Honda Motor Co., Ltd.

Christopher D Hinz

Masahiro Ishikawa

Edward William Bach

Andrew Keenan Swayne

Andrew Edward Barrow

Timothy J Palesano

Shawn Lee Tarr

Ryan Matthew Stokes

Christopher R Freeman

Kevin A Veverka

Patrick G Esber

Michael L Thompson

Aniruddha A Joshi

Rafael Teran, Jr

Alexander B Dureiko

A parcel shelf for a vehicle includes a tray disposed between a trunk area and a cabin area of the vehicle and a soundproofing partition extending laterally between two distal portions of the tray such that the tray is partitioned into a forward region and a rearward region. The forward region includes openings and each of these openings is sealed to limit passage of sound from the trunk area into the cabin area through the forward region. The soundproofing partition is configured such that the sound from the trunk area reaching the rearward region is redirected along an extended sound pathway before entering the cabin area. A resulting sound level entering the cabin area is reduced below a defined threshold level.

Parcel shelf for sound management in vehicle

A vent assembly in an inner fender assembly disposed between a heat exchanger in an engine compartment and a wheel well of a motor vehicle includes a first vent and a second vent disposed in the inner fender assembly. The first vent includes a plurality of fins disposed at a first angle relative to a horizontal axis. The second vent is disposed between the first vent and the heat exchanger and includes a plurality of fins extending between distal ends of first and second walls of the second vent and disposed at a second angle relative to the horizontal axis.

Wheel well vent assembly

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.

Rear support structure for a vehicle

A vehicle roof structure is provided that includes a vehicle body and a roof. The vehicle body comprises a first material, and the roof comprises a second material that is different than the first material. The roof includes a flange. An insert is positioned between the vehicle body and the roof to maintain a gap between the vehicle body and the flange.

Vehicle roof structure

A vehicle roof structure is provided that includes a vehicle body and a roof. The vehicle body comprises a first material, and the roof comprises a second material having a lower rigidity than the first material. The roof includes a flange. An insert is positioned between the vehicle body and the roof to maintain a gap between the vehicle body and the flange, wherein at least a portion of the insert is less rigid than the roof.

Interior panel and body assembly features for vehicles that include the placement of panel tabs on vehicle interior panels, with the panel tabs on the interior panels having features for interactive attachment of the interior panels with vehicle body portions via corresponding body tabs on each vehicle body portion. The interactive attachment aspects of the panel tabs operating with the body tabs may further assist in properly locating each interior panel relative to a vehicle body portions. When the interior panel is installed on the vehicle body, each panel tab attaches the interior panel to the corresponding body portion via a body tab, so as to enhance the strength of the attachment, such as at an edge location where standard attachment clips cannot be used, thereby improving positioning and good fit and finish, while maximizing interior space capacity.

Interior body panel fit and finish tabs and methods of installation and use thereof

A vehicle roof structure is provided that includes a vehicle body and a roof. The roof includes a flange extending outward from the roof. An insert is positioned between the vehicle body and the roof to maintain a gap between the vehicle body and the flange. An adhesive is positioned in the gap to bond the flange to the vehicle body.

A vehicle assembly includes a roof structure having a roof panel formed of aluminum or an aluminum-based alloy and a vehicle body formed of steel or a steel alloy supporting the roof structure. The vehicle body includes a pair of laterally spaced side panels, a front roof rail and a rear roof rail. A bracket formed of steel or a steel alloy secures the roof structure to the vehicle body. The bracket has a first portion fastened to the roof panel and a second portion extending away from the roof structure and welded to the vehicle body. An adhesive located inward of the connection of the vehicle body and second portion of the bracket bonds the second portion to the vehicle body. The adhesive seals the connection of the roof panel and bracket first portion and reduces thermal distortion of the attached roof panel relative to the vehicle body.

A vehicle assembly includes a body including a pair of laterally spaced body members and a front roof rail and a rear roof rail spanning between the body members. The body members together with the front and rear roof rails support a roof structure. The body is formed of a steel or steel alloy. The roof structure includes a roof panel, a roof stiffener, a forward connecting member and a rearward connecting member. The roof structure is formed of aluminum or an aluminum alloy. The roof structure is bonded to the body via an adhesive. A plurality of bolts is installed along adhesive application areas between the body and the roof structure. At least one bolt connects the forward connecting member to the front roof rail and at least one bolt connects the rearward connecting member to the rear roof rail.

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Worthington, OH, United States of America

Christopher D Hinz