IP Library Granted Patent US 7,862,108
Granted Patent B2
US 7,862,108 · App. 12/309,523 · Granted Jan 4, 2011

Vehicle lower body structure

Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
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 7,862,108
App. No.
12/309,523
Granted
Jan 4, 2011
Kind
B2
Abstract

A vehicle lower body structure ( 1 ) including a vehicle compartment; a windshield pillar ( 3 ) that is provided at the side portion the vehicle and that extends in the vehicle-height direction; a rocker ( 4 ) that is connected, at the front end portion, to the lower end portion of the windshield pillar ( 3 ) and the extends in the longitudinal direction of the vehicle; a floor tunnel member ( 5 ) that is provided at the lateral center portion of the vehicle and that extends in the longitudinal direction of the vehicle; a floor cross-member ( 6 ) that is connected to the rocker ( 4 ) and the floor tunnel member ( 5 ) and that extends in the vehicle-width direction; and a floor panel ( 7 ) that is connected to the windshield pillar ( 3 ), the rocker ( 4 ), the floor tunnel member ( 5 ), and the floor cross-member ( 6 ) and that forms the floor of the vehicle compartment.

Claims (20)

1. A vehicle lower body structure, comprising:

a windshield pillar that is arranged at a side portion of a vehicle, and that extends in a vehicle-height direction;

a rocker that is connected, at a front end portion, to a lower end portion of the windshield pillar, and that extends in a longitudinal direction of the vehicle; and

a reinforcement member that is connected, at a portion, to a vehicle-compartment-side outer face of the windshield pillar, at a position above the rocker in the vehicle-height direction, and that transfers a collision load, applied to the windshield pillar, in a vehicle-width direction toward a lateral center of the vehicle and in the longitudinal direction of the vehicle toward a rear of the vehicle, the reinforcement member extending in the vehicle width direction toward the lateral center of the vehicle and in the longitudinal direction toward the rear of the vehicle, and is connected, at an end portion, to a floor cross-member that extends in the vehicle-width direction.

2. The vehicle lower body structure according to claim 1 , wherein

the reinforcement member transfers the collision load, applied to the windshield pillar, to a vehicle floor assembly.

3. The vehicle lower body structure according to claim 1 , wherein

the reinforcement member is connected, at another portion, to a rear-side outer face of the windshield pillar, at a position above the rocker in the vehicle-height direction.

4. The vehicle lower body structure according to claim 1 , wherein

the reinforcement member is connected, at the other portion, to the rocker.

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

the reinforcement member is formed integrally with the floor cross-member.

6. The vehicle lower body structure according to claim 1 , wherein

the reinforcement member extends in the vehicle-width direction toward the lateral center of the vehicle and in the longitudinal direction of the vehicle toward the rear of the vehicle, and is connected, at an end portion, to a vehicle center frame member that is arranged at the lateral center of the vehicle and that extends in the longitudinal direction of the vehicle.

7. The vehicle lower body structure according to claim 6 , wherein

the vehicle center frame member is a floor pan tunnel member.

8. The vehicle lower body structure according to claim 6 , wherein

the vehicle center frame member is a floorpan reinforcement member that is arranged between a floor tunnel member and the rocker, and that extends in the longitudinal direction of the vehicle.

9. The vehicle lower body structure according to claim 1 , comprising:

a bulkhead that is provided inside the windshield pillar, and that is arranged so as to face the reinforcement member with the windshield pillar interposed between the reinforcement member and the bulkhead.

Assignments (1)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Jan 22, 2009
From: TAMAKOSHI, KOJI
To: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
Reel/Frame 022180/0165 →
Priority Claims (1)
JP 2006-213392 · Aug 4, 2006 · national
Continuity (1)
Related Publication 20090243343A1 · Oct 1, 2009