# US 6,296,299 B1 · Frame structure for vehicle body > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 6,296,299 B1 - Document ID: US6296299B1 - Status: Granted - Kind: B1 - Application number: 09/423,313 - Filed: 1999-11-12 - Granted: 2001-10-02 - Earliest claimed: 1998-03-31 - Assignees: Mazda Motor Corporation - Inventors: Katsunori Hanakawa; Mitsugi Fukahori; Kyoso Ishida; Yukio Yamamoto - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US6296299B1 ## CPC - B60J 5/0443: {Beams} - B29C 64/40: Structures for supporting 3D objects during manufacture and intended to be sacrificed after completion thereof - B62D 25/04: Door pillars {; windshield pillars} - B62D 29/002: {a foamable synthetic material or metal being added in situ (shaping of substances in a plastic state by foaming, in general B29C44/00)} - B60J: WINDOWS, WINDSCREENS, NON-FIXED ROOFS, DOORS, OR SIMILAR DEVICES FOR VEHICLES; REMOVABLE EXTERNAL PROTECTIVE COVERINGS SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR VEHICLES (fastening, suspending, closing, or opening of such devices E05) - B29C: SHAPING OR JOINING OF PLASTICS; SHAPING OF MATERIAL IN A PLASTIC STATE, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR; AFTER-TREATMENT OF THE SHAPED PRODUCTS, e.g. REPAIRING (making preforms B29B11/00; making laminated products by combining previously unconnected layers which become one product whose layers will remain together B32B37/00 - B32B41/00) - 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 Material characteristics that a foamed filler material (s) to be filled in a frame cross section (fr) should have are discussed. By using a material complying with the characteristics, the energy absorbability of the frame (fr) is effectively enhanced. In a frame structure (fr) for vehicle bodies in which a filler material is filled in at least part of the cross section of a frame, the filler material is set to a mean compressive strength of not less than 4 MPa and/or a maximum bending strength of not less than 10 MPa. More particularly, the filler material is set to a mean compressive strength of not less than 5 MPa and/or a maximum bending strength of 60 MPa. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A frame structure for vehicle bodies in which a filler material is filled in at least a portion of a cross section of the frame, said filler material is made of a porous material having a mean compressive strength defined for a collision load input side of the frame set to not less than 4 MPa and a maximum bending strength defined for a counter collision load input side of the frame set to not less than 10 MPa; an adhesive layer provided between the collision load input side of the filler material and at least a portion of a panel member constituting the frame cross section and a reinforcing member for reinforcing at least one of the frame and the filler material is disposed in at least a portion of the frame cross section, for holding the filler material; wherein the adhesive layer has a shearing adhesive strength of not less than 3 MPa and holes of the porous material are formed independently, thereby enhancing closeness of the adhesive layer. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The frame structure for vehicle bodies according to claim 1, wherein the filler material has a mean compressive strength set to not less than 5 MPa and a maximum bending strength set to not less than 60 MPa. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The frame structure for vehicle bodies according to claim 1 wherein the filler material has a density set to not more than 1.0 (g/cm3). ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The frame structure for vehicle bodies according to claim 1, wherein the filler material is epoxy resin. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The frame structure for vehicle bodies according to claim 1, wherein the filler material is filled over a range of 15% or more of a length between fixed points of the frame of the vehicle body. ### Claim 6 A frame structure for vehicle bodies in which a filler material is filled in at least a portion of a cross section of the frame, said filler material is made of a porous material having a mean compressive strength defined for a collision load input side of the frame set to not less than 4 MPa and a maximum bending strength defined for a counter collision load input side of the frame set to not less than 10 MPa; and an adhesive layer provided between the collision load input side of the filler material and at least a portion of a panel member constituting the frame cross section; wherein the adhesive layer has a shearing adhesive strength of not less than 3 MPa and holes of the porous material are formed independently, thereby enhancing closeness of the adhesive layer.