Front Patents (Class 296/193.09)
  • Patent number: 12246642
    Abstract: A vehicular front structure includes: a left front pillar disposed at a left front face of a body of a vehicle; a right front pillar disposed at a right front face of the body; an upper front crossing member extending along a lateral direction of the vehicle, the upper front crossing member having respective ends coupled one-to-one with the left front pillar and the right front pillar; a lower front crossing member extending along the lateral direction of the vehicle, the lower front crossing member having respective ends coupled one-to-one with the left front pillar and the right front pillar; and an external display coupled with the upper front crossing member and the lower front crossing member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 21, 2023
    Date of Patent: March 11, 2025
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Hirotaka Ishioka, Hideo Takeda, Norimasa Koreishi
  • Patent number: 11897543
    Abstract: A vehicle includes a battery system arranged in a central region. The battery system includes corners corresponding to corners of an end of the vehicle, and respective chassis components are arranged at each corner. Respective shear brackets are affixed to the vehicle frame to a respective chassis component. The shear brackets are configured to absorb energy from the chassis components during deceleration events. The chassis components may include a knuckle configured to engage with the frame at an interface, to which the shear bracket may be added. Each shear bracket is formed from metal, such as sheet metal, and includes mounting features such as holes or studs to affix to the frame. The shear brackets are configured to limit intrusion of the chassis components into the battery system by absorbing energy. A bolt or fastener affixing a chassis component to the frame is strengthened by the shear bracket.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 26, 2021
    Date of Patent: February 13, 2024
    Assignee: Rivian IP Holdings, LLC
    Inventors: Allen Orchard, Jiacheng Huang, Vamsi Charan Pulugurtha
  • Patent number: 11820435
    Abstract: A mounting structure of a vehicle sensor includes: an exterior member provided at a front side of a vehicle body; a frame member configured to support the exterior member or a drive source for driving a vehicle; and a road surface condition detector configured to detect a road surface condition at a front side of the vehicle. The road surface condition detector is fixed to a frame member located frontward of a front wheel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 18, 2022
    Date of Patent: November 21, 2023
    Assignee: HONDA MOTOR CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Ryosuke Yamazaki, Takashi Yanagi, Kazuya Konada
  • Patent number: 11814102
    Abstract: A vehicle front structure includes side frames in pairs, a bumper beam, a pair of lower frames, a lower beam, and wheels in pairs. Each of outer end parts of the bumper beam in a vehicle width direction and a corresponding one of outer end parts of the lower beam in the vehicle width direction overlap a corresponding one of the wheels as seen from the vehicle front side. In the vehicle width direction, a position of each of vehicle-width-direction outer ends of the bumper beam and a position of a corresponding one of vehicle-width-direction outer ends of the lower beam substantially coincide with a position of a mounting part of a corresponding one of brake devices that are disposed radially inside the wheels respectively.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 14, 2022
    Date of Patent: November 14, 2023
    Assignee: SUBARU CORPORATION
    Inventor: Yoshio Wada
  • Patent number: 11511691
    Abstract: A vehicle includes: a bumper assembly defining opposite lateral ends and an overall width extending therebetween, the bumper assembly defining a recessed area located between the opposite lateral ends thereof; an electronic sensor supported by the bumper assembly in cantilevered relation; and an energy absorber positioned within the recessed area to protect the electronic sensor and reduce dislocation of the electronic sensor by absorbing energy resulting from an impact between the vehicle and an external object. The energy absorber defines opposite lateral ends and an overall width extending therebetween less than that the overall width of the bumper assembly such that the opposite lateral ends of the energy absorber are spaced inwardly from the opposite lateral ends of the bumper assembly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 10, 2020
    Date of Patent: November 29, 2022
    Assignee: Nissan North America, Inc.
    Inventors: Md Hafizur Rahman, Omar Fernando Carrillo Fernandez
  • Patent number: 11433834
    Abstract: A vehicle front end structure includes a front bumper assembly, an overrider bracket, and a vehicle sensor. The front bumper assembly has a reinforcement bracket and a first energy absorbing member attached to forward portions of a vehicle body structure. The reinforcement bracket is located rearward of and spaced apart from a forward section of the first energy absorbing member defining a space therebetween. The first energy absorbing member further has a first lateral portion and a second lateral portion with a central gap defined therebetween. The overrider bracket is installed to the reinforcement bracket and is located within the central gap between the first lateral portion and the second lateral portion. The overrider bracket defines a pocket area with a second energy absorbing member installed within the pocket area. The vehicle sensor is supported to vehicle body structure and positioned above the second energy absorbing member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 30, 2020
    Date of Patent: September 6, 2022
    Assignee: NISSAN NORTH AMERICA, INC.
    Inventors: Emilio Novoa Liceaga, Minerva Nieto Torres, Omar Rene Manzano Miranda, Arturo Barrera Anaya
  • Patent number: 11433947
    Abstract: In a vehicle subframe 1, a pair of side members 110 and 130 includes upper side members 111 and 131 and lower side members 117 and 137, respectively, the lower side members 117 and 137 extending opposed on a downward side to the upper side members 111 and 131 while being elongated to a rearward side, and a pair of mounting members 60 and 80 is joined respectively to the lower side members 117 and 137 of the pair of side members 110 and 130.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 2, 2020
    Date of Patent: September 6, 2022
    Assignee: F-TECH INC.
    Inventors: Masamitsu Innami, Hiroyuki Uchida
  • Patent number: 11352061
    Abstract: A front body structure of a vehicle includes: a closed loop member projected on a front surface of a body to form a closed loop such that both sides of the closed loop are coupled to front ends of front side members at both sides of the body, a back beam assembly coupled to a front part of the closed loop member, and lower reinforcement members connecting a lower portion of the closed loop member, at both sides thereof, to a front part of a subframe.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 20, 2019
    Date of Patent: June 7, 2022
    Assignees: HYUNDAI MOTOR COMPANY, KIA MOTORS CORPORATION
    Inventors: Do Hoi Kim, Jai Hak Kim
  • Patent number: 11198473
    Abstract: A subframe structure includes a subframe disposed below a vehicle body structure of a vehicle, and an extension frame extending forward from the subframe and configured to absorb an impact load from forward of a vehicle body. The subframe has a body part extending in a vehicle front-and-rear direction and a mount support part supporting a power train through a mount. The body part is fixed to the vehicle body structure through the mount support part.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 12, 2019
    Date of Patent: December 14, 2021
    Assignee: Mazda Motor Corporation
    Inventors: Hiroyuki Okamoto, Masaaki Tanaka, Masaya Hiramatsu, Yuki Hayakawa
  • Patent number: 11167806
    Abstract: The disclosure provides a vehicle front structure that includes a dash panel that separates a front compartment and a vehicle cabin from each other, and dash members attached to a surface of the dash panel on a side of the vehicle cabin. Right and left wheel house portions are provided in right and left lower half portions of the dash panel, respectively, the right and left wheel house portions projecting towards the vehicle cabin so as to configure rear walls of wheel houses for front tire wheel assemblies, respectively. The dash members are attached to surfaces of the wheel house portions on the vehicle cabin side, respectively, so as to obliquely extend downward and inward in a vehicle width direction from upper ends of the wheel house portions in the vehicle width direction, respectively.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 25, 2020
    Date of Patent: November 9, 2021
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Masato Nakamura, Keisuke Suzuki
  • Patent number: 11161553
    Abstract: A vehicle body front structure includes a damper housing and a cross member. The cross member is connected to the damper housing to form a closed cross section with the damper housing and the cross member. The closed cross section extends in a vertical direction across a front side frame and an upper member. The cross member has a first attachment portion. A mounting member supporting a drive source of a vehicle is attached to the first attachment portion. The cross member is formed such that a distance dimension from the damper housing decreases downward from the first attachment portion in the closed cross section.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 31, 2018
    Date of Patent: November 2, 2021
    Assignee: HONDA MOTOR CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Takehiro Kondo
  • Patent number: 11110961
    Abstract: A washer tank mounting structure includes a washer tank including a front mounting portion and a rear mounting portion, wherein the front mounting portion is mounted on a vehicle front-side end of a crash box, the crash box being arranged between a front side member and a bumper reinforcement, the vehicle front-side end of the crash box being a front end portion of the crash box in a front-rear direction of a vehicle, and the rear mounting portion includes a first rear mounting portion mounted on a vehicle rear-side end of the crash box, the vehicle rear-side end of the crash box being a rear end portion of the crash box in the front-rear direction of the vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 20, 2020
    Date of Patent: September 7, 2021
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Naoki Tsutsumi, Yuto Komiyama, Ryota Tatsumi
  • Patent number: 11110966
    Abstract: A front body structure of the vehicle includes a pair of left and right apron reinforcements, a pair of left and right front side frames, a pair of left and right suspension housings, and a sub-frame. The front body structure of the vehicle further includes a shroud upper that joins the front ends of the apron reinforcements, a pair of left and right shroud members that join the shroud upper and the front ends of the front side frames, and a pair of left and right front joint members that join the front ends of the front side frames and the sub-frame, in which the shroud members are joined to the upper surfaces and the side surfaces of the front side frames.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 12, 2019
    Date of Patent: September 7, 2021
    Assignee: MAZDA MOTOR CORPORATION
    Inventors: Kuniyoshi Tashiro, Shigeaki Watanabe, Hidenori Matsuoka
  • Patent number: 11097784
    Abstract: A shock tower for a vehicle includes a body having an upper portion and a lower portion. The body includes a hub disposed along the upper portion and a rim extending along the lower portion. A plurality of first spokes extend between the hub and the rim for carrying or distributing a load from the shock tower to a portion of the vehicle. A plurality of second spokes extend at least partially around the body and transversely to respective ones of the first spokes to define a plurality of spoke junctions for allowing the distributed load to change directions at each intersection of the second spokes with the first spokes. A plurality of third spokes each extend angularly from one of the first spokes to the rim. The spokes collectively define voids for removing material from the shock tower and reducing an overall weight of the shock tower component.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 6, 2018
    Date of Patent: August 24, 2021
    Assignee: MAGNA INTERNATIONAL INC.
    Inventor: Charles Peckitt Kaneb
  • Patent number: 11084431
    Abstract: A front fascia for a vehicle includes an upper fascia member, a lower fascia member, a connection member, and a temporary connection member. The connection member extends between the upper fascia member and the lower fascia member. The temporary connection member extends between the upper fascia member and the lower fascia member. The temporary connection member is configured to be removable prior to installation of the front fascia to the vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 2, 2019
    Date of Patent: August 10, 2021
    Assignee: NISSAN NORTH AMERICA, INC.
    Inventors: Victor Manuel Alvarez Viveros, Minerva Nieto Torres, Jorge Omar Zuñiga
  • Patent number: 11001308
    Abstract: A vehicle front structure includes a first bumper reinforcement, a pair of right and left front side members respectively disposed on a vehicle rear side of outer portions of the first bumper reinforcement in a vehicle width direction, an apron upper member, a first crash box interposed between the first bumper reinforcement and the front side member, a cross member coupling together front ends of the pair of right and left front side members in the vehicle width direction, and a high-voltage component disposed on the vehicle rear side of and at a distance from the cross member. The first crash box is configured to undergo compressive deformation when a load equal to or larger than a predetermined value is input from the first bumper reinforcement.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 23, 2019
    Date of Patent: May 11, 2021
    Inventors: Hyuga Atsumi, Shigenori Hashida, Kentaro Nakamura
  • Patent number: 10807644
    Abstract: A side frame is arranged outward of a front side frame in a vehicle width direction. The side frame includes an upper member, and a lower member connected to a front end of the upper member and extending frontward and downward. An upper bent part bent frontward and upward is formed in a connection part between the upper member and the lower member. A bulkhead is provided frontward of the upper bent part so as to separate a closed cross section part of the lower member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 29, 2018
    Date of Patent: October 20, 2020
    Assignee: HONDA MOTOR CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Takehiro Kondo
  • Patent number: 10618567
    Abstract: A vehicle shock tower component including a top portion, an upper portion, and a lower portion is provided. The top portion defines a plane. The upper portion may include one or more upper spokes having a thickness based on a stiffness ratio to disperse load paths resulting from a force application to the upper portion. The upper spokes may extend substantially perpendicularly from the plane and an intersection spoke region may extend substantially perpendicularly from the plane. The lower portion may include one or more lower spokes extending at an angle from the one or more upper spokes and the intersection spoke region to a base portion for securing to a vehicle wheel well. Each of the spokes may be aligned with a load path defined by application of a force to the top portion in which the force is applied in a direction substantially perpendicular to the plane.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 11, 2018
    Date of Patent: April 14, 2020
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventor: Alessandro C. Guariento
  • Patent number: 10618559
    Abstract: A front vehicle body reinforcing structure capable of improving collision stability at the time of a head-on collision, an offset collision, or a small overlap collision of a vehicle is provided. The front vehicle body reinforcing structure reinforces a portion where a front side member and a fender apron member of a front vehicle body are connected to each other. The front vehicle body reinforcing structure includes an insert member which is inserted into a front end portion of the front side member and a front end mounting bracket which is connected to a front end of the insert member and fastened to a different portion of the vehicle body. The fender apron member supports a rear end of a portion of the insert member that is separate from the front side member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 24, 2017
    Date of Patent: April 14, 2020
    Assignees: Hyundai Motor Company, Kia Motors Corporation
    Inventors: SeungMin Kang, Seho Ryu
  • Patent number: 10513293
    Abstract: There are provided a front side frame having a closed cross section extending in a vehicle longitudinal direction and including a mount-bracket attachment part for attaching a PT mount bracket provided at a PT mount for supporting a powertrain and a crash can attached to a front end of the front side frame. The front side frame includes a compressive-deformation part which is configured to be compressively deformed in a vehicle frontal collision and extend rearward from the front end, having substantially the same sectional shape as the crash can. A gusset member for preventing shearing deformation of the closed cross section of the front side frame is provided at a portion of the front side frame between the mount-bracket attachment part and the compressive-deformation part.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 7, 2018
    Date of Patent: December 24, 2019
    Assignee: MAZDA MOTOR CORPORATION
    Inventors: Takehiro Kamei, Daisuke Sakagami, Shunsuke Hirai, Yasuhiko Nishida
  • Patent number: 10494029
    Abstract: A vehicle front structure may include a side member, a bumper member arranged linearly at a vehicle frontmost end, a vehicle rear side of the bumper member being joined to the side member, and a front side member extension attached to a tip end part of the side member. A portion projecting outward and obliquely extending toward the vehicle rear from a curving point on the outer side is provided on both ends of the bumper member, a protrusion extending toward the side member is arranged on the inner side of the projecting portion, a planar portion opposite to a side face part on the vehicle outer side of the side member is provided on a tip end part on the vehicle inner side of the protrusion, and the planar portion and the side member extension are arranged so as to overlap each other in the vehicle longitudinal direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 13, 2018
    Date of Patent: December 3, 2019
    Assignee: Suzuki Motor Corporation
    Inventors: Yoshihiro Tanabe, Akihiro Hadano
  • Patent number: 10486629
    Abstract: A vehicle front portion structure includes a front fender panel, a fender reinforcement attached to the front fender panel, and a head lamp unit fixed to the front fender panel. A rear end portion of the head lamp unit is positioned behind a fixing point at which the front fender panel and the head lamp unit are fixed to each other in a front-rear direction of a vehicle, a protruding portion protruding to the vehicle-width-direction inner side is disposed in the fender reinforcement, and the protruding portion is positioned on a rotation trajectory of the head lamp unit at a time when the head lamp unit is rotated about a virtual line in an up-down direction of the vehicle passing through the fixing point such that the rear end portion of the head lamp unit is toward a vehicle-width-direction outer side.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 14, 2018
    Date of Patent: November 26, 2019
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Yohei Yamamoto
  • Patent number: 10458159
    Abstract: A vehicle body front structure comprises a bumper beam provided in a front portion of a vehicle body, a hood lock member provided on a rear side and an upper side of the bumper beam, and a hood lock provided on an upper side of the hood lock member and configured to engage with a hood so that the hood can be opened/closed. The hood lock member is made of a resin. A hood lock bracket made of a metal is attached to the hood lock member. The hood lock is attached to the hood lock bracket. The hood lock bracket and the bumper beam are connected by a connecting member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 25, 2018
    Date of Patent: October 29, 2019
    Assignee: HONDA MOTOR CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Yui Otani, Masaki Izutsu
  • Patent number: 10454575
    Abstract: Embodiments of the present invention disclose a fiber recognition method, an optical line terminal, and a system. The method includes: obtaining, by an optical line terminal, identification information of a fiber connected to an optical line terminal and to be recognized; generating, by the optical line terminal, a data frame that includes the identification information of the fiber to be recognized; transmitting, by the optical line terminal, optical signals that are generated according to the data frame to the fiber to be recognized, so as to make a fiber recognition instrument implement identification for the fiber to be recognized. The present invention can implement fiber recognition easily and conveniently. When a new ONU user is added to a distributed network, service interruption can also be avoided for a user who is normally using a service, and the cost is low.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 6, 2014
    Date of Patent: October 22, 2019
    Assignee: HUAWEI TECHNOLOGIES CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Jinrong Yin, Sulin Yang, Shu Li
  • Patent number: 10414441
    Abstract: A bolster assembly of a front end module for a vehicle that includes a composite structure having a first plurality of openings, a metal insert having a first end, a second end, and a second plurality of openings, a plurality of rivets that are inserted into the first plurality of openings of the composite structure and the second plurality of openings of the metal insert to fix the composite structure to the metal insert, the first plurality of openings being aligned with the second plurality of openings, and an injected plastic structure having a plurality of ribbing feet that holds together the composite structure and the metal insert such that the first end and the second end of the metal insert is in direct contact with the injected plastic structure to increase a shearing resistance of the bolster assembly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 10, 2017
    Date of Patent: September 17, 2019
    Assignee: Valeo North America, Inc.
    Inventor: Issmail Meskin
  • Patent number: 10369948
    Abstract: A support assembly of a bumper on a front end region of a motor vehicle which has a front end beam with respective headlights supported thereon and which each have a headlight housing, and which has a bumper cladding of the bumper which is supported by at least one bumper beam, is disclosed. The bumper beam is supported via at least one respective support element on the respectively allocated headlight housing of the respectively allocated headlight. Also disclosed is a headlight having a headlight housing which includes at least one receiver on which an allocated support element of a bumper is able to be supported. A method for the production of such a support assembly is also disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 12, 2014
    Date of Patent: August 6, 2019
    Assignee: Daimler AG
    Inventors: Uwe Kohlmann, Anton Nelson
  • Patent number: 10266208
    Abstract: A front vehicle body reinforcing structure of a vehicle includes a front side member formed to extend along a longitudinal direction of the vehicle, disposed on both right and left sides along a width direction of the vehicle, and formed by coupling a front side inner member disposed on an inner side of the vehicle and a front side outer member disposed on an outer side of the vehicle. A front end portion of the front side outer member is cut away and positioned behind a front end portion of the front side inner member; a side outer member coupled to a cut-away portion of the front side outer member; and a fender apron member disposed on an upper side in a height direction of the vehicle than the front side member and coupled to the side outer member, thereby improving front collision resistance performance.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 20, 2017
    Date of Patent: April 23, 2019
    Assignees: Hyundai Motor Company, Kia Motors Corporation
    Inventors: SeungMin Kang, Yunho Lee, Yong Kew Kim, Hyeyeon Kim
  • Patent number: 10093272
    Abstract: A vehicle includes a headlamp assembly, an upper bumper assembly, and a reinforcement bracket. The headlamp assembly includes a headlamp housing and a brace portion. The brace portion includes a front end that extends forward beyond the headlamp housing in the vehicle-longitudinal direction. The upper bumper assembly extends in a vehicle-lateral direction. The upper bumper assembly is positioned forward in the vehicle longitudinal direction with respect to the brace portion. The reinforcement bracket is attached to the brace portion. The reinforcement bracket has a rigidity higher than a rigidity of the brace portion. The reinforcement bracket reinforces the brace portion upon engagement with the upper bumper assembly as the upper bumper assembly deflects rearward in the vehicle-longitudinal direction in response to a front impact to the upper bumper assembly to inhibit movement of the upper bumper assembly rearward in the vehicle-longitudinal direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 12, 2017
    Date of Patent: October 9, 2018
    Assignee: Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing North America, Inc.
    Inventors: Mingher F. Shen, Jonathan J. Sander
  • Patent number: 10071770
    Abstract: An engine support device, which is provided for supporting an engine arranged in a front-end vehicle structure of a motor vehicle, includes a first half-shell with a first end section, a second end section opposite same and a first lateral cheek section, and a second half-shell with a third end section, a fourth end section opposite same, a middle section arranged between the third and the fourth end section and a second lateral cheek section. The first half-shell as an outer shell and the second half-shell as an inner shell can be provided in a state of the engine support device installed into a motor vehicle. The first lateral cheek section has substantially straight edges in a continuous manner from the first end section thereof to the second end section thereof.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 27, 2017
    Date of Patent: September 11, 2018
    Assignee: Bayerische Motoren Werke Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventor: Jan Bokeloh
  • Patent number: 9944330
    Abstract: An upper face portion of a suspension tower portion of a vehicle comprises an fastening face portion where plural fastening portions to which an upper-side attached portion of a suspension is fixedly fastened are provided and a top face portion which is provided at a higher level than the fastening face portion so as to face the upper-side attached portion of the suspension, the top face portion being connected to a central portion of the fastening face portion via a vertical wall portion. An inner-peripheral-side rib is provided on an inner-peripheral side of the vertical wall portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 4, 2016
    Date of Patent: April 17, 2018
    Assignee: MAZDA MOTOR CORPORATION
    Inventors: Miho Kowaki, Sakayu Terada, Ryotaro Hirata
  • Patent number: 9873404
    Abstract: A support structure for supporting panel components of a vehicle includes a deformable member with fastening points for connecting the support structure to the panel components, and one or more support members that are connected to the deformable member each with a free end. The support members can be fastened to one or more cross members of a body of the vehicle. The support structure can be used with a panel arrangement including one or more panel components for covering a portion of the vehicle. An intermediate member may be arranged between the panel components and the support structure, which during the shifting of the panel components in the direction of the support structure, interacts with the panel components and the support structure and thereby deforms the support structure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 9, 2016
    Date of Patent: January 23, 2018
    Assignee: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS LLC
    Inventors: Marco Nickel, Martin Likar
  • Patent number: 9827934
    Abstract: An ornamental grille arranged for attachment to a peripheral frame of a motor vehicle radiator grille includes a grille structure having respective grille elements. Domes are formed on points of intersection of the grille elements of the grille structure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 23, 2013
    Date of Patent: November 28, 2017
    Assignee: Daimler AG
    Inventors: Hans-Peter Maier, Jochen Roesch, Achim Koehler
  • Patent number: 9809256
    Abstract: A vehicle includes a frame and a body supported above the frame. The body includes a pair of hinge pillars disposed on opposite sides of the body and a bulkhead extending between the hinge pillars. A pair of one-piece hydroformed front-support tubes is each attached to one of the hinge pillars at a back end of the tube. Each of the tubes includes a forwardly extending portion, and a transversely extending portion attached to the frame and terminating at a front end. The front ends are attached to each other by an overlapping joint located behind a front fascia of the vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 7, 2016
    Date of Patent: November 7, 2017
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Dragan B. Stojkovic, Colleen Marie Hoffman
  • Patent number: 9776671
    Abstract: An assembling structure of a vehicle body may include side sill members provided in a length direction of a vehicle at both side portions of a lower portion of the vehicle body, respectively, a dash cross member provided in a width direction of the vehicle, both side end portions thereof being assembled to front end portions of the side sill members, center members provided in the length direction of the vehicle between the side sill members and a central portion of the vehicle body, front end portions thereof being assembled to a lower end portion of the dash cross member, and reinforcing members provided in the width direction of the vehicle between the center members and the side sill members, a first end portion of each reinforcing members being assembled to the center members and a second end portion of each reinforcing members being assembled to the side sill members.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 5, 2015
    Date of Patent: October 3, 2017
    Assignee: Hyundai Motor Company
    Inventors: Jong Seop Song, Yong Kew Kim
  • Patent number: 9718394
    Abstract: A headlight-affixing structure for affixing a headlight positioned above a front bumper to a vehicle by using a headlight bracket. When viewed from the front, the headlight bracket is substantially formed into an L-shape and comprises a horizontal section extending in the vehicle-width direction along the lower edge of the headlight, and an upright section extending upward from an end of the horizontal section on the inside thereof in the vehicle-width direction. The upright section of the headlight bracket is provided with an upper affixing part for affixing the upper section of the headlight by using a downward-facing fastening member. The middle-outside section of the horizontal section is provided with a lower affixing part for affixing the lower section of the headlight by using an upward-facing fastening member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 15, 2014
    Date of Patent: August 1, 2017
    Assignee: HONDA MOTOR CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Kazuyuki Kawamura, Keiichiro Tsuji
  • Patent number: 9586623
    Abstract: An arrangement including elements of a motor vehicle body on which hood mountings are mounted, and a water box which extends transversely to the longitudinal direction of the vehicle, and at ends of which water is discharged. The water box includes a central element, and two end elements for closing the water box which are connected to the central element and through which the water is discharged. Each end element extends toward an inside of the vehicle in a direction transverse to the vehicle body, beyond an inner edge of each corresponding hood mounting, such that the central element can pass between the hood mountings when mounting the central element along a path substantially lying in a plane vertical and longitudinal to the vehicle body.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 30, 2013
    Date of Patent: March 7, 2017
    Assignee: RENAULT s.a.s.
    Inventors: Julien Le Roy, Emmanuel Barreiro
  • Patent number: 9399490
    Abstract: A fender bracket includes a composite structure having a first flange to operatively connect to a fender, a second flange to operatively connect to a vehicle body structure, and a web connecting the first flange and the second flange. At least one actuator is positioned in at least a portion of the web. The at least one actuator is selected from a piezoelectric actuator, an active material actuator, and a pyrotechnic actuator. The at least one actuator is to cause a fracture or buckling of the web in response to an activation signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 29, 2014
    Date of Patent: July 26, 2016
    Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC
    Inventors: Venkat Aitharaju, Hamid G. Kia
  • Patent number: 9321488
    Abstract: A front vehicle body structure for a vehicle body (1) having a vehicle interior compartment (2) and a front compartment (3) which is provided in front of the vehicle interior compartment (2). The front vehicle body structure is provided with: strut towers (16) to which the upper edges of struts for the front wheels are mounted; front pillars (20) extending, at positions at the front of the vehicle interior compartment and on both sides in the width direction, from the roof of the vehicle interior compartment toward the upper edge of the rear of the front compartment; and reinforcement members (25, 70) each having one end joined to the strut tower and the other end joined to the front pillar. Each of the reinforcement members is joined to the strut tower on both the inner side and outer side of a plane (S) with respect to the vehicle body, the plane (S) passing through the axis of the strut and extending in the front-rear direction of the vehicle body.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 8, 2012
    Date of Patent: April 26, 2016
    Assignee: NIPPON STEEL & SUMITOMO METAL CORPORATION
    Inventors: Takeshi Kawachi, Toshiyuki Niwa, Seiichi Daimaru
  • Patent number: 9283907
    Abstract: An adjustable front fascia for vehicles includes a second vehicle structure that is fixed to a first vehicle structure at a location that is predefined relative to a hood of the vehicle. During assembly, the front fascia is movably supported on the second vehicle structure utilizing a temporary retaining mechanism that prevents unintended fore-aft movement of the front fascia unless a force exceeding a predefined release force is applied to the fascia. The front fascia can be fixed at a location providing a predefined gap relative to a front edge of the hood. The vertical position of the fascia relative to the hood can also be adjusted during assembly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 15, 2014
    Date of Patent: March 15, 2016
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Charles Edward Farrington, Dale Travis Huggan, James Francis Briggs
  • Patent number: 9227667
    Abstract: A structural component for a motor vehicle which is mountable in the front or rear region of the vehicle. The structural component is composed of plastic and is manufactured as a moulded part, and which includes in at least partial regions thereof two or more fabric layers which are overmoulded with a thermoplastic polymer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 31, 2013
    Date of Patent: January 5, 2016
    Assignee: Decoma (Germany) GmbH
    Inventors: Juergen Steinke, Robert Mohr
  • Patent number: 9162714
    Abstract: A front end module for a motor vehicle includes a tubular cross-member and injection molded components made from plastic, which are injected onto the cross-member. At least two of the injection molded components are connected to each other via the cross-member and separately connected to the cross-member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 10, 2012
    Date of Patent: October 20, 2015
    Assignee: Daimler AG
    Inventors: Hans-Peter Maier, Stefan Kehres, Jochen Roesch
  • Patent number: 9150094
    Abstract: A vehicle radiator core support, includes: a support main body including upper and lower support portions, and paired side support portions connecting right and left ends of the upper and lower support portions; and a center brace connecting intermediate parts of the upper and lower support portions. At least the lower support portion and the center brace are integrally formed. A lower-side connection portion is disposed where the lower support portion connects to the center brace, and a lower-side connection portion cross section has a U-shape opening toward a front or rear of the vehicle. A lower-side adjacent portion is disposed at a part of the lower support portion adjacent to the lower-side connection portion, such that a partition wall is between the lower-side connection and adjacent portions, and a lower-side adjacent portion cross section has a U-shape opening opposite to that of the lower-side connection portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 20, 2014
    Date of Patent: October 6, 2015
    Assignee: Toyoda Iron Works Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Makoto Nakanishi
  • Patent number: 9132794
    Abstract: A vehicle front body structure includes: a vehicle body structural member disposed below a front end of a hood and extends substantially along the vehicle width direction; and an energy absorbing member that protrudes toward a vehicle front side from the vehicle body structural member, extends substantially along the vehicle width direction, and deforms so as to absorb energy upon a collision. The energy absorbing member is secured to the vehicle body structural member at opposite ends of the energy absorbing member in the vehicle width direction. A clearance is defined between a central part of the energy absorbing member in the vehicle width direction and the vehicle body structural member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 18, 2014
    Date of Patent: September 15, 2015
    Assignee: FUJI JUKOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Hiroki Nagaya, Kyohei Suwa, Hiroshi Suemune, Koichi Imamura
  • Patent number: 9033400
    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: Grant
    Filed: October 12, 2012
    Date of Patent: May 19, 2015
    Assignee: Honda Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Kazutada Sasaki, Hidefumi Nihei, Daisuke Naoi, Masanobu Eguchi
  • Publication number: 20150130223
    Abstract: A vehicle body front section structure includes: a suspension tower; an apron upper member that extends in a vehicle front-rear direction along a top wall portion of the suspension tower, a pair of frames that are disposed to a vehicle front side and a vehicle rear side of the suspension tower, that extend from the apron upper member towards a vehicle lower side and vehicle width direction inner side, and that are integrally formed with a cast-formed suspension tower structural body together with the suspension tower and the apron upper member; a cross rib that is formed at the apron upper member and that extends along the apron upper member; and a pair of vertical ribs that are respectively formed at the pair of frames, that extend along each of the pair of frames, and that are connected to the cross rib.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 25, 2013
    Publication date: May 14, 2015
    Inventor: Koji Amemiya
  • Patent number: 9027973
    Abstract: A bumper fixing clip includes a leg portion engaging with a vehicle body panel; engagement claws engaging with a plurality of engagement holes formed on a bumper side; and an engagement member including a second engagement claw engageable with or retractable from one of the engagement holes formed on the bumper side by operating an operation portion, and fixing the bumper to the vehicle body panel. The engagement member is integrally formed with a fixing clip main body, and includes an approximately rod-like operation portion; the second engagement claw formed in a vicinity of a turning center of the operation portion; and an abutment piece formed on a side opposite to the second engagement claw.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 21, 2013
    Date of Patent: May 12, 2015
    Assignees: Nifco Inc., Nissan Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Shunpei Kojima, Anikesh Barmase, Yohei Nagahori
  • Patent number: 9022460
    Abstract: A front end module for a vehicle includes a first box-type mounting part and a second box-type mounting part. The first box-type mounting part is disposed on a connection portion of a front end module lower member with a front side member. The second box-type mounting part is disposed on a front end portion of the front side member. The first and second box-type mounting parts are coupled to each other by bolt coupling or welding such that sections thereof are connected to each other upon assembling of the front end module and the front side member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 24, 2013
    Date of Patent: May 5, 2015
    Assignee: Hyundai Motor Company
    Inventors: Hee Suk Chung, Dae Hyun Song
  • Patent number: 9016770
    Abstract: An assembly comprises a framework, which is intended to be located on the front face of a motor vehicle, and a bracket. The assembly includes a device for positioning the bracket on the framework and the bracket includes a securing device for supporting an actuator that is capable of driving one or more members to be mounted onto the framework.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 22, 2012
    Date of Patent: April 28, 2015
    Assignee: Valeo Systemes Thermiques
    Inventors: Jean-Louis Lanard, Julien Plenchette, Frederice Vacca, Mark Williams
  • Patent number: 9004583
    Abstract: A vehicle front structure includes: a bumper face disposed at a vehicle front end; and a lower grill disposed at a bumper opening section of the bumper face. The bumper face includes: a hook cover (20), after formed integrally with the bumper face within the bumper opening section, separated from the bumper face; and a hook cover holding mechanism (26) formed within the bumper opening section integrally with the bumper face to detachably fix the hook cover (20). The hook cover (20) includes: a cover body section (40) for closing a hook cover attachment portion in the bumper face; and a cover snap-fit claw (32) for snap-fitting onto a bumper engaging portion in the hook cover attachment portion. The hook cover holding mechanism (26) includes a hold latch nail (34) for engaging with the cover snap-fit claw (32) by resilient deformation of the hook cover (20).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 8, 2012
    Date of Patent: April 14, 2015
    Assignee: Honda Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Koji Takahashi, Masaharu Endou
  • Patent number: 8998306
    Abstract: A front-end module (1) for a motor vehicle; includes a supporting part (3, 7, 8), wherein the supporting part (3, 7, 8) includes two headlight brackets (5), each of which is attached onto a separate side of the supporting part (3, 7, 8), the headlight bracket (5) including a mechanism (53) for attaching the supporting part (3, 7, 8) to an attachment area (4), thus forming an attachment axis (A) about which the headlight bracket (5) can pivot relative to the mounting part (3, 7, 8) in the event of an impact.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 24, 2012
    Date of Patent: April 7, 2015
    Assignee: Valeo Systemes Thermiques
    Inventors: Jean-Nicolas Guyomard, Leonardo Camargo