direction of a vehicle body and having a beam shape, and a cowl connected to a front side of a front glass and having a panel shape, may include a first supporting device connecting the front side member and the fender apron upper member and covering the shock absorber housing in between them, and a second supporting device connecting the front side member and the cowl and covering the shock absorber housing in therebetween.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 11, 2012
    Date of Patent: July 15, 2014
    Assignees: Hyundai Motor Company, Kia Motors Corporation
    Inventors: Kyeong Jae Kim, Yun Chang Kim
  • Patent number: 8770653
    Abstract: Bodywork arrangement comprising longitudinal members and cross-members that are connected at node points to other lateral structural elements to form part of a passenger compartment and part of a vehicle front end. Longitudinal members are provided at the lower side of the passenger compartment. Front-end longitudinal members are arranged on the vehicle front end. A front region of the passenger compartment has a floor cross-member, a splashboard cross-member, an armature cross-member and laterally arranged A-column elements. The floor cross-member together with the splashboard cross-member and two lateral structural elements form a lower trapezoidal structure. The splashboard cross-member together with the armature cross-member (9) and two lateral structural elements forms an upper trapezoidal structure. The space between the upper trapezoidal structure and the lower trapezoidal structure defines the foot space of the passenger compartment.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 15, 2013
    Date of Patent: July 8, 2014
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Joergen Hilmann, Jens Buechner, Michael Keimes, Klaus Steputsch, Uwe Wagner
  • Patent number: 8770605
    Abstract: A chassis frame (1) including connection members (13) each configured by a pipe that is connected to a vehicle body frame. Each connection member (13) is provided with an attachment part (2) at an end of the pipe. The attachment part (2) includes a flat attachment face (21) formed by flatly crashing an end of the pipe to form the overlapped portion where a plate of the pipe is overlapped. The flat attachment face (21) is provided on a center in left and right direction of the overlapped portion. A shape of the end of the pipe is a substantially gate shape in its cross section. The attachment part (2) further includes longitudinal ribs (22) bending from the flat attachment face (21) to both left and right sides of the overlapped portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 27, 2012
    Date of Patent: July 8, 2014
    Assignees: Mitsubishi Jidosha Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisya, Hiruta-Kogyo Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Manabu Urata, Kenichi Suzuki, Junji Ishii, Yoshitaka Noda, Mitsuyori Gurita
  • Patent number: 8764104
    Abstract: A structure of the front section of a vehicle body is disposed on the front end portion of a front side frame on the same position as the rear surface of a side stay in the front-rear direction of the vehicle body, and includes a first extending portion extending downward along the rear surface of the side stay. A lower stay is provided with a second extending portion extending outward in the vehicle width direction beyond the side stay to a position below the first extending portion. A joining section is formed so as to join the front surface of the first extending portion, the upper surface of the second extending portion, and outside surface of the side stay. The joining section defines an arrangement region for inner and outer shock absorbing members having a lower rigidity than the front side frame.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 25, 2011
    Date of Patent: July 1, 2014
    Assignee: Honda Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Makoto Kihara, Shuji Ichikawa, Tomoya Takeda
  • Patent number: 8757708
    Abstract: A motor vehicle body is provided having a front wall structure and having at least one lateral longitudinal girder, at least regionally situated in front of the front wall structure in the travel direction of the vehicle, and having a reinforcement element, which is connected to the front wall structure and to the longitudinal girder, the longitudinal girder and the reinforcement element, in a connection section lying in front of the front wall structure in the travel direction, being at least partially overlapping viewed in the vehicle transverse direction and being directly connected to one another.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 22, 2011
    Date of Patent: June 24, 2014
    Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC
    Inventor: Udo Mildner
  • Publication number: 20140167454
    Abstract: The invention relates to a multi-functional support (1) for a motor vehicle, wherein the multi-functional support (1) comprises a plurality of mounts for accommodating, in a supporting manner, motor vehicle front elements (2; 3; 12), wherein the motor vehicle front elements (2; 3; 12) are visible in the installed state in an outside top view of the motor vehicle, wherein the multi-functional support (1) together with the received motor vehicle front elements (2; 3; 12) can be fixed so as to be mounted in a floating manner on a body (11; 13; 14) of the motor vehicle, wherein the floating mounting is designed such that, by releasing the fixing and by displacing the multi-functional support (1) relative to the body (11; 13; 14), a joint line (30), which is visible in an outside top view of the motor vehicle, between the motor vehicle front elements (2; 3; 12) and outer motor vehicle trim parts (8) directly adjacent to the motor vehicle front elements (2; 3; 12) can be adjusted in a predefined manner.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 7, 2012
    Publication date: June 19, 2014
    Applicant: FAURECIA EXTERIORS GMBH
    Inventors: Yann Clapie, Stefan Meder, Daniel Eichlinger, Roland Wohlmuth, Michael Straus, Karl-Heinz Killersreiter, Jaques Hoffner, Pascal Joly-Pottuz
  • Patent number: 8746781
    Abstract: A reinforcing unit for the vehicle body may include an insert member coupled to a front side member while being inserted in the front side member, and a fender apron lower reinforce member mounted in a fender apron to be coupled to the insert member, so that crash energy transmitted to the fender apron in a front offset crash of the vehicle may be transmitted to the front side member through the reinforcing unit of the vehicle body to be effectively distributed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 7, 2012
    Date of Patent: June 10, 2014
    Assignee: Hyundai Motor Company
    Inventors: Ki Bong Park, Joonam Kim
  • Patent number: 8727429
    Abstract: With a structure for a front portion of a vehicle body, a front side frame has a front side frame main unit of which a cross-sectional shape is generally hat-shaped and of which an opening faces the outer direction where a front wheel is placed, a back plate forming a closed cross-section with the inner face of the front side frame main unit being layered with and joined with a flange facing toward the outer direction, and a tire clearance portion formed in a curved shape to correspond to steering range of the front wheels. A sidewall is formed into a sidewall straight portion in an approximately straight line from the tip of the front side frame to the middle including the tire clearance portion. The flange has a flange straight portion formed to the tire clearance portion, approximately parallel with the sidewall straight portion of the sidewall.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 4, 2013
    Date of Patent: May 20, 2014
    Assignee: Honda Motor Co., Ltd
    Inventors: Ryo Ohnaka, Yoshinori Taguchi
  • Patent number: 8727428
    Abstract: A front part body structure of a vehicle, includes: an upper frame which is extended in a longitudinal direction of the vehicle, one end of which is joined to a front pillar, and which includes an inner panel and an outer panel, the outer panel that is divided in a dividing part in the longitudinal direction of the vehicle; and a first partition wall which is provided between the inner panel and the outer panel, one end of which is joined to the inner panel, and the other end of which is fastened and fixed to the dividing part of the outer panel by means of a fastening member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 12, 2012
    Date of Patent: May 20, 2014
    Assignee: Mitsubishi Jidosha Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Hideki Takeuchi, Akihiro Matsui
  • Patent number: 8720983
    Abstract: A front vehicle body structure includes a front pillar that extends in a longitudinal direction of a vehicle body, an upper frame that extends from the front pillar toward a front of a vehicle body, and a front side frame that is disposed laterally interior of the upper frame. The front side frame includes an outer face that faces laterally outward, an inner face that faces laterally inward, and an upper face that connects the inner face to the outer face. The front vehicle body structure also includes a connection member that extends upwardly from the upper face of the front side frame to the upper frame so as to connect the front side frame and the upper frame together.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 14, 2013
    Date of Patent: May 13, 2014
    Assignee: Honda Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: David M. Edwards, Takashi Nakano, Eric M. Heitkamp, Patrick J. Ellison, Brian Christopher Bray
  • Patent number: 8714636
    Abstract: A bearing structure arrangement of a motor vehicle body is provided with at least one bearing structure component extending essentially in the longitudinal direction of the vehicle, which is provided in the interior or dry area of the motor vehicle to form a single-piece connection between the vehicle front wall and a rear frame of the body.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 3, 2010
    Date of Patent: May 6, 2014
    Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC
    Inventors: Thomas Wanke, Udo Mildner, Franz-Josef Ringel
  • Publication number: 20140117719
    Abstract: A front pillar structure of a vehicle may include an outer side panel disposed on an outer side in a traverse direction of a vehicle, an inner side panel attached to the outer side panel with an opening formed therebetween, and a reinforcement inserted through the opening between the inner side panel and the outer side panel, Wherein the reinforcement may be attached to the outer side panel and the inner side panel to close the opening to have a closed cross-section.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 10, 2012
    Publication date: May 1, 2014
    Applicant: Hyundai Motor Company
    Inventor: Suk Jun Chai
  • Patent number: 8708403
    Abstract: For the reinforcement of a front section of a motor vehicle, a transverse beam is arranged between longitudinal beams of the body structure at the front side. The transverse beam is situated above the longitudinal beams and is adjoined by in each case one lattice girder. Each lattice girder extends in the longitudinal direction of the longitudinal beams and is connected at one side to the transverse beam and at the other side to a suspension unit mount.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 12, 2012
    Date of Patent: April 29, 2014
    Assignee: Dr. Ing. h.c. F. Porsche Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Matthias Herntier, Rainer Joest, Gernot Jenisch
  • Patent number: 8702158
    Abstract: A structure for a vehicle body front portion, provided with a cross-member (24) which is provided to a dashboard lower panel (19) on the engine room (13) side thereof and is extended between left and right front side frames (16, 16). The cross-member (24) is divided into left and right cross-members (65, 66). A cup-shaped joint cover (22) is sandwiched between the left and right cross-members (65, 66).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 22, 2011
    Date of Patent: April 22, 2014
    Assignee: Honda Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Makoto Kihara, Shuji Ichikawa, Daisuke Naoi
  • Patent number: 8690189
    Abstract: A frame assembly for an off-road vehicle including a left frame rail and a right frame rail that are identical to each other, a front frame module that includes at least one left toot and at least one right foot, an occupant frame module that includes at least one left foot and at least one right foot, a rear frame module that includes at least one left foot and at least one right foot, and a plurality of identical adapters mounting the components to the left and right frame rails.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 23, 2013
    Date of Patent: April 8, 2014
    Assignee: Club Car, LLC
    Inventors: Steven P. Huston, Roy L. Woodard
  • Publication number: 20140091599
    Abstract: A front sub-assembly for an automotive vehicle is disclosed. The front sub-assembly includes a pair of spaced apart substantially hollow side assemblies. Each of the side assemblies includes an upper side member and a lower side member. The front ends of the side assemblies are joined together by a front cross member that includes a front cross member reinforcing bracket and an internal mass dampener. The rear ends of the side assemblies are joined by an upper cross member and a lower cross member. A plurality of brackets, including body mount brackets, a steering gear bracket, an exhaust mount bracket, and a roll restrictor bracket are also strategically provided. The brackets as well as other components are preferably formed from stamped steel.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 28, 2013
    Publication date: April 3, 2014
    Applicant: FORD MOTOR COMPANY
    Inventors: Patrick Marchena, Mark Andrew Kessen
  • Publication number: 20140091598
    Abstract: A front vehicle body structure may include a front side member extending in a longitudinal direction of a vehicle, a fender apron upper member disposed in an outer direction of the front side member in a traverse direction of the vehicle, and a fender apron front reinforcement member extending in the traverse direction of the vehicle and connecting the fender apron upper member and the front side member.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 7, 2012
    Publication date: April 3, 2014
    Applicant: Hyundai Motor Company
    Inventors: Ki Bong Park, Log Won Do
  • Patent number: 8684450
    Abstract: A structure for a vehicle may include first and second spaced-apart members, first and second internally-threaded members, a module, first and second connecting members, and first and second fasteners. The first and second internally-threaded members may be connected to the first and second members, respectively. The module is positioned between the first and second members for a predetermined alignment relative thereto. The first and second connecting members include an outer surface having external threads and an inner surface having internal threads. The outer surface may engage a corresponding one of the internally-threaded members. The external and internal threads have opposite thread-handedness. The first and second fasteners engage the internal threads of the first and second connecting members, respectively. The first and second fasteners may move the first and second connecting members toward the module to clamp the module relative to the first and second members and maintain alignment therebetween.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 11, 2010
    Date of Patent: April 1, 2014
    Assignee: Chrysler Group LLC
    Inventors: Dennis F. Stedman, William R. Schmidt, Douglas P. Smith
  • Patent number: 8684451
    Abstract: A front vehicle body structure may include a front side member extending in a longitudinal direction of a vehicle, a fender apron upper member disposed in an outer direction of the front side member in a traverse direction of the vehicle, and a fender apron front reinforcement member extending in the traverse direction of the vehicle and connecting the fender apron upper member and the front side member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 7, 2012
    Date of Patent: April 1, 2014
    Assignee: Hyundai Motor Company
    Inventors: Ki Bong Park, Log Won Do
  • Patent number: 8672394
    Abstract: A cord-like element 4 is extending along a dash panel 3, a component 19 from the cord-like element 4 is fixed to the dash panel 3 via a bracket 20, the cord-like element 4 is fixed to the bracket 20, the cord-like element 4 and the component 19 are fixed to the dash panel 3 via the bracket 20, the cord-like element 4 is arranged on a vehicle rear side Rr from an opposed surface 20M of the bracket to an engine E, and the rigidity of fixed portions 3K of the dash panel 3 to which fixing portions 28A and 29A of the bracket 20 are fixed is set to be lower than the rigidity of the bracket 20. Accordingly, the fixed portions 3K of the dash panel 3 are deformed before the bracket 20 when the bracket 20 is pressed toward the vehicle rear side Rr by the engine E.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 7, 2011
    Date of Patent: March 18, 2014
    Assignee: Suzuki Motor Corporation
    Inventors: Yuki Futsuhara, Yorisada Kondo
  • Patent number: 8672396
    Abstract: A vehicle front portion structure of a vehicle is equipped with a radiator and an air conditioner, the vehicle front portion structure includes a vehicle body formed by joining a plurality of structural members, a positioning hole formed in the vehicle body, for fitting therein a jig projecting from a mount frame used to transport the vehicle body in a manufacturing process, and a fitting bracket for supporting the radiator and a condenser of the air conditioner from the lower sides of the radiator and the condenser, and featured in that the fitting bracket is formed integrally with a radiator supporting portion for supporting a lower portion of the radiator, and with a condenser supporting portion for supporting a lower portion of the condenser, and is fastened and fixed at a position which interferes with the jig fitted into the positioning hole.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 11, 2011
    Date of Patent: March 18, 2014
    Assignee: Suzuki Motor Corporation
    Inventor: Tadashi Homan
  • Publication number: 20140062140
    Abstract: A positioning and reinforcement structure for a vehicle includes a top support member and a bottom support member each extending relatively horizontally in a cross-car orientation and relatively parallel to each other. Also included is a first side member and a second side member each extending relatively vertically and relatively parallel to each other, the first side member and the second side member each coupled to the top support member and the bottom support member. Further included is a first wing structure detachably coupled to the first side member, the first wing structure comprising a first side flange configured to operably mount to a first fender assembly. Yet further included is a centering bracket disposed proximate a top side of the top support member, the centering bracket configured to locate a front region of a hood to the positioning and reinforcement structure.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 14, 2013
    Publication date: March 6, 2014
    Applicant: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS LLC
    Inventors: James M. Townson, Mark L. Felzien, Alexander C. Winter, Arthur M. Melander, David R. Galloway, Christopher C. Cook
  • Patent number: 8662572
    Abstract: A vehicle-body front structure includes a rectangular bulkhead that supports a radiator that is provided in a front part of a vehicle body. The bulkhead includes a pair of bulkhead side members arranged at both sides of the bulkhead and extending in a vehicle up-down direction, and a bulkhead lower member arranged at lower ends of the bulkhead side members and extending in a vehicle width direction. The bulkhead lower member has a smaller length than a distance between the pair of bulkhead side members. The bulkhead lower member includes a pair of extensions being respectively hung between the bulkhead lower member and the bulkhead side members in the vehicle width direction. The bulkhead lower member is joined to inner sides of the pair of extensions such that the extensions are hung in a vehicle front-rear direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 21, 2012
    Date of Patent: March 4, 2014
    Assignee: Honda Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Yuuya Abe, Kiyohito Koizumi
  • Publication number: 20140049074
    Abstract: A front vehicle body reinforcing structure includes: an upper reinforcing member and a lower reinforcing member attached to an upper portion and a lower portion of the shock absorber housing panel; and a front reinforcing rail and a rear reinforcing rail attached to a front side and a rear side of the shock absorber housing panel in a longitudinal direction of the vehicle, respectively, thereby enhancing strength of a front vehicle body.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 4, 2013
    Publication date: February 20, 2014
    Applicant: Hyundai Motor Company
    Inventors: Kyunghee Lee, Yong Kew Kim
  • Publication number: 20140049069
    Abstract: A reinforcing unit for the vehicle body may include an insert member coupled to a front side member while being inserted in the front side member, and a fender apron lower reinforce member mounted in a fender apron to be coupled to the insert member, so that crash energy transmitted to the fender apron in a front offset crash of the vehicle may be transmitted to the front side member through the reinforcing unit of the vehicle body to be effectively distributed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 7, 2012
    Publication date: February 20, 2014
    Applicant: Hyundai Motor Company
    Inventors: Ki Bong Park, Joonam Kim
  • Patent number: 8651563
    Abstract: A bearing structure arrangement of a motor vehicle body is provided with a side panel structure adjoining a bulkhead, and a linking component secured thereto for accommodating a frame rail section located upstream from the side panel structure in the traveling direction. The linking component facing the frame carrier section includes, but is not limited to an attachment profile corresponding with the profile cross section of the frame rail section.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 16, 2012
    Date of Patent: February 18, 2014
    Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC
    Inventors: Udo Mildner, Lothar Teske
  • Publication number: 20140042774
    Abstract: A front side member assembly includes a front side member body having at least one coupling hole at one surface thereof with a closed section shape, a bulkhead including a coupling portion and expansion foam that may be coupled to the coupling portion, wherein the bulkhead may be inserted into the front side member body in order to position the coupling portion at a position corresponding to the coupling hole, and the expansion foam may be hardened to reinforce rigidity of the front side member body.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 19, 2012
    Publication date: February 13, 2014
    Applicants: Kia Motors Corporation, Hyundai Motor Company
    Inventor: Eun-jung Kim
  • Patent number: 8646832
    Abstract: A lower wall portion of a bracket is attached to a motor compartment cross member via a charger. The bracket has an L-shaped cross-sectional configuration when viewed from a side of the vehicle, and includes a vertical wall portion which is bent from a vehicle-rear side end of the lower wall portion and extends toward the top of the vehicle. A DC/DC converter is attached to an upper portion of the vertical wall portion of the bracket. The DC/DC converter is located in such a position that an upper portion of the DC/DC converter overlaps with a cowling when viewed from a front of the vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 11, 2012
    Date of Patent: February 11, 2014
    Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Taichi Yamashita
  • Publication number: 20140035325
    Abstract: A structure for a front portion of an automobile body includes a bulkhead side, which is joined to a front portion of a front side frame extending in the fore-and-aft direction extends in the vertical direction, and a side frame gusset, which provides a connection between the front portions of the front side frame and a wheel house upper member. The bulkhead side and the side frame gusset are joined by a linking panel having a right-angled triangle shape when viewed from the front within a plane perpendicular to an axis in the fore-and-aft direction. When a load is applied for relatively moving the front side frame, the side frame gusset and the wheel house upper member supporting the load by a shear force of the linking panel disposed within the plane enhance the rigidity of a front portion of a vehicle body and minimize any increase in weight.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 27, 2012
    Publication date: February 6, 2014
    Applicant: HONDA MOTOR CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Tadashi Naito, Yutaka Kanaguchi, Yoshikatsu Ohta, Youichirou Suzuki
  • Patent number: 8628139
    Abstract: In order to optimize the transmitting of force and in order to keep the longitudinal member undamaged in the event of a low impact speed, for example in the event of an accident involving a pedestrian, and in order to permit easy exchangeability of the longitudinal member, it is proposed that, in a normal position, the lower longitudinal member is held spaced apart in the direction of travel from an associated transverse link and can be brought by the frontal impact into a crash position in which the longitudinal member acts on the transverse link in a manner transmitting force.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 13, 2011
    Date of Patent: January 14, 2014
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Dirk van Oirschot, Georg Giazitzis
  • Patent number: 8622465
    Abstract: A front pillar for an automobile includes an outer panel, an inner panel, and a hollow member disposed between the outer and inner panels. Outer flanges of the outer and inner panels are overlapped with each other to form a closed void section and a seal attachment section. The seal attachment section includes a rear section reinforcing member and a front section reinforcing member sandwiched between the outer flanges of the outer and inner panels in a rear end section and a front end section, respectively, of the front pillar, and a gap channel formed to communicate with the closed void section by partially separating the outer flanges of the outer and inner panels at a central section of the front pillar. The reinforcing members are joined to an outer wall section of the hollow member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 24, 2013
    Date of Patent: January 7, 2014
    Assignee: Honda Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Hiroshi Fujita
  • Publication number: 20130334842
    Abstract: A structure for the front of a vehicle body includes front side frames. The front side frames have bend portions in the rear portion thereof, the bend portions sloping downwards along a dashboard lower panel as the front side frames extend towards the back of the vehicle body. Side sill-side extensions curve to the side of side sills from the end parts of the bend portions. Curving tunnel-side extensions curve towards a tunnel portion. The side sill-side extensions and the tunnel-side extensions form branched portions branching at substantially the same angle. Triangular load support portions are formed at the back of the branched portions between the side sill-side extensions and the tunnel-side extensions. Rear end support portions for supporting the rear ends of sub frames are provided to the bend portions and the fronts of the load support portions.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 10, 2012
    Publication date: December 19, 2013
    Applicant: HONDA MOTOR CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Masashige Iseki, Kosaku Tomozawa, Manabu Ishizono, Takeshi Yoshimoto
  • Patent number: 8608231
    Abstract: The present disclosure relates to a vehicle structural frame with an overlap-barrier-impact deformation scheme, the frame has: a rail defining a first longitudinal axis; a first energy absorption device defining a second longitudinal axis outside of the first longitudinal axis with respect to a vehicle; and a connector extending between the rail and the first energy absorption device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 30, 2012
    Date of Patent: December 17, 2013
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Andres Gonzalez Mendivil, Bhimaraddi Venkaraddi Alavandi, Adrian Diaz, Ranny Hamameh, Kirk D. Rasmussen
  • Publication number: 20130320710
    Abstract: A vehicle body front structure includes a pair of left and right front side frames which are installed at a front of a vehicle body, and extend in a fore-and-aft direction of the vehicle body; and a power unit disposed in a driving force transmission chamber between the left and right front side frames. The left and right front side frames include respective branch frames which extend from the left and right front side frames obliquely forward and outward in a vehicle width direction, rear ends of the branch frames penetrate through respective outer walls of the left and right front side frames, and extend along inner surfaces of the left and right front side frames, and a reinforcing member is integrally connected to each of intersection portions of the branch frames and the front side frames.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 28, 2013
    Publication date: December 5, 2013
    Inventor: Yasunori Watanabe
  • Patent number: 8596713
    Abstract: An apparatus for assembling a fender panel of a vehicle, including a single-type bracket may have a horizontal assembly surface at an upper end portion thereof, and an assembly end having a fender panel assembly aperture at a lower end portion thereof extending from the horizontal assembly surface toward a front side of the vehicle, wherein the assembly end of the single-type bracket may be mounted on a front end portion of a fender panel located between a front end module and a bumper cover, and wherein the horizontal assembly surface may be fixed to a lower end portion of a fender apron upper member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 18, 2012
    Date of Patent: December 3, 2013
    Assignees: Hyundai Motor Company, Kia Motors Corporation
    Inventor: Sang Ill Lee
  • Patent number: 8590663
    Abstract: A support structure for a motor vehicle body includes, but is not limited to a longitudinal girder extending between an engine compartment and a wheel installation space, a wheel installation strut extending over the wheel installation space, an engine frame, an attached bracket protruding downward on the longitudinal girder, which supports the longitudinal girder on the engine frame, and a one-piece reinforcement element, of which a first arm flanks the bracket and a second arm extends in the direction of the wheel installation strut.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 16, 2012
    Date of Patent: November 26, 2013
    Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC
    Inventors: Udo Mildner, Karsten Bohle
  • Patent number: 8573683
    Abstract: A front structure for a vehicle is provided, the structure including (i) a pair of front rails (i.e., front left hand rail and front right hand rail) spaced apart in a widthwise direction with each rail extending lengthwise, where one end portion of each rail is mechanically coupled to the vehicle's bumper and the other end portion of each rail is mechanically coupled to a torque box, and where each rail is comprised of a polygonal-shaped upper hollow channel and a polygonal-shaped lower hollow channel, and where the upper and lower channels share a common wall; and (ii) a pair of rail reinforcement members, where one rail reinforcement member is mechanically mounted within each front rail, and where a plurality of features corresponding to each reinforcement member determines how the rails react to front impact loads.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 24, 2011
    Date of Patent: November 5, 2013
    Assignee: Tesla Motors, Inc.
    Inventors: Hitendra Laxmidas Gadhiya, Alexi Charbonneau, Nils Petter Winberg
  • Patent number: 8567849
    Abstract: A system for absorbing and distributing front impact forces in a vehicle is provided, the system including a primary impact system and a secondary impact system, each of which includes a bumper and a structure for transferring impact loads. The primary impact system includes a primary bumper and a pair of front rails spaced apart in a widthwise direction with each rail extending lengthwise, where one end portion of each rail is mechanically coupled to the vehicle's bumper and the other end portion of each rail is mechanically coupled to a torque box. The secondary impact system includes a secondary bumper and an assembly of sub-frame components separate from the front rails that allow impact loads to be transferred in parallel through the front rails and the sub-frame.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 24, 2011
    Date of Patent: October 29, 2013
    Assignee: Tesla Motors, Inc.
    Inventor: Peter Dore Rawlinson
  • Patent number: 8567855
    Abstract: A front structure for a vehicle is provided, the structure including (i) a pair of front rails (i.e., front left hand rail and front right hand rail) spaced apart in a widthwise direction with each rail extending lengthwise, and where each rail is comprised of a polygonal-shaped upper hollow channel and a polygonal-shaped lower hollow channel with the upper and lower channels sharing a common wall; and (ii) a pair of bumper mounting plates, where one bumper mounting plate is interposed between the end portion of each channel of each rail and the vehicle's bumper, and where each bumper mounting plate aligns the upper rail channels with the vehicle's bumper while transferring impact loads to both the upper and lower rail channels.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 24, 2011
    Date of Patent: October 29, 2013
    Assignee: Tesla Motors, Inc.
    Inventors: Hitendra Laxmidas Gadhiya, Alexi Charbonneau, Nils Petter Winberg
  • Patent number: 8567856
    Abstract: A front structure for a vehicle is provided, the structure including (i) a pair of front rails spaced apart in a widthwise direction with each rail extending lengthwise, and where each rail is comprised of a polygonal-shaped upper hollow channel and a polygonal-shaped lower hollow channel with the upper and lower channels sharing a common wall; and (ii) a pair of curvilinear torque boxes, where one curvilinear torque box is mechanically attached to the upper and lower polygonal-shaped channels of each front rail, where each curvilinear torque box is mechanically coupled to a rocker panel, where the upper polygonal-shaped channel of each front rail is in a horizontal plane located above the top surface of the corresponding rocker panel, and where the lower polygonal-shaped channel of each front rail is in a horizontal plane that is aligned with the corresponding rocker panel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 24, 2011
    Date of Patent: October 29, 2013
    Assignee: Tesla Motors, Inc.
    Inventors: Peter Dore Rawlinson, Hitendra Laxmidas Gadhiya
  • Patent number: 8550545
    Abstract: The present disclosure relates to a vehicle, having: a front-end support frame, including: a driver side rail; and a first bend in the driver side rail configured to change a vertical position of the driver side rail. The driver side rail has a circular cross-sectional configuration in the first bend and a non-circular cross-sectional configuration in another portion of the rail.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 20, 2012
    Date of Patent: October 8, 2013
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Dragan Stojkovic, Gerhard Lueschen, Robert Hasse
  • Publication number: 20130249248
    Abstract: With a structure for a front portion of a vehicle body, a front side frame has a front side frame main unit of which a cross-sectional shape is generally hat-shaped and of which an opening faces the outer direction where a front wheel is placed, a back plate forming a closed cross-section with the inner face of the front side frame main unit being layered with and joined with a flange facing toward the outer direction, and a tire clearance portion formed in a curved shape to correspond to steering range of the front wheels. A sidewall is formed into a sidewall straight portion in an approximately straight line from the tip of the front side frame to the middle including the tire clearance portion. The flange has a flange straight portion formed to the tire clearance portion, approximately parallel with the sidewall straight portion of the sidewall.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 4, 2013
    Publication date: September 26, 2013
    Applicant: HONDA MOTOR CO., LTD
    Inventors: Ryo OHNAKA, Yoshinori TAGUCHI
  • Patent number: 8523274
    Abstract: A front end of a left member having a first plate thickness, and a left end of a lateral member having a third plate thickness are welded together while defining a first weld line, and a front end of a right member having a second plate thickness and a right end of the lateral member are welded together while defining a second weld line. The first plate thickness and the second plate thickness are thinner than the third plate thickness, and a support bracket that supports an auxiliary equipment is fitted to the lateral member. The first weld line and the second weld line are respectively positioned outer side of the vehicle body with respect to a fitted position of the support bracket, so as not to overlap on the fitted position in the lateral member where the support bracket is fitted to the lateral member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 14, 2013
    Date of Patent: September 3, 2013
    Assignee: F-Tech Inc.
    Inventors: Katsumi Nagahori, Naohiro Noma, Kou Satou
  • Patent number: 8523276
    Abstract: A vehicle includes an underbody structure element, a technical front panel, and at least one body shell structure element. The technical front panel includes a central part carrying vehicle cooling elements, opposed parts fixed to opposite vertical edges of the central part, and a top cross member including a top edge. One end of the body shell structure element includes two opposed rails extending along a longitudinal axis of the vehicle and two opposed parts that accept the technical front panel. The technical front panel pivots about a transverse axis of the vehicle on the underbody structure element when being mounted to the body shell structure element. The technical front panel is separated from the underbody structure element when fully mounted to the body shell structure element.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 10, 2012
    Date of Patent: September 3, 2013
    Assignee: Renault S.A.S.
    Inventor: Michael Flandin
  • Patent number: 8523273
    Abstract: Provided is a vehicle body structure which can improve collision performance. The sub-side member 3 has a deformation cooperative movement portion 7 whose strength is made lower than the deformation suppressing portion 8 on the rear side, at a position ahead of a power unit EG. The sub-side member 3 easily deforms at a position ahead of the power unit EG when the load is applied. The sub-side member 3 can deform in synchronization with the deformation of the front side member 2, in a region ahead of the power unit EG with high strength and a relatively small number of disposition parts. Accordingly, the sub-side member 3 can absorb the load efficiently in cooperative movement with the front side member 2. Additionally, the sub-side member 3 is constructed so as to have a higher strength than the deformation cooperative movement portion 7, on the rear side of the deformation cooperative movement portion 7. Accordingly, the sub-side member 3 sufficiently transmits the load to a rear frame structure structure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 23, 2009
    Date of Patent: September 3, 2013
    Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Koji Yoshida
  • Patent number: 8517461
    Abstract: A vehicle body structure includes a bumper fascia panel, a fender body panel and a mounting flange attachment arrangement. The fascia panel includes a fascia mounting flange forming a first outboard abutment edge visible exterior to the vehicle body structure. The fender body panel includes a fender mounting flange forming a second outboard abutment edge visible from the exterior. The mounting flange attachment arrangement includes first and second fastening members overlying the fascia and fender mounting flanges, respectively, and a fastening element coupling the first and second fastening members together while sandwiching the mounting flanges. The fastening element (bolt) has a tool engagement portion (bolt head) at a first end on an inboard side of the attachment arrangement and a second threaded end opposite to the first end, with a center fastening axis extending from the second to first end in an upward slanted direction of the vehicle body structure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 29, 2011
    Date of Patent: August 27, 2013
    Assignee: Nissan North America, Inc.
    Inventor: Matthew Huber
  • Patent number: 8517423
    Abstract: A frame assembly for an off-road vehicle including a left frame rail and a right frame rail that are identical to each other, a front frame module that includes at least one left foot and at least one right foot, an occupant frame module that includes at least one left foot and at least one right foot, a rear frame module that includes at least one left foot and at least one right foot, and a plurality of identical adapters mounting the components to the left and right frame rails.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 20, 2012
    Date of Patent: August 27, 2013
    Assignee: Club Car, LLC
    Inventors: Steven P. Huston, Roy L. Woodard