# US 11,077,886 B2 · Joint structure for vehicle > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 11,077,886 B2 - Document ID: US11077886B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 16/130,382 - Filed: 2018-09-13 - Published: 2019-05-09 - Granted: 2021-08-03 - Earliest claimed: 2017-11-08 - Assignees: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha - Applicants: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha - Inventors: Ayaka Kagami; Toshinobu Takashi; Kohei Takahashi; Yasuhide Matsuo - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US11077886B2 ## CPC - B62D 27/023: {Assembly of structural joints} - B62D 25/087: {Luggage compartments} - B62D 27/02: rigid - B62D 25/02: Side panels {(B62D33/046 takes precedence; sideboards for open load compartments B62D33/023)} - F16B 5/00: Joining sheets or plates {, e.g. panels,} to one another or to strips or bars parallel to them ({F16B17/00 takes precedence;} by sticking together F16B11/00; dowel connections F16B13/00; pins, including deformable elements F16B19/00; covering of walls E04F13/00; fastening signs, plates, panels or boards to a supporting structure, fastening readily-detachable elements, e.g. letters to signs, plates, panels, or boards, G09F7/00) - F16B 5/045: {without the use of separate rivets} - F16B 17/008: {of sheets or plates mutually (joining sheets by riveting without the use of separate rivets F16B5/045)} - 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) - F16B: DEVICES FOR FASTENING OR SECURING CONSTRUCTIONAL ELEMENTS OR MACHINE PARTS TOGETHER, e.g. NAILS, BOLTS, CIRCLIPS, CLAMPS, CLIPS OR WEDGES; JOINTS OR JOINTING (couplings for transmitting rotation F16D) ## Abstract There is provided a joint structure for a vehicle, the joint structure including: a plate-shaped first member; a plate-shaped second member, of which at least a portion is superposed with the first member in a plate thickness direction of the first member; plural crimped portions provided in a region at which the first member and the second member are superposed, the first member and second member being joined at the crimped portions by mechanical clinching from a side at which the first member is disposed; and a reinforcing portion provided at the first member, the reinforcing portion being inflected toward a substantially normal direction in a vicinity of the crimped portions. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A joint structure for a vehicle, the joint structure composing: a plate-shaped first member; a plate-shaped second member with substantially parallel external and internal edges, of which at least a portion is superposed with the first member in a plate thickness direction of the first member so that the external edge of the second member remains spaced from an external edge of the first member when viewed from the plate thickness direction of the first member; a plurality of crimped portions provided in a flat region at which the first member and the second member are superposed, the first member and second member being joined at the crimped portions by mechanical clinching from a side at which the first member is disposed; and a reinforcing portion provided at the first member, the reinforcing portion being inflected toward a substantially normal direction in a vicinity of the crimped portions, and a protruding portion of the reinforcing portion is spaced from both the external and internal edges of the second member such that the protruding portion of the reinforcing portion does not overlap the second member when viewed from the plate thickness direction of the first member. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The joint structure for a vehicle according to claim 1, wherein the reinforcing portion comprises a pair of reinforcing portions sandwiching the crimped portions. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The joint structure for a vehicle according to claim 1, wherein the reinforcing portion is provided at one side, relative to the crimped portions, in a width direction of the region at which the first member and the second member are superposed. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The joint structure for a vehicle according to claim 1, wherein the reinforcing portion extends along an imaginary line that linearly links the plurality of crimped portions. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The joint structure for a vehicle according to claim 1, wherein the reinforcing portion is inflected in the plate thickness direction of the first member toward an opposite side of the first member from a side at which the second member is disposed. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The joint structure for a vehicle according to claim 1, wherein the reinforcing portion is inflected in the plate thickness direction of the first member toward a side of the first member at which the second member is disposed. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The joint structure for a vehicle according to claim 1, wherein the reinforcing portion is formed in a bead shape. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The joint structure for a vehicle according to claim 1, wherein the reinforcing portion is formed in a step shape. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The joint structure for a vehicle according to claim 1, wherein the first member and the second member are formed of respectively different metals, the first member being formed of a metal with a greater Young's modulus than the second member. ### Claim 10 (depends on 1) The joint structure for a vehicle according to claim 1, wherein: the external edge of the first member and the external edge of the second member are linear external edges, and the flat region is defined by two of the linear external edges of: (i) the first member and the second member, respectively, or (ii) either one of the first member or the second member, when viewed from the plate thickness direction of the first member.