Front Patents (Class 296/203.02)
  • Patent number: 8496287
    Abstract: A front vehicle body structure includes, on each of left and right sides, a front side frame, an upper member, a frame connecting member, an impact absorbing mechanism. The impact absorbing mechanism has a closed cross-sectional shape in frontal view of a vehicle. The impact absorbing mechanism includes an external wall and an internal wall. The external wall is substantially straight with respect to an upper internal wall of the upper member such that the frame connecting member is disposed therebetween. The internal wall has a shape in which at least a front portion of the internal wall between a central portion of the internal wall in its longitudinal direction and the bumper beam is obliquely bent outward.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 23, 2011
    Date of Patent: July 30, 2013
    Assignee: Honda Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Yuji Matsuura, Shigeto Yasuhara, Kojiro Okabe, Ryota Abe, Ken Sato
  • Patent number: 8485592
    Abstract: A front connection structure for a vehicle body may include a bumper back beam provided in a front portion of the vehicle body and connected to a side member in a traverse direction of the vehicle body, an apron upper member positioned on a side surface of the vehicle body in parallel to the side member, and a back beam side member mounted on an end portion of the bumper back beam in the traverse direction of the vehicle body and connected to a front end portion of the apron upper member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 30, 2011
    Date of Patent: July 16, 2013
    Assignee: Hyundai Motor Company
    Inventors: Jang Ho Shin, Yun Chang Kim
  • Patent number: 8485591
    Abstract: A front structure of a vehicle body includes left and right front side frames, a dashboard lower panel, and left and right floor frame. The dashboard lower panel has a rear surface with a cross member provided thereon, and a lower part inclined downwardly rearwardly of the vehicle body. Front end of each of the left and right floor frames extends forwardly upwardly along the lower part of the dashboard lower panel and is joined by an adapter to a rear end of a respective one of the left and right front side frames. The adapter is joined to the cross member with the dashboard lower panel sandwiched therebetween.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 9, 2011
    Date of Patent: July 16, 2013
    Assignee: Honda Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Makoto Kihara, Shigeto Yasuhara
  • Publication number: 20130161981
    Abstract: A motor vehicle body having at least one side member located on the front side in front of a front wall is provided. The motor vehicle body having a first reinforcing element adjoining thereon in longitudinal direction, which, following the contour of a wheel housing panel, protrudes in vehicle transverse direction to the outside and which supports itself on a floor structure via second reinforcing element, which is arranged spaced from a lateral front wall portion adjoining the wheel housing panel.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 21, 2012
    Publication date: June 27, 2013
    Applicant: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS LLC
    Inventor: GM Global Technology Operations LLC
  • Publication number: 20130147236
    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: Application
    Filed: July 30, 2012
    Publication date: June 13, 2013
    Applicant: Hyundai Motor Company
    Inventors: Un Koo Lee, Sung Bae Jang, Pil Young Jeong
  • Patent number: 8459728
    Abstract: Left and right front side frames are disposed on left and right side of vehicle front portion, respectively, and extend in a front-and-rear direction of the vehicle body. The left and right front side frames each include a lower branching frame having an inclined part inclined downward from a front part of a motor room toward a vehicle floor, and an upper branching frame branching from the lower branching frame, disposed above the inclined part of the lower branching frame, and including a bent part. The upper branching frame is supported by a plurality of support columns connected to frames disposed around the motor room.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 28, 2011
    Date of Patent: June 11, 2013
    Assignee: Honda Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Takayuki Fujii, Seiji Hayashi, Masayo Akiyama
  • Publication number: 20130140852
    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: Application
    Filed: June 21, 2011
    Publication date: June 6, 2013
    Applicant: HONDA MOTOR CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Tomoya Takeda, Shigetaka Kameyama
  • Patent number: 8454079
    Abstract: A front side member having a single body formed from a tubular body having a closed cross section has a front portion which extends in the fore and aft direction of a vehicle body, a sloping portion which is continuous with the front portion and slopes downwards along a dash panel, and a rear portion continuous with the sloping portion and extending along the bottom surface of a floor panel joined to the dash panel. A portion of the front portion is an unquenched portion which has not undergone quenching treatment and the remainder is a high frequency quenched portion which has undergone high frequency quenching. The sloping portion is a high frequency quenched portion. A portion of the rear portion is an unquenched portion which has not undergone quenching and the remainder other than that portion is a high frequency quenched portion which has undergone high frequency quenching.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 15, 2012
    Date of Patent: June 4, 2013
    Assignee: Nippon Steel & Sumitomo Metal Corporation
    Inventors: Michitaka Yoshida, Nobusato Kojima, Atsushi Tomizawa, Naoaki Shimada
  • Publication number: 20130134742
    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: Application
    Filed: November 26, 2012
    Publication date: May 30, 2013
    Applicant: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS LLC
    Inventor: GM Global Technology Operations LLC
  • Patent number: 8439430
    Abstract: In a vehicle body structure, a frontal crash performance is improved by establishing a transmission path of a frontal crash load by a floor frame (28) without increasing the weight of the vehicle body, manufacturing cost or the number of welding spots. The floor frame (28) is attached to a lower surface of a floor panel (12), and extends from a rear end of a front side frame (20) from a longitudinally intermediate part of the floor panel. A rear part of the floor panel is formed with a side bead (34) extending in a fore and aft direction in alignment with the floor frame. The rear end of the floor frame is connected to the front end of the side bead via a slope section (32) of the floor panel, and the rear end of the side bead is connected to a middle cross member (18) extending laterally along the rear edge of the floor panel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 30, 2011
    Date of Patent: May 14, 2013
    Assignee: Honda Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Yoshihiko Sato, Masaaki Ukita, Yoshiyuki Toba
  • Patent number: 8439148
    Abstract: A vehicle includes a vehicle body frame, an engine attached to the vehicle body frame, and a power transmission unit for transmitting output from the engine to a wheel of the vehicle. The vehicle body frame includes a plate-shaped suspension-supporting bracket which is integrally connected to front end portions of main frame sections extending in a forward/rearward direction of a vehicle at a lower portion of the vehicle body frame, and also is integrally connected to lower end sides of front frame sections vertically extending at a front portion of the vehicle body frame. The plate-shaped suspension-supporting bracket includes suspension arm-supporting portions formed integrally therewith. The lightweight vehicle body frame reduces total weight of the vehicle and, at the same time, enhances assembling accuracy thereof.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 25, 2011
    Date of Patent: May 14, 2013
    Assignee: Honda Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Hiromitsu Shiina, Akihiro Yamashita, Hajime Uchiyama
  • Patent number: 8434814
    Abstract: A joining mechanism includes a front lower cross member 110 formed from a front plate 112 and a back plate 114 joined together to form a space, the front lower cross member 110 extending in a vehicle width direction lower than a hood lock member 108 which supports a bottom part of the vicinity of a front end of an engine hood 104, and a hood lock brace 120 which extends in a vehicle height direction between the hood lock member 108 and the front lower cross member 110, the hood lock brace 120 joining the hood lock member 108 and the front lower cross member 110, wherein upper end vicinities of the front plate 112 and the back plate 114 of the front lower cross member 110 are fastened to the front side of the hood lock brace 120, and the upper end surface 112j of the front plate 112 and the upper end surface 114j of the back plate 114 are separated from the hood lock brace 120.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 20, 2011
    Date of Patent: May 7, 2013
    Assignee: Suzuki Motor Corporation
    Inventors: Kiyotaka Hirano, Yuki Satake
  • Publication number: 20130099527
    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: Application
    Filed: June 6, 2011
    Publication date: April 25, 2013
    Applicant: HONDA MOTOR CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Daisuke Naoi
  • Patent number: 8424959
    Abstract: The present invention relates to an assembly of a mold (14) and a motor vehicle cross-member (12), the cross-member including a portion for overmolding (20) that is designed to be placed in the mold, a portion that is designed to be situated outside the mold, and at least one reception zone (22, 24) for receiving a wall portion of the mold (26, 28), the reception zone being interposed between said two portions of the cross-member. The wall portion of the mold and the reception zone are essentially complementary in shape and the cross-member presents, in the reception zone, at least one offset (34, 36) relative to a reference surface following the general outline of the cross-member. The invention also provides a motor vehicle front panel that forms an overmolded part made using the above-defined assembly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 23, 2008
    Date of Patent: April 23, 2013
    Assignee: Compagnie Plastic Omnium
    Inventor: Fernando Ballesteros
  • Patent number: 8424960
    Abstract: A front structure for a vehicle is provided that includes a pair of front rails (i.e., front left hand rail and front right hand rail) spaced apart in a widthwise direction with each rail extending lengthwise and mechanically coupled to the vehicle's bumper and a torque box. Each front rail is comprised of a polygonal-shaped upper hollow channel and a polygonal-shaped lower hollow channel, where the upper and lower channels share a common wall.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 24, 2011
    Date of Patent: April 23, 2013
    Assignee: Tesla Motors, Inc.
    Inventors: Peter Dore Rawlinson, Hitendra Laxmidas Gadhiya
  • Publication number: 20130093216
    Abstract: A vehicle body front part structure according to a first aspect of the present invention includes: a center frame which extends along a vertical direction of a vehicle, a top end flange part that bends toward a rear being formed on a top end of the center frame; and a dashboard lower which has a first vertical wall, a bent part that is bent toward the rear being formed on a top edge of the first vertical wall. The top end flange part and the bent part are joined overlapping each other, and a closed cross-section structure part is formed between the center frame and the bent part.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 23, 2011
    Publication date: April 18, 2013
    Applicant: HONDA MOTOR CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Daisuke Naoi
  • Publication number: 20130093215
    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: Application
    Filed: May 17, 2011
    Publication date: April 18, 2013
    Applicant: HONDA MOTOR CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Daisuke Naoi
  • Patent number: 8419116
    Abstract: A frame assembly for a vehicle includes a front end frame assembly extending laterally across the vehicle and disposed adjacent a forward end of the vehicle, and a bumper beam extending laterally across the vehicle and spaced apart longitudinally forward of the front end frame assembly. A first set of spaced apart inner attachment structures connects the bumper beam to the front end frame assembly. A second set of spaced apart outer attachment structures also connects the bumper beam to the front end frame assembly. The second set of outer attachment structures is spaced apart from and flanks the first set of inner attachment structures.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 8, 2010
    Date of Patent: April 16, 2013
    Assignee: Honda Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Eric Boettcher, Jamison Weirup
  • Publication number: 20130088048
    Abstract: A dash-board lower panel in a vehicle body includes a vertical plate-shaped partition plate that partitions the vehicle body into a front and a rear section, and an inclined plate that inclines downward and rearward from the bottom end of the partition plate. At least part of the rear surface of the partition plate is reinforced by a reinforcement plate. The reinforcement plate has an extended section at the bottom end thereof. The extended section extends from above a bent section, which is between the partition plate and the inclined plate, to below the bent section, and is joined to the inclined plate. A closed cross-section body, which is long and narrow in the vehicle-width direction, is formed by the extended section and the dash-board lower panel.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 24, 2011
    Publication date: April 11, 2013
    Applicant: HONDA MOTOR CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Shuji Ichikawa
  • Publication number: 20130069393
    Abstract: A structure for a vehicle body front portion, provided with a cross-member (24) which is provided to a dashboard lower panel (19) on the engine room (13) side thereof and is extended between left and right front side frames (16, 16). The cross-member (24) is divided into left and right cross-members (65, 66). A cup-shaped joint cover (22) is sandwiched between the left and right cross-members (65, 66).
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 22, 2011
    Publication date: March 21, 2013
    Applicant: HONDA MOTOR CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Makoto Kihara, Shuji Ichikawa, Daisuke Naoi
  • Publication number: 20130069394
    Abstract: A vehicle front portion structure of a vehicle is equipped with a radiator and an air conditioner, the vehicle front portion structure includes a vehicle body 100 formed by joining a plurality of structural members, a positioning hole 150 formed in the vehicle body 100, for fitting therein a jig projecting from a mount frame used to transport the vehicle body 100 in a manufacturing process, and a fitting bracket 200 for supporting the radiator 130 and a condenser 132 of the air conditioner from the lower sides of the radiator 130 and the condenser 132, and featured in that the fitting bracket 200 is formed integrally with a radiator supporting portion 206 for supporting a lower portion of the radiator 130, and with a condenser supporting portion 208 for supporting a lower portion of the condenser 132, and is fastened and fixed at a position which interferes with the jig 122 fitted into the positioning hole 150.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 11, 2011
    Publication date: March 21, 2013
    Applicant: SUZUKI MOTOR CORPORATION
    Inventor: Tadashi Homan
  • Publication number: 20130062911
    Abstract: A front part body structure of a vehicle, includes: an upper frame which is extended in a longitudinal direction of the vehicle, one end of which is joined to a front pillar, and which includes an inner panel and an outer panel, the outer panel that is divided in a dividing part in the longitudinal direction of the vehicle; and a first partition wall which is provided between the inner panel and the outer panel, one end of which is joined to the inner panel, and the other end of which is fastened and fixed to the dividing part of the outer panel by means of a fastening member.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 12, 2012
    Publication date: March 14, 2013
    Inventors: Hideki TAKEUCHI, Akihiro MATSUI
  • Patent number: 8393669
    Abstract: A vehicle frame structure includes a tunnel portion provided in a floor and left and right side members. Each of the side members includes a front side member, an inner member, and an outer member. The inner and outer members branch off from the front side member in a direction toward the rear of the vehicle. The inner member extends toward the rear of the vehicle along the tunnel portion. The inner members of the left and right side members are connected together by a plurality of connecting portions in the longitudinal direction of the vehicle at least at a location corresponding to a front portion side of the tunnel portion. These connecting portions break when a front impact load is input to at least one of the side members.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 22, 2009
    Date of Patent: March 12, 2013
    Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Satoshi Ajisaka
  • Patent number: 8388047
    Abstract: A vehicle body has a front or rear end region with a luggage compartment and an accessories compartment. The luggage compartment is bounded in the vehicle longitudinal direction by a first and second partition walls. The accessories compartment is bounded in the vehicle longitudinal direction by the second partition wall and a third partition wall. The luggage and accessories compartments are bounded in the transverse direction by two lateral longitudinal members. A sealing frame closes off from above the first partition wall, the second partition wall and the longitudinal members from the first partition wall to the third partition wall.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 1, 2009
    Date of Patent: March 5, 2013
    Assignee: Dr. Ing. H.C.F. Porsche Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Tim Schmidt, Jens Thomer, Wolfgang Niedecken
  • Patent number: 8388048
    Abstract: A reinforcing structure for a vehicle body front part has a reinforcing member 10 disposed at a corner portion 9 formed by a dash panel 5 and a dash side panel 6. The reinforcing member 10 includes a plate-like main body portion 11 that has a width in a horizontal direction and extends between the dash panel 5 and the dash side panel 6 near the corner portion 9, a first connection portion 12 that is provided at a first end portion 11a of the main body portion 11 and extends in a vehicle vertical direction, and a second connection potion 13 that is provided at a second end portion 11b of the main body portion 11 and extends in the vehicle vertical direction. The dash panel 5 and the first connection portion 12 of the reinforcing member 10 are connected to each other by welding, and the dash side panel 6 and the second connection portion 13 of the reinforcing member 10 are connected to each other by welding.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 2, 2011
    Date of Patent: March 5, 2013
    Assignee: Suzuki Motor Corporation
    Inventor: Yoshitaka Usuda
  • Publication number: 20130049407
    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: Application
    Filed: August 20, 2012
    Publication date: February 28, 2013
    Inventor: Yusuke KAGEYAMA
  • Publication number: 20130049406
    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: Application
    Filed: February 25, 2011
    Publication date: February 28, 2013
    Applicant: Magna International Inc.
    Inventor: Paul Hasl
  • Publication number: 20130026791
    Abstract: A vehicle body structure includes a bumper fascia panel and a fascia support bracket. The bumper fascia panel includes side and front end fascia sections. The front end and side fascia sections are integrally formed as a one-piece member. The side fascia section includes upper and lower fascia portions defining a fascia cutout such that they at least partially surround a vehicle lamp area. The fascia support bracket includes front end and side fascia supports. The front end fascia support supports an inboard surface of the bumper fascia panel along the front end fascia section. The side fascia support includes upper and lower support portions that support the inboard surface of the bumper fascia panel along the upper and lower fascia portions, respectively. The upper and lower support portions define a support cutout such that they at least partially surround the vehicle lamp area.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 29, 2011
    Publication date: January 31, 2013
    Applicant: NISSAN NORTH AMERICA, INC.
    Inventors: Matthew Huber, Hugo F. Fortin
  • Patent number: 8308225
    Abstract: An automotive front support beam for use in an automotive front carrier, wherein the automotive front support beam comprises a top piece and a bottom piece, wherein the top piece and the bottom piece are fastened together and enclose a hollow space and wherein the top piece and the bottom piece are molded.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 14, 2009
    Date of Patent: November 13, 2012
    Assignee: Faurecia Interior Systems, Inc.
    Inventors: Michael Owen, David I. Allott
  • Patent number: 8308193
    Abstract: A frame assembly for a vehicle includes a subframe, a collar assembly with a collar member and a mounting pin, and a main frame with a saddle. The main frame has a contact side that faces toward the collar assembly and the saddle is located on the contact side. The subframe is connected to the main frame with a bolt that extends from the subframe and into a bore in the mounting pin. The mounting pin is in contact with the saddle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 26, 2010
    Date of Patent: November 13, 2012
    Assignee: Honda Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Matthew R. Lux, Eric J. Boettcher, Robb L. Augustine, Martyn L. Morrish
  • Patent number: 8303030
    Abstract: An energy management structure for a vehicle may include a first longitudinal rail, a second longitudinal rail joined to the first longitudinal by at least a cross member and a bumper beam. A bumper panel is further provided wherein the bumper panel may be affixed to the bumper beam. The first deflecting rail includes a first front end and a first rear end. The first front end may be affixed to the bumper panel and the first rear end may be affixed to the cross member proximate to the first longitudinal rail. The second deflecting rail includes a second front end and a second rear end. The second front end may be affixed to the bumper panel and the second rear end may be affixed to the cross member proximate to the second longitudinal rail.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 27, 2010
    Date of Patent: November 6, 2012
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies
    Inventors: Ridha Baccouche, Xiaoming N Chen, David Anthony Wagner, Michael M Azzouz, Saeed David Barbat
  • Patent number: 8297687
    Abstract: In a vehicle body for a motor vehicle, a crossbeam is situated between two longitudinal girders of a front frame. The crossbeam is formed from the vehicle front wall, the cover plate and the bulkhead plate. The bulkhead plate is led up to a plate of a wheel arch laterally outside the longitudinal girders. The vehicle body thus has a particularly high stability at a low weight.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 30, 2009
    Date of Patent: October 30, 2012
    Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC
    Inventor: Udo Mildner
  • Publication number: 20120261952
    Abstract: A support structure for a motor vehicle body includes, but is not limited to a longitudinal girder extending between an engine compartment and a wheel installation space, a wheel installation strut extending over the wheel installation space, an engine frame, an attached bracket protruding downward on the longitudinal girder, which supports the longitudinal girder on the engine frame, and a one-piece reinforcement element, of which a first arm flanks the bracket and a second arm extends in the direction of the wheel installation strut.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 16, 2012
    Publication date: October 18, 2012
    Applicant: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS LLC
    Inventors: Udo MILDNER, Karsten BOHLE
  • Patent number: 8287036
    Abstract: A front body structure of a vehicle comprises a pair of front side frames, a bumper reinforcement, a bumper face, a leg-part sweeping-away member which is provided below the bumper reinforcement and extends in a vehicle width direction, a front end of which is positioned in front of the bumper reinforcement, and a support member which supports the leg-part sweeping-away member at the front side frame. The support member has a specified length in the vehicle longitudinal direction, and comprises beads which absorb an impact load inputted in the vehicle longitudinal direction through their deformation in the longitudinal direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 30, 2010
    Date of Patent: October 16, 2012
    Assignee: Mazda Motor Corporation
    Inventors: Masaki Nakaura, Tadashi Ioka, Masatoshi Takayama
  • Patent number: 8282155
    Abstract: A motor vehicle front end and a method for producing a motor vehicle front end are provided in accordance with embodiments of the invention. The motor vehicle front end has a front wall and the front wall girder, the front wall girder essentially being situated in the direction of a vehicle transverse axis. In addition, the motor vehicle front end has a first front wall girder, the first front wall girder being situated essentially in the direction of a vehicle vertical axis. The first front wall girder is supported on the front wall crossbeam in a first area of the front wall crossbeam.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 28, 2010
    Date of Patent: October 9, 2012
    Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC
    Inventors: Matthias Hallik, Oliver Schütz, Stephan Rosenplänter, Stefan Gloger
  • Publication number: 20120248823
    Abstract: A bulkhead structure is provided for a motor vehicle. Connecting areas that lie in the longitudinal direction of the bulkhead structure are provided for connecting the bulkhead structure to at least two strut mounts of the motor vehicle. The bulkhead structure is stepped at least twice transverse to its longitudinal direction with steps.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 26, 2012
    Publication date: October 4, 2012
    Applicant: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS LLC
    Inventors: Udo MILDNER, Karsten BOHLE, Boris KUENKLER
  • Patent number: 8276976
    Abstract: A vehicle body front structure provided with left and right side frames (16, 17). The left front side frame (16) has a rectangular closed cross-sectional shape. The front side frame (16) is provided with a rectilinear section (front half frame section) (44) extending rectilinearly from the front end (58) to the center section (43), and also with a moment receiving section (rear half frame section) (45) continuing from the rectilinear section (44) and extending in a curved form toward the inner side in the widthwise direction of the vehicle. A first ridge line section (78) is a portion which forms a corner (78) among the corners (78) of the rectilinear section (45), said corner (78) being located on the inner side in the widthwise direction of the vehicle. A second ridge line section (84) is connected to the first ridge line section (78) at a position inside the moment receiving section (45). A stiffener (65) is connected to the rear end (66) of the front side frame (16).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 26, 2010
    Date of Patent: October 2, 2012
    Assignee: Honda Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Shigeto Yasuhara, Makoto Kihara, Yuji Matsuura, Masami Kominamidate, Masahito Shirasaya
  • Patent number: 8256831
    Abstract: A vehicle body front structure is disclosed, wherein a large engine can be installed even if the entire vehicle body length is kept compact, and an impact load can be efficiently absorbed. In a vehicle body front structure (10), internal and external extension members (41, 42) protruding forward are provided to the front ends of left and right front side frames (11, 12) and the front ends of left and right upper members (13, 14) via a mounting plate (35). In the mounting plate, internal mounting parts (51) and front walls (68) of the internal extension members are inclined farther toward the front of the vehicle body nearer the center of the vehicle width direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 11, 2009
    Date of Patent: September 4, 2012
    Assignee: Honda Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Ryota Abe, Kojiro Okabe, Shinichi Yoshikawa
  • Publication number: 20120212010
    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: Application
    Filed: January 24, 2012
    Publication date: August 23, 2012
    Applicant: HONDA MOTOR CO., LTD
    Inventors: Kosaku Tomozawa, Yushi Nakao, Takeshi Yoshimoto, Manabu Ishizono
  • Patent number: 8246105
    Abstract: A frontal structure is provided for a motor vehicle that includes, but is not limited to a support structure that can be connected to longitudinal members of a front frame, to which a cooling module is fastened with a retaining device, and a bumper cross member mounted ahead of the cooling module. The retaining device includes, but is not limited to at least two cooling module holders that are attached to a component selected from support structure and cooling module and which are provided with elongate recesses, in which retaining elements attached to the respectively other component are anchored. The retaining device is configured in such a manner that in the event of a backward yielding of the bumper cross member, a translational displacement of the cooling module in the direction opposite to the direction of travel is possible.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 14, 2010
    Date of Patent: August 21, 2012
    Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC
    Inventor: Udo Mildner
  • Patent number: 8240747
    Abstract: A mounting structure of a front body frame in a vehicle may include: a pair of support members whose lower part is equipped to be fixed on both side members and whose upper part is equipped to be fixed on the dash panel; a cowl member whose each of two edges are connected to an upper side of the pair of support members by welding, the cowl member arranged to support a lower side of the cowl panel; a pair of side frames arranged at the lower side of the side members along an extension line where the lower part of the support members is extended; and a cross member arranged so that each of the lower parts of the side frames are mutually connected, wherein each of the cowl member, the support members, the side frames and the cross member are connected to be a ring shape.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 24, 2010
    Date of Patent: August 14, 2012
    Assignees: Hyundai Motor Company, Kia Motors Corporation
    Inventor: Yong Kew Kim
  • Publication number: 20120193943
    Abstract: A frame folding and adjustment mechanism for a foldable motorized vehicle, comprising: a hollow adjusting and fixing member, a hollow mounting member, an elastic element, a restricting member, and a cable assembly having a fixing cylinder, and a cable, wherein the fixing cylinder is fixed between the front rack and the hollow mounting member, the upper end of the cable freely passes through the fixing cylinder, the lower end of the cable fixedly passes through the restricting member and is connected to a lower end of the elastic element, the upper end of the elastic element is fixed to the hollow mounting member, the restricting member detaches from the hollow adjusting and fixing member when the upper end of the cable is pulled, and the restricting member engages with the edges of the hollow adjusting and fixing member when the upper end of the cable is released.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 24, 2012
    Publication date: August 2, 2012
    Inventors: Chichun Wu, Zhao Zhang
  • Patent number: 8231166
    Abstract: A member of a vehicle frame structure includes an extension portion that extends in a longitudinal direction and a kick portion positioned behind, and below the extension portion. Buckling lines are formed in parallel with each other in the extension portion, and each of the buckling lines is inclined such that a lower end is positioned ahead of an upper end in a side view. If a collision load is applied from a front side of a vehicle at the time of vehicle collision, the extension portion is deformed along the buckling lines, and a front end of the extension portion is displaced downward. Therefore, a vertical offset between the front end of the extension portion and the kick portion is reduced, thereby reducing a bending moment applied to the kick portion. Accordingly, the required yield strength of the kick portion can be set to a lower value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 7, 2008
    Date of Patent: July 31, 2012
    Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Takeo Mori
  • Patent number: 8220576
    Abstract: A front end structure for an automobile includes a resin-made shroud panel supporting a heat exchanger. The front end structure further includes: a panel support part supporting the shroud panel against car body members; and a rearward movement allowing part allowing the heat exchanger to move rearward of the automobile relative to the panel support part when an impact load works on the shroud panel from the front of the automobile.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 10, 2008
    Date of Patent: July 17, 2012
    Assignee: Mazda Motor Corporation
    Inventors: Sakayu Terada, Nobuyuki Nakayama, Takahiro Tochioka
  • Publication number: 20120175916
    Abstract: A front structure for a vehicle is provided, the structure including (i) a pair of front rails spaced apart in a widthwise direction with each rail extending lengthwise, and where each rail is comprised of a polygonal-shaped upper hollow channel and a polygonal-shaped lower hollow channel with the upper and lower channels sharing a common wall; and (ii) a pair of curvilinear torque boxes, where one curvilinear torque box is mechanically attached to the upper and lower polygonal-shaped channels of each front rail, where each curvilinear torque box is mechanically coupled to a rocker panel, where the upper polygonal-shaped channel of each front rail is in a horizontal plane located above the top surface of the corresponding rocker panel, and where the lower polygonal-shaped channel of each front rail is in a horizontal plane that is aligned with the corresponding rocker panel.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 24, 2011
    Publication date: July 12, 2012
    Applicant: TESLA MOTORS, INC.
    Inventors: Peter Dore Rawlinson, Hitendra Laxmidas Gadhiya
  • Publication number: 20120161476
    Abstract: A vehicle body structure having improved roof strength and reduced weight is provided. The vehicle body structure includes a first roof rail, a second roof rail, a first rocker rail and a second rocker rail. A closed-section roof bow may join the first roof rail and the second roof rail. The closed roof bow is substantially perpendicular to the first and second roof rails. A B-Pillar may be provided for each of the first roof rail and the second roof rail. Each B-Pillar defines a B-Pillar hinge joint and each A-Pillar defines an A-Pillar hinge joint between the roof end and the cowl end. A cowl may also be provided which may be disposed substantially perpendicular to the first and second roof rails. The cowl may be coupled to the first and second roof rails via the A-Pillar corresponding to the first roof rail and the A-Pillar for the second roof rail.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 24, 2010
    Publication date: June 28, 2012
    Inventors: Ridha Baccouche, Saeed David Barbat, Saied Nusier
  • Publication number: 20120153679
    Abstract: A vehicle body front structure provided with left and right side frames (16, 17). The left front side frame (16) has a rectangular closed cross-sectional shape. The front side frame (16) is provided with a rectilinear section (front half frame section) (44) extending rectilinearly from the front end (58) to the center section (43), and also with a moment receiving section (rear half frame section) (45) continuing from the rectilinear section (44) and extending in a curved form toward the inner side in the widthwise direction of the vehicle. A first ridge line section (78) is a portion which forms a corner (78) among the corners (78) of the rectilinear section (45), said corner (78) being located on the inner side in the widthwise direction of the vehicle. A second ridge line section (84) is connected to the first ridge line section (78) at a position inside the moment receiving section (45). A stiffener (65) is connected to the rear end (66) of the front side frame (16).
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 26, 2010
    Publication date: June 21, 2012
    Applicant: HONDA MOTOR CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Shigeto Yasuhara, Makoto Kihara, Yuji Matsuura, Masami Kominamidate, Masahito Shirasaya
  • Patent number: 8197108
    Abstract: A bumper arrangement in or for a vehicle is provided that includes, but is not limited to a bumper, comprising at least one headlamp housing disposed at least partially in the bumper, that includes, but is not limited to a device for positioning the headlamp housing relative to the bumper, having a first receiving means, at which the bumper is attached, a first engagement means, which is firmly connected to the first receiving means, and the first engagement means is displaceably in engagement with the headlamp housing along an x axis, wherein the first engagement means has a fixed distance to the first receiving means along the z axis substantially perpendicularly to the x axis.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 15, 2007
    Date of Patent: June 12, 2012
    Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC
    Inventors: Heiko Eckert, Thomas Feid, Martin Likar, Ingolf Schneider
  • Patent number: 8191958
    Abstract: A vehicle front structure 1 includes a front panel 10, a center reinforcing member 20, side reinforcing members 30, protective members 40, and pipes 50. The front panel 10 is mounted on a front surface of a vehicle body 2. The pipes 50 cross, along a rear surface of the front panel 10, a peripheral portion of the front panel 10 at a rear surface side of the front panel 10. The protective members 40 are fixed to the front panel 10. Each protective member 40 includes a plate-like cover portion 41 and at least two plate-like impact absorbing portions 46. The cover portion 41 protrudes toward the front of a vehicle, has a substantially U-shape in a cross-sectional view, and covers the pipes 50 from the front side of the vehicle. The impact absorbing portions 46 are disposed outside the cover portion 41 at both sides of the pipes 50, protrude toward the back of the vehicle, and each have a substantially U-shape in a cross-sectional view.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 11, 2007
    Date of Patent: June 5, 2012
    Assignee: Isuzu Motors Limited
    Inventor: Hirokazu Tomimatsu
  • Patent number: 8186472
    Abstract: A pedestrian protection airbag device is provided in which an airbag (34) having a closed cross section is formed by inflating and deploying a front outer panel (16) and a front inner panel (18) of a front pillar (15) by means of high pressure gas generated by an inflator (26). This enables the head of a pedestrian to be protected from an impact due to collision with the front pillar (15). Furthermore, since impact absorption performance is exhibited by plastic deformation of the deployed airbag (34), as long as deployment of the airbag (34) is completed before restraining the pedestrian, it is unnecessary to subsequently control the internal pressure of the airbag (34), and it becomes possible for an effective impact absorption performance to always be exhibited regardless of the vehicle speed at the time of collision or the physique of the pedestrian while simplifying the specification of the inflator (26) and reducing the cost.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 18, 2008
    Date of Patent: May 29, 2012
    Assignee: Honda Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Yutaka Okamoto, Yuji Kikuchi, Koichi Kamiji