# US 10,118,644 B2 · Vehicle body structure > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 10,118,644 B2 - Document ID: US10118644B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 15/404,365 - Filed: 2017-01-12 - Published: 2018-07-12 - Granted: 2018-11-06 - Earliest claimed: 2017-01-12 - Assignees: Nissan North America, Inc. - Applicants: Nissan North America, Inc. - Inventors: Patrick Grattan - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US10118644B2 ## CPC - B62D 21/152: {Front or rear frames} - B62D 21/05: pinched frame type, i.e. formed of at least two longitudinal frame sections connected by other longitudinal frame sections of lesser transverse dimension - B62D 21/07: wide-hipped frame type, i.e. a wide box-shaped mid portion with narrower sections extending from said mid portion in both fore and aft directions - B62D 27/023: {Assembly of structural joints} - B62D 27/065: {using screwthread (connection of crossbeam to A- pillars B62D25/147; mounting load bearing surfaces B62D21/09; securing mudguards B62D25/163; connections for synthetic parts B62D29/048)} - B62D 29/007: {predominantly of special steel or specially treated steel, e.g. stainless steel or locally surface hardened steel} - B62D: MOTOR VEHICLES; TRAILERS (steering, or guiding on a desired track, of agricultural machines or implements A01B69/00; wheels, castors, axles, increasing wheel adhesion B60B; vehicle tyres, tyre inflation or tyre changing B60C; connections between vehicles of a train or the like B60D; vehicles for use on rail and road, amphibious or convertible vehicles B60F; suspension arrangements B60G; heating, cooling, ventilating or other air treating devices B60H; windows, windscreens, non-fixed roofs, doors or similar devices, protective coverings for vehicles not in use B60J; propulsion plant arrangements, auxiliary drives, transmissions, controls, instrumentation or dashboards B60K; electric equipment or propulsion of electrically-propelled vehicles B60L; power supply for electrically-propelled vehicles B60M; passenger accommodation not otherwise provided for B60N; adaptations for load transportation or to carry special loads or objects B60P; arrangement of signalling or lighting devices, the mounting or supporting thereof or circuits therefor, for vehicles in general B60Q; vehicles, vehicle fittings or vehicle parts not otherwise provided for B60R; servicing, cleaning, repairing, supporting, lifting, or manoeuvring, not otherwise provided for, B60S; brake arrangements, brake control systems or parts thereof B60T; air-cushion vehicles B60V; motor-cycles, accessories therefor B62J, B62K; testing of vehicles G01M) ## 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. ## Claims ### Claim 1 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. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The vehicle body structure according to claim 1, wherein the elongated member includes the straight portion and a curved portion that define an overall J-shape as viewed from above, the curved portion being spaced apart from the outboard wall of the front side member. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) The vehicle body structure according to claim 2, wherein the curved portion defines an end face perpendicular to the outboard wall of the front side member, the end face facing a rearward surface of the body attachment structure. ### Claim 4 (depends on 2) The vehicle body structure according to claim 2, wherein the straight portion of the elongated member extends in a direction that is perpendicular to the front side member proximate the outboard opening. ### Claim 5 (depends on 4) The vehicle body structure according to claim 4, wherein the elongated member extends outboard away from the outboard wall of the flout side member by a first distance, and the body attachment structure extends outboard away from the outboard wall of the front side member by a second distance that is greater than the first distance. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The vehicle body structure according to claim 1, wherein the inboard wall of the front side member defines an inboard opening aligned with the outboard opening relative to a lateral direction of the front side member with the straight portion of the elongated member being fixedly coupled to the inboard wall proximate the inboard opening. ### Claim 7 (depends on 6) The vehicle body structure according to claim 6, further comprising a sleeve that extends through the outboard opening, the hollow interior and through the inboard opening of the front side member, the sleeve being fixedly attached to the outboard wall arid the inboard wall with the straight portion of the elongated member extending into the sleeve, the straight portion of the elongated member being directly attached to the sleeve. ### Claim 8 (depends on 7) The vehicle body structure according to claim 7, wherein the sleeve is welded to the outboard wall and welded to the inboard wall. ### Claim 9 (depends on 8) The vehicle body structure according to claim 8, wherein the straight portion of the elongated member is directly attached to the sleeve via removable fasteners. ### Claim 10 (depends on 1) The vehicle body structure according to claim 1, wherein the outboard wall of the front side member defines a first forward outboard opening extending through the outboard wall to the hollow interior, and the off-center impact structure further includes a first forward elongated member that is linearly shaped defining a first end portion, a mid-section portion and a second end portion, the first end portion extending through the first forward outboard opening into the hollow interior of the front side member and being rigidly connected to the from side member forward of the body attachment structure, the mid-section portion being connected to the front side member at a location proximate the outboard wall, the second end portion extending in an outboard direction away from the outboard wall of the front side member such that in response to the impact event during the off-center impact test the mid-section of the first forward elongated member deforms with the second end portion moves rearward into contact with the body attachment structure. ### Claim 11 (depends on 10) The vehicle body structure according to claim 10, wherein the outboard wall of the front side member has a second forward outboard opening that extends to the hollow interior of the front side member and is located forward of the first forward outboard opening, and the off-center impact structure further has a second elongated member that is linearly shaped defining a first end portion, a mid-section portion and a second end portion, the first end portion extending into the second forward outboard opening and into the hollow interior, the mid-section portion being coupled to the front side member proximate the second forward outboard opening and the second end portion extending in the outboard direction from the front side member such that in response to the impact event during the off-center impact test the second forward elongated member deforms with the second end portion of the second forward elongated member moving rearward into contact with the first elongated member structure. ### Claim 12 (depends on 11) The vehicle body structure according to claim 11, wherein in a non-impacted state the first forward elongated member is parallel to the second forward elongated member. ### Claim 13 (depends on 11) The vehicle body structure according to claim 11, wherein in a non-impacted state the elongated member extends outboard away from the outboard wall of the front side member by a first distance, and in the non-impacted state the body attachment structure extends outboard away from the outboard wall of the front side member by a second distance that is greater than the first distance. ### Claim 14 (depends on 13) The vehicle body structure according to claim 13, wherein in the non-impacted state the first forward elongated member extends laterally outboard from the front side member by a third distance that is less than the second distance and greater than the first distance. ### Claim 15 (depends on 14) The vehicle body structure according to claim 14, wherein in the non-impacted state the second forward elongated member extends laterally outboard from the front side member by a fourth distance that is less than each of the first, second and third distances. ### Claim 16 (depends on 11) The vehicle body structure according to claim 11, wherein the inboard wall of the front side member defines a first forward inboard opening aligned with the first forward outboard opening relative to a lateral direction of the front side member with the first end portion of the first forward elongated member being fixedly coupled to the inboard wall proximate the first forward inboard opening; and the inboard wall of the front side member defines a second forward inboard opening aligned with the second forward outboard opening relative to the lateral direction of the front side member with the first end portion of the second forward elongated member being fixedly coupled to the inboard wall proximate the second forward inboard opening. ### Claim 17 (depends on 16) The vehicle body structure according to claim 16, further comprising a first forward sleeve that extends through the first forward outboard opening, the hollow interior and through the first forward inboard opening, the first forward sleeve being fixedly attached to the outboard wall and the inboard wall with the first end portion of the first forward elongated member extending into the first forward sleeve, the first end portion of the first forward elongated member being directly attached to the first forward sleeve. ### Claim 18 (depends on 17) The vehicle body structure according to claim 17, wherein the first forward sleeve is welded to the outboard wall and welded to the inboard wall, and the first end portion of the first forward elongated member is directly attached to the first forward sleeve via removable fasteners. ### Claim 19 (depends on 18) The vehicle body structure according to claim 18, further comprising a second forward sleeve that extends through the second forward outboard opening, the hollow interior and through the second forward inboard opening, the second forward sleeve being fixedly attached to the outboard wall and the inboard wall with the first end portion extending into the second forward sleeve. ### Claim 20 (depends on 19) The vehicle body structure according to claim 19, wherein the second forward sleeve is welded to the outboard wall and welded to the inboard wall, and the first end portion of the second forward elongated member is directly attached to the second forward sleeve via removable fasteners.