Metallic Reinforcements Patents (Class 296/30)
  • Patent number: 12252182
    Abstract: A body frame and a vehicle having the same are provided. The body frame includes: a transverse beam, provided with a transverse sliding groove; a longitudinal beam, connected with the transverse beam and provided with a longitudinal sliding groove; and a joint, disposed at a junction of the transverse beam and the longitudinal beam and mounted to the transverse beam by a transverse rivet and to the longitudinal beam by a longitudinal rivet. The transverse rivet is slidably mated with the transverse sliding groove, and the longitudinal rivet is slidably mated with the longitudinal sliding groove.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 25, 2023
    Date of Patent: March 18, 2025
    Assignee: BYD COMPANY LIMITED
    Inventors: Wang Peng, Fengshou Huang, Zhiqiang Wang, Zhen Chen
  • Patent number: 12172703
    Abstract: A body frame joint and a vehicle having the same are provided. The body frame joint includes: a first sub-joint; and a second sub-joint. The first sub-joint and the second sub-joint are adapted to be mounted to a body frame. A transverse beam connection groove and a longitudinal beam connection groove are defined by engaging the first sub-joint and the second sub-joint. The transverse beam connection groove is adapted to accommodate a transverse beam of the body frame, and the longitudinal beam connection groove is adapted to accommodate a longitudinal beam of the body frame.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 24, 2022
    Date of Patent: December 24, 2024
    Assignee: BYD COMPANY LIMITED
    Inventors: Fengshou Huang, Meijun Yu, Yanan Pan
  • Patent number: 12005853
    Abstract: The seatbelt anchor mounting structure includes a floor panel to which a seat belt anchor is attached, a cross member disposed on a lower side of the floor panel, and a reinforcement disposed on a lower side of the floor panel and fixed to the seat belt anchor together with the floor panel. The reinforcement is fixed to the cross member at a position above an anchor attachment point, which is an attachment point of the seat belt anchor to the floor panel, and is fixed to the cross member at a position below the anchor attachment point.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 28, 2023
    Date of Patent: June 11, 2024
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Yoshiyuki Wakuta, Hiroyuki Tsubokawa
  • Patent number: 11858558
    Abstract: A body frame and a vehicle having the same are provided. The body frame includes: a transverse beam, provided with a transverse sliding groove; a longitudinal beam, connected with the transverse beam and provided with a longitudinal sliding groove; and a joint, disposed at a junction of the transverse beam and the longitudinal beam and mounted to the transverse beam by a transverse rivet and to the longitudinal beam by a longitudinal rivet. The transverse rivet is slidably mated with the transverse sliding groove, and the longitudinal rivet is slidably mated with the longitudinal sliding groove.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 25, 2022
    Date of Patent: January 2, 2024
    Assignee: BYD COMPANY LIMITED
    Inventors: Wang Peng, Fengshou Huang, Zhiqiang Wang, Zhen Chen
  • Patent number: 11745666
    Abstract: A wall reinforcement and shelf system for a vehicle cargo area may have a first rib reinforcing member and a second rib reinforcing member. Both reinforcing members may each have two side walls connected together by a front wall to form a hollow channel. The hollow channel may be shaped and sized to selectively receive a vehicle side wall rib therein. A shelf member may be pivotally connected to each of the first and second rib reinforcing members.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 9, 2023
    Date of Patent: September 5, 2023
    Assignee: Adrian Steel Company
    Inventor: Joshua Michael Gerez
  • Patent number: 11724752
    Abstract: According to some illustrative embodiments, a novel vehicle bed support or stiffener is provided. In the preferred embodiments, the vehicle bed support or stiffener is uniquely configured such that the structure does not obstruct or encroach the vehicle bed region of a vehicle. In some preferred embodiments, the vehicle bed support or stiffener is fixed to a vehicle bed with an upwardly extending front support and stiffening wall extending laterally along an end of said floor and downwardly below a plane of the floor and extending laterally along an end of at least one of said left and right side walls and outwardly away from the vehicle bed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 15, 2021
    Date of Patent: August 15, 2023
    Assignee: N.B. ADVENTURES LLC
    Inventors: William H. Kiefer, IV, Nathan T. Sutherland
  • Patent number: 11648989
    Abstract: A heavy-duty vehicle frame rail clamp on mounting bracket includes a first member, a second member, a third member, and at least one fastener. The third member is configured to contact the first member and the second member. The at least one fastener is applied to the third member. Upon a fastening thereof, the at least one fastener is configured to generate a clamping force on the first member and on the second member. The first member and the second member have a same shape.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 19, 2021
    Date of Patent: May 16, 2023
    Assignee: Bendix Commercial Vehicle Systems LLC
    Inventor: Robert J. Custer
  • Patent number: 11505258
    Abstract: An embodiment rear vehicle body structure of a vehicle including an underbody and an upper body coupled to the underbody includes a reinforcing member coupled to an upper surface of a rear floor panel provided on the rear side of the upper body and connected to both chassis frames of the underbody through the rear floor panel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 19, 2021
    Date of Patent: November 22, 2022
    Assignees: Hyundai Motor Company, Kia Motors Corporation
    Inventors: Yeongjae Kim, Won Ki Song
  • Patent number: 11414132
    Abstract: A vehicle body structure includes a side sill having a closed cross-section portion, and a reinforcement body inside the closed cross-section portion and joined to the side sill. The reinforcement body comprises first and second reinforcement portions. The first reinforcement portion has a first bonding surface on the upper side and is joined to an inner wall of the closed cross-section portion at a portion other than the first bonding surface, and the second reinforcement portion has a second bonding surface facing the first bonding surface from above the first bonding surface, and is joined to the inner wall at a portion other than the second bonding surface. The first and second bonding surfaces are bonded together through a damping member made of an adhesive material. The first and second bonding surfaces are disposed at an inclination angle of 30 degrees or less with respect to a horizontal plane.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 17, 2020
    Date of Patent: August 16, 2022
    Assignee: MAZDA MOTOR CORPORATION
    Inventors: Keisuke Ebisumoto, Tadashi Yamazaki, Yuki Kataoka, Manabu Tatsuda
  • Patent number: 10723394
    Abstract: A passenger compartment of the modular vehicle, such as a bus, includes a roof panel and sandwich-type side panels coupled to structural joiners to form the passenger compartment. The side panels and the joiners may include pultruded beams for increased structural integrity. A chassis of the vehicle has channels integrated therein for coupling of the side panels and passenger compartment to the chassis. This coupling to the chassis channel may also include the use of a bonding agent.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 1, 2018
    Date of Patent: July 28, 2020
    Assignee: NEW ENGLAND WHEELS, INC.
    Inventors: Paul LaRose, Anjani Kumar, Miteshkumar Hasmukhlal Patel
  • Patent number: 10384297
    Abstract: In order to further improve a method for joining a multilayer component (10) to another component (11) in a way that allows the multilayer component (10) to be mechanically and electrically joined to other elements, it is provided that an intermediate layer (14) of the multilayer component (10) be displaced in the region of the joining site (32), and that the two outer structural elements (12, 13) of the multilayer component be joined to one another by applying an electric voltage; and that the other component (11) be joined as a fastening element to the multilayer component (10) in the region of the joining site (32).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 22, 2015
    Date of Patent: August 20, 2019
    Assignee: VOLKSWAGEN AKTIENGESELLSCHAFT
    Inventor: Alexander Voigt
  • Patent number: 10213026
    Abstract: Pultruded frames for an adjustable bed are described herein. The pultruded frames may include various components such as connection/joining and reinforcing structures. The various components and frame parts may be combined in multiple configurations to form light weight and strong adjustable bed frames.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 24, 2015
    Date of Patent: February 26, 2019
    Assignee: L&P PROPERTY MANAGEMENT COMPANY
    Inventor: William R. Rohr
  • Patent number: 10144455
    Abstract: A vehicle body structure is configured in such a manner that a left center pillar is covered with a left pillar garnish and a left gusset is joined to the upper end of the left center pillar. The left center pillar is provided with a pillar bead protruding toward the outside of a vehicle compartment. The left gusset is provided with a gusset bead that protrudes toward the vehicle compartment along the pillar bead. The gusset bead and the pillar bead form a first closed cross-section. An engagement section that is insertable into a first opening of the first closed cross-section is provided at the upper end of the left pillar garnish.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 25, 2014
    Date of Patent: December 4, 2018
    Assignee: HONDA MOTOR CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Shota Anegawa, Toshiaki Okabe, Jun Horiguchi
  • Patent number: 9764770
    Abstract: A structure for an upper part of vehicle body includes: right and left side rail members extending in a vehicle front-rear direction; a roof member having right and left end portions in a vehicle width direction supported by the right and left side rail members, respectively; and gussets connected at one ends thereof to the respective side rail members, each extending from one end upwardly and inwardly in the vehicle width direction, and connected at the other end thereof to the roof member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 14, 2014
    Date of Patent: September 19, 2017
    Assignee: HONDA MOTOR CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Yukinobu Nakanishi, Sadayuki Asano
  • Patent number: 9381944
    Abstract: A connecting reinforcement interconnecting a fixing plate which is a window-frame member to reinforce a sun roof opening and a roof side rail at a position corresponding to a center pillar is provided. The connecting reinforcement is positioned forward of the roof reinforcement, has a specified second sectional shape, and extends in a vehicle width direction roughly horizontally. A rear edge portion of the connecting reinforcement and a front edge portion of the roof reinforcement are connected to each other, and an inboard edge portion of the connecting reinforcement and a front edge portion of the roof reinforcement are connected via the fixing plate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 15, 2015
    Date of Patent: July 5, 2016
    Assignee: Mazda Motor Corporation
    Inventors: Yoshikazu Nishimura, Hideaki Hoshuyama
  • Patent number: 9162712
    Abstract: A vehicle upper-body structure having a pillar reinforcement member which connects an upper portion of a pillar member and a roof reinforcement member to be reinforced, includes at least one latch portion (hook-shaped member) which is latched to the roof reinforcement member when the pillar reinforcement member is deformed by an external load, and the latch portion is provided to pass through the roof reinforcement member as a portion of the pillar reinforcement member. According to the vehicle upper-body structure, when the pillar reinforcement member is deformed by the external load, since the latch portion is latched to the roof reinforcement member, load transmission efficiency from the pillar reinforcement member to the roof reinforcement member can be improved. Moreover, compared to a case where joining is performed at one point, the number of components is not increased.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 31, 2011
    Date of Patent: October 20, 2015
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Nobuyuki Torii
  • Publication number: 20150102623
    Abstract: A joint structure for a vehicle body member, the vehicle body member including at least two panel members, the at least two panel members constituting part of a vehicle body and being formed of a steel plate, the joint structure includes: spot-welds formed by spot-welding the at least two panel members to each other at a predetermined spot interval such that a predetermined clearance is formed between the at least two panel members; a laser-weld formed by laser-welding the at least two panel members to each other between the spot-welds; and an electrodeposition coating film portion that covers a surface of each of the at least two panel members, at least part of the electrodeposition coating film portion filling the clearance.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 14, 2014
    Publication date: April 16, 2015
    Inventors: Akiyoshi WATANABE, Norimasa KOREISHI
  • Patent number: 8967671
    Abstract: A bolting structure of a sub-frame includes a reinforcer mounting the sub-frame through a side member. The reinforcer includes: a reinforcing member disposed to intersect with the side member in a cross shape and bolted, together with the side member, to a lower panel; an inner pipe disposed at the side member from surfaces interfacing between the reinforcing member and the side member; an outer pipe disposed at the reinforcing member from the surfaces interfacing between the reinforcing member and the side member and inserted into the sub-frame; and a bolt bolted to the inner pipe through the outer pipe and fixing the sub-frame.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 13, 2013
    Date of Patent: March 3, 2015
    Assignee: Kia Motors Corporation
    Inventors: Yong Dae Kim, Nam Young Lee, Seung Hyun Kang
  • Patent number: 8960779
    Abstract: An opening portion is formed at a specified portion of a roof gusset which covers part of a panel joint portion from below. A pair of center-pillar side joint portions is provided at an outward end portion of the roof gusset, which is joined to a center pillar directly or via another panel member. A pair of first high-rigidity portions is provided at specified portions of the roof gusset which overlap the opening portion in a vehicle width direction and overlap the center-pillar joint portions in the vehicle longitudinal direction, respectively. A second high-rigidity portion is provided at an inward end portion of the roof gusset to extend in the vehicle longitudinal direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 19, 2013
    Date of Patent: February 24, 2015
    Assignee: Mazda Motor Corporation
    Inventors: Yoshikazu Nishimura, Kei Ikeda, Kazuya Fukutani, Naoki Kaneko, Noboru Yoshii
  • Patent number: 8960780
    Abstract: A vehicle side body structure includes a sill, an A-pillar and a reinforcement member. The sill defines an internal sill space and the A-pillar defines an internal A-pillar space. The A-pillar is rigidly connected to the sill with the internal sill space and the internal A-pillar space being connected. The reinforcement member is located within the internal sill space and the internal A-pillar space. The reinforcement member is located within both the internal sill space and the internal A-pillar space and has a forward section fixedly attached to the A-pillar at a front attachment point along the forward connection area of the A-pillar, a rearward section fixedly attached to the sill at a rear attachment point along the lower attachment area, and a main bracing part extending diagonally from the forward section to the rearward section.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 25, 2014
    Date of Patent: February 24, 2015
    Assignee: Nissan North America, Inc.
    Inventors: Scott Nydam, Kenneth Ameloot
  • Patent number: 8931826
    Abstract: A load transmitting member comprising a rising face portion rising from a floor panel and a facing face portion facing a portion of the side panel between a rear edge portion of a rear-door opening portion and a rear-wheel house portion and having its short longitudinal width is arranged on an inward side of a side panel. The load transmitting member is fixed to a front portion of the rear-wheel house portion directly or via a bracket. The load transmitting member can be arranged so as not to prevent a smooth ingress/egress action of a passenger, and a proper load-transmission function of the load transmission member when the impact load is inputted to a rear door from the vehicle side can be attained so as to effectively restrain the rear door from coming into a vehicle compartment.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 16, 2013
    Date of Patent: January 13, 2015
    Assignee: Mazda Motor Corporation
    Inventors: Takashi Yoshimura, Shigeaki Watanabe, Sakayu Terada, Katsuyoshi Ishigame, Yuichi Sugimura
  • Patent number: 8925991
    Abstract: A reinforced frame structure for a vehicle is provided. The frame structure includes a frame portion having a first portion and a pair of wall portions extending therefrom. A first reinforcement is rigidly coupled to the wall portions, and the first portion, the wall portions, and first reinforcement combine to define an enclosure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 8, 2011
    Date of Patent: January 6, 2015
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Ari Garo Caliskan, John Edward Huber, Michael M Azzouz, Satish Ganti
  • Patent number: 8915025
    Abstract: A method of creating a bend in a construction component for use in a transportation vehicle. The method comprises providing a plurality of cuts in the construction component so as to create a region of increased flexibility in the construction component. The method further comprises bending the construction component in the region of increased flexibility so as to cause the construction component to acquire a bent shape, and then rigidifying the construction component in the region of increased flexibility so as to cause said construction component to maintain the acquired bent shape.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 21, 2007
    Date of Patent: December 23, 2014
    Assignee: Bombardier Transportation GmbH
    Inventors: Martin Laflamme, Nicolas Bernier, Mario L'Allier, Alain Robichaud, Gabriel Côté
  • 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: 8899667
    Abstract: A vehicle rear body part includes a rear side member provided on both sides of a rear floor and a lower part of a back door opening section higher than the rear side member. The rear floor is divided into a main rear floor panel and left and right side rear floor panels with the rear side member placed therebetween. In the rear side member, rear side member upper panels are configured to close an opening in an upper part and joined to flanges on both the left and right sides. Upright sections are provided at rear ends of the rear side member upper panels. The upright sections are joined to a lower part of the opening section. The upper panels, the rear side member, and the floor panels and are joined in three layers in the flanges of the upper panels.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 26, 2012
    Date of Patent: December 2, 2014
    Assignee: Suzuki Motor Corporation
    Inventors: Yuji Okamachi, Tomohiro Tanaka, Kensaku Ito
  • Patent number: 8888173
    Abstract: A vehicle side body structure includes a sill, an A-pillar and a reinforcement member. The sill defines an internal sill space and the A-pillar defines an internal A-pillar space. The A-pillar is rigidly connected to the sill with the internal sill space and the internal A-pillar space being connected. The reinforcement member is located within the internal sill space and the internal A-pillar space. The reinforcement member has a forward end fixedly attached to the sill at a front attachment point and a rearward end fixedly attached to the A-pillar at a rear attachment point that is laterally offset from the front attachment point. The reinforcement member includes a main bracing part that extends diagonally between the front and rear attachment points within both the internal sill space and the internal A-pillar space with respect to a vehicle longitudinal direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 28, 2013
    Date of Patent: November 18, 2014
    Assignee: Nissan North America, Inc.
    Inventors: Scott Nydam, Kenneth Ameloot
  • Publication number: 20140319875
    Abstract: A gusset for use with a roll-over protection system of work a vehicle is disclosed. The gusset may include a first sidewall, a second sidewall spaced apart from the first sidewall and an outer face extending between the first and second sidewalls. The outer face may at least partially define an opening. The opening may be configured such that at least one of the first sidewall or the second side wall deforms relative to the outer face when the work vehicle experiences a roll-over event.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 26, 2013
    Publication date: October 30, 2014
    Applicant: CNH America, LLC
    Inventor: Shane M. Scott
  • 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
  • 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: 8740292
    Abstract: A vehicle body superstructure includes a first side rail member, a second side rail member, a roof member, and a gusset. The gusset includes a rail side surface, a roof side surface, a first claw, a second claw, and a bead. The rail side surface extends along a vertical direction of a vehicle body and is connected to the first and second side rail members. The roof side surface extends along a breadthways direction of the vehicle body and is connected to the roof member. The first claw is provided at a first longitudinal end of the gusset and locked in a first locking portion provided in the first side rail member. The second claw is provided at a second longitudinal end of the gusset and is locked in a second locking portion provided in the second side rail member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 7, 2011
    Date of Patent: June 3, 2014
    Assignee: Honda Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Shinichi Kishi
  • Patent number: 8720984
    Abstract: In a vehicle-body structure of a vehicle which comprises at least one vehicle-body forming member forming a closed-section portion continuously in a specified direction, a partition member extending in the specified direction and partitioning an inside of the closed-section portion, and a bulkhead provided in the closed-section portion and joined to the vehicle-body forming member, the bulkhead is joined to an inner face of the vehicle-body forming member at specified positions which are located on both sides of the partition member, and the bulkhead is joined to a specified portion of the partition member which is located in the vicinity of opening portions formed at the partition member or to an end portion of the partition member in the specified direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 30, 2012
    Date of Patent: May 13, 2014
    Assignee: Mazda Motor Corporation
    Inventors: Osamu Kurogi, Tsuyoshi Sugihara, Kohya Nakagawa, Kuniaki Nagao, Sakayu Terada, Miho Kowaki, Akira Iyoshi, Shigeaki Watanabe
  • Patent number: 8708390
    Abstract: In a vehicle-body structure of a vehicle which comprises vehicle-body forming members forming a closed-section portion and having a dent portion which dents toward an inside of the closed-section portion, and a reinforcing member provided in the closed-section portion and joined to the vehicle-body forming members, a joint portion of the vehicle-body forming members and the reinforcing member includes a rigid joint portion where the vehicle-body forming members and the reinforcing member are joined with a direct contact thereof and a flexible joint portion where the vehicle-body forming members and the reinforcing member are joined via a damping member provided therebetween, and this joint portion is provided at or in the vicinity of the dent portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 30, 2012
    Date of Patent: April 29, 2014
    Assignee: Mazda Motor Corporation
    Inventors: Osamu Kurogi, Tsuyoshi Sugihara, Kohya Nakagawa, Kuniaki Nagao, Sakayu Terada, Miho Kowaki, Akira Iyoshi, Shigeaki Watanabe
  • Patent number: 8702160
    Abstract: In a frame having a closed-section portion which is formed by joining a first member having a U-shaped section and a second member having a flat-plate shape, a bulkhead is provided in the closed-section portion as a reinforcing member, flanges of the bulkhead and the first and second members are joined with a rigid joint portion where they are joined by a spot welding and a flexible joint portion where they are joined via a damping member. Thereby, transmission of vibrations can be properly restrained, improving the rigidity of the portion having the closed-section portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 30, 2012
    Date of Patent: April 22, 2014
    Assignee: Mazda Motor Corporation
    Inventors: Osamu Kurogi, Tsuyoshi Sugihara, Kohya Nakagawa, Kuniaki Nagao, Sakayu Terada, Miho Kowaki, Akira Iyoshi, Shigeaki Watanabe
  • Patent number: 8696050
    Abstract: In a side vehicle body structure of a vehicle, which is provided with a shoulder anchor part 2 for a seat belt, a shoulder reinforcement 9 of the shoulder anchor part 2 extends to the joint portion of a side body outer panel 7 and a quarter panel 8, and the shoulder reinforcement 9, the side body outer panel 7, and the quarter panel 8 are jointed together in the state in which the three elements are lapped together.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 8, 2011
    Date of Patent: April 15, 2014
    Assignee: Suzuki Motor Corporation
    Inventors: Hayato Nakamura, Junji Suzuki
  • Patent number: 8690227
    Abstract: A gusset member which is provided in back of a front wheel and connects a dash panel and a hinge pillar is provided. A first reinforcing member which is connected to the gusset member to reinforce a lower portion of the hinge pillar is provided. Accordingly, a cabin deformation of a vehicle side portion as a whole can be properly restrained, thereby ensuring a sufficient space of a vehicle compartment.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 22, 2013
    Date of Patent: April 8, 2014
    Assignee: Mazda Motor Corporation
    Inventors: Hidenori Matsuoka, Akiyoshi Masuda, Keizo Kawasaki, Masanobu Fukushima, Atsushi Kawamoto, Hiromasa Honji
  • Patent number: 8690218
    Abstract: The invention relates to a vehicle body structure having a body reinforcement behind the second row of seats, the body reinforcement including a beam assembly which is formed from two opposite longitudinal side beams (9, 10), a floor crossbeam (4) and two vertical side beams (5, 6), of which in each case a left-side longitudinal side beam (9), an associated end of the floor crossbeam (4) and a left-side vertical side beam (5) are connected at a left-side nodal point (11) and, correspondingly, the second longitudinal side beam (10) is connected to the other end of the floor crossbeam (4) and the second vertical side beam (10) at a right-side nodal point, and, at the two nodal points, corner reinforcements being fitted for increased stiffening in the transverse plane of the floor crossbeam (4) and the vertical side beams (5, 6).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 27, 2010
    Date of Patent: April 8, 2014
    Assignee: Audi AG
    Inventors: Sönke Kühl, Klaus-Dieter Carle, Tobias Urban, Oliver Thaysen
  • Patent number: 8684451
    Abstract: A front vehicle body structure may include a front side member extending in a longitudinal direction of a vehicle, a fender apron upper member disposed in an outer direction of the front side member in a traverse direction of the vehicle, and a fender apron front reinforcement member extending in the traverse direction of the vehicle and connecting the fender apron upper member and the front side member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 7, 2012
    Date of Patent: April 1, 2014
    Assignee: Hyundai Motor Company
    Inventors: Ki Bong Park, Log Won Do
  • Patent number: 8684438
    Abstract: Disclosed is an outer skin reinforcement for an outer skin of a motor vehicle, wherein the outer skin reinforcement is formed of a brace, which extends parallel to the outer skin and is connected on connecting points in the vehicle in a rotationally fixed manner, wherein the brace is connected to the outer skin via an adhesive layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 18, 2013
    Date of Patent: April 1, 2014
    Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC
    Inventors: Stefan Stanik, Carl-Adolf Kimmes
  • Patent number: 8662576
    Abstract: A body for a motor vehicle and a method for producing a motor vehicle body is provided. Such a body comprises two roof frame longitudinal profiles (6, 14), at least one roof frame cross profile (10) arranged between the roof frame longitudinal profiles (6, 14) and a body pillar (12), wherein in a connecting area (Y) a roof frame longitudinal profile (6; 14), a roof frame cross profile (10) and the body pillar (12) are connected or can be connected together using a mechanical connection. Here the roof frame longitudinal profile (6; 14) comprises a recess (16) in the connecting area (Y), as seen in a longitudinal section of the roof frame longitudinal profile (6; 14), the recess accommodating the roof frame cross profile (10), at least some areas of the circumferential contour of the profile being adapted to match the recess (16).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 8, 2011
    Date of Patent: March 4, 2014
    Assignee: ThyssenKrupp Steel Europe AG
    Inventors: Alfred Lösch, Helmut Mebus, Axel Grüneklee, Joachim Quandt, Clemens Latuske
  • Patent number: 8657368
    Abstract: A mechanism for increasing stiffness of the side-structure of a vehicle, for transferring loads and strain energy, and for improving rigidity from the lower portion of a side pillar, to the underbody structural components of the vehicle. The vehicle includes a hydroformed tube having a horizontal portion, a vertical portion and an arcuate central portion. The upper end of the vertical portion is spot welded to the lower portion of the side pillar. The horizontal portion is received into, and spot welded to, an inner portion of a structural member. The structural member is an L-shaped bracket, and its major portion is spot welded to an inner portion of an elongated beam. The beam is fixedly attached to the side rail of the vehicle. The tubular member, the structural member, and the elongated beam, when connected, form a closed continuous box shaped structure, which reinforces the side-structure of the vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 12, 2012
    Date of Patent: February 25, 2014
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Mike James Freeman, Philip John Leonetti, Gene A. Senn, Christopher Kunkel, Shadi M. Al-Thabteh
  • Patent number: 8651561
    Abstract: In a side vehicle body structure of a vehicle, which is provided with a shoulder anchor part 2 for a seat belt, a shoulder reinforcement 9 of the shoulder anchor part 2 extends to the joint portion of a side body outer panel 7 and a quarter panel 8, and the shoulder reinforcement 9, the side body outer panel 7, and the quarter panel 8 are jointed together in the state in which the three elements are lapped together.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 8, 2011
    Date of Patent: February 18, 2014
    Assignee: Suzuki Motor Corporation
    Inventors: Hayato Nakamura, Junji Suzuki
  • Publication number: 20140035308
    Abstract: A vehicle body structure in which a vehicle body including an upper vehicle body and a lower vehicle body that are joined is constituted in whole or in part by a fiber-reinforced composite material, metal members are inserted into the respective upper vehicle body and lower vehicle body, the metal members being fastened to each other to form a joint portion, and at least two functional components are attached to the joint portion.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 2, 2013
    Publication date: February 6, 2014
    Applicant: Teijin Limited
    Inventors: Koji Suzuki, Yutaka Yagi, Tadashi Yamaji, Masatomo Teshima
  • Patent number: 8641065
    Abstract: The battery-powered towing tractor includes a front wheel, a rear wheel, a body, a battery, a member plate, a front reinforcing plate and a rear reinforcing plate. The body has a floor formed between the front wheel and the rear wheel. The battery is disposed in the body at a position between the front wheel and the floor. The member plate extends in width direction of the body for compartmenting a rear end of the floor in the body. The front reinforcing plate is joined to a front surface of the member plate. The rear reinforcing plate is joined to a rear surface of the member plate. The front reinforcing plate and the rear reinforcing plate are opposed across the member plate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 3, 2010
    Date of Patent: February 4, 2014
    Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Toyota Jidoshokki
    Inventor: Seiji Uno
  • Patent number: 8550544
    Abstract: A vehicle body (1) comprising an inner shell (3), an outer shell (2), a floor plate and a chassis, wherein the inner shell (3), the outer shell (2) and the floor plate are indirectly or directly interconnected and form a passenger compartment, the rigidity, especially the torsional rigidity and/or the flexural rigidity, of the vehicle body (1) is to be ensured without additional components or process steps. Furthermore, the vehicle body (1) is to be inexpensive to manufacture. The foregoing is achieved by the fact that at least one interior component (4, 5) is connected to the inner shell (3) and/or the supporting structure (9) in such a manner that it contributes to the rigidity, especially the torsional rigidity and/or the flexural rigidity, of the vehicle body (1).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 2, 2010
    Date of Patent: October 8, 2013
    Assignee: Magna Steyr Fahrzeugtechnik AG & Co KG
    Inventor: Thomas Auer
  • Patent number: 8511727
    Abstract: A bracket for attaching and aligning a forward-looking radar (FLR) having a front face is disclosed according to one embodiment. The bracket includes a bracket frame having an attachment feature for attaching the FLR to the bracket frame. The bracket also includes a first mounting feature extending from the bracket frame for coupling the bracket face and the first mounting surface of the conveyance to define a first mounting surface angle. The bracket also includes a bracket member extending from the bracket frame. The bracket member includes an end portion disposed proximate to the bracket face and a distal end portion, which includes a second mounting feature for coupling the bracket member and the second mounting surface thereby defining a second mounting surface angle and aligning the FLR front face to an alignment angle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 24, 2011
    Date of Patent: August 20, 2013
    Assignee: Ford Motor Company
    Inventors: Jeffrey Alan Hartley, Paul Schmitt, John V. Bond, III, John Wuerth, Michael Czarnecki, Joseph Ciaravino, John Juronoc, Aaron Mills, Kurt Peterson, Paul L. Stanko, John Wilds, Sr., Harish Dutt
  • Patent number: 8474870
    Abstract: A vehicle frame assembly includes a first frame member and a separate second frame member having an end portion connected to an end portion of the first frame member. A frame patch is interposed between and connected to the respective end portions of the first and second frame members. The frame patch together with the respective end portions of the first and second frame members defines a tri-layer patch configured to divide an input load applied longitudinally to the vehicle frame assembly into multiple force vectors which distribute the input load across a wide area of the vehicle frame assembly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 27, 2012
    Date of Patent: July 2, 2013
    Assignee: Honda Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Robert A. Ng, Brian E. Dressel, Kishore K. Pydimarry, David M. Edwards, Shawn T. Crichley, Takashi Nakano
  • Patent number: 8439432
    Abstract: A vehicle roof system enabling elimination of the B-pillar is disclosed. A particular aspect of the invention is to transfer vertical roof loads onto an enhanced rear structure of the vehicle. An additional aspect of the invention is to employ a rear upper cap reinforcement to directly assume roof crush loads applied at front of the vehicle during testing. A specific load transfer mechanism is disclosed. Vertical roof crush force applied near the front of the vehicle is transferred into both a torsional load upon a rear header of the vehicle, and a bending moment upon the C-pillar of the vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 19, 2011
    Date of Patent: May 14, 2013
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Saied Nusier, Mohamed Ridha Baccouche, Jamel E. Belwafa, Saeed David Barbat
  • Publication number: 20130049393
    Abstract: In a vehicle-body structure of a vehicle, where suspension forming members are attached to a vehicle body, there are provided a first face portion, through which the suspension forming member extends, a second face portion provided to face to the first face portion, and a support member provided between the first face portion and the second face portion and supporting the suspension forming members, and the support member is joined to said second face portion via a reinforcing member which is formed integrally with the support member or formed separately from the support member. Accordingly, vibrations of the support member can be properly restrained.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 30, 2012
    Publication date: February 28, 2013
    Applicant: MAZDA MOTOR CORPORATION
    Inventors: Osamu KUROGI, Tsuyoshi SUGIHARA, Kohya NAKAGAWA, Kuniaki NAGAO, Sakayu TERADA, Miho KOWAKI, Akira IYOSHI, Shigeaki WATANABE
  • Publication number: 20130049391
    Abstract: In a frame having a closed-section portion which is formed by joining a first member having a U-shaped section and a second member having a flat-plate shape, a bulkhead is provided in the closed-section portion as a reinforcing member, flanges of the bulkhead and the first and second members are joined with a rigid joint portion where they are joined by a spot welding and a flexible joint portion where they are joined via a damping member. Thereby, transmission of vibrations can be properly restrained, improving the rigidity of the portion having the closed-section portion.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 30, 2012
    Publication date: February 28, 2013
    Applicant: MAZDA MOTOR CORPORATION
    Inventors: Osamu KUROGI, Tsuyoshi SUGIHARA, Kohya NAKAGAWA, Kuniaki NAGAO, Sakayu TERADA, Miho KOWAKI, Akira IYOSHI, Shigeaki WATANABE
  • Publication number: 20130049392
    Abstract: In a vehicle-body structure of a vehicle which comprises vehicle-body forming members forming a closed-section portion and having a dent portion which dents toward an inside of the closed-section portion, and a reinforcing member provided in the closed-section portion and joined to the vehicle-body forming members, a joint portion of the vehicle-body forming members and the reinforcing member includes a rigid joint portion where the vehicle-body forming members and the reinforcing member are joined with a direct contact thereof and a flexible joint portion where the vehicle-body forming members and the reinforcing member are joined via a damping member provided therebetween, and this joint portion is provided at or in the vicinity of the dent portion.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 30, 2012
    Publication date: February 28, 2013
    Applicant: MAZDA MOTOR CORPORATION
    Inventors: Osamu KUROGI, Tsuyoshi SUGIHARA, Kohya NAKAGAWA, Kuniaki NAGAO, Sakayu TERADA, Miho KOWAKI, Akira IYOSHI, Shigeaki WATANABE