Impact Patents (Class 296/187.03)
  • Patent number: 12162320
    Abstract: A utility vehicle 100 includes a vehicle body frame 1 and a guard panel 20, 220 attached to the vehicle body frame 1 and defining a front portion of a vehicle body 2. The guard panel 20, 220 includes a recessed wall 21 defining a wheel housing 4 that houses a front wheel 3 and an upper wall 25 located above the recessed wall 21, and the upper wall 25 includes a first inclined wall 26 inclined with respect to a vehicle width direction so as to be positioned on the outer side in the vehicle width direction as extending rearward.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 14, 2023
    Date of Patent: December 10, 2024
    Assignee: KAWASAKI MOTORS, LTD.
    Inventor: Teruaki Yamamoto
  • Patent number: 12145654
    Abstract: A rear portion of a vehicle body includes a front floor panel, a rear floor panel, a pair of left and right side sills, and a front cross plate. The rear floor panel has a higher upper surface height than the front floor panel. The front cross plate connects a rear portion of the front floor panel and a front wall of the rear floor panel, and an outer end portion in a vehicle width direction is coupled to the left and right side sills. The front wall of the rear floor panel has a plurality of bent corner portions having a side view shape bent in a substantially L shape. At least one of the bent corner portions constitutes a closed cross section extending along the vehicle width direction together with the front cross plate in a vertical height range of the left and right side sills.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 19, 2022
    Date of Patent: November 19, 2024
    Assignee: HONDA MOTOR CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Hirotaka Hayakawa, Tsuyoshi Tanaka, Takafumi Raitoku, Kazuya Kimura
  • Patent number: 12134435
    Abstract: In order to produce different motor vehicles of a vehicle type, which have the different drive concepts of an internal combustion engine, electric motor or a combination of an electric motor and an internal combustion engine, two different floor pan assemblies and two different luggage compartment floor subassemblies are provided. The two subassemblies are each produced using different deep-drawing dies. A combination of one of the two floor pan subassemblies with one of the two luggage compartment floor subassemblies allows the production of motor vehicles for all three drive concepts. The first of these two floor pan subassemblies, when installed in the vehicle, has a higher position than the second floor pan subassembly. The higher floor pan subassembly is used to produce both the electric-drive motor vehicles and hybrid-drive motor vehicles. A large-area installation space below the floor pan subassembly is also made available for the hybrid-drive motor vehicles for housing at least one pack-type battery.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 19, 2020
    Date of Patent: November 5, 2024
    Assignee: Bayerische Motoren Werke Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Thomas Breu, Josip Durmis, Wolfram Haug, Joerg Kutzschbach
  • Patent number: 12134216
    Abstract: Problems of high impact resistance and “warpage” of a molded body are solved by a method for producing a molded body, including: using a mold MA and a mold MB, which are a pair of male and female molds, to compression-mold a material A and a material B in contact with the mold MA and the mold MB, respectively, in which the material A contains a carbon fiber and a thermoplastic resin M1, and the material B contains a glass fiber and a thermoplastic resin M2, the molded body includes a pair of side walls and a connecting wall that is connected to the side walls, the molded body has a wave shape in cross section, and a relationship between a flatness Fa of the molded body and a height h of the side wall satisfies 0?Fa/h<1.3.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 13, 2021
    Date of Patent: November 5, 2024
    Assignee: Teijin Limited
    Inventors: Daishiro Nakamoto, Daisuke Noto, Yuhei Konagai, Ichiro Kitano
  • Patent number: 11970211
    Abstract: The present disclosure relates to a deformation device for a motor vehicle. The deformation device comprises a support structure and a charging module which is fixed to the support structure at two mutually spaced connecting elements. The support structure comprises a target bend region which is arranged between the at least two connecting elements. The support structure is designed to bend, at least in regions, at the target bend region in the event of accident-related deformation of said support structure, and as a result press onto the charging module at the target bend region, and release a first connection between the charging module and the support structure formed via a first connecting element of the at least two connecting elements. A further aspect of the present disclosure relates to a motor vehicle having the deformation device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 13, 2020
    Date of Patent: April 30, 2024
    Assignee: AUDI AG
    Inventors: Christian Isakiewitsch, Nanne Swierstra, Florian Grosshauser, Sebastian Scheiblecker, Mickael Donnard, Sean O'Brien, Thorsten Adolph
  • Patent number: 11973201
    Abstract: An impact detection device for a traction battery of a motor vehicle includes at least one air-filled chamber formed on an underbody element for the traction battery. An air-filled chamber is at least laterally sealed to outside and defined by a sealing material. A pressure hose and an introduction element for the pressure hose can be provided, wherein the air-filled chamber can be coupled to a pressure sensor through the pressure hose, and the introduction element can be attached to the underbody element and formed to couple the pressure hose to the air-filled chamber through the sealing material in a set position. The introduction element can be embedded by the sealing material which seals the air-filled chamber.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 16, 2022
    Date of Patent: April 30, 2024
    Assignees: AUDI AG, DR. ING. H.C. F. PORSCHE AKTIENGESELLSCHAFT
    Inventors: Ilija Brandic, Markus Grupp, Julius Rausch, Oliver Stoll
  • Patent number: 11796356
    Abstract: A sensor installation structure includes: an exterior panel provided at a side part of a vehicle; an installation surface arranged at a location recessed inward in the vehicle width direction from a general surface of the exterior panel; a connecting surface connecting between a peripheral edge of the installation surface and the general surface; and a surroundings information sensor that detects surroundings information of the vehicle and that is located inward in the vehicle width direction from the installation surface. The connecting surface, in elevating from the peripheral edge of the installation surface toward the general surface, slopes so as to extend outward in the surface direction when viewed from the installation surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 12, 2020
    Date of Patent: October 24, 2023
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Masayuki Yamaji
  • Patent number: 11731703
    Abstract: An energy dissipation system for a frame of a vehicle includes a frame rail including a crushable region and a non-crushable region. An energy dissipation device includes an energy transfer portion arranged partially in the crushable region and partially in the non-crushable region and configured to move in response to a vehicle impact on the frame rail. An energy dissipation portion is arranged within the non-crushable region, connected to the energy transfer portion. The energy dissipation device includes a first region connecting the energy dissipation portion to the non-crushable region, and a second region connecting the energy dissipation portion to the energy transfer portion. The first region of the energy dissipation portion is stiffer than the second region of the energy dissipation portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 21, 2021
    Date of Patent: August 22, 2023
    Assignee: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS LLC
    Inventors: John E. Howard, Bradley Leier, Zohir Molhem
  • Patent number: 11650085
    Abstract: Method and apparatus are disclosed for facilitating active protection of peripheral sensors. An example vehicle includes a sensor and a sensor protector. The example sensor protector is configured to, responsive to a vehicle collision, obtain diagnostic information from the sensor. The example sensor protector is also configured to determine whether to move the sensor from a first position to a second position based on the diagnostic information. The example sensor protector is also configured to cause the sensor to from the first position to the second position based on the determination.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 24, 2020
    Date of Patent: May 16, 2023
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Somak Datta Gupta, Mahmoud Yousef Ghannam, Swadad A. Carremm
  • Patent number: 11618504
    Abstract: There is provided a bracket which connects an apron reinforcement provided below a bonnet and an upper portion of a fender provided on an outward side, in a vehicle width direction, of the bonnet. The bracket comprises a fender fixing portion fixed to a flange portion of an upper end portion of the fender, a body portion extending downwardly from the fender fixing portion and positioned on the outward side of the apron reinforcement, and an apron-reinforcement fixing portion extending from an inward side, in the vehicle width direction, of the body portion toward the apron reinforcement and fixed to the apron reinforcement. The body portion is provided with a curved part which is configured to be curved outwardly in the vehicle width direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 28, 2021
    Date of Patent: April 4, 2023
    Assignee: MAZDA MOTOR CORPORATION
    Inventors: Kuniyoshi Tashiro, Shigeaki Watanabe, Ryuichi Takahashi, Masatoki Kito, Susumu Kuroda, Reiko Yoshiura, Tomohiro Shimada, Kazumichi Takeshige, Qiang Wang, Toshihiro Nakaza, Satoru Eguchi, Hayato Miyazaki
  • Patent number: 11603134
    Abstract: A frame for a vehicle includes a bumper support frame member, and a longitudinal frame member coupled to the bumper support frame member. The longitudinal frame member includes a rail member having an asymmetric crash response.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 8, 2020
    Date of Patent: March 14, 2023
    Assignee: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS LLC
    Inventors: Bradley Leier, Mohammed N. Shaik, Ron J. Taulbee, Mohamed Darsot
  • Patent number: 11364956
    Abstract: This disclosure relates to a motor vehicle floor assembly with recesses for electrical lines and electrical modules, and a corresponding method. An example assembly includes a floor with a surface, a channel at a first depth relative to the surface, and a pocket at a second depth relative to the surface. The second depth is greater than the first depth.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 11, 2019
    Date of Patent: June 21, 2022
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: David Jeffeory Berels, Jonathan Engels, Scott Mayberry, Galen Keith Thomas, Matthew V. Volpone
  • Patent number: 11358548
    Abstract: A pedestrian collision sensing device may include: a bumper skin having one or more pressure sensor installation parts formed thereon; a bumper absorber disposed at a rear of the bumper skin, and having an installation groove part formed therein; a pressure transfer tube extended in a lateral direction along the installation groove part; a tube mounting member configured to cover a circumference of the pressure transfer tube, and inserted and installed into the installation groove part; and one or more pressure sensors each connected to an end of the pressure transfer tube and coupled to the pressure sensor installation part.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 5, 2020
    Date of Patent: June 14, 2022
    Assignee: HYUNDAI MOBIS CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Byung Hyuk Park
  • Patent number: 11338864
    Abstract: A vehicle body module connecting joint for connecting a first body module to a second body module. Elongate profiles are arranged along facing edges of the first and second body modules, respectively. The profiles are clamped together by locking wedges arranged parallel to the profiles and connected by fastening means extending between facing profiles on the first and second body modules. The connecting joint includes a first profile arranged along a side edge of a first body module along a surface remote from the connecting joint and a second profile arranged parallel to and in form-fitting contact with the first profile along facing side surfaces. The assembled first and second profiles forming a single first dovetail section along a surface facing the connecting joint.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 14, 2017
    Date of Patent: May 24, 2022
    Assignee: VOLVO TRUCK CORPORATION
    Inventor: Lars Carlden
  • Patent number: 11236414
    Abstract: High strength galvannealed steel sheet having, a) a composition consisting of (in wt. %): C 0.10-0.2, Mn 2.0-3.0, Si 0.2-0.5, Cr 0.1-0.7, Ti 0.01-0.07, Al?0.2, Nb<0.05, Mo<0.1, optionally B 0.001-0.005, balance Fe apart from impurities, b) a multiphase microstructure comprising (in vol. %) retained austenite 4-20, martensite 5-25, bainitic ferrite ?10, polygonal ferrite ?10, balance bainite+tempered martensite 50-90, c) a tensile strength (Rm) 1180-1300 MPa, a yield strength (Rp0.2) 800-970 MPa, an elongation (A50) ?8%, or an elongation (A80) ?6%, and d) a bendability value Ri/t of ?4 for a sample having the size of 35 mm×100 mm, wherein Ri is the bending radius in mm and t is the thickness in mm of the steel sheet.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 8, 2016
    Date of Patent: February 1, 2022
    Assignees: VOESTALPINE STAHL GMBH, TOYOTA MOTOR EUROPE NV/SA
    Inventors: Thomas Hebesberger, Florian Winkelhofer, Markus Anzenberger, Edip Oze Arman
  • Patent number: 11207958
    Abstract: An exemplary motor vehicle includes a first door on a first side of the motor vehicle including a first pad adjacent a rear edge of the first door, and a second door on the first side of the motor vehicle including a second pad adjacent a front edge of the second door. Further, the first pad and second pad are arranged such that, in a first condition, the first pad and second pad are spaced-apart from one another and, in a second condition, the first pad and second pad contact one another to prevent overlap of the first door and second door.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 30, 2019
    Date of Patent: December 28, 2021
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Yishak Habtemichael, Jeffrey Comfort, William Moore Sherwood, Steven Angus
  • Patent number: 11097676
    Abstract: An apparatus and method for improving the safety and performance of an automobile in crash events is disclosed. The apparatus includes a front crash pad, rear crash pad, and a connection beam. Both crash pads and the connection beam are coupled to an automobile in such fashion as to absorb and dissipate energy by converting kinetic energy into strain energy.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 2, 2019
    Date of Patent: August 24, 2021
    Assignee: Tesseract Structural Innovations, Inc.
    Inventor: Henry L. Renegar
  • Patent number: 11098385
    Abstract: The invention relates to a method for continuously roller-forming and hardening sheet steel in which a sheet steel strip is continuously roller-formed into a profile in a roller-profiling unit, characterized in that the roller-formed profile strand is preheated to a temperature below the austenite starting temperature (Ac1) and the roller-formed profile strand is then heated across subregions of its cross-section and/or subregions of its length to a temperature above AC3, with the roller-formed profile strand being acted on with tension at least during the heating of subregions to a temperature >AC3.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 12, 2016
    Date of Patent: August 24, 2021
    Assignee: VOESTALPINE KREMS GMBH
    Inventors: Alfred Seyr, Christian Rouet
  • Patent number: 11084533
    Abstract: A vehicle body structure may include: front side members extended in a longitudinal direction of the vehicle and provided at opposite sides of the vehicle body structure; a sub-frame that includes: a front cross member and a rear cross member, which are spaced apart from each other, and front side structures extending forward from opposite sides of the sub-frame, where the sub-frame is coupled to the front side members at opposite sides; fender apron members to connect the front side structures to A-pillars of the vehicle body structure; load distribution members coupled to the fender apron members to transmit a load to the fender apron members and to the front side members; and a cross bar extending in the transverse direction while being spaced apart from an upper side of the front cross member of the sub-frame, and having opposite ends coupled to the front side members.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 6, 2019
    Date of Patent: August 10, 2021
    Assignees: HYUNDAI MOTOR COMPANY, KIA MOTORS CORPORAITON
    Inventors: Hyunwook Park, SeungMin Jeong
  • Patent number: 10960906
    Abstract: The invention relates to an energy absorbing fastener suitable for connecting a part of a coupler or pivot to a car of a multi-car vehicle, wherein a fastener having a head and an end is provided, the end being suitable to be connected to an element of the coupler or the pivot, a deformation tube surrounding the fastener, whereby the deformation tube has a first end, whereby the head of the fastener rests against the first end or rests against an element that rests against the first end, and whereby the deformation tube has a second end suitable to rest against a surface of the car or a connection plate suitable to be connected to the car.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 25, 2016
    Date of Patent: March 30, 2021
    Assignee: Dellner Couplers AB
    Inventors: Jacek Skowronek, Anders Westman
  • Patent number: 10899201
    Abstract: A method includes molding an outer impact beam made of carbon fiber reinforced plastics (CFRP) and separately molding an inner impact beam made of CFRP. The outer impact beam and the inner impact beam are coupled to each other to form an impact beam and the impact beam is coupled to an inner panel of a vehicle door.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 20, 2019
    Date of Patent: January 26, 2021
    Assignees: Hyundai Motor Company, Kia Motors Corporation
    Inventors: Seung Il Choi, Jae Hyuk Cheong, Jeong Hyeon Kim
  • Patent number: 10882557
    Abstract: A vehicle lower structure includes: a pair of rear side members having a kick-up part bent toward an upper rear side of a vehicle; a rear cross member that connect parts of the pair of rear side members on a rear side from the kick-up parts; a battery pack; and a bracket including a lower flange placed against a rear end of the battery pack, and has a lower fastening hole through which a first fastening member is inserted; and an upper flange that is placed against the rear cross member, and has an upper fastening hole through which a second fastening member is inserted. The bracket has a fragile portion at least either between the upper fastening hole and an end edge of the upper flange or between the lower fastening hole and an end edge of the lower flange.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 6, 2019
    Date of Patent: January 5, 2021
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Kazuma Otoguro
  • Patent number: 10850751
    Abstract: The invention relates to a bearing block assembly for hinging of a coupling rod to a carriage body. The bearing block assembly includes a bearing shell unit and a bearing block with a flange for connecting the bearing block assembly to the carriage body and has an open bearing shell receiving region for at least partial reception of the bearing shell unit. The bearing block assembly has at least one guide extending in a longitudinal direction over at least a section of the extension of the bearing block. The bearing shell unit connects to the bearing block via at least one tear-off element and/or at least one shear-off element and is movably guided on the at least one guide in a longitudinal direction relative to same when the connecting element is actuated, thereby releasing the connection between the bearing shell unit and the bearing block.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 25, 2018
    Date of Patent: December 1, 2020
    Assignee: Voith Patent GmbH
    Inventors: Mathias Wipfler, Renato Guimarães Aquino de Oliveira
  • Patent number: 10821933
    Abstract: A system for noise and vibration sealing of a vehicle while providing reduced impact resistance includes a block of compressible material positionable between a vehicle hood and a support structure of the vehicle. The block of compressible material may include an attachment surface configured to be secured to a portion of the vehicle and an impact surface formed opposite the attachment surface. The impact surface may be positioned in the vehicle to be contacted by the hood or support structure during an impact event. An exterior surface may extend between the attachment surface and the impact surface. A cavity may be formed in the exterior surface. The cavity may have a first inner surface and a second inner surface opposing the first inner surface, and may be shaped to accommodate crushing of the block of compressible material during the impact event.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 30, 2019
    Date of Patent: November 3, 2020
    Assignee: Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing North America, Inc.
    Inventors: Jeremiah T. Hammer, Troy N. Grantham
  • Patent number: 10766536
    Abstract: A vehicle including a lateral energy absorption system which includes a first side beam that defines a first chamber. The first side beam extends between a front and a rear of the vehicle. A second side beam that defines a second chamber. The second side beam extends between the front and the rear of the vehicle. Further, a first carbon structure within the first chamber, and a second carbon structure within the second chamber, are included. The first and second carbon structures absorb energy from an impact on a side of the vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 24, 2017
    Date of Patent: September 8, 2020
    Assignee: Thunder Power New Energy Vehicle Development Company Limited
    Inventor: Peter Tutzer
  • Patent number: 10710636
    Abstract: Provided is a vehicle front portion structure including: front side members that are disposed at right and left side portions of a vehicle front portion and extend in the vehicle front and rear direction; suspension towers that are disposed so as to project in the vehicle upward direction from the front side members; front joining portions that are provided on the suspension towers, join the suspension towers and the front side members to each other, and at which joining between the suspension towers and the front side members are cancelled at the time of a frontal impact; and rear joining portions that are provided on the vehicle rear sides of the front joining portions in the suspension towers and join the suspension towers and the front side members to each other.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 14, 2018
    Date of Patent: July 14, 2020
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Masami Uehata
  • Patent number: 10611409
    Abstract: A strengthening member for an automotive vehicle includes a twelve-cornered cross section including sides and corners creating eight internal angles and four external angles. The strengthening member also includes four indentations extending along a length of the strengthening member. Each indentation is respectively defined by two of the eight internal angles and one if the four external angles of the strengthening member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 11, 2017
    Date of Patent: April 7, 2020
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Tau Tyan, Leonard Anthony Shaner, Yu-Kan Hu
  • Patent number: 10363892
    Abstract: A crash box has excellent axial crushing performance and in which, even if the sheet thickness of a tubular body constituting the crash box is smaller than 1.4 mm, good welding can be performed with the tubular body butted against a set plate. The crash box (1) having a metallic longer-length tubular body and a method for producing the crash box are provided. The tubular body has a basic cross-sectional shape that is a flat polygon surrounded by a plurality of ridges (2-1 to 2-4) extending in a longitudinal direction and a plurality of side wall portions (4), includes one or more groove portions (3-1 and 3-2) on side wall portions (4) on long sides substantially parallel to the major axis direction of the cross section that extend in longitudinal direction, and includes outward flanges (5-1 to 5-4) in an end portion in the longitudinal direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 24, 2014
    Date of Patent: July 30, 2019
    Assignee: NIPPON STEEL CORPORATION
    Inventors: Ryuichi Nishimura, Kenichiro Otsuka, Yasuhiro Ito, Yoshiaki Nakazawa
  • Patent number: 10173728
    Abstract: A vehicle energy absorbing system for a high-speed, small-overlap impact, comprising: lobes (12) spaced intermittently along a vehicle rail (1), wherein the lobes (12) include an impact arm (14), a reactionary arm (16), and a base (22), wherein a shape of the base (22) is complimentary to a shape of the vehicle rail (1) and wherein the impact arm (14) and the reactionary arm (16) protrude outwardly from the base (22) and the vehicle rail (1), wherein a channel (20) is formed in the space between the base (22), the impact arm (14), and the reactionary arm (16), wherein the channel (20) extends through the lobe (12) from end to end.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 20, 2015
    Date of Patent: January 8, 2019
    Assignee: SABIC GLOBAL TECHNOLOGIES B.V.
    Inventors: Dinesh Munjurulimana, Dhanendra Kumar Nagwanshi, Matthew D. Marks
  • Patent number: 10065683
    Abstract: A B-pillar for a motor vehicle body has an inner panel made of sheet metal material and a multi-component outer panel connected to the inner panel. The outer panel comprises a lower formed part made of sheet metal material and an upper formed part made of fiber reinforced plastic, which two formed parts are arranged along a region of overlap so as to overlap one another and are connected to one another such that the lower formed part projects from the upper formed part beyond the upper formed part beyond the region of overlap in a first direction of longitudinal extension of the B-pillar and that the upper formed part projects from the lower formed part beyond the region of overlap in a second direction of longitudinal extension of the B-pillar.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 9, 2016
    Date of Patent: September 4, 2018
    Assignee: Muhr und Bender KG
    Inventors: Hubertus Steffens, Bernhard Spielvogel
  • Patent number: 10029633
    Abstract: A protective member such as a helmet includes an outer layer and an inner layer interconnected by multiple connectors, such as extension springs, under tension along their longitudinal axis. The connectors absorb energy from an impact force by resisting further tension along their longitudinal axis and allow the outer layer and inner layer to move relative to each other. In the helmet application, the head of a user experiences less impact force, reduced change in momentum or position of the head and neck, reduced head and neck loads and reduced amounts of linear and rotational acceleration. The protective member can be used in numerous applications and environments, including for participants in sports, in applications including bumpers, passenger cabins, car seats and beds.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 4, 2016
    Date of Patent: July 24, 2018
    Assignees: Emerson Spalding Phipps
    Inventors: Emerson Spalding Phipps, Charles Edward Phipps
  • Patent number: 9963169
    Abstract: A vehicle body frame includes a first vertical bead portion (38) adjacent to an inner ridge line (54), a first strain development region (39) defined by an arc (67) of a minimum distance (L1) between the first vertical bead portion (38) and an outer ridge line (55), a second vertical bead portion (41) adjacent to the outer ridge line (55), and a second strain development region (42) defined by an arc (68) of the minimum distance (L1) between the second vertical bead portion (41) and the inner ridge line (54).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 20, 2017
    Date of Patent: May 8, 2018
    Assignee: HONDA MOTOR CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Eisei Higuchi, Hirokazu Kobayashi
  • Patent number: 9889887
    Abstract: A strengthening member for a vehicle, a vehicle including a strengthening member, and a method of making a strengthening member for a vehicle is provided. The strengthening member can have a twelve-cornered cross section that includes sides and corners. The sides can include eight straight sides and four curved sides. A length of each straight side can be substantially the same, a radius of a curvature of each curved side can be substantially the same, and a ratio of the straight side length to the curvature radius may range from about 0.9 to about 1.6. In a motor vehicle, length of each straight side of the cross section of the strengthening member can range from about 10 mm to about 200 mm and the radius of the curvature of each curved side of the cross section of the strengthening member can range from about 3 mm to about 400 mm.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 20, 2016
    Date of Patent: February 13, 2018
    Assignee: FORD GLOBAL TECHNOLOGIES, LLC
    Inventors: Tau Tyan, Yu-Kan Hu, Leonard Anthony Shaner
  • Patent number: 9868468
    Abstract: A vehicle front structure includes a left side rail that extends longitudinally in a front left portion of the vehicle. The left side rail includes an inboard shell and an outboard shell. A forward section of the outboard shell is at least partially disposed in an outer left quarter of a total width of the vehicle. A rearward section of the outboard shell is disposed inboard of the outer left quarter. The forward sections of the inboard and outboard shells each have a distal side, top side, and bottom side that respectively form generally U-shaped cross-sections. The outboard shell is fixedly attached to the inboard shell to form a generally rectangular cross-section. The forward section of the outboard shell is a first lateral width. The rearward section of the outboard shell is a second lateral width that is less than the first lateral width.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 8, 2017
    Date of Patent: January 16, 2018
    Assignee: FCA US LLC
    Inventors: Sae U Park, Brian M Beaudet
  • Patent number: 9845112
    Abstract: A motor vehicle assembly that includes a strengthening member having a twelve-cornered cross section along at least a portion of the strengthening member, and an automotive component having a four-cornered cross section along at least a portion of the automotive component. The cross section of one of the strengthening member and the automotive component transitions between twelve corners and four corners to facilitate a connection between the strengthening member and the automotive component.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 16, 2015
    Date of Patent: December 19, 2017
    Assignee: FORD GLOBAL TECHNOLOGIES, LLC
    Inventors: Tau Tyan, Yu-Kan Hu, Leonard Anthony Shaner, Ajay Kumar Gupta, Mark Wlotkowski, Narayana Venugopal
  • Patent number: 9840281
    Abstract: A strengthening member for an automotive vehicle comprises a twelve-cornered cross section including sides and corners creating eight internal angles and four external angles. Each internal angle and each external angle is greater than 90°. At least a portion of the strengthening member tapers along its length.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 2, 2015
    Date of Patent: December 12, 2017
    Assignee: FORD GLOBAL TECHNOLOGIES, LLC
    Inventors: Tau Tyan, Leonard Anthony Shaner, Yu-Kan Hu
  • Patent number: 9809255
    Abstract: A vehicle an underbody structure includes a bumper, a subframe, and a frame. The frame interconnects the bumper and the subframe. The frame includes first and second symmetrical halves spaced at a distance. The frame is attached to the bumper at front segments of each of the halves, and to the subframe at rear segments of each of the halves. The halves are defined by a plurality of legs formed with the front and rear segments such that the first and second halves define load paths configured to transfer energy throughout the frame.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 16, 2016
    Date of Patent: November 7, 2017
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Ching-Hung Chuang, Ren-Jye Yang, Rahul Arora, Mohamed Ridha Baccouche
  • Patent number: 9789908
    Abstract: An impact load reduction structure includes a battery frame and a load reduction frame. The battery frame is fixed to a vehicle body frame of an electrically-powered vehicle and supports a battery. The load reduction frame is disposed so as to extend in a front-rear direction on a front side of the battery frame. A rear section of the load reduction frame is disposed facing a front section of the battery frame with a predetermined gap therebetween such that the load reduction frame comes into contact with the battery frame when the electrically-powered vehicle is involved in a collision.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 9, 2016
    Date of Patent: October 17, 2017
    Assignee: SUBARU CORPORATION
    Inventors: Takehisa Tsukada, Hiroshi Matsuda
  • Patent number: 9718421
    Abstract: A fender bracket of a motor vehicle, which includes seatings for attaching a fender, a point for anchoring with a structural element of the vehicle, and an area for attaching a hinge of the bonnet, the area for attaching the hinge being separated from the anchoring point, and the attachment seatings and the attachment area being shaped such as to ensure a predetermined relative positioning between the fender and the bonnet.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 25, 2013
    Date of Patent: August 1, 2017
    Assignee: Compagnie Plastic Omnium
    Inventors: Marcel Boksebeld, Laurent Martin
  • Patent number: 9718356
    Abstract: Provided is a mounting structure including an electronic control unit, a plurality of support brackets, a transaxle case, an intermediate bracket protruding from the transaxle case toward a rear side of the vehicle, and an engaging projection. The engaging projection is a projection that is provided to at least one of an upper surface of the intermediate bracket or a bottom surface of the electronic control unit in a region where the intermediate bracket is in surface contact with a mounting surface of the transaxle case, the engaging projection protruding in a direction toward the upper surface of the intermediate bracket and the bottom surface of the electronic control unit. The engaging projection presses the intermediate bracket against the mounting surface of the transaxle case responding to displacement of the electronic control unit at the time of vehicle collision.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 17, 2017
    Date of Patent: August 1, 2017
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Akihiko Ikeda, Teppei Yamashita, Fumiaki Shigematsu
  • Patent number: 9709120
    Abstract: An energy-absorbing structure is provided. The energy-absorbing structure includes a first panel member and a second panel member coupled together. The first panel member has a first edge and a second edge opposite the first edge. The second panel member defines a first edge and a second edge opposite the first edge. The second panel member further defines a first deformable wall extending from the first edge thereof and away from the first panel member and a second deformable wall extending from the second edge thereof and away from the first panel member. The first deformable wall defines a first plurality of apertures and the second deformable wall defines a second plurality of apertures. The first and second plurality of apertures may be defined as one of an array of perforations and a plurality of slots. The energy-absorbing structure may be provided as a hood for a motor vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 1, 2016
    Date of Patent: July 18, 2017
    Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC
    Inventors: David B. Waskie, Jason M. Miller, Vijay Shankar Iyer, Scott W. Thorpe
  • Patent number: 9573559
    Abstract: A front body structure of a vehicle includes: a cowl panel supporting a front window member; and an outside air introducing duct of an air conditioner. The cowl panel includes: a protruding portion which is located under a portion supporting the front window member, protrudes in a forward direction, and is provided with an opening portion; and a vertical wall portion extending in a downward direction from a lower end of the protruding portion. The outside air introducing duct includes: an opening connected to the opening portion; and a deformation promoting portion formed on at least one of vehicle-width-direction side surfaces of the outside air introducing duct and configured to promote rearward displacement of the opening when the protruding portion receives a collision load from outside.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 10, 2014
    Date of Patent: February 21, 2017
    Assignee: Mazda Motor Corporation
    Inventors: Yasuhiko Nishida, Tetsuya Hisanaga, Yukihito Takikawa
  • Patent number: 9555569
    Abstract: A plastic overmold aluminum extrusion including at least one plastic overmold and aluminum extrusion. The aluminum extrusion is formed with sufficient cross sectional properties and features such as an internal web to help prevent undesirable collapses under injection or compression molding pressures. This improves part geometry and strength while minimizing weight. A plurality of protrusions and/or local deformations on an outer wall of the extrusion can be used to create strong mechanical interface to the plastic. Localized deformations can result from a combination of the applied plastic pressure under injection or compression molding pressures and the proximity of outer gaps of the internal web structure. A process of making the plastic overmold aluminum extrusion includes inserting at least one aluminum extrusion into a mold without mandrels and delivering plastic forming the plastic overmold.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 28, 2013
    Date of Patent: January 31, 2017
    Assignee: MAGNA EXTERIORS INC.
    Inventor: Mark Peter Birka
  • Patent number: 9550447
    Abstract: A vehicle assembly includes a front end module, an upper panel, and a fender covering the upper panel. The vehicle assembly also includes a housing, mounted to the front end module, having a first contour, and a bracket, having a second contour complementary with the first contour, attached with the housing. The bracket generally maintains a position of the headlamp assembly relative to the upper panel during a RCAR Low Speed Structural Crash Test Protocol (Issue 2.2).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 6, 2014
    Date of Patent: January 24, 2017
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Mustafa Ahmed, Ian Dupret, Thejaswi Prabhakar, William Moore Sherwood, Sara E. Veyo, Ray Hari Manala Rethinam
  • Patent number: 9457846
    Abstract: A vehicle with a driver's cab including a driver unit with a vertically suspended floor structure and a vehicle steering control, a vehicle speed control and a driver's seat. The cab is provided with a deformation zone behind the driver unit for absorbing force in case of a frontal collision. A horizontal beam belonging to the cab frame structure is positioned in front of the driver unit. An arrangement for positively locking the beam to the driver unit is provided in case a frontal collision causes the beam to contact the driver unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 8, 2012
    Date of Patent: October 4, 2016
    Assignee: Volvo Lastvagnar AB
    Inventor: Göran Levin
  • Patent number: 9267563
    Abstract: A friction control device includes a slotted shield through which an active material layer selectively expands. A system includes a second component movable with respect to a first component; a friction control device between the first component and the second component, the friction control device including: an active material layer; and a slotted shield through which the active material layer selectively expands through. A method for controlling a frictional interface between a first component and a second component, includes selectively expanding an active material through a multiple of slots.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 30, 2013
    Date of Patent: February 23, 2016
    Assignee: Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing North America, Inc.
    Inventor: Umesh N. Gandhi
  • Patent number: 9242612
    Abstract: A shock absorbing member includes an outer peripheral wall having a polygonal cross-sectional shape and including a plurality of side portions, and a plurality of ribs, on an inner side of the outer peripheral wall, radially extending from a central axis and connected to an intermediate position of each of the side portions. A boundary position of adjacent side portions on an outer peripheral surface of the outer peripheral wall is defined as a vertex, an intermediate position of each side portion on the outer peripheral surface of the outer peripheral wall is defined as a rib connection point, and portions segmenting each of the side portion into two, with the rib connection point as a boundary, are each defined as a half-side portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 16, 2012
    Date of Patent: January 26, 2016
    Assignee: SHOWA DENKO K.K.
    Inventors: Yasuji Kawamata, Satoshi Yamaguchi
  • Patent number: 9242673
    Abstract: A vehicle body front portion structure including a front side member disposed, with a longitudinal direction thereof being in a vehicle longitudinal direction, at a vehicle transverse direction outer side portion of a vehicle body front portion; a bumper reinforcement disposed, with a longitudinal direction thereof being in a vehicle transverse direction, at a vehicle front side of the front side member, and that is supported via a supporting member at a front end portion of the front side member; a plate portion whose plate thickness direction is in the vehicle longitudinal direction, and that extends toward a vehicle transverse direction outer side from the front end portion of the front side member; and a reinforcing member disposed at a vehicle rear side of the plate portion, and that, together with the plate portion, forms a closed cross-section as seen in a plan cross-section.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 4, 2013
    Date of Patent: January 26, 2016
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Atsushi Okamoto
  • Patent number: 9233658
    Abstract: A sinusoidal crush can assembly for a bumper assembly includes a top wall, a bottom wall spaced from the top wall, and a pair of spaced side walls that extend between the top wall and the bottom wall to present a generally tubular and trapezoidal shape. The crush can assembly further includes a sinusoidal wave portion disposed along each of the walls from the rear end towards the front end. Each of the wave portions include peaks and troughs that define a sinusoidal wave depth, and the sinusoidal wave depth reduces gradually from the front end toward the rear end. Each of the peaks and the troughs are aligned with one another. The crush can assembly further includes a wave portion separator that extends angularly between adjacent ones of the wave portions to transition between each of the sinusoidal wave portions that are disposed along each of the walls.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 10, 2013
    Date of Patent: January 12, 2016
    Assignee: Magna International Inc.
    Inventors: Suresh R. Kale, Santosh Billur, Prashant G. Khadabadi
  • Patent number: 9187127
    Abstract: A strengthening member for an automotive vehicle comprises a twelve-cornered cross section including sides and corners creating internal angles and external angles. To facilitate a connection between the strengthening member and the automotive component, one of the strengthening member and the automotive component may transition from the twelve-cornered cross section at a first end of the strengthening member to a four-cornered cross section at a second end of the strengthening member. An automotive assembly may include a strengthening member connected to an automotive component via a separate bridge connection member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 3, 2014
    Date of Patent: November 17, 2015
    Assignee: FORD GLOBAL TECHNOLOGIES, LLC
    Inventors: Tau Tyan, Yu-Kan Hu, Leonard Anthony Shaner, Ajay Kumar Gupta, Mark Wlotkowski, Narayana Venugopal