IP Library Granted Patent US 12673733
Granted Patent B2
US 12673733 · App. 18/460,071 · Granted Jul 7, 2026

Joint structure of vehicle body

Inventors: Sun Ki Choi (Hwaseong-si, KR); Youngho Lee (Gunpo-si, KR)
Assignees: Hyundai Motor Company; Kia Corporation
B62D27/065B62D25/025B62D25/2036B62D27/023B62D63/025
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 12673733
App. No.
18/460,071
Granted
Jul 7, 2026
Kind
B2
Abstract

An embodiment joint structure of a vehicle body includes a front body module connected to a front part of an under body of the vehicle body, a rear body module connected to a rear part of the under body of the vehicle body, and a joint unit connecting an outside and an inside of the front body module and the rear body module in a front-to-back direction of the vehicle body.

Claims (55)

1 . A joint structure of a vehicle body, the joint structure comprising:

a front body module connected to a front part of an under body of the vehicle body;

a rear body module connected to a rear part of the under body of the vehicle body; and

a joint unit connecting an outside and an inside of the front body module and the rear body module in a front-to-back direction of the vehicle body, wherein the joint unit engages the front body module and the rear body module along a vehicle width direction and a vertical direction.

2 . The joint structure of claim 1 , wherein:

the front body module comprises a fixed part fixed to the front part of the under body; and

the rear body module has a predetermined shape and comprises a variable part detachably provided on the front body module and the rear part of the under body.

3 . The joint structure of claim 1 , wherein the front body module comprises a fixed part fixed to the front part of the under body.

4 . A joint structure of a vehicle body, the joint structure comprising:

a front body module connected to a front part of an under body of the vehicle body, the front body module comprising a front side structure, a front roof structure, and a front floor structure connected to each other;

a rear body module connected to a rear part of the under body of the vehicle body, the rear body module comprising a rear side structure, a rear roof structure, and a rear floor structure connected to each other; and

a joint unit connecting an outside and an inside of the front body module and the rear body module in a front-to-back direction of the vehicle body.

5 . The joint structure of claim 4 , wherein the joint unit comprises:

a side outer joint bracket connecting the front side structure and the rear side structure in the front-to-back direction of the vehicle body on the outside of the front body module and the rear body module;

a roof outer joint bracket connected to the side outer joint bracket and connecting the front roof structure and the rear roof structure in the front-to-back direction of the vehicle body on the outside of the front body module and the rear body module;

a plurality of inner joint brackets connecting the front side structure and the rear side structure, the front roof structure and the rear roof structure, and the front floor structure and the rear floor structure in the front-to-back direction of the vehicle body on the inside of the front body module and the rear body module; and

a fastening member engaging the side outer joint bracket, the roof outer joint bracket, and the plurality of inner joint brackets.

6 . The joint structure of claim 4 , wherein:

the front side structure comprises a front side inner member, a front side reinforcement member, and a front side outer member connected to each other; and

the rear side structure comprises a rear side inner member, a rear side reinforcement member, and a rear side outer member connected to each other.

7 . The joint structure of claim 6 , wherein the joint unit comprises:

a side outer joint bracket supporting the front side outer member and the rear side outer member; and

at least one side inner joint bracket connected to the front side inner member and the rear side inner member by first bolts and engaged to the side outer joint bracket along a vehicle width direction by a fastening member.

8 . The joint structure of claim 7 , wherein the joint unit further comprises a first sealing member mounted between the side outer joint bracket, the front side outer member, and the rear side outer member.

9 . The joint structure of claim 7 , wherein:

the front roof structure comprises a front roof inner member, a front roof outer member, and a front roof panel connected to each other; and

the rear roof structure comprises a rear roof inner member, a rear roof outer member, and a rear roof panel connected to each other.

10 . The joint structure of claim 9 , wherein the joint unit comprises:

a roof outer joint bracket supporting the front roof panel and the rear roof panel; and

at least one roof inner joint bracket connected to the front roof inner member and the rear roof inner member by second bolts and engaged with the roof outer joint bracket along a vertical direction by a second fastening member.

11 . The joint structure of claim 10 , wherein the joint unit further comprises a second sealing member mounted between the roof outer joint bracket, the front roof panel, and the rear roof panel.

12 . The joint structure of claim 10 , wherein the joint unit further comprises an upper overlap inner joint bracket connected to the front side inner member and the rear side inner member and to the front roof inner member and the rear roof inner member by third bolts, connected to the side outer joint bracket along the vehicle width direction by a third fastening member, and connected to the roof outer joint bracket along the vertical direction.

13 . The joint structure of claim 9 , further comprising:

a side molding trim connected to the front side outer member and the rear side outer member and configured to seal between the front side structure and the rear side structure; and

a roof molding trim connected to the front roof panel and the rear roof panel and configured to seal between the front roof structure and the rear roof structure.

14 . The joint structure of claim 13 , wherein:

the side molding trim comprises a fitting step portion on an upper end; and

the roof molding trim comprises a connecting portion connected to the fitting step portion along a vertical direction.

15 . A joint structure of a vehicle body, the joint structure comprising:

a front body module connected to a front part of an under body of the vehicle body, the front body module comprising:

a front side structure, a front roof structure, and a front floor structure connected to each other;

wherein the front side structure comprises a front side inner member, a front side reinforcement member, and a front side outer member connected to each other; and

wherein the front floor structure comprises a front cross member and a front floor panel connected to each other; and

a rear body module connected to a rear part of the under body of the vehicle body, the rear body module comprising:

a rear side structure, a rear roof structure, and a rear floor structure connected to each other;

wherein the rear side structure comprises a rear side inner member, a rear side reinforcement member, and a rear side outer member connected to each other; and

wherein the rear floor structure comprises a rear cross member and a rear floor panel connected to each other; and

a joint unit connecting an outside and an inside of the front body module and the rear body module in a front-to-back direction of the vehicle body, the joint unit comprising:

a side outer joint bracket supporting the front side outer member and the rear side outer member; and

at least one side inner joint bracket connected to the front side inner member and the rear side inner member by first bolts and engaged to the side outer joint bracket along a vehicle width direction by a fastening member.

16 . The joint structure of claim 15 , wherein the joint unit comprises a first lower overlap inner joint bracket connected to the front side inner member and the rear side inner member and to the front floor panel and the rear floor panel by welds.

17 . The joint structure of claim 16 , wherein the joint unit further comprises a second lower overlap inner joint bracket overlapped with the first lower overlap inner joint bracket, connected to the front side inner member and the rear side inner member and to the front floor panel and the rear floor panel by second bolts, and engaged with the side outer joint bracket along the vehicle width direction by a second fastening member.

18 . The joint structure of claim 17 , wherein the front floor panel and the rear floor panel are overlapped with the first lower overlap inner joint bracket and the second lower overlap inner joint bracket along a vertical direction.

19 . The joint structure of claim 17 , wherein the joint unit further comprises a third lower overlap inner joint bracket engaged with a front side sill and a rear side sill and with the front floor panel and the rear floor panel by third bolts.

20 . The joint structure of claim 19 , wherein the front floor panel, the rear floor panel, the first lower overlap inner joint bracket, the second lower overlap inner joint bracket, and the third lower overlap inner joint bracket are engaged along a vertical direction by a third fastening member.