Joint for an underbody of a motor vehicle
First Claim
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1. A joint for a vehicle, the joint comprising:
- a body member including a longitudinal axis in a first direction configured to;
be coupled to a vehicle underbody at a first mounting point and at a second mounting point, the first and second mounting points comprising first and second pivot points, respectively, for the body member, wherein each of the first and second mounting points comprise a hole through the body member, and wherein each hole is disposed on a common flange,be coupled to a vehicle rail at one or more locations other than the first and second mounting points, the vehicle rail including a longitudinal axis oriented parallel to the longitudinal axis of the body member, andwhen a force in a second direction different than the first direction is applied to a first location of the body member, pivot at one of the first pivot point and the second pivot point depending on the second direction, the pivoting at least partially transferring the force to the vehicle rail, wherein the first and second mounting points are aligned along the longitudinal axis of the body member.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A joint for a vehicle can direct forces away from an interior of the vehicle and along a frame rail. The joint can pivot when subjected to a high force, and the pivoting action can redirect and redistribute the force away from a passenger compartment. The joint can comprise multiple pivot points.
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Citations
20 Claims
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1. A joint for a vehicle, the joint comprising:
a body member including a longitudinal axis in a first direction configured to; be coupled to a vehicle underbody at a first mounting point and at a second mounting point, the first and second mounting points comprising first and second pivot points, respectively, for the body member, wherein each of the first and second mounting points comprise a hole through the body member, and wherein each hole is disposed on a common flange, be coupled to a vehicle rail at one or more locations other than the first and second mounting points, the vehicle rail including a longitudinal axis oriented parallel to the longitudinal axis of the body member, and when a force in a second direction different than the first direction is applied to a first location of the body member, pivot at one of the first pivot point and the second pivot point depending on the second direction, the pivoting at least partially transferring the force to the vehicle rail, wherein the first and second mounting points are aligned along the longitudinal axis of the body member. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7)
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8. A joint for a vehicle, the joint comprising:
a body member including a longitudinal axis in a first direction configured to; be coupled to a vehicle underbody at a first mounting point and at a second mounting point, the first and second mounting points comprising first and second pivot points, respectively, for the body member, wherein each of the first and second mounting points comprise a hole through the body member, and wherein each hole is disposed on a common flange, be coupled to a vehicle rail at one or more locations other than the first and second mounting points, the vehicle rail including a longitudinal axis oriented parallel to the longitudinal axis of the body member, and when a force in a second direction different than the first direction is applied to a first location of the body member, pivot at one of the first pivot point and the second pivot point depending on the second direction, the pivoting at least partially transferring the force to the vehicle rail, wherein the first and second mounting points are aligned along the longitudinal axis of the body member and the pivoting of the body member transfers the force to the vehicle rail in the first direction. - View Dependent Claims (9, 10, 11, 12, 13)
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14. A joint for a vehicle, the joint comprising:
a body member including a longitudinal axis in a first direction configured to; be coupled to a vehicle underbody at a first mounting point and at a second mounting point, the first and second mounting points comprising first and second pivot points, respectively, for the body member, wherein each of the first and second mounting points comprise a hole through the body member, and wherein each hole is disposed on a common flange, be coupled to a vehicle rail at one or more locations other than the first and second mounting points, the vehicle rail including a longitudinal axis oriented parallel to the longitudinal axis of the body member, and when a force in a second direction different than the first direction is applied to a first location of the body member, pivot at one of the first pivot point and the second pivot point depending on the second direction, the pivoting at least partially transferring the force to the vehicle rail, wherein the body member is configured to be coupled to a cross member of the vehicle underbody that is perpendicular to the vehicle rail, such that the pivoting of the body member transfers at least a portion of the force to the cross member. - View Dependent Claims (15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
Specification