Longitudinal crash beam receiver
OwnerJens Maierinventor
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A crash beam receiver for coupling to a crash beam for reducing the effects of a vehicle collision. The crash beam receiver includes a plurality of surfaces that are coupled together to form a hollow opening for receiving the crash beam. The crash beam receiver also includes a gate structure for providing a stopping point for the crash beam when the crash beam is inserted into the crash beam receiver. The gate structure includes a left gate, a right gate, and a protrusion structure that help to linearize the self-collapsing process of the crash beam in the longitudinal direction. The protrusion structure has a certain thickness such that the crash beam is caused to collapse inward toward its center in the event of a vehicle collision.
Claims13
A crash beam receiver for coupling to a crash beam, the crash beam receiver comprising:
- a plurality of surfaces coupled together to form a hollow opening for receiving the crash beam, the plurality of surfaces including a left surface and a right surface;
- a left gate coupled to the left surface within the hollow opening, the left gate extending toward the right surface in a lateral direction, wherein a left interface includes an area where the left gate couples to the left surface;
- a right gate coupled to the right surface within the hollow opening, the right gate extending toward the left surface in the lateral direction, wherein a right interface includes an area where the right gate couples to the right surface;
- and
- a protrusion structure positioned at either the left interface or the right interface, the protrusion structure extending outward in a longitudinal direction from either the left gate or the right gate.
A method for receiving an impact force related to a vehicle collision, the method comprising:
- for a vehicle comprising:
- a crash beam;
- a crash beam receiver for coupling to the crash beam, the crash beam receiver comprising:
- a plurality of surfaces coupled together to form a hollow opening for receiving the crash beam, the plurality of surfaces including a left surface and a right surface;
- a left gate coupled to the left surface within the hollow opening, the left gate extending toward the right surface in a lateral direction, wherein a left interface includes an area where the left gate couples to the left surface;
- a right gate coupled to the right surface within the hollow opening, the right gate extending toward the left surface in the lateral direction, wherein a right interface includes an area where the right gate couples to the right surface;
- and
- a protrusion structure positioned at either the left interface or the right interface, the protrusion structure extending outward in a longitudinal direction from either the left gate or the right gate;
- receiving, by the crash beam, a first force related to the impact force;
- transferring a first portion of the first force received by the crash beam to the right gate;
- transferring a second portion of the first force received by the crash beam to the protrusion structure;
- and
- transferring a third portion of the first force received by the crash beam to the left gate or the right gate.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.