Vehicle frames and methods of assembling the same
AssigneeHonda Motor Co., Ltd.
InventorsAnthony John Leanza, Brian Christopher Bray
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A vehicle frame is provided. The vehicle frame includes a body frame, a subframe mounted to the body frame, and a bumper frame coupled to the body frame. The bumper frame includes a beam having a first end and a second end. The vehicle frame also includes at least one brace coupling the beam to the subframe adjacent to at least one of the beam ends.
Claims15
A vehicle frame comprising:
- a body frame;
- a subframe mounted to said body frame;
- a bumper frame coupled to said body frame, said bumper frame comprises a beam having a first end and a second end;
- and
- at least one brace coupling said beam to said subframe adjacent to at least one of said beam ends, wherein said at least one brace comprises a first member and a second member coupled to said first member, and wherein said at least one brace at least one of:
- extends from at least one of said subframe and said bumper frame towards said body frame;
- and
- is coupled to said body frame.
A method of assembling a vehicle frame, said method comprising:
- mounting a subframe to a body frame;
- coupling a bumper frame to the body frame, the bumper frame includes a beam having a first end and a second end;
- coupling the beam to the subframe adjacent to at least one of the beam ends via at least one brace, wherein coupling the beam to the subframe comprises coupling a first member to a second member to form said at least one brace;
- and
- mounting the at least one brace such that the at least one brace at least one of:
- extends from at least one of the subframe and the bumper frame towards the body frame;
- and
- is coupled to the body frame.
A subframe for a vehicle having a first front wheel and tire assembly and a second front wheel and tire assembly, said subframe having a widthwise dimension and comprising:
- a front beam;
- a first side beam joined with said front beam at a first joint, said first side beam defining a first space sized to receive at least a portion of the first front wheel and tire assembly, wherein said first joint is sized to extend in front of the first front wheel and tire assembly in the widthwise dimension of said subframe;
- and
- a second side beam joined with said front beam at a second joint, said second side beam defining a second space sized to receive at least a portion of the second front wheel and tire assembly, wherein said second joint is sized to extend in front of the second front wheel and tire assembly in the widthwise dimension of said subframe;
- wherein at least one of said first joint and said second joint comprises a brace coupling structure positionable in front of the associated front wheel and tire assembly in the widthwise dimension of the subframe.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.