Cowl Patents (Class 296/192)
  • Publication number: 20140367994
    Abstract: The vehicle front structure 100 has a windshield lower 6, a cross member 7 fixed on the windshield lower 6, an upper member 1 extending in a front-back direction of a vehicle, a damper housing 4 fixed inside the upper member 1 in a vehicle width direction and arranged in front the cross member 7, and a damper housing support 5 coupling the cross member 7 with the damper housing 4. A closed section K is formed by the windshield lower 6 and the cross member 7. The damper housing support 5 has a damper housing fixed section 51 which is fixed on an upper surface 41 of the damper housing 4 and a vertical wall section 53 which extends backward from an inside of the damper housing fixed section 51 in the vehicle width direction and is fixed on the cross member 7.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 12, 2012
    Publication date: December 18, 2014
    Inventors: Kazutada Sasaki, Hidefumi Nihei, Daisuke Naoi, Masanobu Eguchi
  • Publication number: 20140354011
    Abstract: A motor vehicle including a motor vehicle body defined by two body sides and a vehicle floor, and a wall attached laterally to the body sides and transversely to the floor, to separate a passenger compartment of the vehicle from the engine compartment. The motor vehicle further includes an upper firewall crossbeam having a cross-section that opens toward outside of the vehicle, and which is closed by the wall. The upper firewall crossbeam is omega-shaped, including a first portion configured to be attached onto the wall and a second portion configured to be attached onto the wall, the first and second portions being connected via swaged portions, the first portion extending toward the engine compartment of the vehicle via a first swaged portion, which is inclined relative to a longitudinal axis of the vehicle. The upper crossbeam includes openings configured to engage with a mechanism for attaching windshield-wiper crankpins.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 30, 2012
    Publication date: December 4, 2014
    Applicant: RENAULT s.a.s.
    Inventor: Christian Delord
  • Patent number: 8882182
    Abstract: A cowl structure for an automobile that may both impede movements of air and guide moisture in a cowl portion, even with a small number of components. Plural screen plates and a guide plate are disposed inside the cowl portion. The screen plate and screen plate impede movements of air in the cowl portion. The guide plate guides water inside the cowl portion to a vehicle forward side thereof. The screen plate and screen plate are joined by the guide plate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 24, 2011
    Date of Patent: November 11, 2014
    Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Shinichiro Murofushi, Hiroki Nomura, Shinsuke Yoshizawa
  • Patent number: 8876197
    Abstract: A road vehicle has an instrument panel substrate supported by a sheet metal body cowl. The body cowl is configured to be supported by a firewall of the vehicle. A fastener joins the instrument panel substrate and the body cowl comprising a magnetic member mechanically affixed to one of the instrument panel substrate or the body cowl at a predetermined location. The magnetic member attaches with a substantially horizontal magnetic surface of the other one of the instrument panel substrate or the body cowl. The magnetic member vertically separates from the magnetic surface in response to an impact force applied against the body cowl that is greater than a predetermined force. Furthermore, the magnetic attachment of the magnetic member to the magnetic surface prevents separation below the predetermined force. Thus, the conflicting demands of squeak and rattle performance versus pedestrian protection are easily satisfied.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 17, 2013
    Date of Patent: November 4, 2014
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Sreenivas Kuchibhatla, Jeffrey P. Webb, Richard L. Routson
  • Publication number: 20140319878
    Abstract: A cowl top cover of the present invention provides that hardly applies influence when a dimension error occurs to a component, on sealability between the cowl top cover and a bonnet hood, a performance of a washer nozzle. The cowl top cover of the present invention includes at least one bent part that is formed to be bent in a mountain-like and a valley-like shape in a vehicle height direction as viewed in a cross section orthogonal to a vehicle widthwise direction, and the bent part includes a flexural deformation structure with which it is possible to allow a locally flexural deformation in a vehicle lengthwise direction in the bent part and to enable expansion and contraction of a distance in the vehicle lengthwise direction between a locking pawl part disposed at first end of the cowl top cover and a seal member fixation part disposed at second end of the cowl top cover.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 25, 2014
    Publication date: October 30, 2014
    Applicant: NIHON PLAST CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Chikara SANO, Masaya Nakajima
  • Patent number: 8870271
    Abstract: A cowl member for a vehicle includes a grill portion with grill openings formed therein for taking in external air, a hood sealing portion disposed forwardly of the grill portion, and a hood seal integrally formed with the hood sealing portion. The cowl member further includes a vertical wall portion integrally formed with the hood sealing portion and extending downwardly relative thereto, and a plenum sealing portion integrally formed with a terminal edge of the vertical wall portion and extending forwardly relative thereto for sealing with a flange of a dashboard that separates an engine compartment from a passenger compartment on the vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 12, 2013
    Date of Patent: October 28, 2014
    Assignee: Honda Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Patrick J. Ellison, David M. Edwards
  • Patent number: 8870268
    Abstract: A motor vehicle with a front opening hood and windshield ascending from a rear edge of the front opening hood is provided. The motor vehicle includes a cross member, whose front edge section supports a front lower edge of the windshield, and whose rear edge section abuts against a structural element of the body. A first side of the cross member faces the passenger cabin and a second side faces the engine compartment. The cross member is divided by slits into a plurality of webs spaced apart in the transverse direction of the body, and the slits are tightly sealed by a film.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 8, 2012
    Date of Patent: October 28, 2014
    Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC
    Inventors: Franz-Josef Ringel, Lothar Brod, Gerald Heck
  • Patent number: 8864217
    Abstract: A panel element is provided for arrangement on a water box of a front wall of a motor vehicle body, with a fastening edge for forming a fastening of the panel element arranged upstream of the water box in travelling direction of the motor vehicle and adjoining the water box and with at least one water-conducting depression for the controlled discharge of accumulating water.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 17, 2012
    Date of Patent: October 21, 2014
    Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC
    Inventors: Joerg Schneider, Joachim Lacroix
  • Patent number: 8857900
    Abstract: A water box, in particular for a motor vehicle, is provided. The water box includes a back wall, which rises from a lower side up to below a front window frame from where it continues as a covering the longitudinal direction of which is arranged transversely to a traveling direction in order to create an impact protection, and a front wall, which extends from the lower side in the direction of an engine compartment. The back wall, the covering and the front wall are embodied unitarily. A method for producing a water box is also provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 8, 2012
    Date of Patent: October 14, 2014
    Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC
    Inventors: Marc Juettner, Juergen Vollhardt
  • Patent number: 8840173
    Abstract: A cover member for a wiper drive assembly has a body portion configured to extend across and obscure the wiper drive assembly from a plan view with the body portion defining first and second pivot apertures. First and second grommets are each positioned within a respective one of the first and second pivot apertures and configured to receive and sealingly engage a pivot holder of the wiper drive assembly. A mounting structure is configured to attach the body portion to a structural member of the wiper drive assembly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 11, 2011
    Date of Patent: September 23, 2014
    Assignee: Nissan North America, Inc.
    Inventors: Kathryn Templeton, Marvin Younger, Vinod Desai
  • Publication number: 20140265446
    Abstract: A cowl member for a vehicle includes a grill portion with grill openings formed therein for taking in external air, a hood sealing portion disposed forwardly of the grill portion, and a hood seal integrally formed with the hood sealing portion. The cowl member further includes a vertical wall portion integrally formed with the hood sealing portion and extending downwardly relative thereto, and a plenum sealing portion integrally formed with a terminal edge of the vertical wall portion and extending forwardly relative thereto for sealing with a flange of a dashboard that separates an engine compartment from a passenger compartment on the vehicle.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 12, 2013
    Publication date: September 18, 2014
    Applicant: Honda Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Patrick J. Ellison, David M. Edwards
  • Patent number: 8807634
    Abstract: A cowl-top cover 10 for covering a vehicle body between a front window shield and a front hood is provided with: a seal portion abutting against a rear end lower part of the front hood; and a longitudinal wall portion 1 that supports the seal portion and that is erected in a vertical direction of a vehicle, wherein the longitudinal wall 1 includes a stepped portion 3 that is extended along the vertical direction, the longitudinal wall being shaped to be wavy in a widthwise direction of the vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 16, 2011
    Date of Patent: August 19, 2014
    Assignee: Nihon Plast Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Yasumasa Horimizu
  • Publication number: 20140225398
    Abstract: A saddle type vehicle is provided wherein, even where an accommodating portion is provided on a front cowl, a wind inlet portion for a screen can be readily formed centrally in a vehicle widthwise direction and an aerodynamic property and a cooling performance can be assured suitably. The saddle type vehicle includes a vehicle body frame, a steering shaft supported for rotation at a front end of the vehicle body frame and configured to steer a front wheel, a front cowl disposed around the steering shaft and covering a front portion of a vehicle body, and a pair of accommodation portions provided on the front cowl. The accommodation portions are disposed in left and right pair. A wind inlet portion of a screen provided so as to be erected uprightly from the front cowl is disposed between the left and right accommodation portions.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 11, 2014
    Publication date: August 14, 2014
    Applicant: HONDA MOTOR CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Keita Mikura, Taro Nishimoto, Eiji Sugiyama, Tomiji Niitsu, Hisashi Kadomasu
  • Patent number: 8801071
    Abstract: A fastening device is provided for the releasable fastening of a panel element to the front wall structure of a motor vehicle body, with a brace, which on one end can be fastened with a fastening structure of the panel element and on the other end can be fastened with a fastening structure of the front wall structure. The brace is releasable and positively fastened to at least one of the fastening structures with at least one end section.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 17, 2012
    Date of Patent: August 12, 2014
    Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC
    Inventors: Joachim Lacroix, Joerg Schneider
  • Publication number: 20140203594
    Abstract: A front surface of a front cowl and the windscreen are disposed so as to form a gap therebetween, and a screen cover is fixed over the front surface in an engaged state. An upper portion of the screen cover covers a lower portion of the windscreen so that the gap is invisible externally. In addition, an intake port substantially in the shape of a slit elongated in the front-rear direction is provided between each side part of the screen cover and the front surface, in an obliquely rising outwardly opening shape. Traveling wind is laterally taken in through the intake ports, to be led through the gap to the inner side of the windscreen.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 14, 2014
    Publication date: July 24, 2014
    Applicant: HONDA MOTOR CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Hiroaki Tsukui
  • 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: 8777298
    Abstract: A motor vehicle having a windshield and a water chamber extending at the base of the windshield and having a joint. The water chamber is surrounded on at least a portion of its length on the underside by a channel that is at least superficially impermeable to water.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 6, 2013
    Date of Patent: July 15, 2014
    Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC
    Inventor: Thilo Schaefer
  • 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: 8770654
    Abstract: A motor vehicle includes a front hood, a front window supported on a lower edge by a window support, and a water box below a gap between the front window and the front hood. A water box cover is fastened to the window support.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 17, 2013
    Date of Patent: July 8, 2014
    Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC
    Inventor: Joachim Schaefer
  • Publication number: 20140175835
    Abstract: A cowl panel comprises an upper face portion, a protrusion portion, a vertical wall portion, and a lower face portion. A front end of the protrusion portion is configured in a curve shape in a plan view such that a central portion, in the vehicle width direction, of the front end is positioned forward the most. A lower end of the vertical wall portion is configured such that at least a central portion, in the vehicle width direction, of the lower end extends substantially straightly in the vehicle width direction. Accordingly, the flexibility of interior design can be improved, and also both the NVH performance and the pedestrian protection performance can be ensured.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 18, 2013
    Publication date: June 26, 2014
    Applicant: MAZDA MOTOR CORPORATION
    Inventors: Kouji MIYAMOTO, Noriyoshi SAHASI, Yasuhiko NISHIDA
  • Patent number: 8757706
    Abstract: Disclosed is a cowl top positioning structure for determining the relative positions of a windshield and a front cowl top by means of a clip. The clip has: a cowl top mounting section to which the front cowl top is mounted; a windshield facing section facing the lower end surface of the windshield; and a reaction force generation section for generating a reaction force acting against a pushing force with which the lower end surface of the windshield pushes the windshield facing section toward the front of the vehicle body. The relative positions of the windshield and the front cowl top are determined by causing, by means of the reaction force generated by the reaction force generation section, the rear end surface of the front cowl top to abut against the lower end surface of the windshield.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 5, 2011
    Date of Patent: June 24, 2014
    Assignee: Honda Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Kazutada Sasaki
  • Patent number: 8757705
    Abstract: A structure for the front section of a vehicle body, allowing a collision load to be efficiently transmitted from upper members to front pillars. A structure (20) for the front section of a vehicle body has L-shaped cross-sectioned frames (32) which bridge upper members (26) and front pillars (23). The L-shaped frames (32) are each connected to a front pillar (23) and an upper member (26) in such a manner that the upper surface of the L-shaped frame (32), the upper surface (26a) of the upper member (26), and the upper surface (23a) of the front pillar (23) from a continuous flat surface and that the outer side surface of the L-shaped frame (32), the outer side surface (26b) of the upper member (26), and the outer side surface (23b) of the front pillar (23) form a continuous flat surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 27, 2010
    Date of Patent: June 24, 2014
    Assignee: Honda Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Hideaki Yamagishi
  • Publication number: 20140159426
    Abstract: A vehicle body cover formed by a front cowling covering, from a front direction, a front-head part of a vehicle body, meter panels, and a front panel, which are mutually coupled, covers the front part of the vehicle body. A windscreen capable of being vertically moved by a varying mechanism is disposed at a position above the front cowling. A traveling air taken in at a front part of the vehicle body cover via an air introduction part is exhausted from air-exhaust parts at proper places on the meter panel or the front panel, and an overlap area between the windscreen and the air introduction part in front elevational view of the vehicle changes in accordance with an aspect of the windscreen.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 7, 2013
    Publication date: June 12, 2014
    Applicant: SUZUKI MOTOR CORPORATION
    Inventors: Akihiko TAKAHASHI, Yuki SHIMIZU
  • Patent number: 8733825
    Abstract: Provided is a strength reinforcement device for a front shock absorber of a vehicle to provide a sufficient supporting force in spite of a load transferred to the front shock absorber. To this end, a cowl inner lower panel and a reinforce panel which form a box-shape cross-section structure are provided and their both side end portions are integrally connected to shock absorber supporting panels. A support panel is integrally formed in front end portions of both side ends of the cowl inner lower panel to cover and be integrally connected to the front portions of the shock absorber supporting panels, thereby easily distributing the loads transferred in various directions from the shock absorber supporting panels engaged with the front shock absorbers and providing a sufficient supporting force for the shock absorber supporting panels.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 10, 2012
    Date of Patent: May 27, 2014
    Assignees: Hyundai Motor Company, Kia Motors Corporation
    Inventors: Jong Soo Kim, Do Hyung Kim, Jae Woo Joung, Joo Tae Oh
  • Patent number: 8720978
    Abstract: A motor vehicle body with a front hood, a front window rising from a rear edge of the front hood, and an elongated cross member is provided. The elongated cross member includes a middle region curved channel-like in section in a vehicle longitudinal direction. A contact zone of the elongated cross member supports a lower edge of the front window and a longitudinal end supports the elongated cross member. A transition region is between the longitudinal end and the middle region and, in section in the vehicle longitudinal direction, is less curved than the middle region.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 17, 2013
    Date of Patent: May 13, 2014
    Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC
    Inventors: Joachim Schaefer, Uwe Schmitz, Stefan Wolff
  • Patent number: 8702155
    Abstract: A cowl louver sealing structure that is capable of being positioned between a cowl louver and a hood of a vehicle may include an elastic sealing member capable of closing a space between an inner surface of the hood and the cowl louver. The sealing member is directly attached to the cowl louver.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 16, 2011
    Date of Patent: April 22, 2014
    Assignee: Kojima Press Industry Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Kosuke Suzuki
  • Patent number: 8696049
    Abstract: A vehicle body structure includes a cowl extending in a vehicle transverse direction at an upper rear section of an engine compartment, an air inlet to introduce outside air into a vehicle cabin from the cowl, a fluid discharge channel provided at the bottom of the cowl, the fluid discharge channel inclined to guide fluid entering the cowl to a drain opening disposed at a transverse end of the cowl, a one-way valve disposed inside the cowl at a position corresponding to the drain opening, the one-way valve including a flapper operable to open and close the drain opening in response to a differential pressure generated when air flows through the air inlet and a frame comprising a valve opening corresponding to the drain opening, wherein the one-way valve covers the drain opening.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 25, 2008
    Date of Patent: April 15, 2014
    Assignee: Nissan Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Katsuya Hagino, Youhei Ogawa, Michio Kudou
  • Publication number: 20140097642
    Abstract: Provided is a strength reinforcement device for a front shock absorber of a vehicle to provide a sufficient supporting force in spite of a load transferred to the front shock absorber. To this end, a cowl inner lower panel and a reinforce panel which form a box-shape cross-section structure are provided and their both side end portions are integrally connected to shock absorber supporting panels. A support panel is integrally formed in front end portions of both side ends of the cowl inner lower panel to cover and be integrally connected to the front portions of the shock absorber supporting panels, thereby easily distributing the loads transferred in various directions from the shock absorber supporting panels engaged with the front shock absorbers and providing a sufficient supporting force for the shock absorber supporting panels.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 10, 2012
    Publication date: April 10, 2014
    Applicants: Kia Motors Corporation, Hyundai Motor Company
    Inventors: Jong Soo Kim, Do Hyung Kim, Jae Woo Joung, Joo Tae Oh
  • Patent number: 8690229
    Abstract: The invention provides a method of manufacturing a cowl top cover, which can easily adjust a reaction force of a first seal portion, and ensure sealing performance in a lip part. A main body cavity is formed in a part of a cavity by moving a slid core forward in a guide hole and making it contact with a second die. A cover main body is molded by injecting a synthetic resin into the main body cavity. A slide core is moved backward by a predetermined distance in the guide hole so that the thickness of a lip part in a lip protrusion becomes smaller than that of the lip part in a second seal portion. The lip part is molded by injecting a synthetic resin softer than that forming the cover main body into a seal portion cavity.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 24, 2012
    Date of Patent: April 8, 2014
    Assignee: Nihon Plast Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Koji Ishikawa
  • Patent number: 8690230
    Abstract: A body front structure of a vehicle includes: a first connecting member that extends in a vehicle width direction, is open upward in a side sectional view, and connects a front end portion and a rear end portion of a cowl together; and a second connecting member that extends in the vehicle longitudinal direction, in a position to a rear of the cowl in the vehicle longitudinal direction and to an inside of a front pillar inner panel in the vehicle width direction, a front end portion of the second connecting member being fixed to the rear end portion of the cowl so as to overlap with the first connecting member when viewed along the vehicle longitudinal direction, and a rear end portion of the second connecting member being fixed, together with a bracket joined to an instrument panel reinforcement, to the front pillar inner panel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 14, 2013
    Date of Patent: April 8, 2014
    Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Takahiro Suzaki, Takashi Yao
  • Publication number: 20140091596
    Abstract: A front cowl structure for a saddle riding type vehicle, capable of containing a stick phenomenon of an airflow in the front cowl. A pair of headlights is disposed on leading end lateral sides of a front cowl. Each of the headlights has a lens surface that includes at least a part formed to face downwardly. A front cowl structure has headlight neighboring openings formed on sides in a vehicle rearward of the lens surface, the headlight neighboring openings communicating with an inside of the front cowl.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 26, 2013
    Publication date: April 3, 2014
    Applicant: HONDA MOTOR CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Rui MAEDA, Yoshinori KOROGI, Atsushi TAKASAKI, Shunji YOKOKAWA
  • Publication number: 20140091597
    Abstract: In a cowling fastening structure (1) for fastening a first cowling member (2) and a second cowling member (3) to each other by using a clip (30), the two cowling members are provided with opposing walls (13, 21) having a mutually aligned through holes (15, 26) formed therein, the clip is provided with a first member (31) and a second member (32) joined by a hinge (33). A free end of the first member formed with an engagement hole (39) is passed through the through holes, and a free end of the second member formed with an engagement claw (44) is passed around the opposing walls so as to engage the engagement claw with the engagement hole.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 17, 2012
    Publication date: April 3, 2014
    Applicants: NIFCO INC., HONDA MOTOR CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Yusuke Inoue, Yotaro Abe, Hajime Naoi
  • 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: 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
  • Patent number: 8651552
    Abstract: A support structure of a windshield of the present invention comprises a frame having an open section opening forward in a vehicle and a support member provided inside the frame and connecting an upper face portion and a lower face portion of the frame. The frame has a windshield support portion supporting a lower side portion of the windshield at part of the upper face portion. The support member includes a rear support portion attached to the upper face portion of the frame and a front support portion attached to a cowl panel at a specified location positioned in front of the rear support portion. The windshield support portion is positioned between the front and rear support portions in the vehicle longitudinal direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 1, 2011
    Date of Patent: February 18, 2014
    Assignee: Mazda Motor Corporation
    Inventors: Nobuyuki Shibutake, Toshiharu Ikeda, Yoshikazu Ide, Hiroshi Sogabe, Yasuhiko Nishida, Naoki Shibata, Kohji Hashida, Toshinori Toyohara, Nobuhiko Yokoyama
  • 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
  • Patent number: 8641130
    Abstract: A vehicle cowl cover includes a main body and a first yielding portion. The main body includes a first lateral end portion defining a first end edge and a second lateral end portion defining a second end edge. The first yielding portion is attached along a majority of the first end edge such that the first yielding portion at least partially forms a first end surface of the first lateral end portion. The first yielding portion has a first elasticity greater than a second elasticity of the main body.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 23, 2011
    Date of Patent: February 4, 2014
    Assignees: Nissan North America, Inc., Shape Corp.
    Inventors: Thomas R Morden, Vinod Desai
  • Publication number: 20130341968
    Abstract: A motor vehicle body is provided. The motor vehicle body includes a plate-like, three-dimensionally shaped cross member, of which a first flange supports a front, lower edge region of a windshield, and a second flange is supported against a structural element of the body. The cross member further encompasses a spacer that joins the two flanges and is elongated in the transverse direction of the vehicle, and which exhibits a sectional profile that extends horizontally along a straight line over the entire length of the cross member.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 3, 2012
    Publication date: December 26, 2013
    Applicant: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS LLC
    Inventors: Stefan WOLFF, Joachim SCHAEFER, Uwe SCHMITZ
  • Patent number: 8608235
    Abstract: Disclosed is a vehicle body structure of an automobile in which a front edge portion of a front windshield glass is supported by an air box including a vertical wall surface portion facing an inner side of a vehicle compartment. In the vehicle structure, the front edge portion of the glass is connected to the air box in such a way that when glass membrane vibrations of the glass in surface inward-outward directions are in a phase shifting in an inward direction to the vehicle compartment, the vertical wall surface portion of the air box shifts in an outward direction from the vehicle compartment, and when the glass membrane vibrations of the glass in the surface inward-outward directions are in a phase shifting in an outward direction from the vehicle compartment, the vertical wall surface portion of the air box shifts in an inward direction to the vehicle compartment.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 28, 2011
    Date of Patent: December 17, 2013
    Assignee: Nissan Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Takehide Matsubara
  • Patent number: 8602487
    Abstract: A vehicle front structure in which a hinge cover is disposed at a lateral end of a cowl top provided between an engine hood for covering an engine compartment of a vehicle and a windshield glass. The hinge cover is configured to cover a lower end corner of the windshield glass and to prevent a hood hinge from being seen through a space between the engine hood and the cowl top. The hinge cover includes a rear fixing portion which extends from the lateral end of the cowl top rearward with respect to the vehicle, and is supported by a sealing member which extends in fore-and-aft vehicle direction at a lateral lower surface and a lateral end surface of the windshield glass.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 4, 2012
    Date of Patent: December 10, 2013
    Assignee: Honda Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Hirofumi Tanaka, Aki Isoda
  • Publication number: 20130320712
    Abstract: A cowl structure for an automobile that may both impede movements of air and guide moisture in a cowl portion, even with a small number of components. Plural screen plates and a guide plate are disposed inside the cowl portion. The screen plate and screen plate impede movements of air in the cowl portion. The guide plate guides water inside the cowl portion to a vehicle forward side thereof. The screen plate and screen plate are joined by the guide plate.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 24, 2011
    Publication date: December 5, 2013
    Applicant: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Shinichiro Murofushi, Hiroki Nomura, Shinsuke Yoshizawa
  • Publication number: 20130300154
    Abstract: A motor vehicle having a windshield and a water chamber extending at the base of the windshield and having a joint. The water chamber is surrounded on at least a portion of its length on the underside by a channel that is at least superficially impermeable to water.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 6, 2013
    Publication date: November 14, 2013
    Inventor: Thilo SCHAEFER
  • Patent number: 8579365
    Abstract: In an automotive cowl louver support structure, vehicle-widthwise both sides of a cowl louver disposed between a windshield and a hood can be supported by lower portions of right and left rain gutters, and ornamental surfaces of the rain gutters can be continuous with a ornamental surface of the cowl louver. Engaged portions are provided to lower portions of the right and left rain gutters. Engagement portions configured to engage the respective engaged portions are provided to vehicle-widthwise both sides of the cowl louver. Further, the engagement portions of the cowl louver are engaged with the engaged portions of the right and left rain gutters.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 25, 2009
    Date of Patent: November 12, 2013
    Assignee: Toyota Shatai Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Seiichiro Makise, You Kamitamari, Itaru Onishi
  • Patent number: 8573682
    Abstract: A vehicle cowl component configured to extend between a hood's rear edge and a vehicle front windshield comprises a cowl and a seal, the seal including a U-shaped cross section attached to the under-hood edge and having upwardly extending front and rear curved walls, each of the curved walls having an unconnected free end. In one embodiment, the seal is two-shot molded onto the cowl, which eliminates secondary attachment operations. A method includes steps of first-shot molding a cowl, and then second-shot molding a U-shaped seal onto the cowl along an under-hood front edge. A modified cowl includes a seal with a downwardly extending wiper for sealing engagement with a body support structure under the cowl and seal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 1, 2012
    Date of Patent: November 5, 2013
    Assignee: Shape Corp.
    Inventor: Craig Martin Oomen
  • Patent number: 8567852
    Abstract: An arrangement of a water box and a drain is provided for draining off water from a region between a windshield and an engine hood in a motor vehicle. The water box can include a depression with an upwardly directed water-directing region. The drain can include a drain valve housing with a drain valve. The drain valve of the drain is arranged above the water-directing region.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 8, 2012
    Date of Patent: October 29, 2013
    Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC
    Inventors: Joachim Lacroix, Joerg Schneider
  • Patent number: 8567851
    Abstract: A vehicle cowl cover includes a windshield support portion and a channel portion. The windshield support portion includes a first windshield supporting wall and a second windshield supporting wall coupled to the first windshield supporting wall to define a windshield receiving cavity that is configured to receive a bottom edge of a windshield. The windshield receiving cavity extends in a lateral direction along the bottom edge of the windshield. The channel portion extends from the second windshield supporting wall and defines a water receiving channel that is configured to receive water that flows over a top edge of the second windshield supporting wall from the windshield receiving cavity. The channel portion is angled relative to an inner surface of the windshield to direct water laterally along the channel portion to at least one side edge of the vehicle cowl cover.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 23, 2011
    Date of Patent: October 29, 2013
    Assignees: Nissan North America, Inc., Shape Corp.
    Inventors: Thomas R. Morden, Vinod Desai
  • Publication number: 20130257102
    Abstract: A motor vehicle has a windshield and a radiator tank assembly that acts on the lower edge of the windshield and exhibits a guide pad extending on an interior side of the windshield. The guide pad is divided into a central and two lateral sections. The lateral sections are more flexible than the central section during exposure to a pressure acting on the windshield from outside.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 5, 2013
    Publication date: October 3, 2013
    Inventors: Joachim SCHAEFER, Uwe SCHMITZ, Stefan WOLFF
  • Patent number: 8528964
    Abstract: A body structure is provided for a motor vehicle with a windshield that includes, but is not limited to a pane cross member, on which the windshield rests. The pane cross member includes, but is not limited to a first and a second edge section in the form of brackets, and a central part lying there between, which has a U-shaped cross-section. The first edge section forms a support section for the windshield, the second edge section is fastened to a fixed component of the body structure and is arranged laterally from the first edge section, and the central part is constructed such that it has a cross-section which is curved in the direction towards an engine hood of the motor vehicle and can deform on application of force from above and/or from the front.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 8, 2011
    Date of Patent: September 10, 2013
    Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC
    Inventors: Stephan Walter, Uwe Schmitz, Joachim Schaefer
  • Patent number: 8523264
    Abstract: A windshield glass support structure includes a windshield glass (1), a lower end support member (3) supporting a lower end portion of the windshield glass, and a dynamic damper (7) provided at a position corresponding to a resonance antinode of the lower end support member. The dynamic damper is an additional vibration system including an additional spring and an additional mass with respect to a main vibration system in which a glass support rigidity of the lower end support member is a main spring and the windshield glass is a main mass. A resonance frequency of the dynamic damper is set in a frequency band in which the additional mass vibrates in an antiphase with respect to a vibration phase in which the lower end portion of the windshield glass vibrates in a resonance node in a front-back direction of the vehicle caused by a vibration input.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 11, 2011
    Date of Patent: September 3, 2013
    Assignee: Nissan Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Yusuke Kuroki, Kanako Takikawa
  • Publication number: 20130221705
    Abstract: A body front structure for an automobile includes: fenders; an engine compartment; a bonnet; a cowl grille; a center seal which is installed on an upper portion of a vertical wall section of the cowl grille; and side seals which are made from a material that is more flexible than the vertical wall section of the cowl grille. A void where the vertical wall section is not present is formed between each fender and an outside end portion of the vertical wall section of the cowl grille in the vehicle width direction. The side seals each have a seal section which abuts against the bonnet in a closed state and a supporting section which supports the seal section from below, and extend substantially in the vehicle width direction so as to close off the void.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 30, 2012
    Publication date: August 29, 2013
    Applicants: NISHIKAWA RUBBER CO., LTD., MAZDA MOTOR CORPORATION
    Inventors: Takayuki SUGISHIMA, Seiji FUKUYAMA, Akira KAWANAMI, Junji NADANO