# US 11,440,591 B2 · Vehicle body structure of convertible vehicle > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 11,440,591 B2 - Document ID: US11440591B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 16/593,067 - Filed: 2019-10-04 - Published: 2020-04-09 - Granted: 2022-09-13 - Earliest claimed: 2018-10-09 - Assignees: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha - Applicants: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha - Inventors: Tomohiro Sakurai; Kenya Fujimoto; Satoshi Ogawa - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US11440591B2 ## CPC - B62D 21/152: {Front or rear frames} - B62D 25/025: {Side sills thereof} - B62D 25/04: Door pillars {; windshield pillars} - B62D 25/08: Front or rear portions {(sub-frames for mounting engine or suspensions B62D21/11)} - 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) - B62D 25/2027: {the subunits being rear structures} - B62D 27/023: {Assembly of structural joints} - 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 reinforcement extending in the front-back direction of a vehicle and connecting a rear side member and a center pillar is provided. The reinforcement includes a gusset, an intermediate connecting member, and a pillar-side member. The gusset is connected to the rear side member, and the front end portion of the gusset is connected to the rear surface of the intermediate connecting member. The front surface of the intermediate connecting member is connected to the rear end portion of the pillar-side member. The pillar-side member is connected to the center pillar. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A vehicle body structure of a convertible vehicle, comprising: a reinforcement extending in a front-back direction of a vehicle, for connecting a rear side member and a center pillar above a rocker, wherein an upper end of the rear side member is located further downward with respect to a lower end of the center pillar, and a front end portion of the reinforcement contacts the center pillar and is connected to the center pillar. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The vehicle body structure of a convertible vehicle according to claim 1, wherein the reinforcement includes a gusset connected to the rear side member, a pillar-side member connected to the center pillar, and an intermediate connecting member disposed between the gusset and the pillar-side member in the front-back direction of the vehicle and connected to the gusset and the pillar-side member. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) The vehicle body structure of a convertible vehicle according to claim 2, wherein the gusset, the intermediate connecting member, and the pillar-side member respectively have wall portions extending in the front-back direction of the vehicle, and the wall portion of the gusset, the wall portion of the intermediate connecting member, and the wall portion of the pillar-side member serially extend in the front-back direction of the vehicle. ### Claim 4 (depends on 3) The vehicle body structure of a convertible vehicle according to claim 3, wherein the reinforcement includes a left gusset connected to a left rear side member, a left pillar-side member connected to a left center pillar, a left intermediate connecting member disposed between the left gusset and the left pillar-side member in the front-back direction of the vehicle and connected to the left gusset and the left pillar-side member, a right gusset connected to a right rear side member, a right pillar-side member connected to a right center pillar, a right intermediate connecting member disposed between the right gusset and the right pillar-side member in the front-back direction of the vehicle and connected to the right gusset and the right pillar-side member, and a right-left connecting member for connecting the left intermediate connecting member and the right intermediate connecting member. ### Claim 5 (depends on 2) The vehicle body structure of a convertible vehicle according to claim 2, wherein the reinforcement includes a left gusset connected to a left rear side member, a left pillar-side member connected to a left center pillar, a left intermediate connecting member disposed between the left gusset and the left pillar-side member in the front-back direction of the vehicle and connected to the left gusset and the left pillar-side member, a right gusset connected to a right rear side member, a right pillar-side member connected to a right center pillar, a right intermediate connecting member disposed between the right gusset and the right pillar-side member in the front-back direction of the vehicle and connected to the right gusset and the right pillar-side member, and a right-left connecting member for connecting the left intermediate connecting member and the right intermediate connecting member. ### Claim 6 (depends on 5) The vehicle body structure of a convertible vehicle according to claim 5, wherein a left end portion of the right-left connecting member is disposed between the left gusset and the left pillar-side member in the front-back direction of the vehicle and connected to the left gusset and the left pillar-side member, and a right end portion of the right-left connecting member is disposed between the right gusset and the right pillar-side member in the front-back direction of the vehicle and connected to the right gusset and the right pillar-side member. ### Claim 7 (depends on 2) The vehicle body structure of a convertible vehicle according to claim 2, wherein the rear side member is connected to a rear end portion of a rocker of the convertible vehicle, and the intermediate connecting member is connected to a rear wheel well of the convertible vehicle. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The vehicle body structure of a convertible vehicle according to claim 1, wherein the reinforcement includes a member extending from one end of the convertible vehicle an opposite end of the convertible vehicle in the vehicle width direction. ### Claim 9 A vehicle body structure of a convertible vehicle, comprising a reinforcement extending in a front-back direction of a vehicle, for connecting a rear side member and a center pillar above a rocker, wherein the reinforcement is separable from the center pillar, and the reinforcement includes a gusset connected to the rear side member, a pillar-side member connected to the center pillar, and an intermediate connecting member disposed between the gusset and the pillar-side member in the front-back direction of the vehicle and connected to the gusset and the pillar-side member, wherein a front end of the gusset is in contact with a rear end of the intermediate connecting member, and along the front-back direction of the vehicle, the gusset is located further rearward with respect to the pillar-side member. ### Claim 10 (depends on 9) The vehicle body structure of a convertible vehicle according to claim 9, wherein a front end portion of the reinforcement contacts the center pillar and is connected to the center pillar. ### Claim 11 (depends on 9) The vehicle body structure of a convertible vehicle according to claim 9, wherein the reinforcement includes a member extending from one end of the convertible vehicle an opposite end of the convertible vehicle in the vehicle width direction. ### Claim 12 A vehicle body structure of a convertible vehicle, comprising a reinforcement extending in a front-back direction of a vehicle, for connecting a rear side member and a center pillar above a rocker, wherein the reinforcement includes a gusset connected to the rear side member, a pillar-side member connected to the center pillar, and an intermediate connecting member disposed between the gusset and the pillar-side member in the front-back direction of the vehicle and connected to the gusset and the pillar-side member, the gusset, the intermediate connecting member, and the pillar-side member respectively have wall portions extending in the front-back direction of the vehicle, and the wall portion of the gusset, the wall portion of the intermediate connecting member, and the wall portion of the pillar-side member serially extend in the front-back direction of the vehicle.