# US 10,864,943 B2 · Vehicle structure > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 10,864,943 B2 - Document ID: US10864943B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 16/284,899 - Filed: 2019-02-25 - Published: 2019-06-20 - Granted: 2020-12-15 - Earliest claimed: 2016-10-31 - Assignees: Nissan North America, Inc. - Applicants: Nissan North America, Inc. - Inventors: Christopher Hartley; Patrick Grattan; Joseph Buratto; Perry McConnell; Michael McGory - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US10864943B2 ## CPC - B62D 21/155: {Sub-frames or underguards} - B62D 21/02: comprising longitudinally or transversely arranged frame members - B62D 21/06: of X-shaped or fork-shaped construction, i.e. having members which form an X or fork as the frame is seen in plan view - B62D 21/11: with resilient means for suspension {, e.g. of wheels or engine; sub-frames for mounting engine or suspensions} - B62D 25/08: Front or rear portions {(sub-frames for mounting engine or suspensions B62D21/11)} - 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: 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 structure includes a vehicle frame and a beam. The vehicle frame has a first side member and a second side member extending in a vehicle longitudinal direction and a cross-member extending in a vehicle lateral direction from the first side member to the second side member perpendicular to the first side member and the second side member. A first end of the beam is connected to one of the first side member or the second side member at a location spaced apart from the cross-member. A second end of the beam is connected to the cross-member at a location spaced apart from both the first side member and the second side member such that the beam is angularly offset from the cross-member with an angle of between 35 and 60 degrees defined between the cross-member and the beam. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A vehicle structure comprising: a vehicle frame having a first side member, a second side member and a cross-member, the first side member and the second side member extending in a vehicle longitudinal direction, the cross-member extending in a vehicle lateral direction from the first side member to the second side member and perpendicular to each of the first side member and the second side member, a first end of the cross-member being fixedly attached to the first side member and a second end of the cross-member being fixedly attached to the second side member; and a beam having a first end and a second end, the first end of the beam being connected to one of the first side member or the second side member at a location spaced apart from the cross-member and the second end of the beam being connected to the cross-member at a location spaced apart from both the first side member and the second side member such that the beam is angularly offset from the cross-member with an angle of between 35 and 60 degrees defined between the cross-member and the beam, and wherein the first end of the beam is connected to the one of the first side member and the second side member by an attachment bracket such that the first end of the beam is spaced apart from the one of the first side member and the second side member with a gap being defined between the first end of the beam and the one of the first side member and the second side member. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The vehicle structure according to claim 1, further comprising a vehicle suspension structure that includes a first coil spring support and a second coil spring support that are attached to respective outboard surfaces of the first side member and the second side member and extend in respective outboard directions away from respective ones of the outboard surfaces of the first side member and the second side member. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The vehicle structure according to claim 1, further comprising a first body attachment flange and a second body attachment flange that are attached to respective outboard surfaces of the first side member and the second side member and extend in respective outboard directions away from respective ones of the outboard surfaces of the first side member and the second side member. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The vehicle structure according to claim 1, further comprising an off-center impact reinforcement structure having a portion thereof located outboard of one of the first side member or the second side member, the portion of the off-center impact reinforcement structure being located forward of the cross-member and the beam relative to the vehicle longitudinal direction. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The vehicle structure according to claim 1, wherein the second end of the beam is supported to a mid-portion of the cross-member via another attachment bracket such that the second end of the beam is spaced apart from the mid-portion of the cross-member with another gap being defined between the second end of the beam and the mid-portion of the cross-member. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The vehicle structure according to claim 1, wherein the first end of the beam is a rear end of the beam. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The vehicle structure according to claim 1, wherein the first end of the beam is connected to the attachment bracket by a removable fastener. ### Claim 8 A vehicle structure comprising: a vehicle frame having a first side member, a second side member and a cross-member, the first side member and the second side member extending in a vehicle longitudinal direction, the cross-member extending in a vehicle lateral direction from the first side member to the second side member, a first end of the cross-member being fixedly attached to the first side member and a second end of the cross-member being fixedly attached to the second side member; an off-center impact reinforcement structure having portion thereof located outboard of one of the first side member or the second side member; and a beam having a first end and a second end, the first end being connected to one of the first side member or the second side member at a location spaced apart from the cross-member and the second end being connected to the cross-member at a location spaced apart from both the first side member and the second side member such that the beam is angularly offset from the cross-member with an angle of between 35 and 60 degrees defined between the cross-member and the beam, and wherein the first end of the beam is connected to the one of the first side member and the second side member by an attachment bracket such that the first end of the beam is spaced apart from the one of the first side member and the second side member with a gap being defined between the first end of the beam and the one of the first side member and the second side member. ### Claim 9 (depends on 8) The vehicle structure according to claim 8, wherein the portion of the off-center impact reinforcement structure is located forward of the cross-member and the beam relative to the vehicle longitudinal direction. ### Claim 10 (depends on 8) The vehicle structure according to claim 8, wherein the second end of the beam is supported to a mid-portion of the cross-member via another attachment bracket such that the second end of the beam is spaced apart from the mid-portion of the cross-member with another gap being defined between the second end of the beam and the mid-portion of the cross-member. ### Claim 11 (depends on 8) The vehicle structure according to claim 8, further comprising a vehicle suspension structure that includes a first coil spring support and a second coil spring support that are attached to respective outboard surfaces of the first side member and the second side member and extend in respective outboard directions away from respective ones of the outboard surfaces of the first side member and the second side member. ### Claim 12 (depends on 8) The vehicle structure according to claim 8, further comprising a first body attachment flange and a second body attachment flange that are attached to respective outboard surfaces of the first side member and the second side member and extend in respective outboard directions away from respective ones of the outboard surfaces of the first side member and the second side member. ### Claim 13 (depends on 8) The vehicle structure according to claim 8, wherein the first end of the beam is a rear end of the beam. ### Claim 14 (depends on 8) The vehicle structure according to claim 8, wherein the first end of the beam is connected to the attachment bracket by a removable fastener. ### Claim 15 A vehicle structure comprising: a vehicle frame having a first side member, a second side member and a cross-member, the first side member and the second side member extending in a vehicle longitudinal direction, the cross-member extending in a vehicle lateral direction from the first side member to the second side member, a first end of the cross-member being fixedly attached to the first side member and a second end of the cross-member being fixedly attached to the second side member; a first beam having a first end and a second end, the first end being connected to one of the first side member or the second side member at a location spaced apart from the cross-member and the second end being connected to the cross-member at a location spaced apart from both the first side member and the second side member such that the beam is angularly offset from the cross-member with an angle of between 35 and 60 degrees defined between the cross-member and the beam; and a second beam having a first end and a second end, the first end being connected to the other of the first side member or the second side member at a location spaced apart from the cross-member and the second end being connected to the cross-member at a location spaced apart from both the first side member and the second side member such that the second beam is angularly offset from the cross-member with an angle of between 35 and 60 degrees defined between the cross-member and the beam, and wherein the second end of the first beam and the second end of the second beam are supported to a mid-portion of the cross-member via a first attachment bracket such that the second end of the first beam is spaced apart from the mid-portion of the cross-member with a first gap being defined between the second end of the first beam and the mid-portion of the cross-member and the second end of the second beam is spaced apart from the mid-portion of the cross-member and the second end of the first beam with a second gap being defined between the second end of the second beam and the second end of the first beam. ### Claim 16 (depends on 15) The vehicle structure according to claim 15, further comprising an off-center impact reinforcement structure having portion thereof located outboard of one of the first side member or the second side member, the portion of the off-center impact reinforcement structure being located forward of the cross-member and the beam relative to the vehicle longitudinal direction. ### Claim 17 (depends on 15) The vehicle structure according to claim 15, wherein the first end of the first beam is connected to the second side member by a second attachment bracket such that the first end of the first beam is spaced apart from the second side member with another gap being defined between the first end of the beam and the second side member. ### Claim 18 (depends on 17) The vehicle structure according to claim 17, wherein the first end of the second beam is connected to the first side member by a third attachment bracket such that the first end of the second beam is spaced apart from the first side member with a third gap being defined between the first end of the second beam and the first side member. ### Claim 19 (depends on 15) The vehicle structure according to claim 15, further comprising a vehicle suspension structure that includes a first coil spring support and a second coil spring support that are attached to respective outboard surfaces of the first side member and the second side member and extend in respective outboard directions away from respective ones of the outboard surfaces of the first side member and the second side member. ### Claim 20 (depends on 15) The vehicle structure according to claim 15, further comprising a first body attachment flange and a second body attachment flange that are attached to respective outboard surfaces of the first side member and the second side member and extend in respective outboard directions away from respective ones of the outboard surfaces of the first side member and the second side member.