# US 10,246,135 B2 · Foldable underbody panel > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 10,246,135 B2 - Document ID: US10246135B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 15/683,824 - Filed: 2017-08-23 - Published: 2018-03-01 - Granted: 2019-04-02 - Earliest claimed: 2016-08-25 - Assignees: Dr. Ing. h.c. F. Porsche Aktiengesellschaft - Applicants: Dr. Ing. h.c. F. Porsche Aktiengesellschaft - Inventors: Fuat Kayadere; Steffen Hoelzel - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US10246135B2 ## CPC - B62D 25/2072: {Floor protection, e.g. from corrosion or scratching (floor mats B60N3/04, armour F41H7/042, insulation B60R13/08, streamlining B62D35/02)} - B21D 53/88: other parts for vehicles, e.g. cowlings, mudguards - B62D 25/20: Floors or bottom sub-units {(sub-frames for mounting engine or suspensions B62D21/11; drip trays F16N31/006)} - B62D 35/02: Streamlining the undersurfaces {(B62D35/005, B62D35/007, B62D35/008 take precedence)} - B21D 11/08: Bending by altering the thickness of part of the cross-section of the work (B21D11/06 takes precedence) - B23P 11/00: Connecting or disconnecting metal parts or objects by metal-working techniques not otherwise provided for (connecting sheet metal or metal tubes, rods or profiles B21D39/00; riveting B21J; soldering, unsoldering, welding B23K; hand tools for connecting wire or strip B25B25/00; connecting metal parts by adhesives F16B11/00) - Y02T 10/82: Elements for improving aerodynamics - Y02T 10/88: Optimized components or subsystems, e.g. lighting, actively controlled glasses - 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) - B21D: WORKING OR PROCESSING OF SHEET METAL OR METAL TUBES, RODS OR PROFILES WITHOUT ESSENTIALLY REMOVING MATERIAL; PUNCHING METAL (working or processing of wire B21F) - B23P: METAL-WORKING NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR; COMBINED OPERATIONS; UNIVERSAL MACHINE TOOLS (arrangements for copying or controlling B23Q) - Y02T: CLIMATE CHANGE MITIGATION TECHNOLOGIES RELATED TO TRANSPORTATION ## Abstract An underbody panel for a motor vehicle is composed of a lightweight sandwich material and is configured as a single part with at least one continuous folding connection (12) that is arranged between first and second portions of the underbody panel (14). The first and second portions can be folded together via the folding connection (12) and, in the folded state, are substantially parallel to each other to reduce a size of the underbody panel during transport and storage. Additionally, the underbody panel is gap-free when installed on a motor vehicle. ## Claims ### Claim 1 An underbody panel for a motor vehicle, the underbody panel being formed from a lightweight sandwich material and being configured as a single part, the underbody panel having at least one continuous folding connection extending in a transverse direction of the underbody panel being arranged between a first portion of the underbody panel and a second portion of the underbody panel, wherein the first portion and the second portion can be folded together via the folding connection and, in the folded-together state, are oriented substantially parallel to each other to reduce a size of the underbody panel during transport and storage of the underbody panel. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The underbody panel of claim 1, wherein the folding connection is arranged substantially in a center of the underbody panel. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The underbody panel of claim 1, wherein the folding connection comprises at least two bending lines. ### Claim 4 (depends on 3) The underbody panel of claim 3, wherein each of the bending lines is wedge-shaped and can be folded over by 90°. ### Claim 5 (depends on 3) The underbody panel of claim 3, wherein the at least two bending edges each have a radius transition at a transition from a bending line to an adjacent surface of the underbody panel. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The underbody panel of claim 1, further comprising at least one soft component at least partially covering the folding connection. ### Claim 7 (depends on 6) The underbody panel of claim 6, wherein the at least one soft component is applied in a one-shot manufacturing process. ### Claim 8 (depends on 6) The underbody panel of claim 6, wherein the underbody panel has opposite first and second surfaces, the soft component being on the first surface of the underbody panel and the second surface having at least one slot running parallel to the at least one folding connection. ### Claim 9 (depends on 8) The underbody panel of claim 8, wherein the at least one slot is produced by a laser cut. ### Claim 10 (depends on 1) A method for producing a folding connection in the underbody panel of claim 1, comprising: providing the underbody panel, pressing the underbody panel over at the folding connection to a minimum wall thickness.