# US 11,993,314 B2 · Underbody 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 11,993,314 B2 - Document ID: US11993314B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 17/714,817 - Filed: 2022-04-06 - Published: 2022-11-03 - Granted: 2024-05-28 - Earliest claimed: 2021-04-28 - Assignees: Subaru Corporation - Applicants: Subaru Corporation - Inventors: Yasuaki Okesaku - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US11993314B2 ## CPC - B62D 25/2036: {the subunits being side panels, sills or pillars (B62D21/157 takes precedence)} - B62D 25/025: {Side sills thereof} - 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 An underbody structure of a vehicle includes a cross member, a side sill, and a gusset. The cross member is provided on a floor panel and extends in a vehicle width direction. The side sill is coupled to an outer end of the floor panel in the vehicle width direction and extends in a front-rear direction. The cross member and the side sill are separated in the vehicle width direction. The gusset is interposed between them. The gusset includes front and rear side walls, an upper wall, a protrusion, and front and rear flanges. Each side wall includes a lower end coupled to an outer end of the cross member in the vehicle width direction. The upper wall is coupled to an upper end of each side wall. The protrusion is provided at an outer end of the upper wall in the vehicle width direction. ## Claims ### Claim 1 An underbody structure of a vehicle, the underbody structure comprising: a cross member provided on an upper surface of a floor panel, the cross member extending in a vehicle width direction of the vehicle; a side sill coupled to an outer end of the floor panel in the vehicle width direction, the side sill extending in a front-rear direction of the vehicle; and a gusset, wherein the cross member and the side sill are separated in the vehicle width direction, wherein the gusset is interposed between the cross member and the side sill, and wherein the gusset includes: a front side wall and a rear side wall in pairs, each of the front side wall and the rear side wall comprising a lower end coupled to an outer end of the cross member in the vehicle width direction; an upper wall that coupled to an upper end of each of the front side wall and an upper end of the rear side wall; a protrusion provided at an outer end of the upper wall in the vehicle width direction, the protrusion protruding outward in the vehicle width direction from the upper wall; and a front flange and a rear flange in pairs, each of the front flange and the rear flange extending from a predetermined position in a vertical direction of an outer end of a corresponding one of the front side wall and the rear side wall in the vehicle width direction to a predetermined position in the vehicle width direction of a lower end of the corresponding one of the front side wall and the rear side walls, each of the front flange and the rear flange extending outward in the front-rear direction from the corresponding one of the front side wall and the rear side wall, each of the front flange and the rear flange being coupled to (i) a side part of the side sill and (ii) the outer end of the cross member in the vehicle width direction, wherein the protrusion of the gusset includes: an upward extending part that extends upward from an outer end of the upper wall in the vehicle width direction and that is inclined outward in the vehicle width direction; and a joining part extending outward in the vehicle width direction from an upper end of the upward extending part and that is joined to an upper wall of the side sill, and a U shaped reinforcement within the cross member and below the gusset. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The underbody structure according to claim 1, wherein the gusset comprises a blocking wall blocking a virtual opening defined by (i) an inner end of each of the front side wall and rear side wall in the vehicle width direction, (ii) an inner end of the upper wall in the vehicle width direction, and (iii) an upper part of the cross member. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) The underbody structure according to claim 2, further comprising: a frame defining a closed cross section with the floor panel, the frame extending substantially in the front-rear direction, wherein the blocking wall of the gusset overlaps an outer end of the frame in the vehicle width direction in a plan view of the vehicle. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The underbody structure according to claim 1, wherein the gusset comprises a seat-attaching part on the upper wall. ### Claim 5 (depends on 2) The underbody structure according to claim 2, wherein the gusset comprises a seat-attaching part on the upper wall. ### Claim 6 (depends on 3) The underbody structure according to claim 3, wherein the gusset comprises a seat-attaching part on the upper wall. ### Claim 7 (depends on 4) The underbody structure according to claim 4, wherein the gusset comprises a bead in at least one of the front side wall and the rear side wall, the bead is disposed, in the vehicle width direction, between the seat-attaching part and a part of the protrusion where the protrusion is coupled to the side sill, and the bead extends in the vertical direction. ### Claim 8 (depends on 5) The underbody structure according to claim 5, wherein the gusset comprises a bead in at least one of the front side wall and the rear side wall, the bead is disposed, in the vehicle width direction, between the seat-attaching part and a part of the protrusion where the protrusion is coupled to the side sill, and the bead extends in the vertical direction. ### Claim 9 (depends on 6) The underbody structure according to claim 6, wherein the gusset comprises a bead in at least one of the front side wall and the rear side wall, the bead is disposed, in the vehicle width direction, between the seat-attaching part and a part of the protrusion where the protrusion is coupled to the side sill, and the bead extends in the vertical direction. ### Claim 10 (depends on 1) The underbody structure according to claim 1, wherein the cross member includes a substantially hat shape protruding upward in a side cross section, and defines a closed cross section with the floor panel. ### Claim 11 (depends on 1) The underbody structure according to claim 1, further comprising a seat rail, wherein the gusset is attached to a rear end of the seat rail on an outer side in the vehicle width direction. ### Claim 12 (depends on 1) The underbody structure according to claim 1, further comprising a seat rail, wherein the gusset is attached to a rear end of the seat rail on an outer side in the vehicle width direction. ### Claim 13 (depends on 1) The underbody structure according to claim 1, further comprising a seat rail, wherein the gusset is attached, via the seat-attaching part, to a rear end of the seat rail on an outer side in the vehicle width direction. ### Claim 14 (depends on 1) The underbody structure according to claim 1, further comprising a reinforcing member provided in a closed cross section defined by the cross member and the floor panel. ### Claim 15 (depends on 14) The underbody structure according to claim 14, wherein the reinforcing member includes: a pair of front and rear side walls; and an upper wall that is coupled to the side walls, wherein the side walls of the reinforcing member are joined respectively to a side walls of the cross member 6, and wherein the upper wall of the reinforcing member is joined to an upper wall of the cross member. ### Claim 16 (depends on 1) The underbody structure according to claim 1, wherein the upward extending part of the protrusion is separating from the side sill. ### Claim 17 (depends on 1) The underbody structure according to claim 1, wherein each of the front flange and the rear flange are separated from the floor panel. ### Claim 18 An underbody structure of a vehicle, the underbody structure comprising: a cross member provided on an upper surface of a floor panel, the cross member extending in a vehicle width direction of the vehicle; a side sill coupled to an outer end of the floor panel in the vehicle width direction, the side sill extending in a front-rear direction of the vehicle; and a gusset, wherein the cross member and the side sill are separated in the vehicle width direction, wherein the gusset is interposed between the cross member and the side sill, wherein the gusset includes: a front side wall and a rear side wall in pairs, each of the front side wall and the rear side wall comprising a lower end coupled to an outer end of the cross member in the vehicle width direction; an upper wall that coupled to an upper end of each of the front side wall and an upper end of the rear side wall; a protrusion provided at an outer end of the upper wall in the vehicle width direction, the protrusion protruding outward in the vehicle width direction from the upper wall; and a front flange and a rear flange in pairs, each of the front flange and the rear flange extending from a predetermined position in a vertical direction of an outer end of a corresponding one of the front side wall and the rear side wall in the vehicle width direction to a predetermined position in the vehicle width direction of a lower end of the corresponding one of the front side wall and the rear side walls, each of the front flange and the rear flange extending outward in the front-rear direction from the corresponding one of the front side wall and the rear side wall, each of the front flange and the rear flange being coupled to (i) a side part of the side sill and (ii) the outer end of the cross member in the vehicle width direction, and wherein each of the front flange and the rear flange are separated from the floor panel, and a U shaped reinforcement within the cross member and below the gusset.