Mazda Motor Corporation

Takashi Ebisugi

Hiroyoshi Yamaguchi

Takayuki Kimura

Eiji Shimizu

Arihiro Furumoto

Minoru Takakura

Yorimitsu Hirata

Kenjiro Miki

Yukari Fujii

Mitsuru Wakiie

Masataka Masuda

A vehicle safety device () includes an actuator () which thrusts a hood () upward from underside at a point close to a rear end of the hood () to raise the same by a specific amount when an obstacle is detected, and a mechanical connector () which connects the rear end of the hood () to the vehicle body (), the mechanical connector () being structured such that, when the actuator () raises the rear end of the hood (), the mechanical connector () extends while swinging about a pivot (P) by which the mechanical connector () is joined to the vehicle body (). The mechanical connector () includes a rod (), and a locking part () having a through hole () in which the rod () is inserted. The locking part () engages with the rod () in such a manner that the rod () can move in only one direction in which the rod () is extracted from the locking part (), and the rod () is disengaged from the locking part () when turned about a longitudinal axis.

Vehicle safety device

A roll bar structure of a vehicle equipped with side panels and an open top, including a crossbar having a closed section and extending in a vehicle width direction between both of the side panels, the roll bars having a reverse-U shape and at least pan thereof projecting above the crossbar, and through holes formed at upper and lower portions of the crossbar, wherein one-side part of the roll bar extending substantially vertically penetrates the through holes, and the roll bars are connected respectively with the upper and lower portions of the crossbar which the roll bars penetrate, such that, a resistance of the roll bar structure against a vehicle rollover can be increased by firmly connecting the roll bars with the crossbar.

Roll bar structure of vehicle

Growing community of inventors

Fuchu-cho, Japan

Takashi Ebisugi