# US 12,600,225 B2 · Vehicle front structure

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- Number: US 12,600,225 B2
- Document ID: US12600225B2
- Status: Granted
- Kind: B2
- Application number: 18/455,249
- Filed: 2023-08-24
- Published: 2024-05-23
- Granted: 2026-04-14
- Earliest claimed: 2022-11-17
- Assignees: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
- Applicants: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
- Inventors: Yukari Sumie; Masayuki Okano
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US12600225B2

## CPC

- B60K 11/08: Air inlets for cooling; Shutters or blinds therefor
- B60Q 5/00: Arrangement or adaptation of acoustic signal devices
- B60R 19/52: Radiator or grille guards {; Radiator grilles (cooling aspects B60K11/08)}
- B60K: ARRANGEMENT OR MOUNTING OF PROPULSION UNITS OR OF TRANSMISSIONS IN VEHICLES; ARRANGEMENT OR MOUNTING OF PLURAL DIVERSE PRIME-MOVERS IN VEHICLES; AUXILIARY DRIVES FOR VEHICLES; INSTRUMENTATION OR DASHBOARDS FOR VEHICLES; ARRANGEMENTS IN CONNECTION WITH COOLING, AIR INTAKE, GAS EXHAUST OR FUEL SUPPLY OF PROPULSION UNITS IN VEHICLES
- B60Q: ARRANGEMENT OF SIGNALLING OR LIGHTING DEVICES, THE MOUNTING OR SUPPORTING THEREOF OR CIRCUITS THEREFOR, FOR VEHICLES IN GENERAL
- B60R: VEHICLES, VEHICLE FITTINGS, OR VEHICLE PARTS, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR

## Abstract

The vehicle front structure includes a radiator provided at a distance from the front bumper to the rear, an air guide duct provided between the front bumper and the radiator in the vehicle front-rear direction, and a vibration member mounted on a wall surface of the air guide duct. Vibration of the vibration member vibrates the wall surface, whereby a sound (horn sound) is emitted to the internal space of the air guide duct. The horn sound is amplified by resonance in the internal space, and is emitted in the forward direction of the vehicle through the front opening of the air guide duct.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A vehicle front structure, comprising:
a member to be cooled;
an air guide duct having a front opening that is open in a forward direction of a vehicle, the air guide duct being configured to send air entering through the front opening to the member to be cooled; and
a vibration member mounted on a surface of a wall of the air guide duct and configured to generate a horn sound in an internal space of the air guide duct by vibrating the surface of the wall, wherein
the front opening has a cross-sectional area that increases toward the forward direction of the vehicle, and
the wall of the air guide duct includes a plurality of internal walls, wherein the plurality of internal walls stand from an inner surface of the wall toward the internal space and are parallel to each other.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The vehicle front structure according to claim 1, wherein:
the wall of the air guide duct includes a flat plate portion in a form of a flat plate; and
the vibration member is mounted on a central part of the flat plate portion.

### Claim 3 (depends on 1)

The vehicle front structure according to claim 1, wherein the vibration member vibrates at a same frequency as a natural frequency of the internal space of the air guide duct.

### Claim 4 (depends on 1)

The vehicle front structure according to claim 1, wherein the inner surface of the wall of the air guide duct is smooth.

### Claim 5 (depends on 4)

The vehicle front structure according to claim 4, wherein the inner surface of the wall of the air guide duct includes a continuous plane or curved surface with no steps or protrusions.

### Claim 6 (depends on 1)

The vehicle front structure according to claim 1, wherein each internal wall of the plurality of internal walls includes a first edge and a second edge opposite to the first edge, the first edge being connected to the inner surface of the wall of the air guide duct, and the second edge being a free edge.

### Claim 7 (depends on 1)

The vehicle front structure according to claim 1, wherein the wall of the air guide duct includes two internal walls that face each other so as to generate a standing wave between the two internal walls.

### Claim 8 (depends on 1)

The vehicle front structure according to claim 1, wherein the member to be cooled is a radiator.

### Claim 9 (depends on 1)

The vehicle front structure according to claim 1, wherein the front opening of the air guide duct has a megaphone shape.

### Claim 10 (depends on 1)

The vehicle front structure according to claim 1, wherein the vibration member is a motor configured to vibrate in response to receiving a control signal transmitted from an in-vehicle electronic control unit mounted on the vehicle.