IP Library Granted Patent US 9,132,794
Granted Patent B2
US 9,132,794 · App. 14/218,347 · Granted Sep 15, 2015

Vehicle front body structure

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 9,132,794
App. No.
14/218,347
Granted
Sep 15, 2015
Kind
B2
Abstract

A vehicle front body structure includes: a vehicle body structural member disposed below a front end of a hood and extends substantially along the vehicle width direction; and an energy absorbing member that protrudes toward a vehicle front side from the vehicle body structural member, extends substantially along the vehicle width direction, and deforms so as to absorb energy upon a collision. The energy absorbing member is secured to the vehicle body structural member at opposite ends of the energy absorbing member in the vehicle width direction. A clearance is defined between a central part of the energy absorbing member in the vehicle width direction and the vehicle body structural member.

Claims (41)

1. A vehicle front body structure including:

a vehicle body structural member disposed below a front end of a hood and extends along the vehicle width direction; and

an energy absorbing member protruding toward a vehicle front side from the vehicle body structural member and extending along the vehicle width direction, the energy absorbing member being configured to deform so as to absorb energy upon a collision, wherein

the energy absorbing member is secured to the vehicle body structural member at opposite ends of the energy absorbing member in the vehicle width direction, and a clearance is defined between a central part of the energy absorbing member in the vehicle width direction and the vehicle body structural member, and

an edge line is formed in an upper side of the energy absorbing member, the edge line defining a convex shape extending along the upper side of the energy absorbing member in the vehicle width direction, the edge line being configured to induce a buckling deformation of the energy absorbing member.

2. The vehicle front body structure according to claim 1 , wherein the edge line is a weak portion having a low fracture and deformation strength against a compressive load in the vehicle longitudinal direction, and the edge line is provided in the vicinity of a coupler of the energy absorbing member and the vehicle body structural member.

3. The vehicle front body structure according to claim 1 , wherein a rear edge of the energy absorbing member at a central part in the vehicle width direction is formed in an arch shape that is convex toward a vehicle front side.

4. The vehicle front body structure according to claim 2 , wherein a rear edge of the energy absorbing member at a central part in the vehicle width direction is formed in an arch shape that is convex toward a vehicle front side.

5. The vehicle front body structure according to claim 1 , wherein

the vehicle body structural member, to which the energy absorbing member is attached, is a rectangular frame member that holds a cooling device; and

the opposite ends of the energy absorbing member are attached near a connecting portion of an upper edge and a side edge of the frame member.

6. The vehicle front body structure according to claim 2 , wherein

the vehicle body structural member, to which the energy absorbing member is attached, is a rectangular frame member that holds a cooling device; and

the opposite ends of the energy absorbing member are attached near a connecting portion of an upper edge and a side edge of the frame member.

7. The vehicle front body structure according to claim 3 , wherein

the vehicle body structural member, to which the energy absorbing member is attached, is a rectangular frame member that holds a cooling device; and

the opposite ends of the energy absorbing member are attached near a connecting portion of an upper edge and a side edge of the frame member.

8. The vehicle front body structure according to claim 4 , wherein

the vehicle body structural member, to which the energy absorbing member is attached, is a rectangular frame member that holds a cooling device; and

the opposite ends of the energy absorbing member are attached near a connecting portion of an upper edge and a side edge of the frame member.

9. The vehicle front body structure according to claim 2 , wherein

a bumper beam is provided below the energy absorbing member; and

a front end of the energy absorbing member is disposed so as to protrude toward a vehicle front side beyond a straight line connecting the front end of the hood and the front end of the bumper beam.

10. The vehicle front body structure according to claim 3 , wherein

a bumper beam is provided below the energy absorbing member; and

a front end of the energy absorbing member is disposed so as to protrude toward a vehicle front side beyond a straight line connecting the front end of the hood and the front end of the bumper beam.

11. The vehicle front body structure according to claim 4 , wherein

a bumper beam is provided below the energy absorbing member; and

a front end of the energy absorbing member is disposed so as to protrude toward a vehicle front side beyond a straight line connecting the front end of the hood and the front end of the bumper beam.

12. The vehicle front body structure according to claim 1 , wherein the front side of the energy absorbing member has concave and convex shapes extending in the vehicle width direction, with the convex shape including the edge line in the upper side of the energy absorbing member.

13. The vehicle front body structure according to claim 2 , wherein the front side of the energy absorbing member has concave and convex shapes extending in the vehicle width direction, with the convex shape including the edge line in the upper side of the energy absorbing member.

14. The vehicle front body structure according to claim 3 , wherein the front side of the energy absorbing member has concave and convex shapes extending in the vehicle width direction, with the convex shape including the edge line in the upper side of the energy absorbing member.

15. The vehicle front body structure according to claim 4 , wherein the front side of the energy absorbing member has concave and convex shapes extending in the vehicle width direction, with the convex shape including the edge line in the upper side of the energy absorbing member.

16. The vehicle front body structure according to claim 1 , wherein the edge line is disposed at an intermediate part of the upper side of the energy absorbing member in the vehicle longitudinal direction.

17. The vehicle front body structure according to claim 1 , wherein the edge line is disposed at opposite ends of the upper side of the energy absorbing member in the vehicle width direction.

18. A vehicle front body structure including:

a vehicle body structural member disposed below a front end of a hood and extends along the vehicle width direction; and

an energy absorbing member protruding toward a vehicle front side from the vehicle body structural member and extending along the vehicle width direction, the energy absorbing member being configured to deform so as to absorb energy upon a collision, wherein

the energy absorbing member is secured to the vehicle body structural member at opposite ends of the energy absorbing member in the vehicle width direction, and a clearance is defined between a central part of the energy absorbing member in the vehicle width direction and the vehicle body structural member,

a bumper beam is provided below the energy absorbing member; and

a front end of the energy absorbing member is disposed so as to protrude toward a vehicle front side beyond a straight line connecting the front end of the hood and the front end of the bumper beam.

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 Mar 18, 2014
From: NAGAYA, HIROKI; SUWA, KYOHEI; IMAMURA, KOICHI; SUEMUNE, HIROSHI
To: FUJI JUKOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHA
Reel/Frame 032466/0947 →