Vehicle body structure

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11535305-B2
Application number	US-202117332896-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	May 27, 2021
Priority date	May 27, 2021
Publication date	Dec 27, 2022
Grant date	Dec 27, 2022

Abstract

A vehicle body structure defines a vehicle longitudinal direction and a vehicle lateral direction perpendicular to the vehicle longitudinal direction and includes a rear sill structure. The rear sill assembly at least partially defines a rear opening of the vehicle body structure. The rear sill assembly extends in the vehicle lateral direction. The rear sill assembly includes a first body panel and a second body panel. The first body panel extends from a first side of the rear opening to a second side of the rear opening. The second body panel overlays a portion of the first body panel. The second body panel has a main section that includes a plurality of recessed rib portions that extend in directions that define an acute angle relative to the vehicle longitudinal direction.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A vehicle body structure defining a vehicle longitudinal direction and a vehicle lateral direction perpendicular to the vehicle longitudinal direction, comprising:
a rear sill assembly that at least partially defines a rear opening, the rear sill assembly extending in the vehicle lateral direction, the rear sill assembly including:
a first body panel that extends from a first side of the rear opening to a second side of the rear opening; and
a second body panel overlaying a portion of the first body panel, the second body panel having a main section that includes a plurality of recessed rib portions that extend in directions that define an acute angle relative to the vehicle longitudinal direction.

2. The vehicle body structure according to claim 1 , wherein
the main section of the second body panel has a first pair of the plurality of recessed rib portions and a second pair of the plurality of recessed rib portions.

3. The vehicle body structure according to claim 2 , wherein
the main section of the second body panel further includes a latch striker attachment area located between the first pair of the plurality of recessed rib portions and the second pair of the plurality of recessed rib portions.

4. The vehicle body structure according to claim 2 , wherein
the first pair of the plurality of recessed rib portions are parallel to one another, and
the second pair of the plurality of recessed rib portions are parallel to one another.

5. The vehicle body structure according to claim 2 , wherein
the first pair of the plurality of recessed rib portions are non-parallel with the second pair of the plurality of recessed rib portions.

6. The vehicle body, structure according to claim 5 , wherein
the first pair of the plurality of recessed rib portions and the second pair of the plurality of recessed rib portions converge toward one another relative to a vehicle forward direction defined by the vehicle body structure.

7. The vehicle body structure according to claim 1 , thither comprising
a trim panel dimensioned and shaped to extend over the second body panel and attach thereto.

8. The vehicle body structure according to claim 7 , wherein
the trim panel includes a plurality of ribs.

9. The vehicle body structure according to claim 7 , further comprising
the plurality of ribs of the trim panel are parallel to one another and extend in the vehicle longitudinal direction.

10. The vehicle body structure according to claim 7 , wherein
the second body panel includes a plurality of attachment openings, and
the trim panel includes a plurality of attachment projections that extend into corresponding ones of the plurality of attachment openings thereby securing the trim panel to the second body panel.

11. The vehicle body structure according to claim 10 , wherein
the second body panel includes a plurality of raised portions with the plurality of attachment openings being defined by corresponding ones the plurality of raised portions, and,
the trim panel includes a plurality of downwardly extending projections with the plurality of attachment projections extending downwardly from corresponding ones of the plurality of downwardly extending projections.

12. The vehicle body structure according to claim 1 , further comprising
a plurality of rear support bracket attached to a rearward facing portion of the first body panel.

13. The vehicle body structure according to claim 1 , further comprising
a plurality of front support bracket attached to a forward facing portion of the first body panel.

14. The vehicle body structure according to claim 1 , further comprising
a pair of upright brackets attached to opposite ends of the second body panel and an upward facing surface of the first body panel.

15. The vehicle body structure according to claim 1 , wherein
the first body panel and the second body panel include respective portions that are spaced apart from one another defining corresponding hollow areas.

16. The vehicle body structure according to claim 15 , further comprising
a pair of upright brackets attached to opposite ends of the second body panel and an upward facing surface of the first body panel closing the corresponding hollow areas.

17. The vehicle body structure according to claim 1 , wherein
the first body panel includes a horizontal portion and a downwardly extending portion, and
the second body panel includes a generally horizontal portion and a downwardly extending portion, the generally horizontal portion of the second body panel overlays the horizontal portion of the first body panel, and the downwardly extending portion of the second body panel overlays a section of the downwardly extending portion of the first body panel.

18. The vehicle body structure according to claim 1 , wherein
the main section of the second body panel is defined along the generally horizontal portion thereof, with the plurality of recessed rib portions extending along the generally horizontal portion.

19. The vehicle body structure according to claim 16 , wherein
the main section of the second body panel has a first pair of the plurality of recessed rib portions and a second pair of the plurality of recessed rib portions,
the first pair of the plurality of recessed rib portions are parallel to one another, and
the second pair of the plurality of recessed rib portions are parallel to one another.

20. The vehicle body structure according to claim 19 , wherein
the first pair of the plurality of recessed rib portions and the second pair of the plurality of recessed rib portions converge toward one another relative to a vehicle forward direction defined by the vehicle body structure.

Assignees

• Nissan North America Inc

Inventors

• Trifonoff Nicholas

Classifications

• B62D25/087 Primary

  Luggage compartments · CPC title

• B62D25/025

  Side sills thereof · CPC title

• B62D25/12 Primary

  Parts or details thereof (locks E05B, {E05B83/16; devices for holding open E05C17/00, e.g. while carrying oversize objects E05C17/042}; hinges E05D; counterbalancing means E05F; {checks, stops, buffers E05F5/00; } springs, {e.g. pneumatic springs} F16F) · CPC title

• B60J5/102

  comprising door or part of door being pivotable downwards about horizontal axis to open position · CPC title

• B60R13/043

  Door edge guards · CPC title