Side Patents (Class 296/187.12)
  • Patent number: 11975600
    Abstract: An electric truck that travels by electric power supplied from a battery includes a ladder frame including a pair of side rails, where the side rails face each other in a vehicle width direction, and a power supply unit including the battery, where the power supply unit is disposed between the side rails and is connected to the side rails. The side rails each have flanges having a predetermined width provided at each edge of a respective web. At least one of the flanges at a location facing a corner of the power supply unit as viewed in the vehicle width direction has a narrowed flange portion having a width smaller than the predetermined width.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 17, 2020
    Date of Patent: May 7, 2024
    Assignee: Daimler Truck AG
    Inventors: Kiyoshi Kimura, Shigeru Okonogi
  • Patent number: 11955650
    Abstract: An embodiment battery-mounting structure includes a side sill, a mounting bracket connected to the side sill, the mounting bracket being deformable by external force, a connecting member coupled to the mounting bracket and spaced apart from the side sill by a predetermined distance, and a battery assembly including a side flange coupled to the connecting member, the battery assembly being configured to receive a high-voltage battery.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 19, 2021
    Date of Patent: April 9, 2024
    Assignees: HYUNDAI MOTOR COMPANY, KIA CORPORATION
    Inventor: Seung Won An
  • Patent number: 11878576
    Abstract: The vehicle door structure includes: a door outer panel including a projected section that projects outward in a vehicle width direction, a recessed section that is separated from the projected section and recessed inward in the vehicle width direction, and a boundary section between the projected section and the recessed section; and a panel reinforcement fixed to an inner surface in the vehicle width direction of the door outer panel. The panel reinforcement includes: a first frame section that extends in a vehicle front-rear direction; and a second frame section at a position that overlaps the boundary section in the vehicle side view and is configured to be able to transmit a load to the first frame section at the time when the load in an inward direction of the vehicle width direction is applied to the boundary section.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 12, 2022
    Date of Patent: January 23, 2024
    Assignee: MAZDA MOTOR CORPORATION
    Inventors: Daisuke Nakayama, Kyohei Yukita, Tomohiro Komaji
  • Patent number: 11752851
    Abstract: A vehicle includes a vehicle body provided with each of a pair of rockers on each side of a floor panel in a right-left direction, a battery pack that stores electric power to be supplied to a traction motor, and a pair of fixing members that fixes the battery pack to the rockers. The battery pack and the fixing members are joined by a plurality of adhesion members. The adhesion members are intermittently laid out along a vehicle length direction of the vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 15, 2021
    Date of Patent: September 12, 2023
    Assignees: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA, SUBARU CORPORATION
    Inventors: Naoki Takahashi, Takuya Hirota, Shunji Shibata
  • Patent number: 11724577
    Abstract: A door structure includes a door panel, a first beam member, a first bracket attached to a rear end portion of the first beam member, a second beam member formed separately from the first beam member, a second bracket attached to a rear end portion of the second beam member and formed separately from the first bracket, and a coupling member, to which the first bracket and the second bracket are fixed to be arranged side by side, and which is attached to the door panel. The coupling member includes an extending portion extending in a vehicle width direction between the first bracket and the second bracket.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 20, 2022
    Date of Patent: August 15, 2023
    Assignee: HONDA MOTOR CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Takashi Kasuya
  • Patent number: 11712949
    Abstract: What is provided is an automobile side structure including: a first impact absorbing member (122) extending in a vehicle height direction inside an automobile door; a second impact absorbing member (126) inside the automobile door; a door inner panel (200) inside the automobile door; and a side sill (520), in which the first impact absorbing member (122), the second impact absorbing member (126), the door inner panel (200), and the side sill (520) are on a straight line in a vehicle width direction, and the second impact absorbing member (126) is disposed between the first impact absorbing member (122) and the door inner panel (200); and an automobile.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 15, 2020
    Date of Patent: August 1, 2023
    Assignee: NIPPON STEEL CORPORATION
    Inventors: Toshiya Suzuki, Yoshiaki Nakazawa
  • Patent number: 11697329
    Abstract: A vehicle door structure includes: a horizontal beam arranged inside a door of a vehicle to extend in a vehicle front-rear direction; and a vertical beam arranged inside the door to extend in a vehicle up-down direction, wherein a vehicle front-side end and a vehicle rear-side end of the horizontal beam are each fixed to a door frame, and the vertical beam is fixed in a cantilever fashion to an intermediate portion of the horizontal beam in an axial direction thereof.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 26, 2022
    Date of Patent: July 11, 2023
    Assignee: HONDA MOTOR CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Atsushi Hasegawa, Yoshihiro Fujimura, Yasuhisa Egawa, Takuro Nishida, Yumi Saito
  • Patent number: 11679809
    Abstract: A vehicle body includes: side sills coupled to opposite sides of the vehicle body in a forward-rearward longitudinal direction of the vehicle body, rear lower members coupled between the side sills and front side members, and a lower bar coupled to the side sills while being coupled to the rear lower members in a lateral direction of the vehicle body.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 26, 2021
    Date of Patent: June 20, 2023
    Assignees: HYUNDAI MOTOR COMPANY, KIA MOTORS CORPORATION
    Inventors: Seong Su Shin, Jang Won Hong
  • Patent number: 11628711
    Abstract: Aside door structure for a vehicle includes a door beam that has hollow sections which are open at two ends in a longitudinal direction, and a hinge reinforcement member including a bent plate body in a crank shape that is joined to one of a front end and a rear end of the door beam. The hinge reinforcement member forms the crank shape by integrally forming a middle portion that closes an opening in the one of the front end and the rear end of the door beam and is joined to a stepped vertical wall of an inner panel of a side door, an outer end portion that is joined to a stepped outer side wall of the inner panel and an outer wall of the door beam, and an inner end portion that is joined to an inner wall of the door beam.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 26, 2022
    Date of Patent: April 18, 2023
    Assignee: HONDA MOTOR CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Takayuki Soma, Eiji Hirano, Yu Iemura
  • Patent number: 11618304
    Abstract: A hinge reinforcement comprises a reinforcement face portion which faces a door-hinge attachment face portion, an inside connection portion which longitudinally extends in a direction approaching a door center from an inside end portion, in a vehicle width direction, of the reinforcement face portion and is fixed to a door inside face portion, a first joint portion which longitudinally extends in the direction approaching the door center from the reinforcement face portion and is fixed to an impact bar, and a second joint portion which longitudinally extends in a direction away from the door center from an outside end portion, in the vehicle width direction, of the reinforcement face portion and is fixed to a door flange portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 30, 2021
    Date of Patent: April 4, 2023
    Assignee: MAZDA MOTOR CORPORATION
    Inventors: Reiko Tokuno, Shinsuke Hirao, Masahiro Nakashige
  • Patent number: 11577787
    Abstract: A rear vehicle-body structure is provided that can absorb a rear-end collision load by a short frame region on a vehicle-body rear side. Embodiments include a rear side frame having a rear-side breaking frame section including a rear-side breakage starting portion on a rear side among breakage starting portions disposed at intervals in a front-rear direction, a front-side breaking frame section including a front-side breakage starting portion on a front side and at which the direction of breakage is opposite from the direction of breakage at the rear-side breakage starting portion, and a middle frame section between the rear-side breakage starting portion and the front-side breakage starting portion. The axial proof stress of the rear-side breaking frame section is lower than the axial proof stress of the front-side breaking frame section; and the middle frame section includes beads at a predetermined interval in an axial direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 18, 2021
    Date of Patent: February 14, 2023
    Assignee: MAZDA MOTOR CORPORATION
    Inventors: Harumitsu Kubota, Taichi Hirakawa
  • Patent number: 11535127
    Abstract: A seat mounted in the cabin of a vehicle has side supports for supporting the respective right and left lateral sides of the upper half body of an occupant. The seat also has a seat frame and a side support frame incorporated in the side support on the inner side in the vehicle width direction and secured on the seat frame. A console box is mounted adjacent to the seat, on the inner side of the seat in the vehicle width direction. The side support frame and the console box or the console frame are positioned so as to at least partially overlap each other in a side view.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 6, 2019
    Date of Patent: December 27, 2022
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Ippei Kobayashi, Yoichi Tamura, Takahiko Aoki, Mitsuhiro Hamada, Ryouhei Kawagishi
  • Patent number: 11485415
    Abstract: A vehicle body lower structure may include: a hollow rocker arranged at a lower lateral part of a vehicle body and extending along a front-rear direction of the vehicle body; a power source arranged adjacent to the rocker; an energy absorbing member connected to the power source and arranged under the rocker; and a collar arranged between the rocker and the energy absorbing member. The rocker may be provided with a flange extending downward from a bottom plate of the rocker. A height of the collar above the energy absorbing member may be greater than a height of the flange.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 28, 2020
    Date of Patent: November 1, 2022
    Assignees: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA, SUBARU CORPORATION
    Inventors: Naoki Takahashi, Shunji Shibata
  • Patent number: 11440593
    Abstract: A vehicle body lower structure may include: a rocker; an energy absorbing member (an EA member) arranged under the rocker, the EA member being a hollow beam; and a collar penetrating an upper plate of the EA member and welded to the upper plate. The collar is arranged between the rocker and a lower plate of the EA member. The EA member includes a first/a second/a third vertical plates and a diagonal brace, these plates connect the upper plate and the lower plate of the EA member to each other. The second vertical plate is positioned between the first and the third vertical plates. The collar passes between the first vertical plate and the second vertical plate. The diagonal brace connects a first inner corner where the second vertical plate meets the upper plate and a second inner corner where the third vertical plate meets the lower plate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 8, 2021
    Date of Patent: September 13, 2022
    Assignees: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA, SUBARU CORPORATION
    Inventors: Naoki Takahashi, Shunji Shibata
  • Patent number: 11427261
    Abstract: A vehicle body structure includes a resin floor part provided with a flange portion bent toward an upper side or a lower side at an end in a vehicle width direction, and a metal side sill part joined to the flange portion of the floor part. The side sill part includes a rim portion, a peak portion, and intermediate portions that link the rim portion to the peak portion. The peak portion and the intermediate portions form a protruding portion projecting from the rim portion toward the floor part. The flange portion of the floor part is joined to the peak portion of the protruding portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 5, 2018
    Date of Patent: August 30, 2022
    Assignee: NISSAN MOTOR CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Tetsuro Naito, Toshikazu Torigaki, Shinichirou Takemoto, Katsumi Morohoshi
  • Patent number: 11407297
    Abstract: The invention provides an impact energy absorbing carrier including a frame, a carrier, and multiple impact energy absorbing units. Each of the impact energy absorbing units includes a first link, a second link, and an impact energy absorbing member. The first link and the second link are respectively fixed to the frame and the carrier. The impact energy absorbing member includes a periphery part and two protrusion parts. The periphery part includes a first side portion and a second side portion located opposite to each other. The first side portion of the periphery part are respectively and pivotably disposed on the first link and the second link. The periphery part surrounds the protrusion parts, the protrusion parts are respectively connected to the first side portion and the second side portion of the periphery part, and a first buffering space is located between the protrusion parts.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 7, 2020
    Date of Patent: August 9, 2022
    Assignees: INVENTEC (PUDONG) TECHNOLOGY CORPORATION, INVENTEC CORPORATION
    Inventor: Chi-Cheng Hsiao
  • Patent number: 11383770
    Abstract: A vehicle-body structure which prevent deformation of a floor tunnel caused by a side collision load transmitted from a cross member to the floor tunnel via a seat mounting bracket. A pair of left and right backbone frames extending in a vehicle front-rear direction are provided each of which faces a top and a side of a floor tunnel and is fixed to the floor tunnel. A tunnel reinforcement is provided that includes a front projection, an intermediate projection, and a rear projection abutting on an underside of the floor tunnel. The backbone frame includes multiple beads abutting on the floor tunnel. The tunnel reinforcement is fixed at the front projection, the intermediate projection, and the rear projection to the seat mounting bracket via the floor tunnel and is also fixed to the multiple beads of the backbone frame via the floor tunnel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 31, 2020
    Date of Patent: July 12, 2022
    Assignee: MAZDA MOTOR CORPORATION
    Inventors: Keisuke Ebisumoto, Hirotaka Natsume, Kazuhiro Kageyama
  • Patent number: 11383766
    Abstract: A vehicle body lower structure may include: a rocker; a power source; an energy absorbing member (EA member) arranged under the rocker; and a collar penetrating an upper plate of the EA member. The EA member includes a first vertical plate, a second vertical plate, and a diagonal brace; the first vertical plate and the second vertical plate connect the upper and lower plates to each other, the first vertical plate is arranged adjacent to the collar, the second vertical plate is arranged adjacent to the first vertical plate on an opposite side from the collar, and the diagonal brace connects a first inner corner where the first vertical plate meets the lower plate and a second inner corner where the second vertical plate meets the upper plate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 29, 2020
    Date of Patent: July 12, 2022
    Assignees: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA, SUBARU CORPORATION
    Inventors: Naoki Takahashi, Shunji Shibata
  • Patent number: 11377153
    Abstract: An elongate vehicle reinforcement member having a U-shaped cross section, wherein the member is disposed inside and welded to a vehicle structural member, wherein the vehicle structural member includes opposite base lateral walls, the vehicle reinforcement member including: opposite reinforcement lateral walls extending in vehicle height and width directions, each having an outward edge on an outer side in vehicle width direction and an inward edge on an inner side; and a reinforcement connecting wall connecting the outward edges of the lateral walls, each lateral wall together with the connecting wall forming a ridge, each lateral wall including a row of welding projections, each protruding outward over the entire width of the lateral wall, each welding projection having a raised welding surface wherein the reinforcement lateral wall is welded to the base lateral wall, the welding projections in each row being arranged at intervals along vehicle height direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 13, 2018
    Date of Patent: July 5, 2022
    Assignees: TOYODA IRON WORKS CO., LTD., TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA, HINO MOTORS, LTD.
    Inventors: Hiroyasu Kosaka, Daisuke Teramoto, Masanori Izumoto, Katsuya Igarashi
  • Patent number: 11345407
    Abstract: The present disclosure relates to an upper vehicle-body structure that suppresses bending deformation of a front pillar portion with respect to a hinge pillar portion by suppressing the crushing of a closed cross-section portion when external force is applied to the front pillar portion in the direction of bending the front pillar portion in the bending direction thereof.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 6, 2020
    Date of Patent: May 31, 2022
    Assignee: MAZDA MOTOR CORPORATION
    Inventors: Tsuneaki Zenitani, Shuji Muraoka, Yusuke Desaki, Arata Osako
  • Patent number: 11332193
    Abstract: A crossmember arrangement for reinforcing a motor-vehicle body includes a crossmember for dissipating loads in the Y direction, an intermediate piece, which is connected directly or indirectly to the crossmember and is intended for fastening the crossmember to a supporting pillar, in particular a B pillar, and a fastening body, which is connected to the intermediate piece and is intended for butting with surface-area contact against the supporting pillar. The fastening body is configured in the form of a chamber profile which runs predominantly in the Y direction. Dissipation of high loads in a motor-vehicle body is made possible, along with straightforward installation capability of the crossmember arrangement in the motor-vehicle body, as a result of the fastening body of the crossmember arrangement, the fastening body is configured in the form of a chamber profile, running essentially in the Y direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 19, 2020
    Date of Patent: May 17, 2022
    Inventors: Hans-Jürgen Schmitt, Björn Dunst
  • Patent number: 11286004
    Abstract: The disclosed subject matter generally relates to a lateral push element adapted to be arranged inside a hollow beam structure disposed on a lateral side of a vehicle. The lateral push element is configured to provide a lateral load path in the event of a partial overlap collision involving the vehicle. Some hollow beam structures on the lateral sides of the vehicle are often heavily deformed when the incoming barrier hit the hollow beam structures. The hollow beam structures are not in themselves able to transfer a lateral force. The space inside the hollow beam structures may thus be utilized for enabling additional lateral forces in the event of a partial overlap collision. The present disclosure provides a lateral push element adapted to be arranged inside the hollow beam structure disposed on a lateral side of a vehicle, and that is configured to provide a lateral load path in the event of a partial overlap collision involving the vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 11, 2020
    Date of Patent: March 29, 2022
    Assignee: Volvo Car Corporation
    Inventor: Daniel Karlsson
  • Patent number: 11286002
    Abstract: A side-impact crash structure may be positioned proximate an end of a vehicle to reduce impact forces imparted to an occupant during a side collision. The side-impact crash structure may include energy absorbers positioned on lateral sides of the vehicle between the passenger compartment and a longitudinal end of the vehicle. The energy absorbers may be configured to absorb impact forces over a limited ride-down distance (the distance over which the deceleration occurs) to prevent damage to both the occupants and one or more components or systems of the vehicle. The energy absorbers can be configured to deform along an oblique axis of the vehicle under a compressive force. The side-impact crash structure may include one or more load spreaders disposed between the energy absorbers that disperse the impact force to other portions of the vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 17, 2019
    Date of Patent: March 29, 2022
    Assignee: Zoox, Inc.
    Inventors: Ramanjaneya Reddy Butukuri, Michael Curno Orr, Thomas Andrew Stoddart, Ashley Williams
  • Patent number: 11260731
    Abstract: A vehicle door assembly includes an inner door panel that partially defines a cavity therein, a door handle assembly, a main reinforcing bracket, a first reinforcing bracket and a vibration absorbing member. The first reinforcing bracket has an upper end fixedly attached to the main reinforcing bracket and to a rearward area of the inner door panel within the cavity below the door handle assembly. The vibration absorbing member has an outboard surface, an inboard surface and a main projection that extends forward from the main body. The main projection is fixed to the first reinforcing bracket such that the main body is rearward of the first reinforcing bracket. The outboard surface is shaped and dimensioned to correspond to the overall shape of the inboard portion of the door handle assembly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 31, 2020
    Date of Patent: March 1, 2022
    Assignees: NISSAN NORTH AMERICA, INC., NISSAN MOTOR CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Toshihiko Itou, Jose Adrian Delgado Hernandez, Ernesto Velazquez Alvarez, Diego Armando Dominguez López
  • Patent number: 11254366
    Abstract: A vehicle body joint structure includes a lower panel disposed on a side surface of a floor assembly, an upper panel extending upward from the lower panel and connected to a roof assembly for a roof of a vehicle body, and a connection pipe extending vertically to connect the floor assembly to the roof assembly, disposed to face the upper panel, and coupled to the upper panel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 3, 2020
    Date of Patent: February 22, 2022
    Assignees: Hyundai Motor Company, Kia Motors Corporation
    Inventor: Do Hoi Kim
  • Patent number: 11254245
    Abstract: A vehicle seat comprising a seatback pivoting relative to a frame around the first transverse axis, a seat cushion pivoting relative to the seatback around a second transverse axis, a link pivoting relative to the seat cushion around a third transverse axis, wherein the link is further pivoting relative to the frame around a fourth transverse axis, a mechanism for releasing the angular position of the seatback relative to the frame around the first transverse axis, and an actuator, attached under the seat cushion. The angular position of the seatback relative to the frame released, the actuator commands a movement of the link relative to the seat cushion and consequently of the seatback relative to the seat cushion, from a comfort position of the seat to a flat floor position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 22, 2020
    Date of Patent: February 22, 2022
    Assignee: FAURECIA Sièges d'Automobile
    Inventors: David Epaud, Farouk Bouzid
  • Patent number: 11254362
    Abstract: A vehicle including a rocker extending in a vehicle longitudinal direction having a first surface and a second surface, at least one crossmember extending in a vehicle width direction from the first surface of the rocker, and at least one spacer coupled to the second surface of the rocker, the at least one spacer being in line with the at least one crossmember.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 30, 2020
    Date of Patent: February 22, 2022
    Assignee: TOYOTA MOTOR ENGINEERING & MANUFACTURING NORTH AMERICA, INC.
    Inventors: Paxton S. Williams, James Chung, Tyler Schnug, Rahul Gururaj
  • Patent number: 11225291
    Abstract: A vehicle body structure and a vehicle are provided. The vehicle body structure includes two sill inner plates disposed at intervals along a left-right direction, two strengthening longitudinal beams disposed at intervals along the left-right direction, and at least one strengthening crossbeam. Each strengthening longitudinal beam is connected to one corresponding sill inner plate, and each strengthening crossbeam is connected to the two strengthening longitudinal beams.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 28, 2018
    Date of Patent: January 18, 2022
    Assignee: BYD COMPANY LIMITED
    Inventors: Xinchun Liu, Ming Ji, Cheng Xu, Maoyan Liang, Rongtian Deng
  • Patent number: 11186320
    Abstract: An upper body structure includes a pair of left and right roof side rails coupled to respective ends of a roof panel in a vehicle width direction and extending in a vehicle front-rear direction and a roof reinforcement 30 configured to couple intermediate portions in the vehicle width direction of the pair of roof side rails. A vehicle-width-direction inner side end of each roof side rail has a concave-convex shape in a side view along the vehicle front-rear direction, a vehicle-width-direction outer side end of the roof reinforcement has a concave-convex shape in the side view, and the concave-convex shaped end of each roof side rail and the concave-convex shaped end of the roof reinforcement 30 intersect each other in the side view.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 16, 2020
    Date of Patent: November 30, 2021
    Assignee: MAZDA MOTOR CORPORATION
    Inventor: Daisuke Kiyoshita
  • Patent number: 11186147
    Abstract: A vehicle door assembly with an inner door panel, an outer door panel and a reinforcement assembly. A first attachment area is defined adjacent to an upper edge and a forward edge and a second attachment area is defined adjacent to the upper edge and a rearward edge of the inner door panel. The inner door panel and the outer door panel are fixedly attached to one another and define a hollow space therebetween. The reinforcement assembly has a first end fixedly attached to the first attachment area of the inner door panel and a second end fixedly attached to the second attachment area of the inner door panel. A mid-section extends of the reinforcement assembly extends along the upper edge of the outer door panel. The mid-section of the reinforcement assembly and the upper edge of the inner door panel define a window receiving slot therebetween.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 10, 2019
    Date of Patent: November 30, 2021
    Assignee: NISSAN NORTH AMERICA, INC.
    Inventors: David Iozzo, David Kovie
  • Patent number: 11180196
    Abstract: A structural panel joining part for a vehicle having an underbody hold-down panel, a floor panel, a dash panel, and a cowl side panel includes an underbody coupling first portion configured to couple to at least one of the underbody hold-down panel and the floor panel, a dash panel coupling second portion configured to couple to the dash panel, and a cowl side coupling third portion configured to couple to the cowl side panel. The structural panel joining part maintains structural integrity between the underbody hold-down panel, the floor panel, the dash panel, and the cowl side panel to provide structural reinforcement during small overlap rigid barrier impacts to facilitate reducing structural intrusion into an occupant compartment of the vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 15, 2019
    Date of Patent: November 23, 2021
    Assignee: FCA US LLC
    Inventors: Amandeep S Gill, Scott E Zilincik, Tusher M Phule, Eric E Lund, Martin L Hilderth
  • Patent number: 11148727
    Abstract: To reduce the amount of intrusion into the vehicle interior at the time of a side collision and achieve weight reduction, a vehicle side body structure includes a pillar member that partitions a side part opening of a body into a front part and a rear part, and the pillar member includes an upper member made of high-tensile steel and a lower member joined to the upper member, made of high-tensile steel, and having a rigidity lower than the upper member. The upper member has a reinforcing member made of high-tensile steel with a tensile strength higher than the upper member and the lower member and the lower half of the reinforcing member are shaped to have a lower bending rigidity against bending toward the inside in the vehicle width direction, toward the lower end of the reinforcing member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 13, 2020
    Date of Patent: October 19, 2021
    Assignee: Mazda Motor Corporation
    Inventors: Tadashi Yamazaki, Takeshi Nakamura, Toshiyuki Gendo
  • Patent number: 11148724
    Abstract: An outer panel of a vehicle body side structure includes a first region overlapping a lower end portion of the pillar, and a second region adjacent to a first region on a front side and a rear side. An inner panel includes: a third region having a part facing the first region in a vehicle width direction; and a fourth region adjacent to the third region on the front side and the rear side. The second region is set to be a first-strength region having a higher strength than the first region. The third region is set to be a second-strength region having a higher strength than the fourth region. The second region and the third region are connected to each other.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 1, 2020
    Date of Patent: October 19, 2021
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Kohei Hisada
  • Patent number: 11104212
    Abstract: A vehicle bodywork panel is formed by an outer wall supported by a structural lining. The structural lining is produced by molding a plastic or composite material. The structural lining may include stiffeners arranged to provide said bodywork panel with a given amount of mechanical strength. One or more added connection elements connect separate fastening points disposed on the structural lining and each end of each of the connection elements is inserted into a housing disposed on a stiffener. The rigidity of the connection elements is adapted to suppress a vibration response of the stiffeners. The housing and the connection element may form a flush-mounted connection.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 9, 2019
    Date of Patent: August 31, 2021
    Inventors: Bertrand Roze, Mylène Martinez-Robbe
  • Patent number: 11091016
    Abstract: There are provided a pair of side sills, a floor panel, a pair of floor frames, a battery unit provided between the pair of floor frames, a first cross member interconnecting the pair of side sills, and a seat bracket. The seat bracket comprises a protrusion portion which partially covers an upper wall portion of the first side portion and is upwardly spaced apart from the upper wall portion of the first cross member, and the bead portions and the opening portion (low-rigidity portion) are formed at a part of the upper wall portion of the first cross member which is located at a position corresponding to the protrusion portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 3, 2020
    Date of Patent: August 17, 2021
    Assignee: MAZDA MOTOR CORPORATION
    Inventors: Yamato Matsuda, Nobuyuki Nakayama, Katsuhito Kouno, Toshihiro Takebayashi, Toshiyuki Koga
  • Patent number: 11084366
    Abstract: A mounting arrangement of an electrically drivable motor vehicle has at least one battery module housing that accommodates multiple battery cells to form a battery module. The battery module is oriented with its longitudinal extension transverse to a longitudinal extension of the motor vehicle. In addition, at least one separate load transfer element for transferring a crash load that occurs is present. The load transfer element is situated on each end-face side of the battery module housing, between a body part and an end-face side of the battery module housing. The arrangement is provided in such a way that when a crash load is introduced into the body part, a load path is formed that encompasses at least the body part facing the crash, the load transfer element facing the crash, the battery module housing, the load transfer element facing away from the crash, and the body part facing away from the crash.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 16, 2019
    Date of Patent: August 10, 2021
    Assignee: VOLKSWAGEN AKTIENGESELLSCHAFT
    Inventors: Volker Hohm, Uwe Pabst, Tobias Ströhlein, Krino Bornemann, Helge Herten, Christoph Bokelmann-Grotefend
  • Patent number: 11088416
    Abstract: A battery pack attachment assembly includes, among other things, a first bracket configured to be secured directly to a vehicle underbody, and a second bracket. The first bracket extends vertically above the first bracket such that the second bracket is spaced from the vehicle underbody when the first bracket is secured directly to the vehicle underbody.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 2, 2019
    Date of Patent: August 10, 2021
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Mike Popovski, Ihab Grace, Abigail Christensen, Chelliah Madasamy, Abdelmonaam Sassi, Sean Brady, John Jardine
  • Patent number: 11052849
    Abstract: A vehicle member comprises a wooden member and a resin cover member integrally covering the wooden member. The vehicle member absorbs or transmits a received load. The cover member integrally includes a load acting portion and an attaching portion. The wooden member is positioned in the vehicle member so that a shaft center direction of annual rings is aligned with an input direction of the load. The attaching portion is attachable to an attached member of a vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 19, 2017
    Date of Patent: July 6, 2021
    Assignee: TOYOTA SHATAI KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Toshihisa Miura, Kazunari Kojio
  • Patent number: 11046367
    Abstract: A vehicle side structure (100; 101) comprising a side portion (102; 103) extending in a longitudinal direction (104), wherein the side portion comprises a first and a second member (106, 108) extending in the longitudinal direction. The first and second members (106, 108) form a closed space (114). The side portion (102) comprises a reinforcing member (124) located in closed space (114), the reinforcement member (124) extending in the longitudinal direction. The reinforcement member (124) has a first leg (126) and a second leg (128) extending in a direction transverse to the longitudinal direction. Each leg has a foot (130, 132) extending in the longitudinal direction. The first and second legs (126, 129) are joined in a head section (134). Each leg (126, 128) is corrugated, wherein the corrugations of the first and second legs (126, 128) comprise ridges (136, 144) and grooves (138, 142) which extend from the head section (134) to the respective foot (130, 132).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 24, 2018
    Date of Patent: June 29, 2021
    Assignee: Gestamp Hardtech AB
    Inventors: Stefan Arvidsson, Kristoffer Lundstrom, Fredrik Lernstal, Hans Bodin
  • Patent number: 11040740
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a sill of a vehicle body (3). The sill is characterized in that the sill (10) comprises at least a first sill profile (11) and a second sill profile (12), in that the sill profiles (11, 12) extend in the longitudinal direction of the sill (10) and each comprise a connecting surface (111, 121) which faces the further sill profile (11, 12), in that the connecting surfaces (111, 121) at least partially run vertically, in that the at least two sill profiles (11, 12) over at least one area of the connecting surfaces (111, 121) of the sill profiles (11, 12) are adhesively connected to one another, and in that at least on one of the sill profiles (11, 12), adjacent to the connecting surface (111, 121), at least one snap-in protrusion (14) is formed onto it which interlocks with at least one snap-in receiving section (15) of another one of the sill profiles (11, 12).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 1, 2019
    Date of Patent: June 22, 2021
    Assignee: Benteler Automobiltechnik GmbH
    Inventors: Stefan Grottke, Stefan Schmitz, Jochem Grewe
  • Patent number: 11014614
    Abstract: A body structure of an automobile is provided in which a body floor includes a floor panel having a bulge portion bulging upward formed on the rear part on opposite side parts in the vehicle width direction, and a side member disposed in the fore-and-aft direction along the upper face on opposite side parts in the vehicle width direction of the floor panel and having integrally formed therewith the rear pillar rising upward from the upper face of the bulge portion. Due to the mounting structure of a rear side frame and the roof side rail support member, it is possible to enhance the strength and stiffness of the rear part of the body floor made of CFRP by the bulge portion and the rear pillar and to strongly mount the rear side frame and the roof side rail support member on the rear part of the body floor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 31, 2017
    Date of Patent: May 25, 2021
    Assignee: HONDA MOTOR CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Shotaro Ayuzawa
  • Patent number: 11014613
    Abstract: A side body vehicle structure is disclosed that has a pair of left and right side sills and opposite swing type side doors. The side sills may have an upper flange portion facing the rear door in the vehicle width direction which functions as a rear door facing part, and the upper flange portion of a more forward part of the vehicle than the rear door facing part may function as a front door facing part. The rear door facing part may be formed in a shape having a length in the vehicle vertical direction longer than a length in a vehicle vertical direction of the front door facing part. In a vertical cross section along the vehicle width direction, a gusset member may form a closed cross section with the side sill inner member, and an upper end thereof may be joined to the rear door facing part.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 1, 2019
    Date of Patent: May 25, 2021
    Assignee: Mazda Motor Corporation
    Inventors: Shuji Muraoka, Yamato Matsuda, Toshihiro Takebayashi, Toshiyuki Koga, Kazuhisa Hatano, Morihide Yamada
  • Patent number: 11001307
    Abstract: A B-pillar for a motor vehicle body extends along a longitudinal axis, and comprises an upper metal portion for connecting the B-pillar to a roof area of the motor vehicle body and a lower metal portion for connecting the B-pillar to a sill area of the motor vehicle body; and a fiber composite component comprising fibers and a plastic matrix, the upper metal portion comprising an upper region for force introduction, and the lower metal portion comprising a lower region for force introduction being axially spaced from the upper region for force introduction, the upper region for force introduction and the lower region for force introduction being embedded into the fiber composite component.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 28, 2019
    Date of Patent: May 11, 2021
    Assignee: Muhr und Bender KG
    Inventors: Hubertus Steffens, Bernhard Spielvogel
  • Patent number: 10940892
    Abstract: A vehicle substructure, comprising a pair of side members arranged apart in the vehicle width direction, and extending in the vehicle longitudinal direction, and a cross member that extends in the vehicle width direction and connects the pair of side members, wherein the cross member include a pairs of cross member low-strength sections that are of weaker strength than a center portion, on both sides in the vehicle width direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 9, 2019
    Date of Patent: March 9, 2021
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Kazuma Otoguro, Shinobu Tanaka
  • Patent number: 10926805
    Abstract: A rocker structure includes: a closed cross-sectional part that extends along a vehicle front-rear direction on an outer side of a floor panel of a vehicle in a vehicle width direction, the closed cross-sectional part including an outer wall and an inner wall located respectively on an outer side and an inner side of the closed cross-sectional part in the vehicle width direction; and a horizontal plate propped between the outer wall and the inner wall along the vehicle width direction, the horizontal plate having ridges protruding upward in a vehicle height direction and valleys depressed downward in the vehicle height direction that are provided alternately along the vehicle width direction, an amount of protrusion of the ridges and an amount of depression of the valleys varying from an outer wall side toward an inner wall side.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 4, 2019
    Date of Patent: February 23, 2021
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Yuuki Mukaigawa, Tomohito Sono
  • Patent number: 10882562
    Abstract: A roof side rail inner member and a roof side rail outer member of a roof side rail are coupled to each other in a first coupling portion. The roof side rail and a center pillar are coupled to each other in a second coupling portion. A bulkhead is coupled to the roof side rail outer member in a third coupling portion in a space within the roof side rail. The bulkhead is coupled to the roof side rail inner member in a fourth coupling portion. The roof side rail inner member and the roof side reinforcement are coupled to each other in a fifth coupling portion below the first coupling portion. The second, third, fourth, and fifth coupling portions together form a route along which impulsive force exerted to the center pillar is transmitted to the roof side reinforcement.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 21, 2019
    Date of Patent: January 5, 2021
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Ryusuke Tanaka
  • Patent number: 10843545
    Abstract: A connected assembly can include, among other things, first and second side rails of a battery pack of an electrified vehicle. The battery pack including a plurality of battery arrays disposed between the first and second side rails within an enclosure assembly. The connected assembly further includes a lateral rail extending from the first side rail to the second side rail, and a bracket assembly directly connected to the first side rail and the lateral rail. A battery pack connection method can include, among other things, directly connecting a bracket assembly to a horizontally facing side of a lateral rail, and directly connecting the bracket assembly to a horizontally facing side of a first side rail of an enclosure assembly that holds a battery pack of an electrified vehicle between the first side rail and a second side rail.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 26, 2019
    Date of Patent: November 24, 2020
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Ihab Grace, Abdelmonaam Sassi, Shekar Prabhakar Erasala, Ahteram Khan, Sean Brady, John Jardine
  • Patent number: 10807651
    Abstract: A motor vehicle, in which a fastening of a lower end section of a car body pillar to a side skirt is simplified in that the through-opening of the inner profile of the car body pillar for guiding the belt strap is closed at the end portion pointing of the through-opening to the inner profile of the sill by way of a fastening portion, and a left side portion and a right side portion adjoining the fastening portion. The three portions are fastened to a flange portion of the inner profile of the sill and form a covering surface from two sheet-metal portions connected to one another.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 14, 2018
    Date of Patent: October 20, 2020
    Assignee: Bayerischeb Motoren Werke Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Michael Stein, Ralf Kiesmueller, Tanja Watzek, Michael Floer
  • Patent number: 10793021
    Abstract: A seat mounting unit for a vehicle is provided. The unit includes a floor panel that has a panel shape forming a floor surface of the vehicle and includes a load path member protruding from the floor surface and extending in a predetermined direction. The load path member is partially cut and divided through cut portions and a seat mounting part is positioned at the cut portions of the load path member, rotatably installed on the floor panel. The seat mounting part has a side surface portion with a predetermined height and the side surface portion overlaps a side surface of a cut end portion of the load path member in a height direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 7, 2019
    Date of Patent: October 6, 2020
    Assignees: Hyundai Motor Company, Kia Motors Corporation
    Inventor: Do Hoi Kim
  • Patent number: 10780926
    Abstract: A reinforcing unit is configured to be inserted into a side sill of a vehicle body. The reinforcing unit includes a center core formed so as to extend in a longitudinal direction of the vehicle body, and a pair of cover cores formed so as to extend in the longitudinal direction of the vehicle body and arranged so as to cover an upper portion and a lower portion of the center core.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 25, 2019
    Date of Patent: September 22, 2020
    Assignees: Hyundai Motor Company, Kia Motors Corporation, SUNG WOO HITECH CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Byung Ok Lee, Jong Hyun Ryu, Geun Hyuk You, Tae Hwan Kim, Min Gwan Bae