IP Library Granted Patent US 11,535,299
Granted Patent B2
US 11,535,299 · App. 17/192,890 · Granted Dec 27, 2022

Vehicle

Inventor: Noritaka Kosaka (Tokyo-to, JP)
Assignees: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA; SUBARU CORPORATION
B62D25/06B60J5/102B62D21/152B62D25/08
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 11,535,299
App. No.
17/192,890
Granted
Dec 27, 2022
Kind
B2
Abstract

A vehicle may include: a vehicle body including an opening in a rear portion thereof; a door configured to close the opening; and a hinge swingably connecting the door to the vehicle body. The vehicle body may further include: a frame extending along an upper edge of the opening in a left-right direction of the vehicle; and a rear header located between the frame and the upper edge of the opening. The rear header may include: a hinge mounting portion to which the hinge is attached; and an intermediate portion located between the hinge mounting portion and the frame. The intermediate portion may be located below the hinge mounting portion in an up-down direction of the vehicle. The intermediate portion of the rear header may have a lower flexural strength than the frame against a collision load that acts in a front-rear direction of the vehicle.

Claims (32)

1. A vehicle, comprising:

a vehicle body comprising an opening in a rear portion thereof;

a door configured to close the opening; and

a hinge swingably connecting the door to the vehicle body,

wherein

the vehicle body further comprises:

a frame extending along an upper edge of the opening in a left-right direction of the vehicle; and

a rear header located between the frame and the upper edge of the opening,

the rear header comprises:

a hinge mounting portion to which the hinge is attached; and

an intermediate portion located between the hinge mounting portion and the frame, the intermediate portion being located below the hinge mounting portion in an up-down direction of the vehicle, and

the intermediate portion of the rear header has a lower flexural strength than the frame against a collision load that acts in a front-rear direction of the vehicle,

wherein the vehicle body further comprises:

a first panel member extending from the frame to the hinge mounting portion of the rear header; and

a second panel member extending from the frame to the hinge mounting portion of the rear header along the first panel member and defining a closed cross section with the first panel member in the frame.

2. The vehicle according to claim 1 , wherein

the intermediate portion comprises at least one bend, and

each of the at least one bend extends along the left-right direction.

3. The vehicle according to claim 2 , wherein

the at least one bend comprises a first bend and a second bend located between the first bend and the hinge mounting portion, and

the first bend is a valley fold when viewed from an outside of the vehicle body, and

the second bend is a mountain fold when viewed from the outside of the vehicle body.

4. The vehicle according to claim 3 , wherein

the vehicle body further comprises a third panel member that is located between the first panel member and the second panel member and extends from the frame to the intermediate portion of the rear header, and

a rear end of the third panel member is located between ends of the intermediate portion of the rear header in the front-rear direction.

5. The vehicle according to claim 4 , wherein each of the first panel member and the second panel member comprises a bend along the rear end of the third panel member.

6. The vehicle according to claim 3 , wherein the vehicle body further comprises a roof panel that extends forward from the upper edge of the opening and covers the first panel member and the second panel member.

7. The vehicle according to claim 1 , wherein

the vehicle body further comprises a third panel member that is located between the first panel member and the second panel member and extends from the frame to the intermediate portion of the rear header, and

a rear end of the third panel member is located between ends of the intermediate portion of the rear header in the front-rear direction.

8. The vehicle according to claim 7 , wherein each of the first panel member and the second panel member comprises a bend along the rear end of the third panel member.

9. The vehicle according to claim 1 , wherein the vehicle body further comprises a roof panel that extends forward from the upper edge of the opening and covers the first panel member and the second panel member.

Assignments (1)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Mar 5, 2021
From: KOSAKA, NORITAKA
To: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA; SUBARU CORPORATION
Reel/Frame 055501/0834 →
Priority Claims (1)
JP JP2020-046888 · Mar 17, 2020 · national
Continuity (1)
Related Publication 20210291907A1 · Sep 23, 2021
Cited By (1)
US 12,605,993