Rear support structure for a vehicle

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10864947-B2
Application number	US-201916366127-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Mar 27, 2019
Priority date	Mar 27, 2019
Publication date	Dec 15, 2020
Grant date	Dec 15, 2020

Abstract

A rear support structure for a vehicle includes a parcel cross-member and a brace assembly. The parcel cross-member extends from a first side structure to a second side structure of the vehicle and includes a first vertical member, a second vertical member, and an upper horizontal member that at least partially define an opening between the cargo area and the passenger compartment. The brace assembly includes a first brace extending across the opening and including a first end secured to the upper horizontal member adjacent a longitudinal centerline of the vehicle and a second brace extending across the opening and including a first end secured to the upper horizontal member adjacent to the longitudinal centerline. The first brace further includes a second end secured to the first vertical member and the second brace includes a second end secured to the first vertical member.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A rear support structure for a vehicle, the rear support structure comprising:
a parcel cross-member that is positioned between a cargo area and a passenger compartment and is configured to extend from a first side structure to a second side structure of the vehicle, wherein the parcel cross-member comprises a pair of horizontal members and a pair of vertical members; and
a brace assembly comprising:
a bracket configured to be secured to an upper horizontal member of the pair of horizontal members;
a first brace having a first end configured to be secured to the bracket and a second end configured to be secured to a first corner portion of a first vertical member of the pair of vertical members; and
a second brace having a first end configured to be secured to the bracket and a second end configured to be secured to a second corner portion of a second vertical member of the pair of vertical members,
wherein the first brace, the second brace and the bracket together form a V-shaped brace, and
wherein a load experienced by the parcel cross-member, as transferred by a corresponding damper of the vehicle, is redistributed via the first brace and the second brace.

2. The rear support structure according to claim 1 , wherein the pair of vertical members and the pair of horizontal members are configured to be coupled to form a substantially rectangular shape.

3. The rear support structure according to claim 1 , wherein the first end of the first brace is fastened to the bracket and the second end of the first brace is fastened to the first corner portion, and wherein the first end of the second brace is fastened to the bracket and the second end of the second brace is fastened to the second corner portion.

4. The rear support structure according to claim 1 , wherein the first end of the first brace and the first end of the second brace are further configured to be attached to a middle portion of the upper horizontal member of the pair of horizontal members.

5. The rear support structure according to claim 4 , wherein the V-shaped brace provides a rigid support to a chassis of the vehicle and prevents a twist in the chassis in case the load is experienced by the parcel cross-member.

6. The rear support structure according to claim 1 , wherein the V-shaped brace comprises an opening between the cargo area and the passenger compartment for exchange of goods between the passenger compartment and the cargo area of the vehicle when seats are lowered.

7. The rear support structure according to claim 1 , wherein the first brace and the second brace are symmetrical and interchangeable.

8. The rear support structure according to claim 1 , wherein the redistribution of the load follows a first transfer path and a second transfer path.

9. The rear support structure according to claim 8 , the first transfer path extends from the first brace to a corresponding first portion of each of a tunnel portion and a floor region, and wherein the second transfer path extends from the second brace to a corresponding second portion of each of the tunnel portion and the floor region.

10. A rear support structure for a vehicle, the rear support structure comprising:
a parcel cross-member positioned between a cargo area and a passenger compartment, the parcel cross-member extends from a first side structure of the vehicle to a second side structure of the vehicle, the parcel cross-member comprising:
a first vertical member positioned along the first side structure;
a second vertical member positioned along the second side structure; and
an upper horizontal member extending between an upper end of the first vertical member and an upper end of the second vertical member, wherein the first vertical member, the second vertical member, and the upper horizontal member at least partially define an opening between the cargo area and the passenger compartment; and

a brace assembly comprising:
a first brace that extends across the opening and includes a first end secured to the upper horizontal member adjacent a longitudinal centerline of the vehicle and a second end secured to the first vertical member; and
a second brace that extends across the opening and includes a first end secured to the upper horizontal member adjacent the longitudinal centerline of the vehicle and a second end secured to the second vertical member.

11. The rear support structure of claim 10 , wherein the first brace is positioned entirely between the first side structure and the longitudinal centerline of the vehicle, and the second brace is positioned entirely between the second side structure and the longitudinal centerline of the vehicle.

12. The rear support structure of claim 11 , wherein the parcel cross-member includes a lower horizontal member extending between a lower end of the first vertical member and a lower end of the second vertical member, the lower horizontal member partially defines the opening between the cargo area and the passenger compartment, the second end of the first brace is secured to the first vertical member above the lower horizontal member, and the second end of the second brace is secured to the second vertical member above the lower horizontal member.

13. The rear support structure of claim 12 , wherein the first vertical member includes a first side facing the passenger compartment, the second vertical member includes a first side facing the passenger compartment, the second end of the first brace is secured to first side of the first vertical member, and the second end of the second brace is secured to the first side of the second vertical member.

14. The rear support structure of claim 13 , wherein the first side structure comprises a first base and a first vertical wall extending upward therefrom, the first vertical member extends upward from the first base along the first vertical wall, and the second end of the first brace is secured to the first vertical member above the first base, and wherein the second side structure comprises a second base and a second vertical wall extending upward therefrom, the second vertical member extends upward from the second base along the second vertical wall, and the second end of the second brace is secured to the second vertical member above the second base.

15. The rear support structure of claim 14 , further comprising a seat back, wherein the upper horizontal member comprises a hollow structure defined by a first wall facing the passenger compartment, a second wall positioned opposite the first wall and facing the cargo area, an upper wall defined by a parcel shelf, and a lower wall positioned opposite the upper wall and extending from the first wall to the second wall, wherein the first wall of the upper horizontal member and the seat back define a gap there-between when the seat back is in a raised position, and the first brace and the second brace are each positioned outside of the gap, and wherein the first end of the first brace and the first end of the second brace are positioned rearward of at least a portion of the first wall of the upper horizontal member and the entire brace assembly is positioned forward of the second wall of the upper horizontal member.

16. A rear support structure for a vehicle, the rear support structure comprising:
a parcel cross-member positioned between a cargo area and a passenger compartment that extends from a first side structure of the vehicle to a second side structure of the vehicle, the parcel cross-member comprising:
a first vertical member positioned along the first side structure;
a second vertical member positioned a

Assignees

• Honda Motor Co Ltd

Inventors

• Palesano Timothy J
• Veverka Kevin A
• Freeman Christopher R
• Teran Jr Rafael
• Hinz Christopher

Classifications

• B62D25/088

  Details of structures as upper supports for springs or dampers · CPC title

• B62D29/043

  Superstructures (B62D25/161 takes precedence) · CPC title

• B62D25/087 Primary

  Luggage compartments · CPC title

• B60R21/026

  Rigid partitions inside vehicles, e.g. between passengers and load compartments (B60R21/12 takes precedence) · CPC title