Vehicle structure
AssigneeNissan North America, Inc.
InventorsJoseph Bruno Buratto, Christopher Robert Hartley, Perry McConnell
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A vehicle structure includes a vehicle frame and a push arm. The vehicle frame includes surfaces that define an intersection of a first side member and a first cross-member. The surfaces extend from the first side member to the first cross-member with an upper surface of a mid-section of the first cross-member being vertically spaced apart from an upper surface of the first side member. The push arm is coupled to the vehicle frame proximate the intersection. A rear surface of the push arm faces and is adjacent to a front area of the intersection. A main body of the push arm extends forward and laterally outboard from the rear surface such that the front surface is located laterally outboard of the first side member.
Claims20
A vehicle structure comprising:
- a vehicle frame having a first side member, a second side member and a first cross-member, the first side member and the second side member having respective front ends, the first side member and a second side member extending rearward from their respective front ends, the first cross-member extending in a vehicle lateral direction from the first side member to the second side member at a location rearward of the front ends, the first cross-member having a first end, a second end and a mid-section, the first end being rigidly fixed to the first side member, the second end being rigidly fixed to the second side member, with an intersection of the first side member and the first cross-member being defined by surfaces that extend from the first side member to the first end of the first cross-member, including surfaces that extend downward from and below the first side member to the first cross-member, with an upper surface of the mid-section of the first cross-member being vertically below an upper surface of the first side member and an upper surface of the second side member;
- and
- a push arm coupled to the vehicle frame proximate the intersection of the first side member and the first cross-member, the push arm having a main body, a rear surface, and a front surface, the rear surface facing and being adjacent to a front area of the intersection of the first side member and the first cross-member at a location below the first side member, the main body of the push aim extending forward and laterally outboard from the rear surface such that the front surface is located laterally outboard of the first side member and lower than the first side member.
The vehicle structure according to claim. 6, wherein
- the support bracket is attached to an underside of the push arm and an underside of the first cross-member.
A vehicle structure comprising:
- a vehicle frame having a first side member, a second side member and a first cross-member, the first side member and the second side member having respective front ends, the first side member and a second side member extending rearward from their respective front ends, the first cross-member extending in a vehicle lateral direction from the first side member to the second side member at a location rearward of the front ends, the first cross-member having a first end, a second end and a mid-section, the first end being rigidly fixed to the first side member, the second end being rigidly fixed to the second side member, with an intersection of the first side member and the first cross-member being defined by surfaces that extend from the first side member to the first end of the first cross-member with an upper surface of the mid-section of the first cross-member being vertically spaced apart from an upper surface of the first side member and an upper surface of the second side member;
- and
- a push arm coupled to the vehicle frame proximate the intersection of the first side member and the first cross-member, the push arm having a main body, a rear end defining a rear surface, a mid-section and a front end defining a front surface, the rear surface facing and being adjacent to a front area of the intersection of the first side member and the first cross-member, the main body of the push arm extending forward and laterally outboard from the rear surface such that the front end and the front surface of the push arm are located laterally outboard of the first side member being free and without attachment to any structures attached to the vehicle frame forward of the mid-section.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.