# US 11,110,966 B2 · Front body structure of vehicle > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 11,110,966 B2 - Document ID: US11110966B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 16/537,812 - Filed: 2019-08-12 - Published: 2020-02-27 - Granted: 2021-09-07 - Earliest claimed: 2018-08-22 - Assignees: Mazda Motor Corporation - Applicants: Mazda Motor Corporation - Inventors: Kuniyoshi Tashiro; Shigeaki Watanabe; Hidenori Matsuoka - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US11110966B2 ## CPC - B62D 25/085: {Front-end modules} - B62D 21/11: with resilient means for suspension {, e.g. of wheels or engine; sub-frames for mounting engine or suspensions} - B62D 25/082: {Engine compartments} - B62D 25/088: {Details of structures as upper supports for springs or dampers} - 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 front body structure of the vehicle includes a pair of left and right apron reinforcements, a pair of left and right front side frames, a pair of left and right suspension housings, and a sub-frame. The front body structure of the vehicle further includes a shroud upper that joins the front ends of the apron reinforcements, a pair of left and right shroud members that join the shroud upper and the front ends of the front side frames, and a pair of left and right front joint members that join the front ends of the front side frames and the sub-frame, in which the shroud members are joined to the upper surfaces and the side surfaces of the front side frames. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A front body structure of a vehicle, comprising: a pair of left and right apron reinforcements that are closed cross section members extending in a vehicle front-rear direction in positions separated from each other by a predetermined distance in a vehicle width direction; a pair of left and right front side frames that are closed cross section members extending in the vehicle front-rear direction on a vehicle lower side of the apron reinforcements; a pair of left and right suspension housings that support upper ends of front suspension dampers in desired positions separated from a dash panel toward a vehicle front side, the suspension housings being provided across the apron reinforcements and the front side frames; a sub-frame provided on the vehicle lower side of the front side frames, the sub-frame swingably supporting a suspension arm; a shroud upper that is a closed cross section member joining front ends of the apron reinforcements to each other in the vehicle width direction; a pair of left and right shroud members that are closed cross section members joining the shroud upper and front ends of the front side frames to each other in a vehicle up-down direction; and a pair of left and right joint members that are closed cross section members joining the front ends of the front side frames and the sub-frame to each other in the vehicle up-down direction, wherein the sub-frame has a suspension cross member that is a closed cross section member joining lower ends of the joint members to each other in the vehicle width direction, and the shroud members are joined to upper surfaces and side surfaces of the front side frames. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The front body structure of the vehicle according to claim 1, wherein the front side frames have substantially planar plate members connected to the front ends of the front side frames, and link members that separate, in the vehicle front-rear direction, internal spaces of the front side frames in substantially the same positions in the vehicle front-rear direction as rear ends of the joint members. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The front body structure of the vehicle according to claim 1, wherein the shroud members have closed cross section parts that form closed cross sections together with the front side frames in a horizontal cross section along the vehicle width direction. ### Claim 4 (depends on 2) The front body structure of the vehicle according to claim 2, wherein the shroud members have closed cross section parts that form closed cross sections together with the front side frames in a horizontal cross section along the vehicle width direction. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The front body structure of the vehicle according to claim 1, wherein the suspension housings have damper mount parts to which the front suspension dampers are mounted, and the apron reinforcements are formed in a shape extending substantially linear from rear ends thereof joined to hinge pillars toward the vehicle front side and an inner side in the vehicle width direction through an outer side in the vehicle width direction of the damper mount parts in plan view. ### Claim 6 (depends on 2) The front body structure of the vehicle according to claim 2, wherein the suspension housings have damper mount parts to which the front suspension dampers are mounted, and the apron reinforcements are formed in a shape extending substantially linear from rear ends thereof joined to hinge pillars toward the vehicle front side and an inner side in the vehicle width direction through an outer side in the vehicle width direction of the damper mount parts in plan view. ### Claim 7 (depends on 3) The front body structure of the vehicle according to claim 3, wherein the suspension housings have damper mount parts to which the front suspension dampers are mounted, and the apron reinforcements are formed in a shape extending substantially linear from rear ends thereof joined to hinge pillars toward the vehicle front side and an inner side in the vehicle width direction through an outer side in the vehicle width direction of the damper mount parts in plan view. ### Claim 8 (depends on 4) The front body structure of the vehicle according to claim 4, wherein the suspension housings have damper mount parts to which the front suspension dampers are mounted, and the apron reinforcements are formed in a shape extending substantially linear from rear ends thereof joined to hinge pillars toward the vehicle front side and an inner side in the vehicle width direction through an outer side in the vehicle width direction of the damper mount parts in plan view.