US 10,118,644 B2Granted

Vehicle body structure

AssigneeNissan North America, Inc.

InventorPatrick Grattan

Life of this patent

Estimating the term…

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Abstract

A vehicle body structure includes a front side member, a body attachment structure and an off-center impact structure. The body attachment structure is attached to an outboard wall of the front side member along a front-section forward of an outboard opening and extends in an outboard direction from the front side member. The off-center impact structure has an elongated member with a straight portion that extends through the outboard opening and into a hollow interior of the front side member. The elongated member is fixedly coupled to the outboard wall of the front side member adjacent to, spaced apart from and rearward of the body attachment structure. In response to an impact event of an off-center impact test the body attachment structure deforms and moves into contact with the elongated member transferring impact force to the elongated member.

Claims20

Dependent claims

A vehicle body structure comprising:

a front side member having a front end arid a front-section extending rearward from the front end, the front side member defining a hollow interior and extending in a vehicle longitudinal direction, the front side member having an outboard wall and an inboard wall with an outboard opening extending through the outboard wall to the hollow interior;
a body attachment structure attached to the outboard wall of the front side member along the front-section forward of the outboard opening and extending in an outboard direction from the front side member;
and
an off-center impact structure having an elongated member with a straight portion that extends through the outboard opening and into the hollow interior of the front side member, the elongated member being fixedly coupled to the outboard wall of the front side member adjacent to, spaced apart from and rearward of the body attachment structure such that in response to an impact event of an off-center impact test the body attachment structure deforms and moves into contact with the elongated member transferring impact force to the elongated member.

1 more element

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Facts

Application: 15/404,365Filed 12 Jan 2017
Published: US 2018/0194401 A112 Jul 2018
Granted: 6 Nov 2018
Term ends: Not estimatedThe source records don’t support an estimate.

Classification7 codes

B62D 21/152
Having impact absorbing means, e.g. a frame designed to permanently or temporarily change shape or dimension upon impact with another body: front…
B62D 21/05
Comprising longitudinally or transversely arranged frame members: pinched frame type, i.e. formed of at least two longitudinal frame sections…
B62D 21/07
Understructures, i.e. chassis frame on which a vehicle body may be mounted: wide-hipped frame type, i.e. a wide box-shaped mid portion with…
B62D 27/023
Rigid: assembly of structural joints

Family

US 2018/0194401 A1Pre-grant publication · published 12 Jul 2018
US 10,118,644 B2This patent

From the US filing history. Foreign family members aren’t listed.

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