Rear Patents (Class 296/193.08)
  • Patent number: 8297688
    Abstract: A rear body structure for a vehicle includes a body cover for covering a vehicle body, a rear grip member attached to a vehicle body frame and configured to be gripped by an occupant of the vehicle during operation of the vehicle, and a rear grip cover attached to and covering the rear grip member. A portion of the body cover overlaps a top surface of the rear grip member. The rear grip member is provided with a body cover positioning section for positioning the body cover thereon. The rear grip cover is arranged above the body cover positioning section of the rear grip member for providing covering thereto. Such vehicle rear body structure provides an improvement in the outward appearance of a rear body structure of a vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 2, 2010
    Date of Patent: October 30, 2012
    Assignee: Honda Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Masashi Kanezuka
  • Patent number: 8282146
    Abstract: Provided is an automotive rear vehicle body structure which increases the amount of energy that can be absorbed, improves the safety of the vehicle occupant and protects a fuel tank in a reliable manner at the time of a rear end collision while allowing a spare tire to be placed within a cabin. In an automotive rear vehicle body structure having a H-type torsion beam wheel suspension system (12) pivotally supported by side sill extensions (2a, 3a) on either side of the vehicle body, the wheel suspension system including a pair of trailing arms (13, 14) and a torsion beam (15) connecting intermediate parts of the trailing arms with each other, a pair of rear side frames (6, 7) extend rearwardly from side sills (2, 3), and a spare tire pan (10) is defined by downwardly bulging a part of a rear floor panel (11) located between the rear side frames (6, 7).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 14, 2008
    Date of Patent: October 9, 2012
    Assignee: Honda Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Masaki Izutsu, Kanji Fujii, Yutaka Kobashi, Hidenori Matsumoto, Katsuya Hishiki, Masami Yaguchi
  • Patent number: 8276926
    Abstract: A rear suspension spring support structure enables a rear side member to have an improved rigidity, and thus driving stability is improved. The rear suspension spring support structure has a rear cross member connected to a rear side member with a rear cross member extension being interposed therebetween. An extending portion, on a vehicle lateral side, of the rear cross member extension passes under the rear side member and extends to the vehicle lateral side of the rear side member. The extending portion is welded to a lower surface of the rear side member and a side surface of the vehicle lateral side. A coil spring bracket for receiving an upper end portion of the coil spring is joined to a lower surface of the rear cross member extension.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 18, 2010
    Date of Patent: October 2, 2012
    Assignee: Suzuki Motor Corporation
    Inventor: Hiroyuki Koyama
  • Patent number: 8267468
    Abstract: A bracket structure is in a vehicle body rear portion. In the bracket structure, an upper bracket 19 and first and second lower brackets 18 and 15 are disposed in such a manner as to be shifted to a right side or a left side in the vehicle width direction from an axis passing through a center of a spare tire housing 5, the second lower bracket 15 is formed in a concave shape and a closed section is formed between the first lower bracket 18 and the second lower bracket 15 by superposing the first lower bracket 18 and the second lower bracket 15, and the upper bracket 19 is attached to a top surface of the rear floor panel 4, and the upper bracket 19 and the first lower bracket 18 are disposed so as to correspond to each other in a vertical direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 13, 2011
    Date of Patent: September 18, 2012
    Assignee: Suzuki Motor Corporation
    Inventors: Hossain Amir, Takayuki Souma, Kazuaki Ikejima, Teruhisa Mita
  • Publication number: 20120223547
    Abstract: A vehicle rear body structure includes rear floor panels, rear wheel housings, and rear side extensions. The rear side extensions each have a first joined portion that is joined to a breadthways outer end of each of the rear floor panels, a second joined portion that is joined to an rear end of each of the rear wheel housings, a side portion that is an uprising slanted portion extending from the rear end of the first joined portion to the second joined portion, a surface portion surrounded by the first joined portion, the second joined portion, and the side portion, and an extending portion joined to a flange portion of a rear pillar, wherein the side portion is configured to have higher stiffness or strength than at least the surface portion.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 2, 2012
    Publication date: September 6, 2012
    Applicant: HONDA MOTOR CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Jun Horiguchi, Chikashi Nagashima
  • Publication number: 20120169089
    Abstract: A rear structure for a vehicle is provided, the structure including (i) a pair of single piece rear torque boxes; (ii) a pair of rocker panels mechanically coupled to the rear torque boxes; (iii) a pair of rear rails mechanically coupled to the rear torque boxes; and (iv) at least one cross-member interposed between and mechanically coupled to the rear torque boxes.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 30, 2011
    Publication date: July 5, 2012
    Applicant: TESLA MOTORS, INC.
    Inventors: Peter Dore Rawlinson, Hitendra Laxmidas Gadhiya, Alexi Charbonneau
  • Publication number: 20120153677
    Abstract: A structure for a vehicle body rear portion, absorbing an impact load applied to the vehicle body rear portion. The structure for a vehicle body rear portion includes: left and right girder sections (42) which rise upward from a rear panel (22) provided at the vehicle body rear portion and which are deformable by an impact load applied to the rear panel; and left and right upper girder sections (43) which are connected to the upper ends (42b) of the lower girder sections (42), extend toward the front of the vehicle up to left and right roof side rails (14), are configured to have higher strength than the lower girder sections, and transmits the impact load to the roof side rails. Left and right girder stiffeners (45) are provided so as to reinforce the girder joint sections (48) between the lower girder sections and the upper girder sections.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 30, 2010
    Publication date: June 21, 2012
    Applicant: HONDA MOTOR CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Norikazu Matsuura, Syouji Machida, Kazuhiro Kikuchi
  • Patent number: 8191961
    Abstract: In a rear vehicle-body structure of a vehicle in which a damper support portion supporting an upper end portion of a suspension damper is provided at a rear wheel house, on a vehicle-inside wall face of the rear wheel house are provided a first brace member which interconnects a front portion of the damper support portion and a rear side frame and a second brace member which interconnects a rear portion of the damper support portion and the rear side frame. Accordingly, the rigidity of the damper support portion provided at the rear wheel house can be improved easily and effectively, and this structure can have superiority in its applicability.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 19, 2010
    Date of Patent: June 5, 2012
    Assignee: Mazda Motor Corporation
    Inventors: Hidenori Matsuoka, Hirotaka Natsume
  • Publication number: 20120091759
    Abstract: A rear floor structure for a motor vehicle includes, but is not limited to two longitudinal girders extending between rear wheel houses. A downwardly open pocket for receiving a shock absorber is formed in each of the longitudinal girders.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 17, 2011
    Publication date: April 19, 2012
    Applicant: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS LLC
    Inventors: Martin Schwarz, Juergen Hulbert, Stephan Rosenplaenter, Joerg Fritzinger, Andreas Stern, Juergen Siebeneick, Michael Harder, Dirk Ehrlich, Waldemar Solnica, Oleg Mazur, Gunther Heim, Sven Ohligschlaeger
  • Publication number: 20110254319
    Abstract: A bracket structure is in a vehicle body rear portion. In the bracket structure, an upper bracket 19 and first and second lower brackets 18 and 15 are disposed in such a manner as to be shifted to a right side or a left side in the vehicle width direction from an axis passing through a center of a spare tire housing 5, the second lower bracket 15 is formed in a concave shape and a closed section is formed between the first lower bracket 18 and the second lower bracket 15 by superposing the first lower bracket 18 and the second lower bracket 15, and the upper bracket 19 is attached to a top surface of the rear floor panel 4, and the upper bracket 19 and the first lower bracket 18 are disposed so as to correspond to each other in a vertical direction.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 13, 2011
    Publication date: October 20, 2011
    Inventors: Hossain Amir, Takayuki Souma, Kazuaki Ikejima, Teruhisa Mita
  • Patent number: 8033596
    Abstract: A body structure of a motor vehicle has a rear side wall which is constructed in a simple manner. It is important for the side wall to have at least the following components configured as light metal diecast parts: a support, a suspension strut mount and a bracket for a rollover protection device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 30, 2009
    Date of Patent: October 11, 2011
    Assignee: Dr. Ing. h.c. F. Porsche Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Wolfgang Neumann, Holger Hahlweg
  • Patent number: 8011718
    Abstract: A pair of rear floor frames extend in a fore-and-aft direction in a lower part of a vehicle body. A pair of rear horizontal frames extend in the fore-and-aft direction above corresponding rear wheels. A door beam extends in the fore-and-aft direction in each side door in alignment with the corresponding rear horizontal frame. A pair of rear vertical frames each extend vertically behind the corresponding rear wheel and join rear ends of the corresponding rear floor frame and rear horizontal frame to each other. In a rear end crash with a vehicle having a front bumper at a relatively high position, the rear vertical frames allow the impact energy of the rear end crash to be evenly distributed, and deformation of the passenger compartment is minimized. The rear horizontal frames allow the impact energy to be transmitted to the door beams, contributing to reinforcement of the passenger compartment.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 22, 2009
    Date of Patent: September 6, 2011
    Assignee: Honda Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Takumi Tsuyuzaki, Toshizumi Yamaguchi, Hiro Nushii
  • Patent number: 8011719
    Abstract: An inner gusset plate is connected, in each case in the region of the C pillar, to a roof frame cross-member, to a lateral roof frame member and to a rear sealing channel cheek of a motor vehicle or of a rear part of a motor vehicle. The inner gusset plate is arranged opposite a further, outer, connected gusset plate. The two gusset plates form a pillar profile and are connected to a wheel box of the body structure. The inner gusset plate is supported via adjoining inner brackets on a longitudinal member of the vehicle, which longitudinal member is adjoined by two cross-members in the vehicle floor, which cross-members are arranged in the region of the supporting base of the inner bracket on the longitudinal member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 21, 2009
    Date of Patent: September 6, 2011
    Assignee: Dr. Ing. h.c. F. Porsche AG
    Inventors: Siegfried Walter, Jan Christian Sträter, Holger Hahlweg, Roberto Oggianu
  • Patent number: 8007034
    Abstract: When a luggage floor moves forward of the vehicle by an external force from the rear of the vehicle, a front surface portion of the luggage floor strikes left and right rear side leg portions of a rear suspension member to avoid applying an input load to the canister. The canister is disposed at nearly the same position as the left and right rear side leg portions of the rear suspension member or at a position more forward than that position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 9, 2009
    Date of Patent: August 30, 2011
    Assignee: Nissan Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Takashi Kobayakawa
  • Patent number: 7997618
    Abstract: A rear frame for a motor vehicle has a profile part manufactured from cast metal. The profile part has two legs, which are connected to one another via a cover element, and an attachment element. In this way, the rear frame has a particularly high stability and may be manufactured particularly cost-effectively.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 25, 2009
    Date of Patent: August 16, 2011
    Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC
    Inventors: Jens Hartmann, Morgan Boerjesson, Hans-Joachim Patschicke, Nico Alexander Diehl
  • Publication number: 20110163572
    Abstract: A method for producing a moldable object having a hollow plastic component and a single-piece plastic stanchion is provided. The method includes molding the single-piece plastic stanchion in a first mold. The molded stanchion includes a first substantially-closed end and a second substantially-open end, and a cap joined with the second end via a living-hinge, enabling the cap to assume and maintain a position, such that the second end becomes substantially covered. The method also includes flexing the living-hinge, wherein the cap assumes and maintains the position such that the second end is substantially covered. The method additionally includes arranging the single-piece stanchion relative to a second mold after the second end is substantially-covered via the cap. Furthermore, the method includes molding the hollow plastic component in the second mold, such that the single-piece stanchion is fixedly retained by the hollow plastic component.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 4, 2010
    Publication date: July 7, 2011
    Applicant: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS, INC.
    Inventor: Adam J. Campbell
  • Patent number: 7954888
    Abstract: A body structure of a rear part of a motor vehicle contains at least two side walls, each having a side wall element, and a bulkhead with a cross member on the ground side. The cross member is provided with rearwardly open mounts into which a front end region of the respective side wall element is pushed and is welded and/or riveted to the cross member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 5, 2009
    Date of Patent: June 7, 2011
    Assignee: Dr. Ing. h.c. F. Porsche AG
    Inventors: Wolfgang Neumann, Holger Hahlweg
  • Patent number: 7954887
    Abstract: A rear structure (10) of a vehicle is provided in which a lower back reinforcement (16) is provided longitudinally forward of a lower back panel (12). A gusset (34) connects the lower back reinforcement (16) and a rear floor side member (20) in a longitudinally and laterally oblique direction. Accordingly, when a collision load is applied to the vehicle from an oblique rear direction of the vehicle, the change in the angle formed by the lower back reinforcement (16) and the rear floor side member (20) is suppressed and the rigidity against such a collision load is thus improved.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 20, 2006
    Date of Patent: June 7, 2011
    Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Akihiro Sakamoto, Takero Kato, Masao Hitomi
  • Patent number: 7950724
    Abstract: A vehicle body rear structure, which includes a rear frame disposed on each side of a vehicle body; and a tank lower frame disposed beneath the rear frame and on the each side of the vehicle body. The rear frame has a load-displacement characteristic having a ratio F/S of load F to displacement S larger than the ratio F/S of the tank lower frame. A cross sectional deformation of the tank lower frame is suppressed so that the load does not rapidly decrease after reaching a maximum of a bending strength.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 18, 2008
    Date of Patent: May 31, 2011
    Assignee: Honda Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Toshizumi Yamaguchi, Satoru Kawabe, Takumi Tsuyuzaki
  • Patent number: 7926869
    Abstract: A rear body structure of a vehicle includes a wheel housing inner panel, and a common mounting bracket which is engaged with an outer surface of the wheel housing inner panel in a forward/backward direction of the car body and has insertion holes formed therein such that a two-wheel shock absorber and a four-wheel shock absorber are inserted into the holes, respectively, and an inner quarter connecting member which connects the common mounting bracket to an inner quarter panel to reinforce a rigidity of the bracket. Accordingly, a single common mounting bracket can be applied to a two-wheel drive system and a four-wheel drive system, without the need of separately manufacturing and assembling a bracket for a two-wheel shock absorber and a bracket for a four-wheel shock absorber, and thus the manufacturing cost of the rear body structure can be reduced.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 11, 2008
    Date of Patent: April 19, 2011
    Assignee: Hyundai Motor Company
    Inventor: Yong Kew Kim
  • Publication number: 20110084521
    Abstract: A vehicle emergency egress system. In one embodiment, an emergency egress system for providing an opening for egress from a vehicle includes a frame configured to be directly attached to the vehicle, the frame having a cavity formed therein and defined on a first side by a back surface facing an exterior of the vehicle, the back surface having an opening fanned therethrough; a panel removably received in the cavity for covering the opening, the back surface retaining the panel in a first direction; and at least a bracket removably attached to the frame on the exterior of the vehicle and retaining the panel in a second direction opposite the first direction, wherein the bracket is detachable from the frame by an occupant inside the vehicle for removal of the panel to the exterior of the vehicle in the second direction.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 9, 2010
    Publication date: April 14, 2011
    Inventors: Russell W. Shellenberger, Carlo A. Scarinci, David R. Avitia
  • Publication number: 20110074183
    Abstract: A rear body structure for a vehicle includes a body cover for covering a vehicle body, a rear grip member attached to a vehicle body frame and configured to be gripped by an occupant of the vehicle during operation of the vehicle, and a rear grip cover attached to and covering the rear grip member. A portion of the body cover overlaps a top surface of the rear grip member. The rear grip member is provided with a body cover positioning section for positioning the body cover thereon. The rear grip cover is arranged above the body cover positioning section of the rear grip member for providing covering thereto. Such vehicle rear body structure provides an improvement in the outward appearance of a rear body structure of a vehicle.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 2, 2010
    Publication date: March 31, 2011
    Applicant: HONDA MOTOR CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Masashi KANEZUKA
  • Patent number: 7905533
    Abstract: The invention relates to a rear module for fitting to a motor vehicle, the module comprising a large door for being pivotally mounted about an axis, the large door extending in a direction parallel to said axis between two stiffener uprights both presenting a cross-section of thickness, taken perpendicularly to the door, that is not less than a first thickness, the large door having an opening extending as far as said uprights in the direction parallel to said axis; and a small door mounted on the large door to move between an open position uncovering said opening, and a closed position closing said opening, the small door extending in the direction parallel to the axis between two stiffener uprights both having a cross-section of thickness, taken perpendicularly to the door, that is not less than a second thickness, the uprights of the small door covering the uprights of the large door when the small door is in the closed position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 25, 2007
    Date of Patent: March 15, 2011
    Assignee: Compagnie Plastic Omnium
    Inventors: GĂ©rald Andre, Guilherme Amorin, JĂ©rĂ´me Fillon, Fabien Delwal, Denis Barral
  • Publication number: 20100325960
    Abstract: A first door corresponds to a first section of a vehicle and can open/close a first access to the first section. At least one barrier corresponds to a second door of the vehicle, where the second door corresponds to a second section and the at least one barrier can open/close a second access to the second section. The first section is connected to the second section to allow air to pass therebetween. A coupling between the first door and the at least one barrier operates the at least one barrier to open the corresponding second access in response to the first door being opened and operates the at least one barrier to close the corresponding second access in response to the first door being closed. The corresponding second access allows air to exit the first section and the second section as the first door is closed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 29, 2009
    Publication date: December 30, 2010
    Inventor: John Arthur McEwan
  • Patent number: 7850226
    Abstract: A vehicle having a body structure for at least a portion of a passenger compartment of the vehicle disposed adjacent to a front portion of the passenger compartment.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 11, 2007
    Date of Patent: December 14, 2010
    Assignee: Ford Motor Company
    Inventor: Gregory Thomas Hedderly
  • Patent number: 7815248
    Abstract: A rearward-side body structure of a vehicle, particularly a passenger car, has two side members mutually connected by a cross member. On each vehicle side, one console is provided, which in each case covers a junction node in a flat and form-integrated manner from below, in which junction node the cross member is to be fastened to the respective side member. The console has a bearing plate, on which a subframe of the vehicle can be supported. The bearing plate has at least one passage opening through which the subframe can be screwed to the vehicle body structure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 17, 2008
    Date of Patent: October 19, 2010
    Assignee: Dr. Ing. h.c. F. Porsche AG
    Inventors: Holger Hahlweg, Jan Christian Straeter
  • Patent number: 7810876
    Abstract: A vehicle having a rear end body structure that includes first and second rear side castings. The first and second rear side castings interlock with at least one structure that at least partially defines a passenger compartment of the vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 11, 2007
    Date of Patent: October 12, 2010
    Assignee: Ford Motor Company
    Inventor: Gregory Thomas Hedderly
  • Publication number: 20100244493
    Abstract: A saddle-type vehicle is provided with a rear cowl for covering a rear portion of a body frame, while having an opening capable of being closed with a rider's seat. The vehicle also includes a rear lamp assembly including a tail lamp bulb and a pair of turn signal bulbs, with stays being provided on the upper side of the rear lamp assembly. The rear lamp assembly is mounted to the body frame with a center cover, for covering the upper side of a tail lamp part of the combination lamp, and turn signal covers, for covering the upper side of turn signal parts and turn signal sockets in the combination lamp. The turn signal covers each have an arm located below the rider's seat and extending toward the inner side in the vehicle width direction, and the arm is fastened to the stay.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 5, 2010
    Publication date: September 30, 2010
    Applicant: HONDA MOTOR CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Rinatsu IIDA, Gen TANABE
  • Publication number: 20100148536
    Abstract: A cargo bed storage structure is provided for a vehicle. The cargo bed storage structure includes a cargo bed having a floor and a wall. The wall has a first portion extending substantially perpendicularly from the floor and a second portion extending inboard from the first portion. An attachment member is fixed to a lower surface of the second portion of the wall. A tie-down device has a first end that is fixed to the first portion of the wall. The tie-down device is operative in a stowed configuration and a usage configuration. The second end of the tie-down device is releasably engaged with the attachment member when the tie-down device is in the stowed configuration such that the tie-down device is disposed entirely outboard of an inboard distal end of the second portion of the wall.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 11, 2008
    Publication date: June 17, 2010
    Applicant: Nissan Technical Center North America, Inc.
    Inventor: Mark D. Snyder
  • Publication number: 20100133879
    Abstract: A wheelhouse reinforcement bracket is provided for the rear wheelhouses of an automotive vehicle to increase torsional rigidity for the vehicle. The wheelhouse bracket is positioned in alignment with the location on the vehicle body where the shock absorber is located, and in alignment with the rear suspension cross member to create a structural ring formed by the wheelhouse bracket, the C-pillar and the rear suspension cross member. The wheelhouse bracket is formed with a mounting flange positionable within the inside of the U-shaped rear side rail to facilitate welding thereto instead of being welded to the top of the underbody floor structure. The mounting flange has a first portion configured to be mated against a first generally vertically extending wall of the rear side rail and a second portion configured to be mated against a generally horizontally extending wall of the rear side rail.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 28, 2008
    Publication date: June 3, 2010
    Inventors: Philip John Leonetti, Ron Allen Carpenter, Steve William Gallagher
  • Publication number: 20100096885
    Abstract: A tie-down rail for application to a vehicle. The vehicle is one having a horizontally extending open bed and vertically extending substantially parallel side walls, side walls having an elongated top edge and interior lip extending the length thereof. The tie-down rail includes an elongated, substantially rectangular strip sized to be fixedly secured to the inner lip and a plurality of J-hooks fixed to the rectangular strip such that upon fixing the rectangular strip to the inner lip, the J-hooks extend downwardly from the interior lip and towards the outside of the open bed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 22, 2008
    Publication date: April 22, 2010
    Inventors: Steven W. Mezzanatto, Michael L. Larson
  • Patent number: 7677644
    Abstract: A rear body panel for a golf car includes a seat support portion and a bag well portion disposed rearward from the seat support portion. The rear body panel also includes a pair of wheel wells disposed on opposite sides of the bag well portion. The seat support portion includes a discontinuous recessed flange, a lower end trim edge, and at least one tab for limiting movement of the rear body panel on the golf car. Stiffening ribs are also included adjacent the wheel wells, and hand hold apertures are further included. The bag well portion includes a front wall portion, a pair of outwardly sloped side walls, and a floor portion with an impact absorption feature.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 28, 2007
    Date of Patent: March 16, 2010
    Assignee: Textron, Inc.
    Inventors: Jing Wen, Donald S. Hanson
  • Patent number: 7628446
    Abstract: A rear frame assembly is provided for use in an automotive vehicle extending between upright side walls to define a trunk opening. The rear frame assembly includes a cross car beam extending laterally between the side walls of the vehicle. A sail panel is fixedly secured to the cross car beam. The sail panel includes symmetrically opposite flanges adapted to conform to the side walls of the vehicle to define a path for diverting a flow of water around the trunk opening. The sail panel includes a conically shaped concavity for engaging a conical protrusion on the vehicle for locating the rear frame assembly within the vehicle during installation of the rear frame assembly to the vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 17, 2004
    Date of Patent: December 8, 2009
    Assignee: Intier Automotive Inc.
    Inventors: William J. Harney, Pierre-Xavier Roy
  • Publication number: 20090278384
    Abstract: A rear structure of a vehicle body includes a first rear side member and a second rear side member, the first and second rear side members generally extending in a front-to-rear direction of the vehicle body, a first rear cross member extending between the first rear side member and the second rear side member, a rear center member extending from the first rear cross member toward the rear of the vehicle body in the front-to-rear direction, and wherein the rear center member includes at least one structure configured to be vulnerable when an impact load is exerted upon the rear of the vehicle body.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 3, 2009
    Publication date: November 12, 2009
    Applicant: NISSAN MOTOR CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Masakazu Yamada, Takayoshi Nomura
  • Publication number: 20090255891
    Abstract: A magnetic divider system for forming one or more sub-compartments to isolate and organize articles therewithin in the interior region of a compartment having a ferruginous surface is provided. The magnetic divider system includes at least one rail member for defining one or more sub-compartments in the interior region of the compartment, the rail members having a base portion, a distal portion, and a channel extending therethrough. The magnetic divider system further includes one or more attachment members comprising magnets for fixedly restraining the rail members in the interior region of the compartment. The attachment members are disposed in the channel to magnetically attract the ferruginous surface of the interior region of the compartment to, in turn, restrainably affix the at least one rail member to the ferruginous surface of the interior region of the compartment.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 9, 2008
    Publication date: October 15, 2009
    Inventor: Terry Lanning
  • Publication number: 20090252585
    Abstract: Prior to the invention of the hydraulic Power Bed Slide, the only forms of cargo bed slides available were manually operated. You were limited on the amount of weight the slide could hold, the slide could not be operated if cargo was on an incline and locking mechanisms were limited to the manufactures preset locations. Having an all steel, hydraulic powered bed slide allows for a much greater weight capacity, capability of moving cargo on any incline and infinite locking positions.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 2, 2008
    Publication date: October 8, 2009
    Inventor: James M. Plaganis
  • Publication number: 20090243342
    Abstract: A passenger vehicle rear end structure is provided with a vehicle body, a rear body panel and connection arrangement. The vehicle body includes an interior cargo area having a rear exterior trunk access opening and a rear exterior body surface. The rear body panel is movably with respect to the vehicle body between an upright orientation and a horizontal orientation with the rear body panel forming a rear exterior panel surface that mates with the rear exterior body surface. The connection arrangement couples the rear body panel to the vehicle body for movement of the rear body panel between the upright orientation and the horizontal orientation. The rear exterior surface of the rear body panel is disposed rearward of a portion of the rear exterior body surface that mates with a bottom ledge of the rear body panel when the rear body panel is in the horizontal orientation.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 27, 2008
    Publication date: October 1, 2009
    Applicant: NISSAN TECHNICAL CENTER NORTH AMERICA, INC.
    Inventors: Andy CHRISTENSEN, Heather S. KONET, Dan HUSTYI
  • Publication number: 20090195030
    Abstract: In a rear vehicle body structure, a spare tire is received in a spare tire pan in a rear end up slanted orientation, the front end of the spare tire is prevented from forward movement by a spare tire pan cross member, and a rear bottom of the spare tire pan is reinforced. At the time of a rear end crash, the spare tire is tilted substantially to an upright orientation around the front end, and the spare tire pan is deformed such that the rear bottom is folded upon a front bottom wall in the shape of letter Z as seen from side so that the spare tire pan provides a long deformation stroke, and is utilized for absorbing the impact energy of the rear end crash. Preferably, the rear bottom comprises an elevated horizontal part and a stepped portion defining a front edge of the elevated horizontal part.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 4, 2009
    Publication date: August 6, 2009
    Applicant: HONDA MOTOR CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Toshizumi Yamaguchi, Hiro Nushii, Takumi Tsuyuzaki
  • Publication number: 20090184542
    Abstract: A pair of rear floor frames extend in a fore-and-aft direction in a lower part of a vehicle body. A pair of rear horizontal frames extend in the fore-and-aft direction above corresponding rear wheels. A door beam extends in the fore-and-aft direction in each side door in alignment with the corresponding rear horizontal frame. A pair of rear vertical frames each extend vertically behind the corresponding rear wheel and join rear ends of the corresponding rear floor frame and rear horizontal frame to each other. In a rear end crash with a vehicle having a front bumper at a relatively high position, the rear vertical frames allow the impact energy of the rear end crash to be evenly distributed, and deformation of the passenger compartment is minimized. The rear horizontal frames allow the impact energy to be transmitted to the door beams, contributing to reinforcement of the passenger compartment.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 22, 2009
    Publication date: July 23, 2009
    Applicant: HONDA MOTOR CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Takumi Tsuyuzaki, Toshizumi Yamaguchi, Hiro Nushii
  • Publication number: 20090174225
    Abstract: A cargo cover assembly for covering a cargo area of a vehicle including: a housing; a panel portion secured to the housing, wherein the panel portion is configured to roll and unroll within the housing, a flexible rod associated with the panel portion and moveable with respect to the housing, and wherein when the cargo cover assembly is in an unretracted position, the panel portion is unrolled from the housing and the flexible rod flexes outwardly to substantially match a posterior portion of the cargo area so that the cargo cover assembly substantially conceals the cargo area.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 4, 2008
    Publication date: July 9, 2009
    Applicant: Toyota Motor Engineering and Manufacturing North America, Inc.
    Inventor: Eric W. Day
  • Patent number: 7556302
    Abstract: A parcel shelf structure in a rear area of a vehicle body includes a parcel shelf disposed between first and second rear cross members. The parcel shelf has in the center thereof a speaker installation section comprised of a bottom part that accommodates a step formed in a downwardly concave manner from a surface of a frame unit of the parcel shelf. The speaker installation section is formed by a peripheral wall that slopes downward from the surface of the frame unit toward the center of the speaker installation section, and the surface area of the speaker installation section is small.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 31, 2008
    Date of Patent: July 7, 2009
    Assignee: Honda Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Hiroyuki Sakai, Koichi Takahashi
  • Publication number: 20090085380
    Abstract: A rear structure (10) of a vehicle is provided in which a lower back reinforcement (16) is provided longitudinally forward of a lower back panel (12). A gusset (34) connects the lower back reinforcement (16) and a rear floor side member (20) in a longitudinally and laterally oblique direction. Accordingly, when a collision load is applied to the vehicle from an oblique rear direction of the vehicle, the change in the angle formed by the lower back reinforcement (16) and the rear floor side member (20) is suppressed and the rigidity against such a collision load is thus improved.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 20, 2006
    Publication date: April 2, 2009
    Inventors: Akihiro Sakamoto, Takero Kato, Masao Hitomi
  • Patent number: 7503620
    Abstract: There is disclosed a reinforcement member with a carrier member and a reinforcement material disposed on the carrier member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 5, 2006
    Date of Patent: March 17, 2009
    Assignee: Zephyros, Inc.
    Inventors: Eric Brennecke, Gary Hulett
  • Publication number: 20090045652
    Abstract: The invention relates to a cargo restraint arranged between a passenger compartment and an article storage compartment in a utility vehicle. The cargo restraint comprises a web body, a first elongate supporting bar attached to the upper marginal edge of the web body and being located in an upper section of the storage compartment attached at a pair of opposed, outer ends, and at least a second and a third elongated supporting bar attached to the lower marginal edge of the web body, said second and third elongated supporting bar being located in a lower section of the storage compartment attached at a pair of opposed, outer ends. At least one pair of adjacent, facing end sections of the said second and third elongate supporting bars are arranged separate and movable relative to each other.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 27, 2008
    Publication date: February 19, 2009
    Inventors: Maria Mossberg, Marie Larson
  • Publication number: 20080277968
    Abstract: A rear structure of a vehicle body including: an arc-shaped frame which is fixed at a middle portion along an extending direction thereof to a rear panel, and has first reinforcing portions in which both ends along the extending direction, which extend along a longitudinal direction of the vehicle body, and which have cross sections opening toward corresponding rear frames; and a pair of rear frames fixed at a rear end thereof to the rear panel, fixed at a front end thereof to corresponding side sill, and has a second reinforcing portion which extends along the longitudinal direction and which has a cross section opening toward the corresponding first reinforcing portion, wherein the first reinforcing portions and the corresponding second reinforcing portions are fixed to each other interposing side flanges of a spare tire pan therebetween.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 22, 2008
    Publication date: November 13, 2008
    Applicant: HONDA MOTOR CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Yasuhisa Egawa, Shigeto Yasuhara, Yuji Matsuura
  • Publication number: 20080277969
    Abstract: A vehicle deck structure that can suppress deformation of a deck floor is provided. The vehicle deck structure includes a deck floor extending in a vehicle body front-rear direction and a vehicle width direction, a cross member having a longitudinal direction that corresponds to the vehicle width direction and provided at a lower side of the deck floor, a mount lower surface reinforcement that closes off a downward open end of the cross member to form a closed cross-section portion Sc, a collar that is provided within the closed cross-section portion Sc and supports a fastening load for fastening the deck floor to a chassis frame F, and a rear cross reinforcement that is provided at a front side or a rear side in the vehicle body front-rear direction with respect to an installation portion of the collar at the deck floor.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 7, 2008
    Publication date: November 13, 2008
    Inventor: Kenji Sato
  • Publication number: 20080272620
    Abstract: A covering system for a rear storage space of a vehicle, with two guide rails running parallel and arranged on both sides of the rear storage space, includes a largely dimensionally stable closing surface element which has guide devices on both sides. The guide devices are arranged movably within the guide rails and make it possible for the largely dimensionally stable closing surface element to be movable along the guide rails between a lower and an upper end position. At least one pivoting section of the closing surface element is designed such that it can be pivoted downward at least in the upper end position.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 2, 2008
    Publication date: November 6, 2008
    Inventor: Thomas Seeg
  • Publication number: 20080258504
    Abstract: A structure of a rear part in a vehicle body. A rear glass window is provided at a rear end part of a roof of the vehicle, and the rear glass window is inclined downward toward the back of the vehicle. A trunk compartment is formed from a part below an attachment part of the rear glass window to a rear end part of the vehicle body. A trunk lid is attached to a lower edge of the attachment part of the rear glass window in a manner such that the trunk lid can be opened and closed freely. A visual window for observing a field on the back side of the vehicle body is provided in a wall of the trunk lid, the wall being positioned on the back side of the vehicle body. A partition wall having an interior window may be provided below the rear glass window.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 20, 2007
    Publication date: October 23, 2008
    Inventors: Hideto Sakane, Kazuhiko Sato, Tohru Ono, Shinichi Ibato, Tetsuya Higurashi
  • Patent number: 7410208
    Abstract: A package tray of a vehicle includes a first reinforcing member installed to a woofer mount of a center panel and supported by a rear member and a second reinforcing member installed to the rear member to correspond to the woofer mount of the center panel in the front-to-rear direction. Thus, stiffness is increased so that noise, caused by vibration and/or tremble generated when a woofer outputs sound waves, can be minimized.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 5, 2005
    Date of Patent: August 12, 2008
    Assignee: Hyundai Motor Company
    Inventors: Ki Chang Kim, Jae Kap Joo
  • Publication number: 20080169682
    Abstract: A vehicle having a rear end body structure that includes first and second rear side castings. The first and second rear side castings interlock with at least one structure that at least partially defines a passenger compartment of the vehicle.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 11, 2007
    Publication date: July 17, 2008
    Applicant: FORD MOTOR COMPANY
    Inventor: Gregory Thomas Hedderly