Mazda Motor Corporation

Toyo Kogyo Co., Ltd.

Yutaka Imura

Takanori Tuchiya

Hisao Fukutomi

Takeshi Konishi

Morio Umeda

Koji Kuraoka

Hayatsugu Harasaki

Takeshi Yamamoto

Iseo Hamasaki

Takesi Konisi

A front body construction of a car body has a wheel apron used as part of a side wall of an engine compartment. A wheel apron is connected with a suspension tower for supporting a front wheel suspension therein and to a boxed U-channel front side frame extending in a lengthwise direction from a front end to a rear end of the engine compartment. A pair of gussets is provided as reinforcing members to interconnect the suspension tower and the front side frame. The lower portion of each gusset is disposed within the boxed U-channel front side frame and BonnectedDtoOinnerRwallsSoffth boxee Uchhnnnl Broot Bidd foamm s at t ppevvnttthh swsppnssonntoerrfrm Beiig ubkecced to loads causing an inward leaning.

Front body construction of a vehicle

A convertible vehicle body structure having a rigid front roof panel covering the front top portion of the passenger compartment and a rear roof panel covering the rear portion of the passenger compartment. The front roof panel is supported by an inverted U-shaped swingable pillar and the rear roof panel is mounted on the rear body structure through mounting arms. The front and rear roof panels are retracted in the rear body section in a fore-and-aft jaxtaposed relationship.

Roof structure for a convertible vehicle body

An open-top vehicle body structure including a foldable hood and a linkage for extending and folding the hood. At each side, a reversible motor is provided for actuating the linkage. In order to synchronize the operation of the motors at the respective sides, a connecting rod or flexible shaft is provided and connects together the output shafts of the motor. The linkage includes a swingable pillar of an inverted U-shape having opposite leg portions mounted on the body section for swinging movement about a transverse extending horizontal axis. The hood is connected at a front edge portion to the swingable pillar and at a rear edge portion to a part of the body located rearwardly of the swingable pillar. A rigid roof panel is removably mounted between a swingable pillar and a front windshield. The rotation of the motors produces a swingable movement of the pillar. The linkage includes a first link having one end pivotably connected with the leg portion of the swingable pillar and a second link having one end pivotably connected with the other end of the first link. The other end of the second link is connected with an upward shaft of the motor.

Upper body structure of an open-top vehicle

A vehicle door structure including a door panel assembly made of an outer panel of a plastic material and an inner panel of a plastic material which are connected together at front, rear and lower edge portions. A reinforcement frame is provided in the door panel assembly and includes a front member extending substantially along the front edge portion of the door panel assembly, a rear member extending substantially along the rear edge portion of the door panel assembly and a longitudinal member extending between the front and rear members. The longitudinal member is connected with the front member through a gusset plate rigidly so that a sideward rigidity of the door structure can be ensured.

Vehicle door structure having plastic door panel

An automobile front deck structure which provides rigid connections among the dash panel, the front pillar and the longitudinally extending wheel apron reinforcement. The front pillar includes an upper pillar structure of closed cross-section and a lower pillar structure of closed cross-section. The longitudinal panel and an outer longitudinal panel forming a closed cross-section, the inner longitudinal panel having a rearward extension extending toward the dash panel and formed at rear end connected to the dash panel, the outer longitudinal panel having a rearward extension extending toward the dash panel and formed at rear end with a laterally outwardly bent flange, an outer lower member of the front pillar having a laterally outwardly bent flange which is connected with the flange on said outer longitudinal panel with the dash panel interposed therebetween, an inner upper member of the front pillar having a laterally bent flange which is connected to the dash panel so that the inner upper member of the front pillar is substantially opposite to the rearward extension of the inner longitudinal panel of the longitudinal reinforcement.

Growing community of inventors

Hiroshima, Japan

Yutaka Imura