IP Library Granted Patent US 8,931,825
Granted Patent B2
US 8,931,825 · App. 13/945,503 · Granted Jan 13, 2015

Vehicle front structure

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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 8,931,825
App. No.
13/945,503
Granted
Jan 13, 2015
Kind
B2
Abstract

A vehicle front structure includes: an exterior member provided at a lower portion of a front end of a vehicle; and an energy absorbing bracket having front and rear ends, the front end facing a rear surface of the exterior member and the rear end being mounted on a vehicle structural member. The energy absorbing bracket has an upper surface which is disposed to be inclined downward toward a front of the vehicle, and the inclination increases continuously or stepwise from a rear of the vehicle to the front of the vehicle, lower vehicle width direction ribs which project downward from the upper surface, extend substantially in a vehicle width direction, and are disposed in a vehicle front-rear direction, and lower vehicle front-rear direction ribs which project downward from the upper surface, extend substantially in the vehicle front-rear direction, and disposed in the vehicle width direction.

Claims (55)

1. A vehicle front structure comprising:

an exterior member provided at a lower portion of a front end of a vehicle; and

an energy absorbing bracket having a front end and a rear end, the front end facing a rear surface of the exterior member and the rear end being mounted on a vehicle structural member,

wherein the energy absorbing bracket has

an upper surface which is disposed so as to be inclined downward toward a front side of the vehicle, with an inclination that increases continuously or stepwise from a rear side of the vehicle to the front side of the vehicle, the upper surface having an arc-shaped cross section with an upward convex as viewed in the vehicle width direction,

a lower vehicle width direction rib which is formed so as to project downward from the upper surface and extends substantially in a vehicle width direction, and

a lower vehicle front-rear direction rib which is formed so as to project downward from the upper surface and extends substantially in a vehicle front-rear direction, the downward length of the lower vehicle front-rear direction rib being gradually shortened from a rear side of the vehicle to the front side of the vehicle.

2. The vehicle front structure according to claim 1 , further comprising

an upper vehicle front-rear direction rib projecting upward from the upper surface, extending substantially in the vehicle front-rear direction, and having an arc-shaped cross section with an upward convex as viewed in the vehicle width direction,

wherein an end of the upper vehicle front-rear direction rib is disposed so as to slide along a portion of the exterior member in the event of a collision.

3. The vehicle front structure according to claim 2 , further comprising

a projecting surface formed so as to project upward from a front end of the upper surface.

4. The vehicle front structure according to claim 3 , further comprising

a gusset-shaped reinforcing member formed between a rear surface of the projecting surface and the upper surface.

5. The vehicle front structure according to claim 1 , further comprising:

an engaging projection projecting from the exterior member toward the energy absorbing bracket; and

an engaged portion formed so as to project from the upper surface of the energy absorbing bracket, and disposed to face a projecting tip of the engaging projection.

6. The vehicle front structure according to claim 5 , further comprising

a projecting surface formed so as to project upward from a front end of the upper surface.

7. The vehicle front structure according to claim 6 , further comprising

a gusset-shaped reinforcing member formed between a rear surface of the projecting surface and the upper surface.

8. The vehicle front structure according to claim 1 , further comprising

a projecting surface formed so as to project upward from a front end of the upper surface.

9. The vehicle front structure according to claim 8 , further comprising

a gusset-shaped reinforcing member formed between a rear surface of the projecting surface and the upper surface.

10. The vehicle front structure according to claim 1 ,

wherein a flexural rigidity against a load applied in a vertical direction in an area located rearward of another area in which the upper surface of the energy absorbing bracket is inclined is higher than a flexural rigidity in the another area.

11. The vehicle front structure according to claim 1 ,

wherein a notch is formed in a lower end of the lower vehicle front-rear direction rib.

12. A vehicle front structure comprising:

an exterior member provided at a lower portion of a front end of a vehicle; and

an energy absorbing bracket having a front end and a rear end, the front end facing a rear surface of the exterior member and the rear end being mounted on a vehicle structural member,

wherein the energy absorbing bracket has

an upper surface which is disposed so as to be inclined downward toward a front side of the vehicle, with an inclination that increases continuously or stepwise from a rear side of the vehicle to the front side of the vehicle,

a lower vehicle width direction rib which is formed so as to project downward from the upper surface and extends substantially in a vehicle width direction, and

a lower vehicle front-rear direction rib which is formed so as to project downward from the upper surface and extends substantially in a vehicle front-rear direction,

an upper vehicle front-rear direction rib projecting upward from the upper surface and extends substantially in the vehicle front-rear direction, wherein an end of the upper vehicle front-rear direction rib is disposed so as to slide along a portion of the exterior member in the event of a collision.

13. The vehicle front structure according to claim 12 , further comprising

a projecting surface formed so as to project upward from a front end of the upper surface.

14. The vehicle front structure according to claim 13 , further comprising

a gusset-shaped reinforcing member formed between a rear surface of the projecting surface and the upper surface.

15. A vehicle front structure comprising:

an exterior member provided at a lower portion of a front end of a vehicle;

an energy absorbing bracket having a front end and a rear end, the front end facing a rear surface of the exterior member and the rear end being mounted on a vehicle structural member,

wherein the energy absorbing bracket has

an upper surface which is disposed so as to be inclined downward toward a front side of the vehicle, with an inclination that increases continuously or stepwise from a rear side of the vehicle to the front side of the vehicle,

a lower vehicle width direction rib which is formed so as to project downward from the upper surface and extends substantially in a vehicle width direction,

a lower vehicle front-rear direction rib which is formed so as to project downward from the upper surface and extends substantially in a vehicle front-rear direction,

a projecting surface formed so as to project upward from a front end of the upper surface, and

a gusset-shaped reinforcing member formed between a rear surface of the projecting surface and the upper surface.

16. The vehicle front structure according to claim 15 , further comprising

an upper vehicle front-rear direction rib projecting upward from the upper surface and extending substantially in the vehicle front-rear direction.

17. The vehicle front structure according to claim 15 , further comprising

an engaging projection projecting from the exterior member toward the energy absorbing bracket; and

an engaged portion formed so as to project from the upper surface of the energy absorbing bracket, and disposed to face a projecting tip of the engaging projection.

Assignments (3)
CHANGE OF NAME Recorded May 12, 2017
From: FUJI JUKOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHA
To: SUBARU CORPORATION
Reel/Frame 042624/0886 →
CHANGE OF ADDRESS Recorded Oct 31, 2014
From: FUJI JUKOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHA
To: FUJI JUKOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHA
Reel/Frame 034114/0841 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Jul 19, 2013
From: OOTA, KAZUHIRO
To: FUJI JUKOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHA
Reel/Frame 030837/0269 →