Front Patents (Class 296/203.02)
  • Patent number: 9365240
    Abstract: A device for absorbing frontal collision impact for a vehicle includes side members extending in the length direction of the vehicle and impact-absorbing structures mounted on the side members and protruding outward in the width direction of the vehicle. The device can effectively cope with a frontal small offset collision of a vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 25, 2013
    Date of Patent: June 14, 2016
    Assignee: HYUNDAI MOTOR COMPANY
    Inventor: Hoon Chang
  • Patent number: 9333989
    Abstract: A frame portion for a vehicle includes a pillar component extending along a first direction and a beam component at least partially extending along a second direction substantially orthogonal to the first direction. The beam component has a rear end proximate the pillar component. The frame portion further includes a bracket coupled between the pillar component and the rear end of the beam component. The bracket spaces the beam component from the pillar component.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 25, 2014
    Date of Patent: May 10, 2016
    Assignee: FORD GLOBAL TECHNOLOGIES, LLC
    Inventors: Edgar Edward Donabedian, Darrin Neil Wagner, Leonard Anthony Shaner, Fungtai Charles Ko, Dragan B. Stojkovic, Colleen Marie Hoffman
  • Patent number: 9333988
    Abstract: A motor vehicle dashboard crossbeam includes a tubular beam made in a single piece provided to extend between the A posts of the structure of the motor vehicle substantially in a transverse direction of the motor vehicle and means for fastening a or each end section of the beam on an A post. The fastening means includes a first and second fastening opening in the longitudinal direction, the first opening being formed through the beam. The fastening means also includes a fastening member attached on the end section, the second fastening opening being formed through the fastening member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 3, 2011
    Date of Patent: May 10, 2016
    Assignee: Faurecia Interieur Industrie
    Inventors: Laurent Baudart, Grégory Martin
  • Patent number: 9308946
    Abstract: A structure for coupling vehicle members is disclosed, wherein in a coupling structure for coupling a front side member having a side inner member and a side outer member to a front fender apron member together, the front fender apron member is coupled to the side outer member together with a fender apron inner panel, the side outer member has a side outer front member and a side outer rear member, and the front fender apron member has a rear side of a bottom end joined the side outer rear member of the front side member, and a lower front extended end portion formed as one unit and joined a side inner member inserted between the side outer front member and the side outer rear member of the front side member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 30, 2013
    Date of Patent: April 12, 2016
    Assignee: Kia Motors Coporation
    Inventors: Seungwon An, Seung Hyun Kang, Seong Woo Choi
  • Patent number: 9290207
    Abstract: A structure of an engine room includes an FEM (front end module) disposed at a front side, a dash panel disposed at a rear side, and housing panels disposed at both lateral sides between the FEM and the dash panel, respectively. The structure may include a housing member including a transverse portion which is disposed to be substantially parallel to the dash panel, and longitudinal portions which are bent forward from both ends of the horizontal portion, respectively, and disposed side-by-side with the corresponding housing panels. The housing member is formed with an open interior.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 24, 2013
    Date of Patent: March 22, 2016
    Assignee: Hyundai Motor Company
    Inventors: Hyun Cho, Joon-Ho Lee, Jong-Woo Nam, Han-Shin Chung
  • Patent number: 9278714
    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: Grant
    Filed: December 25, 2013
    Date of Patent: March 8, 2016
    Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Koji Amemiya
  • Patent number: 9254801
    Abstract: A protecting member comprises a pair of right-and-left brackets extending obliquely downward and forward from front portions of a pair of right-and-left side frames and a stiffener extending in a vehicle width direction below a bumper beam and attached to front ends of the brackets. The stiffener has a closed cross section extending in the vehicle width direction, and an upper face of its central portion in the vehicle width direction has a concaved portion. A lower face of the stiffener extends horizontally substantially straightly. It is preferable that the closed cross section of the central portion of the stiffener be configured such that its vertical distance is relatively small and its longitudinal width is relatively large, compared with the other part of the stiffener.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 28, 2014
    Date of Patent: February 9, 2016
    Assignee: Mazda Motor Corporation
    Inventors: Hiroshi Sogabe, Masatoki Kito, Hirofumi Takada, Tsutomu Watanabe, Arihiro Furumoto, Ryuma Murakami, Takayuki Nakamae
  • Patent number: 9248865
    Abstract: A vehicle body front structure (15) includes a side beam member (38) extending toward the rear of the vehicle body from a bulkhead (24). One end (41) of an upper member (28) is connected to the side beam member (38). The other end (46) of the upper member (28) is connected to a front pillar (45). The upper member (28) is divided into an upper front-side member (47) that includes the one end (41) and an upper rear-side member (48) that includes the other end (46). A lower member (32) extends downward from the upper front-side member (47). The upper member (28) is divided at a position near a housing front wall (57) of a damper housing (26).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 13, 2012
    Date of Patent: February 2, 2016
    Assignee: Honda Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Makoto Hisazumi, Naoyuki Hashimoto
  • Patent number: 9211913
    Abstract: A structure for front side frames of automobile is provided in which since, among first and second bent parts to the rear of a power unit mounting part of the front side frame formed from a tubular hollow member having a constant cross-section, a first weak part is provided in the vicinity of the rear-side second bent part, and a second weak part is provided in the vicinity of a third bent part, which is bent convexly outward in the vehicle width direction in the power unit mounting part, when an automobile is involved in a frontal collision, it becomes possible for the front side frame formed from the tubular hollow member and having high strength to bend via the first weak part and also via the second weak part, thereby enabling the impact absorption stroke to be increased and the effect in absorbing collision energy to be enhanced.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 27, 2012
    Date of Patent: December 15, 2015
    Assignee: Honda Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Yoshikatsu Ohta
  • Patent number: 9199670
    Abstract: In a floor cross member configured by a web surface (4a) as the top surface, a ridge part (4b) contiguous to the web surface (4a), and a vertical wall surface (4c) contiguous to the ridge part (4b), having a tensile strength of 440 MPa or larger, flanges (4e) are formed at both longitudinal ends continuously around at least the web surface (4a), the ridge part (4b) and the vertical wall surface (4c), and the floor cross member (4) is connected through the flanges (4e) to a tunnel part (2a) and to a side sill (3). The flange (4e) has a flange width lfc, at the center in the perimeter direction of the curved part (4e-2), not smaller than the minimum flange width lfs of the curved part (4e-2). Accordingly, a vehicle body, which is suppressed in deformation of the floor cross member (4) and improved in the torsional rigidity, is successfully provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 9, 2013
    Date of Patent: December 1, 2015
    Assignee: NIPPON STEEL & SUMITOMO METAL CORPORATION
    Inventors: Kenichiro Otsuka, Ryuichi Nishimura, Yoshiaki Nakazawa
  • Patent number: 9193389
    Abstract: A side bottom structure of a vehicle may include a side sill having a closed cross-section with a predetermined outline, forming a side bottom of the vehicle body, and elongated in a longitudinal direction of the vehicle, a front pillar having one end thereof connected to a front end of the side sill and elongated in a height direction of the vehicle toward a roof of the vehicle, and a side outer panel combined with the side sill and the front pillar and forming a side external appearance of the vehicle body, wherein the side sill is formed by combining an inner side sill and an outer side sill, and wherein the inner and outer side sills have constant transverse cross-sections respectively, and a front end of the inner side sill and a front end of the outer side sill protrude further than the front of the front pillar.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 9, 2014
    Date of Patent: November 24, 2015
    Assignees: Hyundai Motor Company, Kia Motors Corporation
    Inventor: Suk Jun Chai
  • Patent number: 9139232
    Abstract: A hood support assembly for a work vehicle may generally include a support frame having a front support arm, a rear support arm and a hood support plate coupled between the front and rear support arms. The support frame may further include a first mounting bracket and a second mounting bracket extending inwardly from the front and rear support arms, respectively. The hood support assembly may also include a removable mounting cradle coupled between the first and second mounting brackets. The mounting cradle may include a first mounting flange configured to be coupled to the first mounting bracket and a second mounting flange configured to be coupled to the second mounting bracket. The mounting cradle may be configured to vertically support an exhaust treatment component of the work vehicle between the front and rear support arms.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 31, 2014
    Date of Patent: September 22, 2015
    Assignee: CNH Industrial America LLC
    Inventors: Luis De La rosa, Abid Hussain, Jose Luis Peralta
  • Patent number: 9033401
    Abstract: A vehicle roof frame includes an adhering structure having an adhesive carrier and an expanding structural adhesive coupled to at least a portion of an outer surface of the adhesive carrier. The expanding structural adhesive includes an installation state and a structural state, and the structural state has a larger volume than the installation state. The vehicle roof frame also includes a plurality of vehicle frame members that cooperate to form a frame joint and a joint cavity defined within the frame joint. The adhering structure is disposed within the joint cavity and the adhesive carrier and the expanding structural adhesive in the structural state substantially occupies the joint cavity and fixably couples the plurality of framing members such that the frame joint is free of supplemental mechanical connections proximate the joint cavity.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 21, 2014
    Date of Patent: May 19, 2015
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Edgar Edward Donabedian, Darrin Neil Wagner, Mark Keller, Bruno M. Barthelemy
  • Publication number: 20150115664
    Abstract: The present disclosure relates to a front mounting of a motor vehicle body, having a lock cross member extending in the transverse vehicle direction (y), which is connected to a left and a right side member, each of which extends in the lengthwise direction of the vehicle (x), and having an elongated plastic component carrier constructed as a single part, and which is directly or indirectly connected or fastened by a left and a right fastening section to the side members, and which further comprises an elongated connecting section positioned between the fastening sections and constructed integrally therewith, which connection section is located ahead of the lock cross member with reference to the direction of travel of the motor vehicle
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 30, 2014
    Publication date: April 30, 2015
    Inventors: Udo Mildner, Lothar Teske
  • Patent number: 9016766
    Abstract: An energy dissipation system for a vehicle includes a frame having a front end and a rear end spaced apart from the front end along a longitudinal axis. The energy dissipation system also includes an energy absorber attached to the frame at the front end. The energy dissipation system further includes a stiffener attached to the frame at the front end and spaced apart from the energy absorber along a vertical axis that is substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal axis. The stiffener is tubular and defines a cavity therein.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 24, 2013
    Date of Patent: April 28, 2015
    Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC
    Inventors: Fabricio A. Silva, Ney Q. Pereira
  • Patent number: 9016767
    Abstract: A vehicle body front section structure includes a projecting member that is provided at an outside wall of a front side member further to a vehicle width direction inside than a front wheel and at a location separated in the vehicle body front-rear direction from a front bumper reinforcement, such that the projecting member projects out further towards the vehicle width direction outside than the outside wall. The vehicle body front section structure is further provided with an assistance portion that is formed to the outside wall, and that assists movement of the rear end portion of the projecting member towards the vehicle width direction inside upon input of load to the projecting member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 17, 2013
    Date of Patent: April 28, 2015
    Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Yoshitaka Sotoyama, Shintaro Kitakata, Kenjiro Yamada
  • Patent number: 9004576
    Abstract: When a collision load is transmitted to a gusset, the load is transmitted to an inner side in a vehicle width direction via an inclined wall. Accordingly, moment that causes a front side member to be projected and bent inward to the inner side in the vehicle width direction with an intersection being a starting point acts on the front side member. Then, the front side member, which has been projected and bent inward, collides with a power unit that is disposed in an engine compartment from an outer side in the vehicle width direction. Accordingly, a lateral force to the inner side in the vehicle width direction can be obtained for a vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 11, 2014
    Date of Patent: April 14, 2015
    Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Kosuke Sakakibara, Tomoyuki Kuriyama, Akihiro Tamaoki, Kenjiro Yamada, Shintaro Kitakata, Yasuyuki Hihara, Yasutaka Hasegawa
  • Patent number: 8991907
    Abstract: A front vehicle body reinforcing structure may include front side members and front fender apron members. The front side members are formed to be extended in a length direction of a vehicle, are disposed at both left and right sides in a width direction of the vehicle, respectively, and each includes a front tip portion that is positioned at a front side in the length direction of the vehicle. Each of the front fender apron members is provided with a front tip portion that is formed to match the front tip portion of a respective front side member in the length direction of the vehicle to be coupled to the front tip portion of the respective front side member, and formed to be extended in the length direction of the vehicle. The structure effectively reduces impact of a frontal collision accident by increasing structural rigidity of the front vehicle body.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 29, 2014
    Date of Patent: March 31, 2015
    Assignees: Hyundai Motor Company, Kia Motors Corporation
    Inventors: Kyeong Jae Kim, Ildo Kim, Yun Chang Kim
  • Publication number: 20150076867
    Abstract: A transverse strut has two arms arranged in a V-shaped manner, and a first connecting element connects the two arms facing end regions thereof and for fastening the transverse strut in the front end of a motor vehicle. Second and third connecting elements are provided respectively at distal end regions of the arms. The second and third connecting elements are connected to the respective arms and function for the connection of the transverse strut. The arms and the connecting elements are formed as extruded profiles and/or formed sheet metal parts.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 15, 2014
    Publication date: March 19, 2015
    Inventors: Frank Bechtler, Matthias Herntier, Bernd Fritz
  • Patent number: 8979104
    Abstract: A structure (10) for a front section of a vehicle body in a vehicle body (1) comprising a front chamber (3) disposed on the forward side of a vehicle interior (2) is provided with the following: a pair of front side members (11), located within the front chamber, that extend in the longitudinal direction of the vehicle body; a pair of strut towers (16) disposed on either side in the width direction of the front chamber and within which front wheel suspensions are disposed; and reinforcement members (20) that link the top of each strut tower with the front side members that face the strut towers, and that extend between the strut towers and the front side members. This configuration allows a structure for a front section of a vehicle body to be provided that can efficiently improve the rigidity of the vehicle body of an automobile against torsion and against lateral bending, and that can efficiently reduce the weight of the vehicle body by means of thickness reduction using a high-strength steel plate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 8, 2012
    Date of Patent: March 17, 2015
    Assignee: Nippon Steel & Sumitomo Metal Corporation
    Inventors: Toshiyuki Niwa, Masayoshi Suehiro, Atsushi Seto, Takeshi Kawachi, Masaaki Mizumura, Seiichi Daimaru, Kaoru Kawasaki, Hatsuhiko Oikawa, Yasunobu Miyazaki, Tatsuya Sakiyama, Nobutaka Shimizu, Naoki Yoshinaga
  • Patent number: 8973980
    Abstract: A load-bearing structural component of a motor vehicle body is provided. The structural component is designed as a cast component, and exhibits at least one suspension strut holding fixture and a bulkhead section, which are joined together as a single piece. The cast component is designed as a cast steel component of a fabricated front structural node.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 26, 2012
    Date of Patent: March 10, 2015
    Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC
    Inventors: Udo Mildner, Lothar Teske
  • Patent number: 8967701
    Abstract: A shotgun rail, or deflector, is provided as part of a front end structure of a vehicle. The shotgun rail includes a triangular shaped bulkhead having a front surface disposed at an oblique angle relative to the front of a vehicle and a rear surface that is disposed at an oblique angle relative to the rear of the vehicle. A laterally facing surface of the bulkhead is attached to a frame rail. Loads resulting from an impact with a small offset rigid barrier are distributed between longitudinal load paths and lateral load paths through the shotgun rails, frame rails, and sub-frame.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 1, 2013
    Date of Patent: March 3, 2015
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Saeed David Barbat, Mohamed Ridha Baccouche, Rahul Arora, Saied Nusier
  • Patent number: 8960773
    Abstract: A vehicle body front section structure includes a projecting member that is provided at an outside wall of a front side member further to a vehicle width direction inside than a front wheel and at a location separated in the vehicle body front-rear direction from a front bumper reinforcement, such that the projecting member projects out further towards the vehicle width direction outside than the outside wall. The vehicle body front section structure is further provided with an assistance portion that is formed to the outside wall, and that assists movement of the rear end portion of the projecting member towards the vehicle width direction inside upon input of load to the projecting member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 17, 2013
    Date of Patent: February 24, 2015
    Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Yoshitaka Sotoyama, Shintaro Kitakata, Kenjiro Yamada
  • Patent number: 8960759
    Abstract: A vehicle body front structure includes a brake master cylinder mounting surface that is formed in an arc shape toward a vehicle interior, a plurality of mounting surface beads that are formed on the brake master cylinder mounting surface only in a vertical direction and an inclined direction inclined with respect to the vertical direction, and a reinforcing plate that is joined to the plurality of mounting surface beads.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 6, 2011
    Date of Patent: February 24, 2015
    Assignee: Honda Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Daisuke Naoi
  • Patent number: 8950802
    Abstract: A structural part, in particular a structural part designed as a transverse supporting member for connection between the A columns of a motor vehicle and, more in particular as a structural part in tailgates or bumper supporting members, is to be developed in such a way that it has low weight, high mechanical stability and rigidity and is simple and inexpensive to produce. To do this, the structural part (1, 1?) is designed with a number of elongated closed or half-open synthetic material structures (2, 3), which in outer regions (4, 5) surround reinforcing filaments (6) running in the longitudinal direction (A) sectionwise, wherein the reinforcing filaments (6) are held form-lockingly in the respective synthetic material structure (2, 3) by means of formations (7) in their surface, so as to absorb tensile forces in bending of the structural part (1, 1?).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 25, 2011
    Date of Patent: February 10, 2015
    Assignee: Magna International Inc.
    Inventor: Paul Hasl
  • Patent number: 8944495
    Abstract: A front fender panel and an apron upper member are connected via an impact absorbing bracket. The impact absorbing bracket has a first supporting leg portion and a second supporting leg portion that form an angle with one another as seen from a vehicle vertical direction. The first supporting leg portion and the second supporting leg portion are connected, via a connecting portion, further toward a vehicle lower side than a fender panel mounting portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 5, 2012
    Date of Patent: February 3, 2015
    Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Teppei Tsuneyama, Katsuya Inoue
  • Patent number: 8936276
    Abstract: A body structure of a vehicle includes a bulkhead, and a frame rail extending forward from the bulkhead along a longitudinal centerline. A powertrain system is disposed laterally inboard of the frame rail relative to the longitudinal centerline. The frame rail includes a flared section, a splayed section, and a reinforcing member. The flared section curves laterally outboard, away from the longitudinal centerline. The splayed section includes a variable cross sectional area that increases with an increase in distance from the bulkhead. The reinforcing member is operable to increase lateral stiffness in the frame rail, in a direction transverse to the longitudinal centerline. The frame rail is operable to deform into contact with the powertrain system in response to a load applied to a forward end of the body structure and laterally offset from the longitudinal centerline, to generate a lateral force in the body structure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 19, 2013
    Date of Patent: January 20, 2015
    Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC
    Inventors: Rajan V. Vyas, Bhushan W. Dandekar, Darek G. Villeneuve, Marcel R. Cannon, Young Doe, Krishnarao V. Yalamanchili
  • Patent number: 8936299
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a vehicle front body structure comprising a cross-sectionally closed front side frame installed to extend in a front-rear direction of a vehicle. The front side frame has a depressed section formed in a lower region of a vehicle-width directional inner wall surface portion thereof in such a manner as to be depressed toward a vehicle-width directional outward side. The front side frame is internally provided with a reinforcing member extending over a front-rear directional dimension of the depressed section. An upper portion of the reinforcing member is joined to at least one of a vehicle-width directional intermediate region of an upper wall portion of the front side frame and an area of the upper wall portion located outward side of the intermediate region, and a lateral portion of the reinforcing member is joined to a wall surface portion corresponding to the depressed section.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 21, 2012
    Date of Patent: January 20, 2015
    Assignee: Mazda Motor Corporation
    Inventors: Junichi Tanaka, Kenichi Yano, Takayuki Nakamae
  • Patent number: 8925993
    Abstract: A mounting system for aligning and suspending an HVAC module onto a cross car beam is provided. The mounting system may include a first mounting feature attached to the HVAC module and a second mounting feature attached to the cross car beam such that the second mounting feature is inserted into the first mounting feature to align the HVAC module with the cross car beam and to suspend the HVAC module from the cross car beam.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 17, 2013
    Date of Patent: January 6, 2015
    Assignee: DENSO International America, Inc.
    Inventor: Jonathan Noah-Navarro
  • Publication number: 20150001891
    Abstract: A product comprising a mixed material longitudinal rail system for a vehicle and a method of making the same.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 27, 2014
    Publication date: January 1, 2015
    Applicant: GM Global Technology Operations LLC
    Inventors: Robert N. Saje, Terry A. Swartzell, Artur Wyszynski, Robert M. Kielbik, Keith J. Saari
  • Patent number: 8915326
    Abstract: An axle beam arrangement on a vehicle, in particular a motor vehicle, has two longitudinal beams and at least one cross beam connecting the two longitudinal beams. At least one of the beams has in an installation state of the vehicle a clearance between the beam stop region and a vehicle-side stop structure, in particular a body structure. The beam has in the beam stop region at least one stop and reinforcing element which reinforces the beam stop region and which is constructed and arranged so that it comes into supporting contact with the stop structure when the beam moves toward the stop structure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 9, 2013
    Date of Patent: December 23, 2014
    Assignee: Audi AG
    Inventor: Peter Leibl
  • Patent number: 8911006
    Abstract: This front-end assembly (4) comprises a front-end module (16), at least one railplate (18A, 18B) adapted to be attached to a rail (14A, 14B) of a motor vehicle chassis, and means for fastening the railplate (18A, 18B) to the front-end module (16), the railplate (18A, 18B) comprising at least one hole for receiving a pin.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 4, 2013
    Date of Patent: December 16, 2014
    Assignee: Faurecia Bloc Avant
    Inventors: Laurent Gillard, Anthony Hughes
  • Patent number: 8905466
    Abstract: A vehicle body includes left and right side front frames extending towards the back of the vehicle body while curving from the outside in the width direction of the vehicle to the inside in the width direction of the vehicle. The left and right front side frames branch off from the ends thereof into left and right side sill-side extensions extending to the back towards the outside in the width direction of the vehicle, and left and right tunnel-side extensions extending to the back towards the inside in the width direction of the vehicle. Left and right reinforcing members are provided to the inside of curved parts on the left and right side and extend in the front-to-back direction of the vehicle body in the left and right side.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 20, 2012
    Date of Patent: December 9, 2014
    Assignee: Honda Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Masashige Iseki, Kosaku Tomozawa, Manabu Ishizono, Takeshi Yoshimoto
  • Patent number: 8899662
    Abstract: A rear apron panel is provided between a suspension tower and a dash panel. A vertical branch brace is provided to extend upwardly from a front side frame along an inner face of a suspension tower to form a closed cross section with a rear portion of the suspension tower. A deformation restraint member interconnects the apron frame and the vertical branch brace. Accordingly, there is provided a vehicle-body front structure which can restrain the apron frame from deforming outwardly in the vehicle width direction in the vehicle frontal collision to prevent the dash panel from moving back into the vehicle compartment too much.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 13, 2012
    Date of Patent: December 2, 2014
    Assignee: Mazda Motor Corporation
    Inventors: Hiroto Kido, Masanobu Fukushima, Isamu Kizaki, Satoshi Nakamura, Keizo Kawasaki, Manabu Hashimoto
  • Patent number: 8899664
    Abstract: A crossmember assembly for a vehicle may include an upper panel; a pair of lower panels assembled at a lower side of both end portions of the upper panel to form a first box, a center lower panel, a middle portion of which is assembled to a lower middle portion of the upper panel, and a front side lower arm mounting panel and a rear side lower arm mounting panel that are disposed at a lower front side and a lower rear side of the crossmember assembly, respectively, and mounted to the both end portions of the upper panel to house a lower arm.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 30, 2012
    Date of Patent: December 2, 2014
    Assignee: Hyundai Motor Company
    Inventors: Un Koo Lee, Sung Bae Jang, Pil Young Jeong
  • Patent number: 8894133
    Abstract: A front pillar structure of a vehicle may include an outer side panel disposed on an outer side in a traverse direction of a vehicle, an inner side panel attached to the outer side panel with an opening formed therebetween, and a reinforcement inserted through the opening between the inner side panel and the outer side panel, wherein the reinforcement may be attached to the outer side panel and the inner side panel to close the opening to have a closed cross-section.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 10, 2012
    Date of Patent: November 25, 2014
    Assignee: Hyundai Motor Company
    Inventor: Suk Jun Chai
  • Patent number: 8894134
    Abstract: A front body of a vehicle is formed by attaching a subframe to left and right front side frames. The subframe is disposed in front of a floor of a cabin and extends to the left and right. An engine contact part facing toward an engine inside the front body is disposed on an upper part the subframe. The subframe has rear fastening parts fastened to the respective front side frames, and rear arm connecting parts with which respective lower arms are engaged. A portion between each of the rear arm connecting parts and the corresponding rear fastening part is deformed to absorb shocks.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 24, 2012
    Date of Patent: November 25, 2014
    Assignee: Honda Motor Co., Ltd
    Inventors: Kosaku Tomozawa, Yushi Nakao, Takeshi Yoshimoto, Manabu Ishizono
  • Patent number: 8882184
    Abstract: A structure for a front portion of an automobile body includes a bulkhead side, which is joined to a front portion of a front side frame extending in the fore-and-aft direction extends in the vertical direction, and a side frame gusset, which provides a connection between the front portions of the front side frame and a wheel house upper member. The bulkhead side and the side frame gusset are joined by a linking panel having a right-angled triangle shape when viewed from the front within a plane perpendicular to an axis in the fore-and-aft direction. When a load is applied for relatively moving the front side frame, the side frame gusset and the wheel house upper member supporting the load by a shear force of the linking panel disposed within the plane enhance the rigidity of a front portion of a vehicle body and minimize any increase in weight.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 27, 2012
    Date of Patent: November 11, 2014
    Assignee: Honda Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Tadashi Naito, Yutaka Kanaguchi, Yoshikatsu Ohta, Youichirou Suzuki
  • Patent number: 8876194
    Abstract: A vehicle front body structure includes a front side member, an A-pillar and a strut tower. The front side member extends in a vehicle longitudinal direction. The A-pillar is coupled to the front side member. The strut tower is positioned forward of the A-pillar and has an inboard side fixedly attached to an outboard section of the front side member. The strut tower also defines a force receiving surface extending between the inboard side and an outboard side. The force receiving surface of the strut tower is configured and arranged to receive a force directed rearward in the vehicle longitudinal direction and redirect at least a portion of the force in a vehicle lateral direction toward the front side member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 26, 2013
    Date of Patent: November 4, 2014
    Assignee: Nissan North America, Inc.
    Inventors: Jeffery Dix, Ryan Corby, Joyce Lam
  • Patent number: 8870273
    Abstract: An engine mount support structure provided in the front section of a vehicle body. A lower front support component and lower rear support component of the engine mount are installed to a frame-side front joining component and frame-side rear joining component, the frame-side front joining component and frame-side rear joining component being formed at the front and rear direction of the front side frame. An upper support component of the engine mount is supported by the upper member via a mounting bracket. The mounting bracket forms a V-shape and includes a front mounting component and rear mounting component respectively installed to a member-side front joining component and member-side rear joining component of the upper member; and an inner mounting component onto which the upper support component is installed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 21, 2011
    Date of Patent: October 28, 2014
    Assignee: Honda Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Tomoya Takeda, Shigetaka Kameyama
  • Patent number: 8833842
    Abstract: A vehicle body front structure includes a dashboard lower in which an opening portion into which a joint member, which connects a steering shaft of a vehicle with a steering gear box, is inserted is formed; a steering joint cover that is provided around the opening portion so as to surround the joint member; and a dashboard cross-member that extends in a left and right direction of the dashboard lower. The dashboard cross-member includes a pair of cross-members between which the steering joint cover is interposed, and each of these cross-members is fixed to the steering joint cover. Clip holes to which mounting clips mounting a steering grommet are fitted are formed within a range of the dashboard lower that is positioned around the opening portion and is covered with the steering joint cover.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 17, 2011
    Date of Patent: September 16, 2014
    Assignee: Honda Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Daisuke Naoi
  • Patent number: 8833838
    Abstract: A vehicle body front structure includes a pair of left and right front side frames which are installed at a front of a vehicle body, and extend in a fore-and-aft direction of the vehicle body; and a power unit disposed in a driving force transmission chamber between the left and right front side frames. The left and right front side frames include respective branch frames which extend from the left and right front side frames obliquely forward and outward in a vehicle width direction, rear ends of the branch frames penetrate through respective outer walls of the left and right front side frames, and extend along inner surfaces of the left and right front side frames, and a reinforcing member is integrally connected to each of intersection portions of the branch frames and the front side frames.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 28, 2013
    Date of Patent: September 16, 2014
    Assignee: Honda Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Yasunori Watanabe
  • Patent number: 8833832
    Abstract: A node is configured for connecting body portions of a vehicle. The node includes a first portion configured for attachment to a first vehicle body portion, and a second portion configured for attachment to a second vehicle body portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 16, 2011
    Date of Patent: September 16, 2014
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventor: Duncan Whipps
  • Publication number: 20140246880
    Abstract: A shotgun rail, or deflector, is provided as part of a front end structure of a vehicle. The shotgun rail includes a triangular shaped bulkhead having a front surface disposed at an oblique angle relative to the front of a vehicle and a rear surface that is disposed at an oblique angle relative to the rear of the vehicle. A laterally facing surface of the bulkhead is attached to a frame rail. Loads resulting from an impact with a small offset rigid barrier are distributed between longitudinal load paths and lateral load paths through the shotgun rails, frame rails, and sub-frame.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 1, 2013
    Publication date: September 4, 2014
    Applicant: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Saeed David Barbat, Mohamed Ridha Baccouche, Rahul Arora, Saied Nusier
  • Patent number: 8801088
    Abstract: A front vehicle body reinforcing structure includes: an upper reinforcing member and a lower reinforcing member attached to an upper portion and a lower portion of the shock absorber housing panel; and a front reinforcing rail and a rear reinforcing rail attached to a front side and a rear side of the shock absorber housing panel in a longitudinal direction of the vehicle, respectively, thereby enhancing strength of a front vehicle body.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 4, 2013
    Date of Patent: August 12, 2014
    Assignee: Hyundai Motor Company
    Inventors: Kyunghee Lee, Yong Kew Kim
  • Patent number: 8801081
    Abstract: An apparatus for reducing injury to a passenger' feet during an offset crash reduces impact energy generated during the offset crash and solve existing problems by eliminating a conventional fourfold welding structure in such a manner that, instead of a conventional reinforced front side rear lower member (member F), a vertical reinforcing member (member Q) of a new structure is fixedly welded to a horizontal reinforcing member (member E), and the bottom of the vertical reinforcing member is spaced apart from a bottom member (member D) to provide an impact absorbing space.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 9, 2012
    Date of Patent: August 12, 2014
    Assignees: Hyundai Motor Company, Kia Motors Corporation
    Inventor: Do Hoi Kim
  • Patent number: 8801080
    Abstract: A crash structure for attachment to a front subframe for a motor vehicle is provided. The crash structure includes an attachment area and a stiffening structure that reinforces the crash structure in the attachment area for the front subframe. The stiffening structure connects the crash structure to the front subframe in a friction-locked and/or formfitting manner.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 18, 2012
    Date of Patent: August 12, 2014
    Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC
    Inventors: Lutz Uhlenbruch, Oliver Eichelhard
  • Patent number: 8794696
    Abstract: A structure for the front of a vehicle body includes front side frames. The front side frames have bend portions in the rear portion thereof, the bend portions sloping downwards along a dashboard lower panel as the front side frames extend towards the back of the vehicle body. Side sill-side extensions curve to the side of side sills from the end parts of the bend portions. Curving tunnel-side extensions curve towards a tunnel portion. The side sill-side extensions and the tunnel-side extensions form branched portions branching at substantially the same angle. Triangular load support portions are formed at the back of the branched portions between the side sill-side extensions and the tunnel-side extensions. Rear end support portions for supporting the rear ends of sub frames are provided to the bend portions and the fronts of the load support portions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 10, 2012
    Date of Patent: August 5, 2014
    Assignee: Honda Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Masashige Iseki, Kosaku Tomozawa, Manabu Ishizono, Takeshi Yoshimoto
  • Patent number: 8794646
    Abstract: A vehicle structure includes: a suspension member for supporting a suspension mechanism of a vehicle; a rear-portion support member (inner members, a dash panel) provided above a rear portion of the suspension member and supporting the suspension member; a fastening member for fastening the rear portion of the suspension member to the rear-portion support member; and a latching member provided in the fastening member and latching thereto the rear portion of the suspension member to be displaced in a vehicle lower direction due to an impact load toward a vehicle rearward direction, so as to transmit, to the fastening member, a load toward the vehicle lower direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 16, 2014
    Date of Patent: August 5, 2014
    Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Koji Onishi, Tomoyuki Honsho
  • Patent number: 8789875
    Abstract: Provided is a vehicle body structure including: a front frame member disposed in a front part of a vehicle body; a rear frame member disposed in a rear part of the vehicle body; and paired left and right middle frame members disposed on outer sides, in a vehicle width direction, of the vehicle body, respectively, and extending in a vehicle front-rear direction between the front and rear frame members. Each middle frame member includes: a side sill disposed on an outer side in the vehicle width direction; and a center side member disposed inward, in the vehicle width direction, of the side sill and coupling the front and rear frame members. The center side member extends to shift farther outward in the vehicle width direction as it gets closer to rear of the vehicle. The center side member is set larger in strength than the side sill.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 20, 2012
    Date of Patent: July 29, 2014
    Assignee: Nissan Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Yusuke Kageyama