IP Library › Granted Patent US 11,440,591
Granted Patent B2
US 11,440,591 · App. 16/593,067 · Granted Sep 13, 2022

Vehicle body structure of convertible vehicle

Inventors: Tomohiro Sakurai (Seto, JP); Kenya Fujimoto (Toyota, JP); Satoshi Ogawa (Toyota, JP)
Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
B62D21/152B62D25/025B62D25/04B62D25/08B62D21/15B62D25/2027B62D27/023
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 11,440,591
App. No.
16/593,067
Granted
Sep 13, 2022
Kind
B2
Abstract

A reinforcement extending in the front-back direction of a vehicle and connecting a rear side member and a center pillar is provided. The reinforcement includes a gusset, an intermediate connecting member, and a pillar-side member. The gusset is connected to the rear side member, and the front end portion of the gusset is connected to the rear surface of the intermediate connecting member. The front surface of the intermediate connecting member is connected to the rear end portion of the pillar-side member. The pillar-side member is connected to the center pillar.

Claims (51)

1. A vehicle body structure of a convertible vehicle, comprising:

a reinforcement extending in a front-back direction of a vehicle, for connecting a rear side member and a center pillar above a rocker, wherein

an upper end of the rear side member is located further downward with respect to a lower end of the center pillar, and

a front end portion of the reinforcement contacts the center pillar and is connected to the center pillar.

2. The vehicle body structure of a convertible vehicle according to claim 1 , wherein

the reinforcement includes

a gusset connected to the rear side member,

a pillar-side member connected to the center pillar, and

an intermediate connecting member disposed between the gusset and the pillar-side member in the front-back direction of the vehicle and connected to the gusset and the pillar-side member.

3. The vehicle body structure of a convertible vehicle according to claim 2 , wherein

the gusset, the intermediate connecting member, and the pillar-side member respectively have wall portions extending in the front-back direction of the vehicle, and

the wall portion of the gusset, the wall portion of the intermediate connecting member, and the wall portion of the pillar-side member serially extend in the front-back direction of the vehicle.

4. The vehicle body structure of a convertible vehicle according to claim 3 , wherein the reinforcement includes

a left gusset connected to a left rear side member,

a left pillar-side member connected to a left center pillar,

a left intermediate connecting member disposed between the left gusset and the left pillar-side member in the front-back direction of the vehicle and connected to the left gusset and the left pillar-side member,

a right gusset connected to a right rear side member,

a right pillar-side member connected to a right center pillar,

a right intermediate connecting member disposed between the right gusset and the right pillar-side member in the front-back direction of the vehicle and connected to the right gusset and the right pillar-side member, and

a right-left connecting member for connecting the left intermediate connecting member and the right intermediate connecting member.

5. The vehicle body structure of a convertible vehicle according to claim 2 , wherein

the reinforcement includes

a left gusset connected to a left rear side member,

a left pillar-side member connected to a left center pillar,

a left intermediate connecting member disposed between the left gusset and the left pillar-side member in the front-back direction of the vehicle and connected to the left gusset and the left pillar-side member,

a right gusset connected to a right rear side member,

a right pillar-side member connected to a right center pillar,

a right intermediate connecting member disposed between the right gusset and the right pillar-side member in the front-back direction of the vehicle and connected to the right gusset and the right pillar-side member, and

a right-left connecting member for connecting the left intermediate connecting member and the right intermediate connecting member.

6. The vehicle body structure of a convertible vehicle according to claim 5 , wherein

a left end portion of the right-left connecting member is disposed between the left gusset and the left pillar-side member in the front-back direction of the vehicle and connected to the left gusset and the left pillar-side member, and

a right end portion of the right-left connecting member is disposed between the right gusset and the right pillar-side member in the front-back direction of the vehicle and connected to the right gusset and the right pillar-side member.

7. The vehicle body structure of a convertible vehicle according to claim 2 , wherein

the rear side member is connected to a rear end portion of a rocker of the convertible vehicle, and

the intermediate connecting member is connected to a rear wheel well of the convertible vehicle.

8. The vehicle body structure of a convertible vehicle according to claim 1 , wherein the reinforcement includes a member extending from one end of the convertible vehicle an opposite end of the convertible vehicle in the vehicle width direction.

9. A vehicle body structure of a convertible vehicle, comprising a reinforcement extending in a front-back direction of a vehicle, for connecting a rear side member and a center pillar above a rocker, wherein

the reinforcement is separable from the center pillar, and the reinforcement includes

a gusset connected to the rear side member,

a pillar-side member connected to the center pillar, and

an intermediate connecting member disposed between the gusset and the pillar-side member in the front-back direction of the vehicle and connected to the gusset and the pillar-side member, wherein a front end of the gusset is in contact with a rear end of the intermediate connecting member, and

along the front-back direction of the vehicle, the gusset is located further rearward with respect to the pillar-side member.

10. The vehicle body structure of a convertible vehicle according to claim 9 , wherein a front end portion of the reinforcement contacts the center pillar and is connected to the center pillar.

11. The vehicle body structure of a convertible vehicle according to claim 9 , wherein the reinforcement includes a member extending from one end of the convertible vehicle an opposite end of the convertible vehicle in the vehicle width direction.

12. A vehicle body structure of a convertible vehicle, comprising a reinforcement extending in a front-back direction of a vehicle, for connecting a rear side member and a center pillar above a rocker, wherein

the reinforcement includes

a gusset connected to the rear side member,

a pillar-side member connected to the center pillar, and

an intermediate connecting member disposed between the gusset and the pillar-side member in the front-back direction of the vehicle and connected to the gusset and the pillar-side member,

the gusset, the intermediate connecting member, and the pillar-side member respectively have wall portions extending in the front-back direction of the vehicle, and

the wall portion of the gusset, the wall portion of the intermediate connecting member, and the wall portion of the pillar-side member serially extend in the front-back direction of the vehicle.

Assignments (1)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Oct 4, 2019
From: SAKURAI, TOMOHIRO; FUJIMOTO, KENYA; OGAWA, SATOSHI
To: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
Reel/Frame 050626/0718 →
Priority Claims (1)
JP JP2018-190953 · Oct 9, 2018 · national
Continuity (1)
Related Publication 20200108871A1 · Apr 9, 2020