# US 10,870,403 B2 · Bumper cross member system for a motor vehicle, modular system, and motor vehicle having such a bumper cross member system > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 10,870,403 B2 - Document ID: US10870403B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 16/204,752 - Filed: 2018-11-29 - Published: 2019-06-06 - Granted: 2020-12-22 - Earliest claimed: 2017-12-06 - Assignees: Volkswagen Aktiengesellschaft - Applicants: Volkswagen Aktiengesellschaft - Inventors: Jens Lattorff; Nils Decker; Bernd Oehmke - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US10870403B2 ## CPC - B60R 19/34: destroyed upon impact, e.g. one-shot type - B60R 19/04: formed from more than one section {in a side-by-side arrangement} - B60R 19/18: {characterised by the cross-section;} Means within the bumper to absorb impact - B60R 2019/1806: {Structural beams therefor, e.g. shock-absorbing} - B60R: VEHICLES, VEHICLE FITTINGS, OR VEHICLE PARTS, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR ## Abstract A bumper cross member system for a motor vehicle having a base structure including a bumper cross member that, in the post-assembly position, extends transversely relative to the vehicle, and two crash boxes that, in the post-assembly position, extend from the bumper cross member longitudinally relative to the vehicle, at least one of the following add-on elements being configured on the base structure: a cross member expansion element, which, starting from an outer side of the bumper cross member, extends transversely relative to the vehicle outwardly in such a way that an extended base structure having an enlarged width is obtained, and/or a crash box extender element that extends from the bumper cross member in the post-assembly position forwardly longitudinally relative to the vehicle in such a way that an extended base structure having an elongated crash box is obtained. Also, a modular system and a motor vehicle having a bumper cross member system. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A bumper cross member system for a motor vehicle, the cross member system having a base structure comprising: a bumper cross member that extends in a post-assembly position transversely relative to the vehicle, a first crash box and a second crash box, wherein, in the post-assembly position, the first crash box and the second crash box extend rearwardly from the bumper cross member longitudinally relative to the vehicle, and at least one add-on-element configured on the base structure, wherein: the at least one add-on-element comprises a first crash box extender element and a second crash box extender, the first crash box extender and the second crash box extender extend forwardly from the bumper cross member in the post-assembly position forwardly longitudinally relative to the vehicle in such a way that an extended base structure having an elongated crash box is obtained, a profile cross section of the first crash box and a profile cross section of the first crash box extender: are serially disposed longitudinally relative to the vehicle, and completely overlap transversely relative to the vehicle to form a first common effective path extending longitudinally relative to the vehicle, and a profile cross section of the second crash box and a profile cross section of the second crash box extender: are serially disposed longitudinally relative to the vehicle, and completely overlap transversely relative to the vehicle to form a second common effective path extending longitudinally relative to the vehicle. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The bumper cross member system as recited in claim 1, wherein the bumper cross member is formed of a profile that is open in cross section. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The bumper cross member system as recited in claim 1, wherein the first crash box and the first crash box element are each formed by a profile that is closed in cross section, and the second crash box and the second crash box extender are each formed by a profile that is closed in cross section. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The bumper cross member system as recited in claim 1, wherein the bumper cross member is formed of a profile that is open in cross section and includes at least two sides, and of a reinforcing structure, which stabilizes two sides of the profile relative to one another, extends between the two sides thereof. ### Claim 5 (depends on 4) The bumper cross member system according to claim 4, wherein: a bore that extends longitudinally relative to the vehicle in the post-assembly state is formed in at least one of the reinforcing structure and the at least one add-on element; the reinforcing structure is disposed in a recess formed in the profile of the bumper cross member; or the reinforcing structure is disposed to grip around the bumper cross member. ### Claim 6 (depends on 4) The bumper cross member system according to claim 4, wherein the at least one add-on element is permanently connected to at least one of the reinforcing structure and to the base structure. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The bumper cross member system as recited in claim 1, wherein the at least one add-on element has at least one joint face that is urged into contact with at least one of the base structure and a reinforcing structure or the crash box extender has at least one crease. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The bumper cross member system as recited in claim 1, wherein at least one tab of material, serving as a joint face on the at least one add-on element, is configured for connection to at least one of the bumper cross member, a reinforcing structure, the first crash box and the second crash box. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) A modular system having a bumper cross member system according to claim 1, wherein a base structure is combined with various add-on elements to provide motor vehicles with at least one of a bumper cross member that differs in width, and a crash box that differs in effective length. ### Claim 10 (depends on 1) A motor vehicle having a bumper cross member system according to claim 1. ### Claim 11 (depends on 1) The bumper cross member system as recited in claim 1, wherein the at least one add-on-element further comprises a cross member expansion which, starting from an outer side of the bumper cross member, extends transversely relative to the vehicle outwardly. ### Claim 12 (depends on 11) The bumper cross member system as recited in claim 11, wherein the cross member expansion is partially adapted to the profile at least in a region directly laterally adjoining the bumper cross member, such that the cross member expansion and the bumper cross member partially overlap transversely relative to the vehicle.