# US 7,407,192 B2 · Vehicle end structure > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 7,407,192 B2 - Document ID: US7407192B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 11/168,342 - Filed: 2005-06-29 - Published: 2006-01-05 - Granted: 2008-08-05 - Earliest claimed: 2004-07-01 - Assignees: Nissan Motor Co., Ltd. - Inventors: Motonobu Yoshimura - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US7407192B2 ## CPC - B62D 21/11: with resilient means for suspension {, e.g. of wheels or engine; sub-frames for mounting engine or suspensions} - B62D 21/155: {Sub-frames or underguards} - 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 end structure comprises a pair of side frame members disposed at a longitudinal end portion adjacent to a cabin and a suspension support member disposed below the side frame members in a portion adjacent to the cabin. A pair of pressure receiving members is provided that are fixedly coupled to the suspension support member and extend toward a longitudinal end of the vehicle in direction substantially parallel to the side frame members. Thus, the vehicle end structure is configured and arranged to minimize the influence on the cabin even when collision energy is inputted from the longitudinal end of the vehicle. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A vehicle end structure comprising: first and second side frame members longitudinally extending from proximal end portions located adjacent to a cabin of a vehicle to distal end portions located at a longitudinal end portion of the vehicle; a suspension support member disposed below the first and second side frame members adjacent to the proximal end portions of the first and second side frame members; and first and second pressure receiving members having proximal end portions coupled to a front end portion of the suspension support member and distal end portions longitudinally spaced from the proximal end portions of the first and second pressure receiving members, respectively, so that the first and second pressure receiving members extend from the front end portion of the suspension support member to the longitudinal end portion of the vehicle in directions substantially parallel to the first and second side frame members, respectively, and so that the distal end portions of the first and second pressure receiving members are substantially vertically aligned with the distal end portions of the first and second side frame members, respectively, as viewed in a vehicle transverse direction, each of the first and second pressure receiving members including a plurality of deformation structures that are spaced apart in an axial direction of the first and second pressure receiving members. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The vehicle end structure as recited in claim 1, wherein the first and second pressure receiving members are fixedly coupled to the suspension support member by welding or bolt fastening. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The vehicle end structure as recited in claim 1, further comprising a crossbar member extending between the first and second pressure receiving members at the longitudinal end portion of the vehicle. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The vehicle end structure according to claim 1, wherein the deformation structures are configured and arranged to allow a respective one of the first and second pressure receiving members to deform along a center axis of the respective one of the first and second pressure receiving members. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The vehicle end structure according to claim 1, wherein the deformation structures extend in a direction substantially orthogonal to a center axis of a respective one of the first and second pressure receiving members. ### Claim 6 (depends on 5) The vehicle end structure as recited in claim 5, wherein the deformation structures are arranged such that a width of each of the deformation structures gradually decreases from a longitudinal end portion toward the cabin of the vehicle. ### Claim 7 (depends on 5) The vehicle end structure as recited in claim 5, wherein the deformation structures are arranged such that an interval between two adjacent deformation structures gradually increases from a longitudinal end portion toward the cabin of the vehicle. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The vehicle end structure as recited in claim 1, wherein each of the first and second pressure receiving members is formed as a one-piece, unitary member. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The vehicle end structure as recited in claim 1, wherein each of the first and second pressure receiving members has a closed cross sectional shape. ### Claim 10 (depends on 9) The vehicle end structure as recited in claim 9, wherein each of the first and second pressure receiving members includes a continuous wall section with first and second widthwise edge portions extending substantially parallel to a center axis of a respective one of the first and second pressure receiving members, and a joint section where the first and second widthwise edge portions of the continuous wall section are coupled together to form the closed cross sectional shape. ### Claim 11 (depends on 10) The vehicle end structure as recited in claim 10, wherein the joint sections of the first and second pressure receiving members are disposed directly under the first and second side frame members, respectively. ### Claim 12 (depends on 10) The vehicle end structure as recited in claim 10, wherein the joint section of each of the first and second pressure receiving members is disposed on a top wall surface of a respective one of the first and second pressure receiving members. ### Claim 13 (depends on 1) The vehicle end structure as recited in claim 1, further comprising a reinforcement member coupled to the suspension support member, and configured and arranged to reinforce the suspension support member against a collision energy imparted to the suspension support member through the first and second pressure receiving members. ### Claim 14 A vehicle end structure comprising: vehicle end supporting means for supporting a longitudinal end portion of the vehicle with the vehicle end supporting means extending from a proximal end portion located adjacent to a cabin of a vehicle to a distal end portion located at the longitudinal end portion of the vehicle; suspension supporting means for supporting a suspension with the suspension supporting means being disposed below the vehicle end supporting means adjacent to the proximal end portion of the vehicle end supporting means; pressure receiving means for absorbing an impact force between the longitudinal end portion of the vehicle and the suspension supporting means with the pressure receiving means extending from a front end portion of the suspension supporting means to the longitudinal end portion of the vehicle in a direction substantially parallel to the vehicle end supporting means such that a distal end portion of the pressure receiving means is substantially vertically aligned with the distal end portion of the vehicle end supporting means as viewed in a vehicle transverse direction; and deforming means for causing the pressure receiving means to deform along a center axis of the pressure receiving means upon the impact force being imparted to the pressure receiving means.