IP Library Granted Patent US 11,155,300
Granted Patent B1
US 11,155,300 · App. 16/852,940 · Granted Oct 26, 2021

Vehicular body structural arrangement

Inventors: Matthew A. Jansma (Saline, MI); Christopher M. Higgins (Ann Arbor, MI); Steven D. Harmon, Jr. (Fenton, MI)
Assignees: Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing North America, Inc.; Continental Structural Plastics, Inc.
B62D21/03B62D25/2054B62D27/06
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 11,155,300
App. No.
16/852,940
Granted
Oct 26, 2021
Kind
B1
Abstract

A vehicular body structural arrangement includes a polymeric deck panel. The deck panel includes corrugations, a crosswise crossbeam footprint and, along a partial length of the crossbeam footprint, two features for securing a crossbeam thereto. The corrugations include an adjacent ridge and valley. The features include a first feature having a first direction along the deck panel, and a second feature having a second direction toward the deck panel. The first feature includes a unitarily-formed web projecting normally to the deck panel past the ridge, and a rivet nut installed to the web against a backing facing the first direction. The second feature includes a unitarily-formed stanchion behind the web projecting normally to the deck panel from inside the valley, and a threaded insert seated in the stanchion facing the second direction.

Claims (12)

1. A vehicular body structural arrangement, comprising:

a polymeric deck panel, the deck panel including corrugations, a crosswise crossbeam footprint and, along a partial length of the crossbeam footprint, two features for securing a crossbeam thereto, the corrugations including an adjacent ridge and valley, and the features including a first feature having a first direction along the deck panel, and a second feature having a second direction toward the deck panel, the first feature including a unitarily-formed web projecting normally to the deck panel past the ridge, and a rivet nut installed to the web against a backing facing the first direction, and the second feature including a unitarily-formed stanchion behind the web projecting normally to the deck panel from inside the valley, and a threaded insert seated in the stanchion facing the second direction.

2. The vehicular body structural arrangement of claim 1 , wherein the rivet nut, the backing and the threaded insert are metallic.

3. The vehicular body structural arrangement of claim 1 , wherein along the partial length, the deck panel includes a total of the two features.

4. The vehicular body structural arrangement of claim 3 , wherein the partial length includes an end of the crossbeam footprint.

5. The vehicular body structural arrangement of claim 3 , wherein the partial length extends from an end of the crossbeam footprint to a middle of the crossbeam footprint.

6. The vehicular body structural arrangement of claim 1 , further comprising:

a hat-shaped crossbeam along the crossbeam footprint, the crossbeam including a base, upturned sides extending from the base, and outturned rests respectively extending from the sides engaged with the deck panel, the sides flanking the first feature, and including one side backed to the first feature, and the rests including one rest opposite the one side backed to the second feature;

a first fastener extending through the one side to the rivet nut, the first fastener engaged with the one side, and threaded with the rivet nut, thereby securing the crossbeam to the deck panel in the first direction; and

a second fastener extending through the one rest to the threaded insert, the second fastener engaged with the one rest, and threaded with the threaded insert, thereby securing the crossbeam to the deck panel in the second direction.

7. The vehicular body structural arrangement of claim 6 , wherein the rivet nut, the backing, the first fastener, the threaded insert and the second fastener are metallic.

8. The vehicular body structural arrangement of claim 6 , wherein the second fastener extends through the one rest to the threaded insert with play between the second fastener and the one rest in the first direction.

Assignments (5)
SECURITY AGREEMENT Recorded Jul 3, 2025
From: TEIJIN AUTOMOTIVE TECHNOLOGIES, INC.
To: PNC BANK, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION
Reel/Frame 071815/0728 →
SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Jul 2, 2025
From: TEIJIN AUTOMOTIVE TECHNOLOGIES, INC.
To: STORK HOLDCO INC.
Reel/Frame 071788/0005 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Nov 3, 2021
From: TOYOTA MOTOR ENGINEERING & MANUFACTURING NORTH AMERICA, INC.
To: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
Reel/Frame 058004/0237 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Apr 22, 2020
From: JANSMA, MATTHEW A.; HIGGINS, CHRISTOPHER M.
To: TOYOTA MOTOR ENGINEERING & MANUFACTURING NORTH AMERICA, INC.
Reel/Frame 052467/0803 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Apr 22, 2020
From: HARMON, STEVEN D., JR.
To: CONTINENTAL STRUCTURAL PLASTICS, INC.
Reel/Frame 052467/0814 →