IP Library Granted Patent US 12703431
Granted Patent B2
US 12703431 · App. 18/467,110 · Granted Aug 11, 2026

Connection structure of vehicle body

Inventors: Songjae Jeong (Seongnam-si, KR); Jaeha Shim (Goyang-si, KR); Bong Guen Kwon (Seoul, KR); Jae Hoon Jung (Pyeongtaek-si, KR)
Assignees: Hyundai Motor Company; Kia Corporation
B62D25/06B62D27/02B62D27/065
View Patent ↗
Loading inventors, assignments & file history…
Monitor This Case
Get email alerts when status or documents change.
Order Certified Copies
Most orders are placed with the USPTO same day — all within 24 business hours.
Order via The Patent Place →
Pre-filled with this patent's details
Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 12703431
App. No.
18/467,110
Filed
Sep 14, 2023
Granted
Aug 11, 2026
Kind
B2
Art Unit
3991
USPC
296/210
Abstract

An embodiment connection structure of a vehicle body includes a side member disposed along a front to rear direction of the vehicle body on an upper portion of a side structure provided on a side of the vehicle body, the side member having a first closed cross-section, a roof rail member disposed along a vehicle width direction and having a second closed cross-section, and a joint member connected to the side member and the roof rail member to connect the side member and the roof rail member to each other.

Claims (66)

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

a side member disposed along a front to rear direction of the vehicle body on an upper portion of a side structure provided on a side of the vehicle body, the side member having a first closed cross-section and comprising a first connection portion and a second connection portion;

a roof rail member disposed along a vehicle width direction and having a second closed cross-section; and

a joint member connected to the side member and the roof rail member to connect the side member and the roof rail member to each other, wherein the joint member is connected to each of the first connection portion and the second connection portion of the side member,

wherein the first connection portion is arranged by overlapping a panel in two layers on an upper portion of the side member, and the second connection portion is arranged by overlapping the panel in two layers at a lower portion of the side member.

2 . The connection structure of claim 1 , wherein:

a closed section extends between the first connection portion and the second connection portion.

3 . The connection structure of claim 1 , wherein the roof rail member comprises a third connection portion and a fourth connection portion connected with the joint member.

4 . The connection structure of claim 3 , wherein:

the third connection portion is arranged by overlapping a panel in two layers at a front of the roof rail member; and

the fourth connection portion defines a closed section extending from the third connection portion to a rear portion of the roof rail member.

5 . The connection structure of claim 3 , wherein the joint member comprises:

a first joint portion engaged with the first connection portion and the second connection portion;

a joint reinforcement extending from the first joint portion and having a third closed cross-section; and

a second joint portion extending from the joint reinforcement and engaged with the third connection portion and the fourth connection portion.

6 . The connection structure of claim 5 , wherein the joint reinforcement comprises a closed section defined between the first joint portion and the second joint portion along the vehicle width direction.

7 . The connection structure of claim 5 , wherein the first joint portion comprises:

a first upper rib engaged with the first connection portion; and

a first lower rib extending downward from the first upper rib and engaged with a side surface of the second connection portion.

8 . The connection structure of claim 5 , wherein the second joint portion comprises:

a second upper rib extending from an upper portion of the joint reinforcement and engaged with the third connection portion;

a third upper rib extending from the upper portion of the joint reinforcement and the second upper rib and engaged with an upper portion of the fourth connection portion; and

a second lower rib extending from a lower portion of the joint reinforcement and engaged with a lower portion of the fourth connection portion.

9 . The connection structure of claim 8 , wherein:

a first opening is defined between the joint reinforcement and the third upper rib; and

a second opening is defined between the joint reinforcement and the second lower rib.

10 . The connection structure of claim 1 , wherein the side member, the roof rail member, and the joint member are coupled to each other by a plurality of rivets and a plurality of screws.

11 . A vehicle comprising:

a vehicle body;

first and second side structures provided on both sides of the vehicle body, respectively, and extending in a vehicle length direction;

first and second side members disposed along a front to rear direction of the vehicle body on upper portions of the first and second side structures, respectively, wherein each of the first and second side members has a first closed cross-section, and wherein each of the first and second side members comprises a first connection portion and a second connection portion;

a roof rail member disposed along a vehicle width direction and having a second closed cross-section; and

a first joint member connecting the first side member to a first end of the roof rail member and a second joint member connecting the second side member to a second end of the roof rail member, wherein the first joint member is connected to the first connection portion and the second connection portion of the first side member and the second joint member is connected to the first connection portion and the second connection portion of the second side member,

wherein the first connection portion of the first side member is arranged by overlapping a first panel in two layers on an upper portion of the first side member, and the second connection portion of the first side member is arranged by overlapping the first panel in two layers at a lower portion of the first side member.

12 . The vehicle of claim 11 , wherein

a first closed section extends between the first connection portion and the second connection portion of the first side member.

13 . The vehicle of claim 11 , wherein the roof rail member comprises a third connection portion and a fourth connection portion connected with the first joint member.

14 . The vehicle of claim 13 , wherein the first joint member comprises:

a first joint portion engaged with the first connection portion and the second connection portion;

a joint reinforcement extending from the first joint portion and having a third closed cross-section; and

a second joint portion extending from the joint reinforcement and engaged with the third connection portion and the fourth connection portion.

15 . The vehicle of claim 14 , wherein the joint reinforcement comprises a third closed section defined between the first joint portion and the second joint portion along the vehicle width direction.

16 . The vehicle of claim 14 , wherein:

the first joint portion comprises:

a first upper rib engaged with the first connection portion; and

a first lower rib extending downward from the first upper rib and engaged with a side surface of the second connection portion.

17 . The vehicle of claim 16 , wherein the second joint portion comprises:

a second upper rib extending from an upper portion of the joint reinforcement and engaged with the third connection portion;

a third upper rib extending from the upper portion of the joint reinforcement and the second upper rib and engaged with an upper portion of the fourth connection portion; and

a second lower rib extending from a lower portion of the joint reinforcement and engaged with a lower portion of the fourth connection portion.

18 . The vehicle of claim 17 , wherein:

a first opening is defined between the joint reinforcement and the third upper rib; and

a second opening is defined between the joint reinforcement and the second lower rib.

19 . The vehicle of claim 13 , wherein:

the third connection portion is arranged by overlapping a second panel in two layers at a front of the roof rail member; and

the fourth connection portion defines a second closed section extending from the third connection portion to a rear portion of the roof rail member.

20 . A connection structure of a vehicle body, the connection structure comprising:

a side member disposed along a front to rear direction of the vehicle body on an upper portion of a side structure provided on a side of the vehicle body, the side member having a first closed cross-section and comprising a first connection portion and a second connection portion;

a roof rail member disposed along a vehicle width direction and having a second closed cross-section; and

a joint member connected to the side member and the roof rail member to connect the side member and the roof rail member to each other,

wherein:

the joint member is connected to each of the first connection portion and the second connection portion of the side member,

the first connection portion is arranged by overlapping a panel in two layers on an upper portion of the side member,

the second connection portion is arranged by overlapping the panel in two layers at a lower portion of the side member,

a closed section extends between the first connection portion and the second connection portion, and

the joint member includes an engage unit configured to engage the side member and the roof rail member.