# US 11,993,316 B2 · 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 11,993,316 B2 - Document ID: US11993316B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 17/751,967 - Filed: 2022-05-24 - Published: 2023-03-09 - Granted: 2024-05-28 - Earliest claimed: 2021-08-27 - Assignees: Hyundai Motor Company; Kia Corporation - Applicants: Hyundai Motor Company; Kia Corporation - Inventors: Deok Hwa Hong; Il Do Kim; Byeong Cheon Lee; Kwang Hee An; Ji Woong Park - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US11993316B2 ## CPC - B62D 27/023: {Assembly of structural joints} - B62D 25/025: {Side sills thereof} - B62D 25/04: Door pillars {; windshield pillars} - B62D 25/2018: {the subunits being front structures} - B62D 25/082: {Engine compartments} - B62D 25/14: Dashboards as superstructure sub-units (other dashboard aspects B60K) - 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 vehicle body structure includes: a front pillar; a front side member located in front of the front pillar and extending in a longitudinal direction of the vehicle; a side sill connected to a bottom end of the front pillar; and a rear lower member connecting the front side member, the side sill, and the front pillar, where the rear lower member includes a front connection portion connected to a rear portion of the front side member, and a rear connection portion connected to a lower portion of the front pillar and a front portion of the side sill, and the rear connection portion includes an upper engagement wall joined to the front pillar, and a lower engagement wall joined to the side sill. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A vehicle body structure, comprising: a front pillar; a front side member located in front of the front pillar and extending in a longitudinal direction of a vehicle; a side sill connected to a bottom end of the front pillar; and a rear lower member connecting the front side member, the side sill, and the front pillar, wherein the rear lower member includes a front connection portion connected to a rear portion of the front side member, a rear connection portion connected to a lower portion of the front pillar and a front portion of the side sill, and an upper connection portion connecting the front side member and the front pillar, wherein the rear connection portion includes an upper engagement wall joined to the front pillar, and a lower engagement wall joined to the side sill, and wherein the upper connection portion includes a plurality of upper ribs extending between the front side member and the front pillar in the longitudinal direction of the vehicle. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The vehicle body structure according to claim 1, wherein the upper engagement wall and the lower engagement wall have a same shape and a same dimension. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The vehicle body structure according to claim 1, wherein the front connection portion has two or more walls matching at least two walls of the front side member. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The vehicle body structure according to claim 1, wherein the rear lower member further includes a lower connection portion connecting the front side member and the side sill. ### Claim 5 (depends on 4) The vehicle body structure according to claim 4, wherein the lower connection portion includes a plurality of lower ribs extending between the front side member and the side sill in the longitudinal direction of the vehicle. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The vehicle body structure according to claim 1, wherein: the side sill has a closed cross section in which a plurality of cavities are defined, the lower engagement wall of the rear lower member is joined to an inboard sidewall of the side sill, and at least a portion of the inboard sidewall and at least a portion of a bottom wall of the side sill have a common area having the same shape and the same dimension. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The vehicle body structure according to claim 1, wherein the front pillar includes an upper engagement portion joined to the upper engagement wall of the rear lower member, and a lower engagement portion joined to a top wall and an outboard sidewall of the side sill. ### Claim 8 (depends on 7) The vehicle body structure according to claim 7, wherein the lower engagement portion has an L-shaped cross section matching the top wall and the outboard sidewall of the side sill. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The vehicle body structure according to claim 1, further comprising an outer reinforcement joined to the rear lower member to cover an outboard side of the rear lower member, wherein the rear lower member has flanges joined to edges of the outer reinforcement. ### Claim 10 (depends on 9) The vehicle body structure according to claim 9, wherein the outer reinforcement includes a front engagement portion joined to the rear portion of the front side member. ### Claim 11 (depends on 9) The vehicle body structure according to claim 9, further comprising a side sill reinforcement closing an open front end of the side sill, wherein the side sill reinforcement has at least one engagement portion joined to at least one of the outer reinforcement and the front pillar. ### Claim 12 (depends on 11) The vehicle body structure according to claim 11, wherein the outer reinforcement includes a first rear engagement portion joined to the front pillar and a second rear engagement portion joined to the side sill reinforcement, and the first rear engagement portion and the second rear engagement portion partially overlap. ### Claim 13 (depends on 11) The vehicle body structure according to claim 11, wherein the side sill reinforcement includes a plurality of flanges joined to the side sill, a top engagement portion joined to the front pillar, and a front engagement portion joined to the outer reinforcement, and the top engagement portion and the front engagement portion partially overlap. ### Claim 14 (depends on 1) The vehicle body structure according to claim 1, further comprising a pillar reinforcement joined to the lower portion of the front pillar, wherein the pillar reinforcement has at least one engagement portion joined to at least one of the side sill and the rear lower member. ### Claim 15 (depends on 14) The vehicle body structure according to claim 14, wherein the pillar reinforcement includes a top engagement portion joined to the lower portion of the front pillar, a bottom engagement portion joined to the side sill, and an inboard-side engagement portion joined to the rear lower member. ### Claim 16 (depends on 15) The vehicle body structure according to claim 15, wherein the inboard-side engagement portion includes a first overlap portion which is overlapped by the top engagement portion, and a second overlap portion which is overlapped by the bottom engagement portion, the first overlap portion is interposed between the upper engagement portion of the front pillar and the upper engagement wall of the rear lower member, and the second overlap portion is interposed between the lower engagement wall of the rear lower member and the side sill. ### Claim 17 (depends on 1) The vehicle body structure according to claim 1, further comprising a reinforcing member interposed between the upper engagement wall of the rear connection portion, the side sill, and the front pillar. ### Claim 18 (depends on 1) The vehicle body structure according to claim 1, wherein the rear connection portion further includes a connection wall connecting the upper engagement wall and the lower engagement wall. ### Claim 19 (depends on 18) The vehicle body structure according to claim 18, further comprising a reinforcing member interposed between a portion of the upper engagement wall of the rear connection portion, the connection wall of the rear connection portion, a portion of the lower engagement wall of the rear connection portion, the side sill, and the front pillar. ### Claim 20 (depends on 1) The vehicle body structure according to claim 1, wherein the rear connection portion of the rear lower member further includes a reinforcing rib extending from the lower engagement wall toward the side sill, and the reinforcing rib is joined to a top wall of the side sill.