US 5,346,275 A · Rear end of a vehicle body

Abstract

An improved rear end design for a vehicle body including a first, upper cross member and a second, lower cross member fitted one over the other to form a compound beam. Each cross member is preferably formed as an aluminum extrusion. The upper cross member has the same contour shape as the lower edge of the access door for the trunk. The lower cross member lies below the level of the trunk floor and includes a middle region contour having a curve which matches a corresponding overlying middle region of the upper cross member. Each side end of the lower cross member curves forward under the trunk floor and is joined to a corresponding end of a pair of transversely spaced longitudinal side bearer members or impact-absorption units. The invention provides for a stable rear-end construction, particularly at the joints with the rear impact-absorption units, and also forms a support edge for the trunk-access door. The invention also results in less extensive repairs in the event of a rear collision.

Claims20

Dependent claims

In a vehicle body rear end which includes a pair of transversely spaced longitudinal bearers each having an impact-absorption unit disposed at a rearward end portion thereof, a trunk floor interposed between said longitudinal bearers and a trunk-access door, an improved rear end bearing structure comprising in operative combination:

a) a lower cross member disposed beneath the level of the trunk floor having a middle region and opposed ends, each of said ends being forwardly curved and joined in abutment with a corresponding impact-absorption unit of said pair of longitudinal bearers;
b) an upper cross member disposed on top of said lower cross member and having a middle region aligned with said middle region of said lower cross member and a pair of ends on which are supported outwardly disposed rear body elements, said upper cross member having a contour forming a lower supporting edge of the trunk-access door;
and
c) means for connecting said middle portions of said upper and lower cross members to form a compound beam.

1 more element

In a rear end of a light metal vehicle body including a pair of transversely spaced longitudinal bearers each having an impact-absorption unit disposed at a rearward end portion thereof, a trunk floor interposed between said longitudinal bearers and a trunk-access door, an improved rear end bearing structure comprising in operative combination:

a) an extruded light metal lower cross member disposed beneath the level of the trunk floor having a middle region and opposed ends, each of said ends being forwardly curved and joined in abutment with a corresponding impact-absorption unit of said pair of longitudinal bearers;
b) an extruded light metal upper cross member disposed on top of said lower cross member and having a middle region aligned with said middle region of said lower cross member and a pair of ends on which are supported outwardly disposed rear body elements, said upper cross member having a contour forming a lower supporting edge of the trunk-access door;
and
c) means for connecting said middle portions of said upper and lower cross members to form a compound beam.

1 more element

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Rear end of a vehicle body

Life of this patent

Rear end of a vehicle body

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims20