# US 2014/0152044 A1 · Front structure for vehicle > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 2014/0152044 A1 - Document ID: US20140152044A1 - Status: Published application - Kind: A1 - Application number: 14/235,498 - Filed: 2012-07-16 - Published: 2014-06-05 - Earliest claimed: 2011-08-10 - Assignees: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha - Inventors: Tsuneaki Kaneko - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20140152044A1 ## CPC - B62D 25/145: {having a crossbeam incorporated therein} - B62D 21/09: Means for mounting load bearing surfaces - B62D 25/081: {Cowls (ventilating openings situated directly in front of the vehicle front window B60H1/28)} - 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 front structure for a vehicle includes a cowl panel which has at least a front wall and a bottom wall and which opens toward a top of the vehicle, a dash panel which has an upper end portion which is joined to the front wall of the cowl panel in an overlapping relationship in a vehicle length direction, and a patch which has a lower end side which is joined to the dash panel and an upper end side which is joined to the bottom wall of the cowl panel to form a closed cross-section in conjunction with the dash panel and the bottom wall. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A front structure for a vehicle, comprising: a cowl panel having at least a front wall and a bottom wall, the bottom wall extending from a lower end of the front wall toward a rear of the vehicle, and the cowl panel opening toward a top of the vehicle; a dash panel having an upper end portion joined to the front wall of the cowl panel in an overlapping relationship in a vehicle length direction; and a reinforcing member having a lower end side and an upper end side, the lower end side being joined to the dash panel at a junction, the upper end side being joined to the bottom wall of the cowl panel, to provide a closed cross-section in conjunction with the dash panel and the bottom wall, wherein the dash panel has a pair of folded portions provided apart from each other in a vehicle width direction, and the junction between the lower end side of the reinforcing member and the dash panel includes a plurality of main junctions that are located between the pair of folded portions of the dash panel; wherein the junction between the lower end side of the reinforcing member and the dash panel includes at least two subsidiary junctions, the pair of folded portions of the dash panel being sandwiched between the subsidiary junctions in a vehicle width direction; wherein the front wall of the cowl panel and the dash panel are joined along a vehicle width direction; wherein the upper end side of the reinforcing member is joined to the cowl panel at at least two portions located at different positions along the vehicle width direction; and wherein the reinforcing member has a main body portion, the main body portion providing a closed cross-section in conjunction with the dash panel and the bottom wall of the cowl panel in a vehicle width direction. ### Claim 2 (canceled) ### Claim 3 (canceled) ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The front structure for a vehicle according to claim 1, wherein the subsidiary junctions are provided on a pair of leg portions, the pair of leg portions extending from a lower end side of the reinforcing member in opposite directions along a vehicle width direction. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The front structure for a vehicle according to claim 1, wherein the upper end side of the reinforcing member is joined to the bottom wall of the cowl panel at a plurality of points. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The front structure for a vehicle according claim 1, wherein the main body portion has a first edge, a second end side and a reinforcing wall, the first edge linearly extending along a first end side of the main body portion in a vehicle width direction between the dash panel and the bottom wall, the second edge extending in an arcuate configuration as seen in a side view along a second end side of the main body portion in a vehicle width direction between the dash panel and the bottom wall, and the reinforcing wall protruding in a vehicle length direction from the second edge. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The front structure for a vehicle according to claim 1, wherein the reinforcing member further includes a lower flange, an upper flange, a lower restricting portion and an upper restricting portion, the lower flange being bent at a lower end of the main body portion and extending along a back side of the dash panel and is joined to the dash panel; is the upper flange being bent at an upper end of the main body portion, extending along a lower face of the bottom wall and being joined to the bottom wall; the lower restricting portion restricting deformation which tends to increase a bend angle between the main body portion and the lower flange; and the upper restricting portion restricting deformation which tends to increase a bend angle between the main body portion and the upper flange. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The front structure for a vehicle according to claim 1, wherein the main body portion of the reinforcing member has a plurality of openings, the main body portion providing a closed cross-section in conjunction with the dash panel and the cowl panel.