# US 10,766,326 B2 · Lower arm supporting bracket and lower arm supporting mechanism including the same

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- Number: US 10,766,326 B2
- Document ID: US10766326B2
- Status: Granted
- Kind: B2
- Application number: 16/121,298
- Filed: 2018-09-04
- Published: 2019-04-04
- Granted: 2020-09-08
- Earliest claimed: 2017-09-29
- Assignees: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
- Applicants: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
- Inventors: Masatoshi Hata; Takero Kato
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US10766326B2

## CPC

- B60G 7/008: {Attaching arms to unsprung part of vehicle (B60G7/005, B60G7/006 take precedence)}
- B60G 3/20: all arms being rigid
- B60G 7/001: {Suspension arms, e.g. constructional features (B60G7/006 takes precedence)}
- B62D 21/15: having impact absorbing means, e.g. a frame designed to permanently or temporarily change shape or dimension upon impact with another body (bumpers B60R19/02; shock absorbers in general F16F)
- B60G 2200/14: with lateral arms
- B60G 2204/143: on the vehicle body or chassis
- B60G 2204/4302: for fixing suspension arm on the vehicle body or chassis
- B60G 2206/016: allowing controlled deformation during collision
- B60G: VEHICLE SUSPENSION ARRANGEMENTS (air-cushion vehicles B60V; {cycle suspensions B62K25/00})
- 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 first bracket supporting a first lower arm includes a front wall part and a rear wall part that face each other in a vehicle longitudinal direction. Respective insertion holes, through which a supporting bolt pivotably supporting the first lower arm is inserted, are formed in the front wall part and the rear wall part so as to face each other. Furthermore, the front wall part includes a fracture starting point formed in a region on an outside, in a vehicle width direction, from a center position of the insertion hole. Consequently, it is possible to separate a front wheel from a vehicle body at the time of collision without providing any fragile part such as a cutout in the lower arm.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A lower arm supporting bracket fixed to a front suspension member, and supporting a lower arm of a front suspension mechanism, the lower arm supporting bracket comprising
a front wall part and a rear wall part that face each other in a vehicle longitudinal direction, wherein
respective insertion holes, through which a supporting shaft member pivotably supporting the lower arm is inserted, are formed in the front wall part and the rear wall part so as to face each other, and
the front wall part includes a fracture starting point formed in a region on an outside, in a vehicle width direction, from a center position of the insertion hole of the front wall part, wherein
the fracture starting point includes a cutout formed in a lower end of the front wall part on the outside, in the vehicle width direction, from the center position of the insertion hole of the front wall part, and
a through hole is formed on the outside, in the vehicle width direction, of the front wall part from the center position of the insertion hole above the insertion hole.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

A lower arm supporting mechanism comprising the lower arm supporting bracket according to claim 1, wherein
a reinforcing member that projects outward in the vehicle width direction from the front suspension member, and is joined to an upper part of the rear wall part, is provided in the upper part of the rear wall part of the lower arm supporting bracket, and
projection of the reinforcing member to the upper part of the rear wall part is terminated on an inside, in the vehicle width direction, with respect to the insertion hole of the rear wall part in plan view.