# US 11,077,883 B2 · Front vehicle-body structure

> Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt

- Number: US 11,077,883 B2
- Document ID: US11077883B2
- Status: Granted
- Kind: B2
- Application number: 16/570,601
- Filed: 2019-09-13
- Published: 2020-03-26
- Granted: 2021-08-03
- Earliest claimed: 2018-09-25
- Assignees: Mazda Motor Corporation
- Applicants: Mazda Motor Corporation
- Inventors: Yuki Kataoka; Shigeaki Watanabe; Takeshi Nakamura
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US11077883B2

## CPC

- B62D 25/08: Front or rear portions {(sub-frames for mounting engine or suspensions B62D21/11)}
- B62D 25/088: {Details of structures as upper supports for springs or dampers}
- B62D 21/11: with resilient means for suspension {, e.g. of wheels or engine; sub-frames for mounting engine or suspensions}
- B62D 25/04: Door pillars {; windshield pillars}
- B62D 25/082: {Engine compartments}
- 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

The front vehicle-body structure includes: a hinge pillar extending vertically; a suspension housing spaced forward from the hinge pillar; an apron reinforcement that extends forward from an upper part of the hinge pillar, has a closed section perpendicular to a front-rear direction, and supports the suspension housing; a bracing reinforcement that extends rearward to be inclined downward so as to couple a lower part of the apron reinforcement and the hinge pillar in a bracing manner, and has a closed section perpendicular to a direction of the extension; and a first reinforcing member that is provided inside the closed section of the apron reinforcement and partitions the closed section in the front-rear direction. The bracing reinforcement includes, at a bottom thereof, a wheel well outer rear part extending rearward to be inclined downward, and the first reinforcing member is connected to the wheel well outer rear part.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A front vehicle-body structure comprising:
a hinge pillar extending vertically;
a suspension housing spaced forward from the hinge pillar;
an apron reinforcement that extends forward from an upper part of the hinge pillar, has a closed section perpendicular to a front-rear direction, and supports the suspension housing;
a bracing reinforcement that extends rearward to be inclined downward so as to couple the apron reinforcement and the hinge pillar in a bracing manner below the apron reinforcement, and has a closed section perpendicular to a direction of extension; and
a reinforcing member that is provided inside the closed section of the apron reinforcement and partitions the closed section in the front-rear direction,
wherein the bracing reinforcement includes, at a bottom thereof, a bracing reinforcement bottom wall extending rearward to be inclined downward, and the reinforcing member is connected to the bracing reinforcement bottom wall.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The front vehicle-body structure according to claim 1, wherein
the apron reinforcement includes a front apron reinforcement that supports the suspension housing, and a rear apron reinforcement that couples a rear end of the front apron reinforcement and the hinge pillar, and
the reinforcing member is provided at the rear end of the front apron reinforcement, and overlaps a front part of the rear apron reinforcement in the front-rear direction in a side view of a vehicle.

### Claim 3 (depends on 2)

The front vehicle-body structure according to claim 2, wherein
the apron reinforcement includes, at an upper part, an apron reinforcement upper wall extending substantially horizontally, and
the reinforcing member includes an upper flange that extends rearward from an upper end and is connected to the apron reinforcement upper wall, and a lower flange that extends rearward from a lower end and is connected to the bracing reinforcement bottom wall.

### Claim 4 (depends on 3)

The front vehicle-body structure according to claim 3, wherein the reinforcing member supports a rear end of the suspension housing.

### Claim 5 (depends on 1)

The front vehicle-body structure according to claim 1, wherein
the reinforcing member is a first reinforcing member,
inside the closed section of the apron reinforcement, a second reinforcing member that partitions the closed section in the front-rear direction is further provided on a rear side of the first reinforcing member,
the bracing reinforcement includes, at a top thereof, a bracing reinforcement top wall facing the bracing reinforcement bottom wall from an upper rear side,
the apron reinforcement includes, at a bottom thereof, an apron reinforcement bottom wall extending substantially horizontally, and
the bracing reinforcement top wall is vertically continuous with a lower end of the second reinforcing member via the apron reinforcement bottom wall.

### Claim 6 (depends on 2)

The front vehicle-body structure according to claim 2, wherein
the reinforcing member is a first reinforcing member,
inside the closed section of the apron reinforcement, a second reinforcing member that partitions the closed section in the front-rear direction is further provided on a rear side of the first reinforcing member,
the bracing reinforcement includes, at a top thereof, a bracing reinforcement top wall facing the bracing reinforcement bottom wall from an upper rear side,
the apron reinforcement includes, at a bottom thereof, an apron reinforcement bottom wall extending substantially horizontally, and
the bracing reinforcement top wall is vertically continuous with a lower end of the second reinforcing member via the apron reinforcement bottom wall.

### Claim 7 (depends on 3)

The front vehicle-body structure according to claim 3, wherein
the reinforcing member is a first reinforcing member,
inside the closed section of the apron reinforcement, a second reinforcing member that partitions the closed section in the front-rear direction is further provided on a rear side of the first reinforcing member,
the bracing reinforcement includes, at a top thereof, a bracing reinforcement top wall facing the bracing reinforcement bottom wall from an upper rear side,
the apron reinforcement includes, at a bottom thereof, an apron reinforcement bottom wall extending substantially horizontally, and
the bracing reinforcement top wall is vertically continuous with a lower end of the second reinforcing member via the apron reinforcement bottom wall.

### Claim 8 (depends on 4)

The front vehicle-body structure according to claim 4, wherein
the reinforcing member is a first reinforcing member,
inside the closed section of the apron reinforcement, a second reinforcing member that partitions the closed section in the front-rear direction is further provided on a rear side of the first reinforcing member,
the bracing reinforcement includes, at a top thereof, a bracing reinforcement top wall facing the bracing reinforcement bottom wall from an upper rear side,
the apron reinforcement includes, at a bottom thereof, an apron reinforcement bottom wall extending substantially horizontally, and
the bracing reinforcement top wall is vertically continuous with a lower end of the second reinforcing member via the apron reinforcement bottom wall.