# US 7,410,018 B2 · Vehicle body front structure > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 7,410,018 B2 - Document ID: US7410018B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 10/096,684 - Filed: 2002-03-14 - Published: 2002-09-19 - Granted: 2008-08-12 - Earliest claimed: 2001-03-15 - Assignees: Fuji Jukogyo Kabushiki Kaisha - Inventors: Kenichi Satou - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US7410018B2 ## CPC - B60R 19/12: vertically spaced - B60R 19/48: combined with, or convertible into, other devices or objects, e.g. bumpers combined with road brushes, bumpers convertible into beds - B62D 25/084: {Radiator supports} - B62D 35/02: Streamlining the undersurfaces {(B62D35/005, B62D35/007, B62D35/008 take precedence)} - B60R 21/34: Protecting non-occupants of a vehicle, e.g. pedestrians {(B60R19/02 takes precedence)} - B60R 2019/182: {of light metal, e.g. extruded} - B60R 2019/1833: {made of plastic material} - B60R 2019/1866: {Cellular structures} - B60R 2019/1873: {Cellular materials} - B60R 2019/1886: {Bumper fascias and fastening means therefor} - Y02T 10/88: Optimized components or subsystems, e.g. lighting, actively controlled glasses - B60R: VEHICLES, VEHICLE FITTINGS, OR VEHICLE PARTS, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR - 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) - Y02T: CLIMATE CHANGE MITIGATION TECHNOLOGIES RELATED TO TRANSPORTATION ## Abstract A lower member of a radiator core support includes a front end module formed so as to protrude forward, so that a protruding portion of the lower member is used as an impact absorbing frame member. A lower end portion of a bumper face may be superimposed fixedly on a lower surface of the protruding portion. A lower impact absorbing portion may be made of foamed resin and may be accommodated in the interior of a lower protruding portion, and this lower impact absorbing portion may be fixedly provided at a front end surface of the protruding portion. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A vehicle body front structure comprising: a molded one-piece front end module disposed at a front end of a vehicle body, said molded one-piece front end module comprising: a radiator core support; and a protruding portion; and a front bumper including a lower portion enclosing an upper impact absorbing member and a lower impact absorbing member, wherein said lower impact absorbing member is supported by said protruding portion. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The vehicle body front structure as set forth in claim 1, wherein said protruding portion has a transverse length that is substantially equal to a transverse length of a bumper beam disposed forward of said radiator core support. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) The vehicle body front structure as set forth in claim 2, wherein a front end surface of said protruding portion extends substantially parallel to a front end surface of said bumper beam. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The vehicle body front structure as set forth in claim 1, wherein a front end surface of said protruding portion extends substantially parallel to a front end surface of a bumper beam that is disposed forward of said radiator core support. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The vehicle body front structure as set forth in claim 1, wherein said lower impact absorbing member comprises foamed resin. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The structure of claim 1, further comprising a bumper beam attached to a bracket portion of the molded one-piece front end module. ### Claim 7 (depends on 6) The structure of claim 6, further comprising an upper impact absorbing member mounted on a forward face of said bumper beam. ### Claim 8 (depends on 7) The structure of claim 7, wherein said lower impact absorbing member has a greater strength resisting impact load than the upper impact absorbing member. ### Claim 9 (depends on 6) The structure of claim 6, wherein said front bumper is attached to an upper face of said bumper beam and a lower face of said protruding portion. ### Claim 10 (depends on 1) The structure of claim 1, wherein said front end module further comprises bracket portions that are integrally-formed with said radiator core support, wherein said front bumper further comprises an upper portion enclosing an upper impact absorbing member, wherein said upper impact absorbing member is supported by said bracket portions. ### Claim 11 (depends on 1) The structure of claim 1, wherein the radiator core support comprises: an upper member; a lower member; and a pair of side members, wherein the upper member and the lower member extend in a transverse direction of the vehicle, and the pair of side members vertically connect the upper member to the lower member, wherein the protruding portion is integrally-formed with the lower member. ### Claim 12 (depends on 11) The structure of claim 11, wherein the radiator core support further comprises a rear wall. ### Claim 13 (depends on 12) The structure of claim 12, wherein the upper member, the lower member and the pair of side members form a radiator accommodating portion. ### Claim 14 (depends on 12) The structure of claim 12, further comprising a plurality of ribs extending from said backside of said protruding portion to behind a lower portion of said rear wall. ### Claim 15 (depends on 1) The structure of claim 1, wherein said protruding portion comprises a plurality of ribs on a backside of said protruding portion for reinforcing the protruding portion. ### Claim 16 (depends on 1) The vehicle body front structure as set forth in claim 1, wherein said lower impact absorbing member comprises: a rib; and a plurality of beads provided between said rib and said protruding portion, to thereby transmit the impact from said rib to said protruding portion. ### Claim 17 (depends on 16) The vehicle body front structure as set forth in claim 16, wherein at least one of said beads comprises a stepped portion that is mounted to the protruding portion. ### Claim 18 A vehicle body front structure comprising: a molded one-piece front end module that comprises: a radiator core support; and a forwardly protruding portion; a lower impact absorbing member supported by said forwardly protruding portion; and a front bumper having a lower portion that encloses the lower impact absorbing member. ### Claim 19 (depends on 18) The structure of claim 18, further comprising a bumper beam attached to a bracket of the molded one-piece front end module. ### Claim 20 (depends on 19) The structure of claim 19, further comprising an upper impact absorbing member mounted on a forward face of said bumper beam. ### Claim 21 (depends on 20) The structure of claim 20, wherein said lower impact absorbing member has a larger strength resisting impact load than the upper impact absorbing member. ### Claim 22 (depends on 19) The structure of claim 19, wherein said front bumper is attached to an upper face of said bumper beam and a lower face of said forwardly protruding portion. ### Claim 23 (depends on 18) The structure of claim 18, wherein said front end module further comprises bracket portions that are integrally-formed with said radiator core support, wherein said front bumper further comprises an upper portion enclosing an upper impact absorbing member, wherein said upper impact absorbing member is supported by said bracket portions. ### Claim 24 (depends on 18) The structure of claim 18, wherein the radiator core support comprises: an upper member; a lower member; and a pair of side members, wherein the upper member and the lower member extend in a transverse direction of the vehicle, and the pair of side members vertically connect the upper member to the lower member, wherein the forwardly protruding portion is integrally-formed with the lower member. ### Claim 25 (depends on 18) The structure of claim 18, wherein said forwardly protruding portion comprises a plurality of ribs on a backside of said forwardly protruding portion for reinforcing the forwardly protruding portion. ### Claim 26 A vehicle body front structure comprising: a molded an one-piece front end module that comprises: a radiator core support; a forwardly protruding portion; and a bracket portion; a lower impact absorbing member supported by the forwardly protruding portion; a bumper beam attached to the bracket portion of the molded one-piece front end module; an upper impact absorbing member supported by the bumper beam; and a front bumper enclosing the lower impact absorbing member and the upper impact absorbing member. ### Claim 27 (depends on 26) The structure of claim 26, wherein the forwardly protruding portion is provided on a lower member of the radiator core support. ### Claim 28 (depends on 26) The structure of claim 26, wherein a front surface of the forwardly protruding portion is opposed substantially in parallel to a vertical surface of said front bumper. ### Claim 29 (depends on 28) The structure of claim 28, wherein said forwardly protruding portion is opposed substantially in parallel to said vertical surface of said front bumper along substantially the full transverse length of said front bumper. ### Claim 30 (depends on 26) The structure of claim 26, wherein said molded one-piece front end module further comprises a lamp housing on each side of said radiator core support. ### Claim 31 (depends on 30) The structure of claim 30, wherein said bracket portion protrudes forward at bottom portions of said lamp housings. ### Claim 32 (depends on 26) The structure of claim 26, further comprising side members fastened to said bracket portion. ### Claim 33 (depends on 26) The structure of claim 26, wherein a front end surface of said bumper beam is opposed substantially in parallel to a vertical surface of an upper protruding portion of said front bumper. ### Claim 34 (depends on 33) The structure of claim 33, wherein said front end surface of said bumper beam is opposed substantially in parallel to said vertical surface of said upper protruding portion of said front bumper across substantially the entire transverse length of said bumper beam. ### Claim 35 (depends on 26) The structure of claim 26, wherein a front end surface of said bumper beam is substantially parallel to a front end surface of said forwardly protruding portion. ### Claim 36 (depends on 26) The structure of claim 26, wherein said lower impact absorbing member has a greater impact resistance than said upper impact absorbing member. ### Claim 37 (depends on 26) The structure of claim 26, wherein said forwardly protruding portion comprises a plurality of ribs on a backside of said forwardly protruding portion for reinforcing the forwardly protruding portion. ### Claim 38 A vehicle body front structure comprising: a molded one-piece front end module disposed at a front end of a vehicle body and comprising: a radiator core support for holding a radiator core and a condenser; and a forwardly protruding portion; and a front bumper including a lower portion enclosing a lower impact absorbing member, wherein the radiator core support comprises an upper member, a lower member and a pair of side members, wherein the upper member and the lower member extend in a transverse direction of the vehicle, and the pair of side members vertically connect the upper member to the lower member, wherein the lower member comprises said forwardly protruding portion disposed at a front portion of the lower member, and wherein the lower impact absorbing member is supported by the forwardly protruding portion. ### Claim 39 (depends on 38) The structure of claim 38, wherein the forwardly protruding portion has a transverse length that is substantially equal to a transverse length of a bumper beam disposed forward of the radiator core support. ### Claim 40 (depends on 38) The structure of claim 38, wherein a front end surface of the forwardly protruding portion extends substantially parallel to a front end surface of a bumper beam that is disposed forward of the radiator core support. ### Claim 41 (depends on 38) The structure of claim 38, wherein the lower impact absorbing member comprises foamed resin. ### Claim 42 (depends on 38) The structure of claim 38, further comprising a bumper beam attached to a bracket of the molded one-piece front end module. ### Claim 43 (depends on 42) The structure of claim 42, further comprising an upper impact absorbing member mounted on a forward face of the bumper beam. ### Claim 44 (depends on 43) The structure of claim 43, wherein the lower impact absorbing member has a greater strength resisting impact load than the upper impact absorbing member. ### Claim 45 (depends on 42) The structure of claim 42, wherein the front bumper is attached to an upper face of the bumper beam and a lower face of the forwardly protruding portion. ### Claim 46 (depends on 45) The structure of claim 45, wherein the radiator core support further comprises a bracket portion and a lamp housing on each side of the radiator core support. ### Claim 47 (depends on 46) The structure of claim 46, wherein the bracket portion protrudes at a bottom portion of at least one of the lamp housings. ### Claim 48 (depends on 38) The structure of claim 38, wherein the front end module further comprises bracket portions that are integrally-formed with the radiator core support, wherein the front bumper further comprises an upper portion enclosing an upper impact absorbing member, and wherein the upper impact absorbing member is supported by the bracket portions. ### Claim 49 (depends on 38) The structure of claim 38, wherein said forwardly protruding portion comprises a plurality of ribs on a backside of said forwardly protruding portion for reinforcing the forwardly protruding portion.