Front Patents (Class 296/203.02)
  • Patent number: 11958531
    Abstract: The invention relates to a vehicle, comprising a chassis extending between the rear end and the front end of the vehicle, the chassis comprising two frame members having their main directions of extension along the longitudinal direction and being located on a respective side of a longitudinal geometrical centre axis of the chassis. Resilient elements, such as bushings, are provided on the chassis. A collision protection structure is located between said two frame members and is configured to absorb energy by becoming deformed when the chassis is subjected to a rearwardly directed impact force which is greater than a threshold force, wherein the collision protection structure is suspended from the chassis by said resilient elements so as to act as a mass damper under normal operating conditions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 23, 2020
    Date of Patent: April 16, 2024
    Assignee: Volvo Truck Corporation
    Inventors: Erik Wikblom, Gunnar Björkman, Fredrik Fors
  • Patent number: 11958533
    Abstract: A side frame assembly for a vehicle includes a rocker structure and an inboard stiffening beam. The rocker structure includes a metal sheet that has longitudinal bends along a length of the rocker structure separating the upper wall, the lower wall, and the inner wall of the rocker structure. The inboard stiffening beam is disposed along an inboard-facing surface of the inner wall of the rocker structure. The inboard stiffening beam includes a second metal sheet that is formed to define a tubular shape along a length of the inboard stiffening beam. The tubular shape includes a planar upper wall and/or a planar lower wall, the planar extent of which intersects a portion of the rocker structure, such as the inner wall, to form a lateral load path from the rocker structure to the tubular shape of inboard stiffening beam.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 11, 2022
    Date of Patent: April 16, 2024
    Assignee: Shape Corp.
    Inventor: Matthew Kuipers
  • Patent number: 11932309
    Abstract: A front-end structure arrangement of a bodyshell of a motor vehicle includes a front-end structure which has a first longitudinal member and a second longitudinal member where the first longitudinal member and the second longitudinal member are connected to one another. An assembly carrier is fastened to the bodyshell, extends in a free space between the first longitudinal member and the second longitudinal member, and has a first side region that runs laterally along the first longitudinal member to form a first gap and has a second side region that runs laterally along the second longitudinal member to form a second gap. A first supporting element of a protective device is disposed in the first gap and runs laterally along the first longitudinal member to form a third gap between the first supporting element and the first longitudinal member. The third gap is smaller than the first gap.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 6, 2019
    Date of Patent: March 19, 2024
    Assignee: Daimler AG
    Inventor: Michael Carl
  • Patent number: 11884143
    Abstract: A reinforcing structure of an automobile exterior panel improving performance in absorbing an impact load, the reinforcing structure of an automobile exterior panel comprising an outer panel 110 of a sheet shape, a reinforcing member 120 arranged at a vehicle inner side from the outer panel 110, an inner panel 135 of a sheet shape arranged at a vehicle inner side from the reinforcing member 120, and a support member 140 provided at a vehicle outer side from the inner panel 135 and supporting the reinforcing member 120 from a vehicle inner side, the support member 140 comprised of tube-shaped member having axial centers directed from the vehicle inner side toward the vehicle outer side.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 14, 2020
    Date of Patent: January 30, 2024
    Assignee: NIPPON STEEL CORPORATION
    Inventors: Yasunori Sawa, Toshiya Suzuki
  • Patent number: 11873028
    Abstract: An embodiment front vehicle body structure includes a fender apron upper member, a front side member coupled to a front portion of the fender apron upper member, and a front pillar unit coupled to a rear portion of the front side member and a rear portion of the fender apron upper member, the front pillar unit including an aluminum material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 22, 2022
    Date of Patent: January 16, 2024
    Assignees: Hyundai Motor Company, Kia Corporation
    Inventor: Byeongdo An
  • Patent number: 11858554
    Abstract: A cowl reinforcement structure of a vehicle according to an embodiment of the present disclosure for reinforcement of a cowl upper panel connected to a dash panel by forming a curved line along a front and rear direction of the vehicle includes a cowl upper side reinforcement member provided in a shape corresponding to the curved line of the cowl upper panel at the lower part of the cowl upper panel; and a cowl support bracket joined to the cowl upper side reinforcement member at the lower part of the cowl upper panel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 19, 2021
    Date of Patent: January 2, 2024
    Assignees: HYUNDAI MOTOR COMPANY, KIA CORPORATION
    Inventor: HanSeok Song
  • Patent number: 11827180
    Abstract: A cargo hold arrangement of a front chamber of a motor vehicle that is closable by a front bonnet includes a cargo hold box with a cargo hold and a cover. The cargo hold box is closed by the cover when the cover is disposed in a closed position below the front bonnet. The cover is movable downwards in relation to the cargo hold box in a vertical direction of the cargo hold box in an event of an accident of the motor vehicle. The cover is smaller in relation to a clear cross-section of the cargo hold box such that the cover is movable downwards in a vertical direction of the motor vehicle into the cargo hold of the cargo hold box in the event of the accident.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 29, 2020
    Date of Patent: November 28, 2023
    Assignee: Mercedes-Benz Group AG
    Inventor: Hanno Weber
  • Patent number: 11814104
    Abstract: A support frame assembly configured to strengthen an upper frame portion of a frame of a vehicle, comprising a first frame member having a first end and a second end, and a second frame member having a first end and a second end, wherein both the first ends of the first and second frame members are configured to couple to a front half of the frame and the second ends of the first and second frame members are configured to couple to the front half of the frame to strengthen the upper frame portion, at least one of the first and second ends of each of the first and second frame members including at least one mechanically coupled joint configured for coupling each of the first and second frame members to the front half of the frame.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 5, 2022
    Date of Patent: November 14, 2023
    Assignee: Polaris Industries Inc.
    Inventor: Joshua A. Rasa
  • Patent number: 11807303
    Abstract: Splayed front horn for vehicle frames are disclosed. An example apparatus disclosed herein includes a first structural member extending along an axial direction of a vehicle, a second structural member coupled to the first structural member, the second structural member splayed relative the first structural member, second structural member including a first section having a first material property, the first section adjacent to the first structural member, and a second section joined to the first section, the second section having a second material property, the first material property different than the second material property.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 2, 2022
    Date of Patent: November 7, 2023
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Greg Gombert, Jeffrey A. Walesch, Leonard Anthony Shaner, Yu-Kan Hu, Mikolaj Tyksinski, Sukhwinder Singh Dhindsa, Mohamed Ridha Baccouche, Srinivasan Sundararajan
  • Patent number: 11753080
    Abstract: A vehicle structural component includes a main body having a receptacle and a first insert for reinforcing the vehicle structural component. The insert is accommodated in the receptacle and only partially fills the latter. At least one further insert fits in the receptacle. A modular system for producing vehicle structural components and a method for producing vehicle structural components are provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 1, 2019
    Date of Patent: September 12, 2023
    Assignee: Bayerische Motoren Werke Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Thomas Hogger, Christoph Jagoda, Octavian Knoll, Oleg Konrad, Sebastian Krull, Matthias Nagel, Bernhard Staudt, Tobias Wehrkamp-Richter
  • Patent number: 11724747
    Abstract: A dash panel assembly includes: a cowl inner upper panel coupled to a first side of a dash main panel; a cowl inner lower panel coupled to the cowl inner upper panel and the dash main panel, and configured to form a closed section with the cowl inner upper panel; and a dash cross upper member coupled to a second side of the dash main panel and configured to overlap the closed section with the dash main panel disposed therebetween.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 12, 2021
    Date of Patent: August 15, 2023
    Assignees: HYUNDAI MOTOR COMPANY, Kia Corporation
    Inventor: Han Seok Song
  • Patent number: 11724743
    Abstract: A vehicle front structure includes a suspension housing disposed between a front side member and a fender apron upper member, a first reinforcing member extending in a longitudinal direction of a vehicle and coupled to the suspension housing, and a first connecting portion attached to the first reinforcing member and connecting the fender apron upper member and the front side member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 28, 2020
    Date of Patent: August 15, 2023
    Assignees: Hyundai Motor Company, Kia Motors Corporation
    Inventor: Seung Min Jeong
  • Patent number: 11713084
    Abstract: A body front-end structure for a two-track vehicle, having an A-pillar from which an upper wheel well longitudinal member projects toward the front of the vehicle in the longitudinal direction of the vehicle, and from which a lower body longitudinal member that is offset toward the inside of the vehicle with respect to the upper wheel well longitudinal member projects toward the front of the vehicle in the longitudinal direction of the vehicle. In a head-on crash with small lateral overlap, a suspension strut dome is loaded with a crash force in the longitudinal direction of the vehicle. The body front-end structure has a sheet-metal tension strip that connects the suspension strut dome to the lower body longitudinal member in a force-transmitting manner. In the event of a head-on crash, the sheet-metal tension strip provides a load path through which a tensile force opposing the crash force acts on the suspension strut dome.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 26, 2021
    Date of Patent: August 1, 2023
    Assignee: Volkswagen Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Gerhard Schmidt, Mario Ubaldo, Soeren Krengel
  • Patent number: 11679660
    Abstract: A structural assembly for use in an electric vehicle having a lower body frame and a battery pack secured within the lower body frame. The structural assembly includes a subframe rear mount, a battery cage longitudinal member, a rocker, a hinge pillar, and a rail torque unit. The battery cage longitudinal member is secured to the subframe rear mount. The rocker extends along and is secured to the battery cage longitudinal member. The hinge pillar includes a lower portion that is secured to the rocker. The rail torque includes an s-brace and an inner rail. The s-brace is secured to the hinge pillar at one end and to the inner rail at another end. The inner rail is secured to the hinge pillar at one end and is configured to extend around a wheel of the electric vehicle and form a portion of a wheel well.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 7, 2021
    Date of Patent: June 20, 2023
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Jamil M. Alwan, Jeffrey Wrenbeck, Joseph Prescott Hickey, Chelliah Madasamy, Djamal Eddine Midoun
  • Patent number: 11673611
    Abstract: An embodiment structure for a vehicle includes a front-end module carrier, a front side member, a fender apron assembly disposed on an upper portion of the front side member, and connecting members connecting the front-end module carrier and the fender apron assembly. Another embodiment structure for a vehicle includes a front side member, a front-end module carrier, a fender apron assembly disposed on an upper portion of the front side member, the fender apron assembly including a shock absorber housing coupled to the upper portion of the front side member, and connecting members connecting the front-end module carrier and the fender apron assembly, the connecting members including a lower connecting member extending from the front-end module carrier and connecting the shock absorber housing and the front side member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 22, 2021
    Date of Patent: June 13, 2023
    Assignees: Hyundai Motor Company, Kia Coporation
    Inventors: Chan Su Kim, Hyung Tae Kim
  • Patent number: 11661019
    Abstract: A vehicle may include: a body including a front compartment; a hood panel covering the front compartment and including a recess in an upper surface of the hood panel; a hood garnish mounted at the recess; a drainage outlet disposed at a bottom of the recess and penetrating the hood panel; and a drainage channel disposed below the hood panel and including an inlet configured to receive drainage water from the recess.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 7, 2021
    Date of Patent: May 30, 2023
    Assignees: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA, SUBARU CORPORATION
    Inventor: Hajime Kato
  • Patent number: 11661115
    Abstract: A body structure for an electrically operated vehicle, having an installation space for a traction battery, which space is open toward the vehicle bottom in the vertical vehicle direction, is delimited toward the vehicle top by a floor pan part that forms the vehicle floor, and is delimited on both sides in the transverse vehicle direction by a rocker panel that delimits a side-door opening toward the vehicle bottom, wherein a front body longitudinal member that transitions into the respective rocker panel toward the rear of the vehicle in the longitudinal vehicle direction extends on each vehicle side in the front-end region, and wherein the relevant front corner of the traction battery is enclosed by an interior corner region, in particular right-angled interior corner region, that stretches between the rocker panel and the front battery cross member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 25, 2022
    Date of Patent: May 30, 2023
    Assignee: Volkswagen Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Stephan Rose, Werner Krauth
  • Patent number: 11654972
    Abstract: A vehicle includes a dash cross member, a rocker that is connected to an end portion of the dash cross member, and a reinforcement that reinforces a connected portion of the dash cross member and the rocker. At the connected portion of the dash cross member and the rocker, the dash cross member, the rocker, and the reinforcement are disposed to be overlapped with each other, and a plurality of first weld portions and a plurality of second weld portions are provided. The dash cross member and the rocker are welded to each other at each of the first weld portions. The rocker and the reinforcement are welded to each other at each of the second weld portions. The first weld portions and the second weld portions are arrayed so as not to be overlapped with each other.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 17, 2021
    Date of Patent: May 23, 2023
    Assignees: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA, SUBARU CORPORATION
    Inventors: Naoki Takahashi, Satoshi Ikeda
  • Patent number: 11643148
    Abstract: A vehicle body structure includes: a supported frame disposed frontward or rearward of a vehicle cabin along a longitudinal direction of a vehicle; a support frame disposed on an outer peripheral surface of the vehicle cabin along the longitudinal direction of the vehicle and configured to support an end portion of the supported frame closer to the vehicle cabin; a stiffener disposed in the support frame along the longitudinal direction of the vehicle and configured to form a closed cross-section with the support frame; and a bulkhead disposed in the support frame, adjacent to a portion of the stiffener closer to the supported frame, and facing the longitudinal direction of the vehicle. An upper edge portion of the bulkhead is integrally formed as a single piece with an end portion of the stiffener closer to the supported frame.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 22, 2021
    Date of Patent: May 9, 2023
    Assignee: HONDA MOTOR CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Takehiro Kondo
  • Patent number: 11628887
    Abstract: A vehicle body structure includes: a front pillar joined to a dash panel; a front side member extending from the dash panel toward the front of a vehicle; a side sill connected to a bottom end of the front pillar; a rear lower member connecting a rear portion of the front side member and a front portion of the side sill; and a connection member connecting at least two of the front pillar, the side sill, and the rear lower member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 12, 2021
    Date of Patent: April 18, 2023
    Assignees: HYUNDAI MOTOR COMPANY, KIA CORPORATION
    Inventors: Deok Hwa Hong, Hee Seouk Chung, Hyun Sik Kim, Byeong Cheon Lee
  • Patent number: 11623500
    Abstract: A panel assembly for a vehicle made of different materials with different coefficients of thermal expansion according to various exemplary embodiments of the present invention includes: an external panel 10, an internal panel 20 having the circumference bonded to the circumference of the external panel 10, and made of a material having a coefficient of thermal expansion different from a coefficient of thermal expansion of the external panel 10, and at least one deformation absorption panel 30, 40 connected to at least one of the external panel 10 and the internal panel 20 on the circumferences of the external panel 10 and the internal panel 20, and for absorbing an amount of thermal deformation according to a change in temperatures of the external panel 10 and the internal panel 20 when the external panel 10 and the internal panel 20 are thermally deformed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 3, 2021
    Date of Patent: April 11, 2023
    Assignees: HYUNDAI MOTOR COMPANY, KIA CORPORATION
    Inventor: Je-Won Choi
  • Patent number: 11613309
    Abstract: A frame assembly for a motor vehicle that may include a first load beam, a second load beam, and a frame rail that are configured for receipt and transfer of energy to a sill that can move the sill in a downward direction. A counterbalancing load beam that includes a first fixed end is attached to the first load beam and a second fixed end is attached to the frame rail. The counterbalancing load beam is configured for receipt of at least a portion of the energy applied to the first load beam, and the counterbalancing load beam is configured to transfer the energy received from the first load beam to the frame rail such that the transfer of energy to the sill that can move the sill in the downward direction is counterbalanced by the energy transferred by the counterbalancing load beam to the frame rail.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 14, 2021
    Date of Patent: March 28, 2023
    Assignee: FCA US LLC
    Inventors: Darshan S Pawargi, Vikas Vijay Joshi
  • Patent number: 11608117
    Abstract: An apparatus and methods are provided for a chassis for an off-road vehicle that includes a chassis strut support. The chassis is a welded-tube variety of chassis that includes a front portion and a rear portion that are joined to an intervening passenger cabin portion. The chassis strut support includes one or more pairs of rear strut gusset plates for distributing loading on a rear strut crossmember by rear struts to at least a seat crossmember comprising the chassis. The rear strut gusset plates generally comprise thick sheet-members configured to be attached to a vertical brace between an upper mount and a lower stay comprising the chassis to reinforce the vertical brace and impart increased strength to the chassis. The rear strut gusset plates are configured to be attached to the vertical brace by way of bolts, rivets, welding, or any combination thereof.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 9, 2021
    Date of Patent: March 21, 2023
    Inventor: Robby Gordon
  • Patent number: 11608839
    Abstract: A power machine with an internal combustion engine and an in-line hydrostatic/hydraulic pump package includes a stiffening bracket which mounts a flywheel housing to the engine and is configured to change the natural frequency of the engine/pump package so that the engine firing frequency does not match the natural frequency of the engine/pump package.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 27, 2019
    Date of Patent: March 21, 2023
    Assignee: CLARK EQUIPMENT COMPANY
    Inventor: John D. Richards
  • Patent number: 11603136
    Abstract: A vehicle body for contributing to weight reduction of a structure of a front part while preventing a front bumper beam from falling off is provided. A vehicle body includes: pairs of left and right support bodies, being disposed on the left and the right with an accommodation space of a power unit interposed therebetween, extending in a vehicle body forward-rearward direction, and having joint surfaces displaced rearward as the joint surfaces going outward in a vehicle width direction while facing the front; a front bumper beam, extending in a vehicle body lateral direction across the front of the accommodation space and being joined to the joint surfaces at both ends thereof; and engagement members, extending forward from inner sides of the joint surfaces in the vehicle width direction and engaging with the front bumper beam in the forward-rearward direction at least at a time of a collision.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 2, 2021
    Date of Patent: March 14, 2023
    Assignee: Honda Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Ryo Kita, Hideyuki Yamaguchi, Momoka Fujii, Takayuki Fukami
  • Patent number: 11591025
    Abstract: A front vehicle-body structure controls inward breakage of an apron reinforcement in the event of a small overlap collision, without increasing weight. Embodiments include a pair of right and left apron reinforcements extending in a vehicle front-rear direction; and a pair of right and left hinge pillars respectively connected to rear ends of the pair of apron reinforcements. A reinforcement outer member of the apron reinforcement includes a linear portion extending in the vehicle front-rear direction from a rear end of the apron reinforcement connected to the hinge pillar to an intermediate portion of the apron reinforcement. A horizontal bead, provided as a deformation facilitating portion to facilitate deformation toward an inside of a vehicle body, is disposed on an outer surface portion positioned on a vehicle-width-direction outer side of the linear portion, the horizontal bead having a reduced longitudinal rigidity toward a front side in the vehicle front-rear direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 19, 2021
    Date of Patent: February 28, 2023
    Assignee: MAZDA MOTOR CORPORATION
    Inventors: Yasushi Ishikawa, Yuichi Morita, Yusuke Desaki, Yusuke Matsumura, Ken Fujimoto, Yusaku Yamaguchi
  • Patent number: 11577785
    Abstract: A vehicle front structure includes: a front side member; a fender apron member having a front end portion connected to a front end portion of the front side member; a subframe mounting bracket assembly mounted to the front end portion of the front side member and the front end portion of the fender apron member; and a first subframe disposed under the front side member. In particular, the front end portion of the front side member and the front end portion of the fender apron member are connected side-by-side in a width direction of a vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 16, 2020
    Date of Patent: February 14, 2023
    Assignees: HYUNDAI MOTOR COMPANY, KIA MOTORS CORPORATION
    Inventors: Hye Yeon Kim, Yong Kew Kim
  • Patent number: 11572010
    Abstract: The invention belongs to the technical field of vehicles, and aims to provide a headlamp mounting structure which can achieve a trade-off between the “weakness” for pedestrian safety and protection and the “strength” for durability, impact resistance and modal parameters. To this end, the invention provides a vehicle headlamp mounting assembly and a vehicle. The vehicle headlamp mounting assembly includes an upper mounting bracket, a middle mounting bracket, a lower mounting bracket, a fender bracket, a connecting plate, and a reinforcing bracket. A bottom end of the reinforcing bracket is connected to the lower mounting bracket via at least one blind rivet. A first mounting structure is provided near an inner end of the upper mounting bracket. The fender bracket is provided with a second mounting structure. A third mounting structure is provided near the bottom end of the middle mounting bracket. A fourth mounting structure is provided near the bottom end of the reinforcing bracket.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 7, 2022
    Date of Patent: February 7, 2023
    Assignee: NIO TECHNOLOGY (ANHUI) CO., LTD
    Inventors: Xueyun Kang, Xuekai Shen, Dongting Wang, Xiaoli Liu, Wenjun Song, Jun Tao
  • Patent number: 11565578
    Abstract: A vehicle front portion structure includes: a battery case that is installed beneath a floor of a vehicle; front side members that extend in a vehicle longitudinal direction further toward a vehicle front side than the battery case; side rails that structure portions of a suspension member that is disposed further toward the vehicle front side, and that extend in the vehicle longitudinal direction; first connecting members that connect the battery case and the front side members; and second connecting members that connect a vehicle longitudinal direction front end portion of the battery case and vehicle longitudinal direction rear ends of the side rails, that face the battery case in the vehicle longitudinal direction as seen in a plan view and in a side view, and that face the side rails in the vehicle longitudinal direction as seen in a plan view and in a side view.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 28, 2019
    Date of Patent: January 31, 2023
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Kazuki Shimizu
  • Patent number: 11560180
    Abstract: A rocker component for a vehicle includes a reinforcement beam having a metal sheet that is shaped with a plurality of elongated bends extending in parallel along a length of the reinforcement beam that together form a cross-sectional shape extending continuously along the length of the reinforcement beam. The cross-sectional shape of reinforcement beam includes a beam portion and a flange portion integrally extending from the beam portion. The beam portion has a multi-hollow shape that encloses a plurality of hollow cavities that extend longitudinally between openings at opposing ends of the reinforcement beam. The flange portion integrally extends from the beam portion and includes an edge of the metal sheet. The flange portion is configured to attach to the vehicle for supporting the rocker component along an outboard side region of the vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 5, 2021
    Date of Patent: January 24, 2023
    Assignee: Shape Corp.
    Inventors: Joseph R. Matecki, Brian Oxley, Matthew Kuipers, Cody Alger, Douglas S. Baas
  • Patent number: 11554738
    Abstract: A vehicle knee bolster to which an impact absorption structure according to the present disclosure is applied includes a blow molding body attached to an instrument panel reinforcement of a vehicle via a bracket. When the vehicle has a collision, the blow molding body deforms plastically by being compressed between the bracket and a knee of an occupant. The blow molding body has an orifice (air discharge hole) through which air inside the blow molding body is discharged to outside when an internal pressure of the blow molding body increases due to the compression.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 7, 2021
    Date of Patent: January 17, 2023
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Masahito Yabuoshi
  • Patent number: 11548556
    Abstract: A front end structure of a vehicle body may include: a pair of left and right front side members each extending in a vehicle front-rear direction; a pair of left and right apron upper members each extending in the vehicle front-rear direction and being located outward of the pair of left and right front side members in the vehicle left-right direction; a pair of left and right connection members, the left connection member extending between an intermediate portion of the left front side member and the left apron upper member and the right connection member extending between an intermediate portion of the right front side member and the right apron upper member; and a component mount frame comprising a first mount crossmember extending between the pair of left and right connection members in the vehicle left-right direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 16, 2020
    Date of Patent: January 10, 2023
    Assignees: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA, SUBARU CORPORATION
    Inventors: Hyuga Atsumi, Shunsuke Takii, Osamu Shimasaki, Ryosuke Negawa
  • Patent number: 11535303
    Abstract: A cowl crossbar mounting structure may include a front bracket including a matching surface that matches a cowl crossbar, a front pillar internal lower reinforcement including a lower reinforcement connection portion inclined to be combined with a front side internal panel, and a guide bracket provided between the front bracket and the front pillar internal lower reinforcement, wherein the guide bracket includes a bolt guide portion guiding a connection bolt connecting the cowl crossbar and formed in a longitudinal direction of a vehicle body.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 17, 2021
    Date of Patent: December 27, 2022
    Assignees: Hyundai Motor Company, Kia Corporation
    Inventor: HanSeok Song
  • Patent number: 11529998
    Abstract: A front pillar substructure that enables reduction in deformation of a front pillar. One embodiment of the present disclosure provides a front pillar substructure including a front pillar, and a rocker being joined to the front pillar. The front pillar includes an inner panel located inside with respect to the rocker, and an outer panel arranged so as to interpose the rocker between the inner panel and the outer panel. The outer panel includes an upper panel, and a lower panel overlapped with and joined to the upper panel, the lower panel extending downward with respect to the upper panel. The upper panel or the lower panel includes a bent section bending in the width direction when viewed from the front-rear direction, the bent section being located inside with respect to a joint region where the upper panel and the lower panel are joined.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 28, 2021
    Date of Patent: December 20, 2022
    Assignee: FUTABA INDUSTRIAL CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Satoshi Kubozono
  • Patent number: 11505249
    Abstract: A support structure is provided for a vehicle component disposed inside a power-unit chamber where a powertrain unit of the vehicle is disposed. The support structure includes the power-unit chamber including a side frame extending in a vehicle front-and-rear direction, and a suspension tower housing formed overlapping with a part of the side frame in a plan view seen from above the vehicle. The vehicle component is disposed at a location where the vehicle component overlaps with the side frame in the plan view and forward of the suspension tower housing in the vehicle front-and-rear direction. The vehicle component is supported by one of the side frame, and a support member coupled to an inward side surface of a closed-cross-section member connected to the side frame at a location forward of the suspension tower housing in the vehicle front-and-rear direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 22, 2021
    Date of Patent: November 22, 2022
    Assignee: Mazda Motor Corporation
    Inventors: Kohei Kirita, Shinji Yamauchi
  • Patent number: 11473640
    Abstract: In a crash box, a first extending portion extends from a front end of a first body upper portion in a vehicle front-rear direction of a first body portion, and a second extending portion extends from a front end of a second body lower portion in a vehicle front-rear direction of a second body portion. When an impact load is transmitted to the front ends of the first body portion and the second body portion in the vehicle front-rear direction, a rotation moment toward the lower side of the vehicle acts on the first extending portion and a rotation moment toward the upper side of the vehicle acts on the second extending portion. This can suppress peeling between first and second left side bonded portions and between first and second right side bonded portions of the first body portion and the second body portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 28, 2020
    Date of Patent: October 18, 2022
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Yasuhide Matsuo, Ayaka Kagami, Hatsumi Matsui, Masaya Miura
  • Patent number: 11472482
    Abstract: A front vehicle-body structure of a vehicle that enables smooth compressive deformation of a front side frame from the front side thereof on a vehicle frontal collision portion. The front vehicle-body structure of a vehicle includes a pair of left and right front side frames extending in a vehicle front-rear direction is characterized in that each of the front side frames is formed such that a rear side portion has a higher rigidity than a front side portion, and rigidity differences are alternately formed in the vehicle front-rear direction in each of regions of the front side portion and the rear side portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 9, 2020
    Date of Patent: October 18, 2022
    Assignee: MAZDA MOTOR CORPORATION
    Inventors: Kuniyoshi Tashiro, Shigeaki Watanabe
  • Patent number: 11465689
    Abstract: There is provided a vehicle body structure, including: a die-cast rear floor side member; and a rocker rear inner; a joint section including: an upright wall configuring an inner side, in the vehicle width direction, of the rocker rear inner and extending along the vehicle vertical direction and the vehicle front-rear direction, and an outer joint section that is formed at the vehicle front-rear direction front end portion of the rear floor side member, that has an open cross-section profile, when sectioned along the vehicle vertical direction and the vehicle width direction, that is open toward an outer side in the vehicle width direction, that covers the rocker rear inner from the vehicle width direction inner side and that is joined to the rocker rear inner in a state in which a gap is provided between the outer joint section and the upright wall.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 4, 2019
    Date of Patent: October 11, 2022
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Soshiro Murata, Takashi Sagisaka, Ayaka Kagami, Hidenori Tago
  • Patent number: 11453356
    Abstract: The invention relates to a subassembly for a vehicle, the subassembly comprising a chassis (50) assembly and a front body module (10). The front body module (10) is attachable to a forward portion of the chassis (50) assembly. The front body module includes a side portion (20) which extends outwardly beyond the chassis in a transverse direction. A stay (40) is provided which extends transversely outwardly from the chassis assembly (50) to support the side portion. One of the front body module (10) or the stay (40) is provided with a connecting member (30) which extends in a substantially longitudinal direction. The other of the stay (40) or front body module is provided with a corresponding longitudinally aligned aperture (42) for receiving the connecting member in use to support the side portion (20) of the front body module (10). A method of assembly is also disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 31, 2017
    Date of Patent: September 27, 2022
    Assignee: Volvo Truck Corporation
    Inventor: Frédéric Vaireaux
  • Patent number: 11420507
    Abstract: A power train support structure includes a first front side frame disposed on one of left and right sides of a power train; a second front side frame disposed on the other of the left and right sides of the power train, and being greatly away from the power train with respect to the first front side frame; a mounting bracket having one of left and right ends connected to the power train; and a connecting member for connecting the mounting bracket and the second front side frame. The mounting bracket includes a front fixing portion and a rear fixing portion to be fixed to the power train. A strength of the front fixing portion and the rear fixing portion is set to such a strength that the rear fixing portion is broken by a collision load from a front side, and the front fixing portion is not broken.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 6, 2020
    Date of Patent: August 23, 2022
    Assignee: MAZDA MOTOR CORPORATION
    Inventors: Wataru Kuwahara, Takashi Hamada, Yuuki Uchiba, Yuya Yamaoka, Yusuke Oki, Masaaki Kashimoto, Ryuichiro Amano, Yoshiaki Noguchi, Kazuki Kamimura
  • Patent number: 11407453
    Abstract: An insulating element for insulating a structural element in a vehicle including a base element, an additional element and a fixing element. The base element has a first coupling element and expandable material. The additional element has a second coupling element and expandable material. The base element and the additional element are connected to one another by the coupling elements.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 17, 2019
    Date of Patent: August 9, 2022
    Assignee: SIKA TECHNOLOGY AG
    Inventors: Nicolas Brichet, Heinz Etterli
  • Patent number: 11400864
    Abstract: A front storage apparatus for a vehicle includes a vehicle hood pivotally connected to the front of a vehicle body, a frunk located under the vehicle hood, a frunk lid pivotally connected to the frunk, and a connecting rod operatively connecting the frunk lid and the vehicle hood.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 13, 2021
    Date of Patent: August 2, 2022
    Assignees: HYUNDAI MOTOR COMPANY, KIA CORPORATION
    Inventors: Hyun Wook Kim, Byung Jin Ahn
  • Patent number: 11396327
    Abstract: A holding device for electrical components of a motor vehicle, preferably an electrical motor vehicle, includes a holding element that is designed to hold one or more electrical components of the vehicle. The holding element has a holding section for holding the one or more electrical components, and a strut section, which extends from the holding section. The holding element is designed such that when the holding element is attached to the motor vehicle as intended, the strut section extends in the vehicle front direction and vehicle transverse direction to a vehicle front section and is at a predefined angle to an axis oriented in the vehicle front direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 21, 2019
    Date of Patent: July 26, 2022
    Assignee: Bayerische Motoren Werke Aktiengesllschaft
    Inventors: Nermin Kecalevic, Georg Lange, Benjamin Werner
  • Patent number: 11370263
    Abstract: A front upper frame connection for a space frame can comprise a top surface; a bottom surface opposite the top surface; a right-side surface; a left-side surface opposite the right-side surface; a front surface; a rear surface opposite the front surface; a pair of forward support plates provided on the front surface; a pair of forward flat mounting surfaces; and a pair of rocker attachment interfaces located on the top surface adjacent to the rear surface and respectively the right-side surface and the left-side surface. The front surface and the forward support plates can define a cutout section. Each of the forward support plates is curved and runs outward from a transverse centerline of the top surface and then forward.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 25, 2019
    Date of Patent: June 28, 2022
    Assignee: Caterpillar Inc.
    Inventor: Tad W. Miller
  • Patent number: 11352066
    Abstract: A D seat front beam has an inner end in a vehicle width direction fixed to a first column support point, and a point of fixation of the D seat front beam to the front lower pillar is provided further on a rear side in a vehicle front and rear direction than a first column support point. The D seat front beam extends toward an inner side in the vehicle width direction and toward the front side in the vehicle front and rear direction, from the point of fixation to the front lower pillar toward the first column support point.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 18, 2019
    Date of Patent: June 7, 2022
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Tetsu Mitsuo, Masaya Ikeda, Yukihiko Nakagawa, Osamu Okitsu, Yuuichi Suzue
  • Patent number: 11214210
    Abstract: The invention relates to a motor vehicle device including a one-piece fastening system of the motor vehicle. This fastening system includes a fastening flange, a guiding member having at least one supporting member and a supporting surface participating in maintaining the guiding member in a first position, and an elastically deformable portion exerting a restoring force adapted to restore the guiding member into said first position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 19, 2019
    Date of Patent: January 4, 2022
    Inventors: Aurélien Moressee, Jérôme Utter, Bertrand Mazue
  • Patent number: 11124237
    Abstract: A front structure of a vehicle body is provided. The front structure includes shock-absorber housings disposed between the front side of a dash panel and the lower end of a front windshield glass, shock-absorber mounts coupled to the upper sides of the shock-absorber housings, and a cross member that extends in the lateral direction of the vehicle while being spaced apart from the dash panel in the forward direction. The cross member has a rear surface portion, and each of the opposite ends of the rear surface portion is coupled to the front end portion of a respective one of the shock-absorber housings.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 20, 2019
    Date of Patent: September 21, 2021
    Assignees: Hyundai Motor Company, Kia Motors Corporation
    Inventor: Chul Hee Heo
  • Patent number: 11066108
    Abstract: A damper housing includes an upper-wall-plate and an upper-wall-reinforcement-plate. A plurality of collars through which fastening members for attaching a damper are interposed between the upper-wall-plate and the upper-wall-reinforcement-plate. The collars are disposed on a circumference around the damper. An upper section of the damper is fastened and fixed to the upper-wall-reinforcement-plate and the upper-wall-plate by the fastening members. A concave section is formed in at least one of the upper-wall-plate and the upper-wall-reinforcement-plate which are facing each other, the concave section being formed so as to protrude toward the facing upper-wall-plate or the upper-wall-reinforcement-plate. The concave section is disposed between the neighboring collars on the circumference on which the collars are disposed. The upper-wall-plate and the upper-wall-reinforcement-plate are coupled to the facing upper-wall-plate or the upper-wall-reinforcement-plate at the concave section.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 12, 2020
    Date of Patent: July 20, 2021
    Assignee: HONDA MOTOR CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Masayasu Yoshida, Yuya Abe
  • Patent number: 10981604
    Abstract: A vehicle bulkhead structure may include a dash panel; a pair of front side members spaced apart from each other and coupled to the dash panel; and a plurality of reinforcement members coupled to a front surface of the dash panel, wherein some of the plurality of reinforcement members support each front side member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 7, 2019
    Date of Patent: April 20, 2021
    Assignees: Hyundai Motor Company, Kia Motors Corporation
    Inventors: Sun Ju Lee, Hyun Sik Kim
  • Patent number: 10974720
    Abstract: A sliding bumper apparatus and system for use with a motor vehicle to prevent the vehicle from making contact with objects that can result in damage and/or injury. A frame of the apparatus attaches to the vehicle to extend outward from the vehicle. A pair of elongated indicator rods are slidably supported by the frame. Transversely positioned detector rods are pivotally connected to the distal end of the apparatus to contact objects in the path ahead of the moving vehicle. A switch at the proximal end of the apparatus is engaged by sliding movement of the indicator rods. A spring biases the switch to a closed position to allow movement of the vehicle. If the apparatus contacts an object that should not be hit by the vehicle, the impact force will overcome the spring and open the switch to stop the vehicle before it hits the object.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 21, 2018
    Date of Patent: April 13, 2021
    Assignee: Kingman Ag, LLC
    Inventor: Connor Kingman