# US 8,783,760 B2 · Suspension strut tower brace > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 8,783,760 B2 - Document ID: US8783760B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 13/660,070 - Filed: 2012-10-25 - Published: 2014-05-01 - Granted: 2014-07-22 - Earliest claimed: 2012-10-25 - Assignees: Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing North America, Inc. - Applicants: Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing North America, Inc. - Inventors: George J. Van Kaam - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US8783760B2 ## CPC - B62D 25/082: {Engine compartments} - B60G 3/06: the arm being rigid - B60G 7/02: Attaching arms to sprung part of vehicle {(B60G7/006 takes precedence)} - B60G 15/068: {specially adapted for MacPherson strut-type suspension} - B62D 25/088: {Details of structures as upper supports for springs or dampers} - B62D 25/14: Dashboards as superstructure sub-units (other dashboard aspects B60K) - B60G 2200/142: with a single lateral arm, e.g. MacPherson type - B60G 2204/1242: on a damper, e.g. MacPerson strut - B60G 2204/128: Damper mount on vehicle body or chassis - B60G 2204/143: on the vehicle body or chassis - B60G 2206/11: the arm being a radius or track or torque or steering rod or stabiliser end link - 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) - B60G: VEHICLE SUSPENSION ARRANGEMENTS (air-cushion vehicles B60V; {cycle suspensions B62K25/00}) ## Abstract A vehicle suspension strut tower bracing system includes a first suspension strut tower and a second suspension strut tower spaced from the first strut tower. At least one wall extends between and interconnects the first strut tower to the second strut tower. At least one strut tower brace is attached to the wall and spaced from the first and second strut towers. The strut tower brace includes a first support member having a first end and an opposite second end, and a second support member attached to the first support member at location spaced inward from the first and second ends of the first support member. The second support member is arranged at an oblique angle relative to the first support member so as to form a generally Y-shaped configuration. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A vehicle suspension strut tower bracing system comprising: a first suspension strut tower; a second suspension strut tower spaced apart from the first strut tower; at least one wall interconnecting the first strut tower to the second strut tower; at least one strut tower brace having a first end and a second end opposite the first end, the first and second ends fixedly attached to the at least one wall, wherein the entire at least one strut tower brace overlays the at least one wall and is spaced from the first and second strut towers; wherein the strut tower brace comprises: a first support member including the first end and the opposite second end; and a second support member having a first end fixedly attached to the first support member at location spaced inward from the first and second ends of the first support member, and a second end opposite the first end fixedly attached to the at least one wall. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The strut tower bracing system of claim 1, wherein the second support member is arranged at an oblique angle relative to the first support member. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The strut tower bracing system of claim 1, wherein the first support member is arranged substantially parallel to a ground surface. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The strut tower bracing system of claim 1, wherein the first and second support members generally form a Y-shaped configuration. ### Claim 5 (depends on 4) The strut tower bracing system of claim 4, wherein at least one of the at least one strut tower braces is positioned entirely between one of the first and second strut towers and a longitudinal center plane of the vehicle. ### Claim 6 (depends on 5) The strut tower bracing system of claim 5, wherein an open end of the at least one strut tower brace is positioned adjacent a strut tower and an opposite closed end is positioned adjacent the longitudinal center plane of the vehicle. ### Claim 7 (depends on 5) The strut tower bracing system of claim 5, wherein the at least one strut tower brace comprises a first strut tower brace arranged between the first strut tower and the longitudinal center plane of the vehicle, and a second strut tower brace arranged between the second strut tower and the longitudinal center plane of the vehicle, the first strut tower brace being spaced apart from the second strut tower brace. ### Claim 8 (depends on 7) The strut tower bracing system of claim 7, wherein a closed end of the first strut tower brace and a closed end of the second strut tower brace are positioned between an open end of the first strut tower brace and an open end of the second strut tower brace. ### Claim 9 (depends on 8) The strut tower bracing system of claim 8, wherein the open end of the first strut tower brace is spaced inward from the first strut tower and the open end of the second strut tower brace is space inward from the second strut tower. ### Claim 10 A vehicle suspension strut tower bracing system comprising: a vehicle body having a wall connected to a first suspension strut and a second suspension strut; at least one strut tower brace attached to the wall, the at least one strut tower brace including a first support member having a first end and an opposite second end, and a second support member having a first end and an opposite second end, the first end of the second support member fixedly attached to the first support member at a location between the first and second ends of the first support member to form a Y-shaped configuration, wherein the at least one strut tower brace being attached to the wall only at the first and second ends of the first support member and the second end of the second support member. ### Claim 11 (depends on 10) The strut tower bracing system of claim 10, wherein a distance between the first end of the first support member and the second end of the second support member being less than a distance between the second end of the first support member and the second end of the second support member. ### Claim 12 (depends on 11) The strut tower bracing system of claim 11, wherein a distance between the first end of the first support member and the first suspension strut is less than a distance between the second end of the first support member and the first suspension strut. ### Claim 13 (depends on 10) The strut tower bracing system of claim 10, wherein the wall is disposed between a passenger compartment and a rear storage compartment of the vehicle. ### Claim 14 (depends on 13) The strut tower bracing system of claim 13, wherein the wall is fixedly attached to a first strut tower supporting the first suspension strut and a second strut tower supporting the second suspension strut. ### Claim 15 (depends on 10) The strut tower bracing system of claim 10, wherein the at least one strut tower brace comprises two strut tower braces arranged on opposite sides of a longitudinal center line of the vehicle. ### Claim 16 (depends on 15) The strut tower bracing system of claim 15, wherein the two strut tower braces are spaced apart from one another. ### Claim 17 (depends on 10) The strut tower bracing system of claim 10, wherein the second support member is oriented at an oblique angle relative to the first support member. ### Claim 18 (depends on 1) The strut tower bracing system of claim 1, wherein the at least one strut tower brace is fixedly attached to the at least one wall only at the first and second ends of the first support member and the second end of the second support member.