# US 10,479,409 B2 · Vehicle-body front structure > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 10,479,409 B2 - Document ID: US10479409B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 16/022,855 - Filed: 2018-06-29 - Published: 2019-01-17 - Granted: 2019-11-19 - Earliest claimed: 2017-07-13 - Assignees: Subaru Corporation - Applicants: Subaru Corporation - Inventors: Seiji Fujiwara; Yosuke Hachisu; Kenichi Takeda - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US10479409B2 ## CPC - B62D 21/155: {Sub-frames or underguards} - B62D 25/08: Front or rear portions {(sub-frames for mounting engine or suspensions B62D21/11)} - 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 front structure includes a pair of left and right side frames, a cross member, a pair of sub-frames, projections, and buckling structures. The pair of left and right side frames extend in a front-rear direction. The cross member is coupled to a lower side of the pair of left and right side frames and extends in a left-right direction. The pair of sub-frames are coupled to a lower side of the cross member and extend in the front-rear direction. Each projection is disposed on a front end side of the corresponding sub-frame and projects from the corresponding side frame outward in the left-right direction in a plan view. Each buckling structure is formed in the corresponding sub-frame and causes the sub-frame to buckle such that the corresponding projection comes into contact with the cross member when an impact load is applied to the projection from a front side. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A vehicle-body front structure comprising: a pair of left and right side frames extending in a front-rear direction; a cross member that is coupled to a lower side of the pair of left and right side frames and that extends in a left-right direction; a pair of sub-frames that are coupled to a lower side of the cross member and that extend in the front-rear direction; projections each of which is disposed on a front end side of the corresponding sub-frame and projects from the corresponding side frame outward in the left-right direction in a plan view; and buckling structures each of which is formed in the corresponding sub-frame and causes the sub-frame to buckle such that the corresponding projection comes into contact with the cross member when an impact load is applied to the projection from a front side. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The vehicle-body front structure according to claim 1, wherein a width of each projection gradually decreases toward a rear side in a plan view. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) The vehicle-body front structure according to claim 2, wherein each projection has a substantially triangle shape in a plan view. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The vehicle-body front structure according to claim 1, wherein a front end of each sub-frame is located at a higher position than a position of a joint between the sub-frame and the cross member, and each sub-frame buckles such that the sub-frame bends upward and downward when the impact load is applied to the corresponding projection from the front side. ### Claim 5 (depends on 2) The vehicle-body front structure according to claim 2, wherein a front end of each sub-frame is located at a higher position than a position of a joint between the sub-frame and the cross member, and each sub-frame buckles such that the sub-frame bends upward and downward when the impact load is applied to the corresponding projection from the front side. ### Claim 6 (depends on 3) The vehicle-body front structure according to claim 3, wherein a front end of each sub-frame is located at a higher position than a position of a joint between the sub-frame and the cross member, and each sub-frame buckles such that the sub-frame bends upward and downward when the impact load is applied to the corresponding projection from the front side. ### Claim 7 (depends on 4) The vehicle-body front structure according to claim 4, wherein each buckling structure comprises a first buckling member that is formed on the corresponding sub-frame near a rear end of the corresponding projection and that causes the sub-frame to bend such that the sub-frame projects upward, and a second buckling member that is formed on the sub-frame between the first buckling member and the corresponding joint and that causes the sub-frame to bend such that the sub-frame projects downward. ### Claim 8 (depends on 5) The vehicle-body front structure according to claim 5, wherein each buckling structure comprises a first buckling member that is formed on the corresponding sub-frame near a rear end of the corresponding projection and that causes the sub-frame to bend such that the sub-frame projects upward, and a second buckling member that is formed on the sub-frame between the first buckling member and the corresponding joint and that causes the sub-frame to bend such that the sub-frame projects downward. ### Claim 9 (depends on 6) The vehicle-body front structure according to claim 6, wherein each buckling structure comprises a first buckling member that is formed on the corresponding sub-frame near a rear end of the corresponding projection and that causes the sub-frame to bend such that the sub-frame projects upward, and a second buckling member that is formed on the sub-frame between the first buckling member and the corresponding joint and that causes the sub-frame to bend such that the sub-frame projects downward. ### Claim 10 (depends on 7) The vehicle-body front structure according to claim 7, wherein each first buckling member comprises a fragile part that is more fragile than a front-side part and a rear-side part, and wherein each second buckling member comprises a rigidity-varying part at which a rigidity gradually increases toward a rear side. ### Claim 11 (depends on 8) The vehicle-body front structure according to claim 8, wherein each first buckling member comprises a fragile part that is more fragile than a front-side part and a rear-side part, and wherein each second buckling member comprises a rigidity-varying part at which a rigidity gradually increases toward a rear side. ### Claim 12 (depends on 9) The vehicle-body front structure according to claim 9, wherein each first buckling member comprises a fragile part that is more fragile than a front-side part and a rear-side part, and wherein each second buckling member comprises a rigidity-varying part at which a rigidity gradually increases toward a rear side. ### Claim 13 (depends on 7) The vehicle-body front structure according to claim 7, wherein each first buckling member comprises a notch formed on an inner side in the left-right direction and a lower and rear side of the corresponding projection, and a bead that is formed on a lower side of the corresponding sub-frame inside the notch in the left-right direction and that extends in the left-right direction. ### Claim 14 (depends on 8) The vehicle-body front structure according to claim 8, wherein each first buckling member comprises a notch formed on an inner side in the left-right direction and a lower and rear side of the corresponding projection, and a bead that is formed on a lower side of the corresponding sub-frame inside the notch in the left-right direction and that extends in the left-right direction. ### Claim 15 (depends on 9) The vehicle-body front structure according to claim 9, wherein each first buckling member comprises a notch formed on an inner side in the left-right direction and a lower and rear side of the corresponding projection, and a bead that is formed on a lower side of the corresponding sub-frame inside the notch in the left-right direction and that extends in the left-right direction. ### Claim 16 (depends on 10) The vehicle-body front structure according to claim 10, wherein each first buckling member comprises a notch formed on an inner side in the left-right direction and a lower and rear side of the corresponding projection, and a bead that is formed on a lower side of the corresponding sub-frame inside the notch in the left-right direction and that extends in the left-right direction. ### Claim 17 (depends on 11) The vehicle-body front structure according to claim 11, wherein each first buckling member comprises a notch formed on an inner side in the left-right direction and a lower and rear side of the corresponding projection, and a bead that is formed on a lower side of the corresponding sub-frame inside the notch in the left-right direction and that extends in the left-right direction. ### Claim 18 (depends on 12) The vehicle-body front structure according to claim 12, wherein each first buckling member comprises a notch formed on an inner side in the left-right direction and a lower and rear side of the corresponding projection, and a bead that is formed on a lower side of the corresponding sub-frame inside the notch in the left-right direction and that extends in the left-right direction.