Vehicle frame bracket

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9333989-B2
Application number	US-201414314466-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jun 25, 2014
Priority date	Jun 25, 2014
Publication date	May 10, 2016
Grant date	May 10, 2016

Abstract

A frame portion for a vehicle includes a pillar component extending along a first direction and a beam component at least partially extending along a second direction substantially orthogonal to the first direction. The beam component has a rear end proximate the pillar component. The frame portion further includes a bracket coupled between the pillar component and the rear end of the beam component. The bracket spaces the beam component from the pillar component.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. A frame portion for a vehicle, comprising:
a pillar component extending along a first direction;
a beam component at least partially extending along a second direction substantially orthogonal to the first direction, the beam component having a rear end proximate the pillar component;
a bracket coupled between the pillar component and the rear end of the beam component, the bracket spacing the beam component from the pillar component;
wherein the bracket includes at least a first portion engaging the pillar component, the first portion extending substantially across the first and second directions;
wherein the pillar component includes a recess extending substantially across the first and second directions complementary to a first flange of the bracket; and
wherein the first direction is configured substantially along a vertical direction of a vehicle, the second direction is configured substantially along a longitudinal direction of the vehicle, and the recess is defined within a laterally outside surface of the pillar component.

2. The frame portion of claim 1 , wherein the bracket includes a second portion engaging the pillar component, the first and second portions extending substantially across the first direction and a third direction, the third direction being substantially orthogonal to each of the first and second directions.

3. The frame portion of claim 1 , wherein the bracket is configured to engage a plurality of surfaces of the beam component.

4. The frame portion of claim 1 , wherein the bracket is coupled to at least one of the pillar component and the beam component with a joining component, the joining component configured with a deformation threshold less than the pillar component and the beam component to facilitate selective deformation of the frame portion at the bracket.

5. The frame portion of claim 4 , wherein the joining component includes at least one of a mechanical fastener, an adhesive material, and a weld between the bracket and the at least one of the pillar component and the beam component.

6. The frame portion of claim 1 , wherein the beam component includes a pair of beam members aligned with each other.

7. A frame portion for a vehicle, comprising:
a pillar component extending along a first direction;
a beam component at least partially extending along a second direction substantially orthogonal to the first direction, the beam component having a rear end proximate the pillar component; and
a bracket coupled between the pillar component and the rear end of the beam component, the bracket coupled to at least one of the pillar component and the beam component with a joining component, the joining component configured with a deformation threshold less than the pillar component and the beam component to facilitate selective deformation of the frame portion at the bracket.

8. The frame portion of claim 7 , wherein the bracket spaces the beam component from the pillar component.

9. The frame portion of claim 8 , wherein the bracket includes at least a first flange engaging the pillar component.

10. The frame portion of claim 9 , wherein the first flange extends substantially across the first and second directions.

11. The frame portion of claim 10 , wherein the pillar component includes a recess extending substantially across the first and second directions complementary to the first flange.

12. The frame portion of claim 11 , wherein the first direction is configured substantially along a vertical direction of a vehicle, the second direction is configured substantially along a longitudinal direction of the vehicle, and the recess is defined within a laterally outside surface of the pillar component.

13. The frame portion of claim 9 , wherein the bracket includes a second flange, the first and second flanges extending substantially across the first direction and a third direction, the third direction being substantially orthogonal to each of the first and second directions.

14. The frame portion of claim 9 , wherein the bracket is configured to engage a plurality of surfaces of the beam component.

15. The frame portion of claim 7 , wherein the joining component includes at least one of a mechanical fastener, an adhesive material, and a weld between the bracket and the at least one of the pillar component and the beam component.

16. The frame portion of claim 7 , wherein the beam component includes a pair of beam members aligned with each other.

Assignees

• Ford Global Tech Llc

Inventors

• Donabedian Edgar Edward
• Wagner Darrin Neil
• Shaner Leonard Anthony
• Ko Fungtai Charles
• Stojkovic Dragan B
• Hoffman Colleen Marie

Classifications

• B62D21/02 Primary

  comprising longitudinally or transversely arranged frame members · CPC title

• B62D27/023 Primary

  Assembly of structural joints · CPC title

• B62D25/082

  Engine compartments · CPC title

• B62D25/04

  Door pillars {; windshield pillars} · CPC title

• B62D27/02

  rigid · CPC title