Uniform deceleration unit crash box
AssigneeTesseract Structural Innovations, Inc.
InventorHenry L. Renegar
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A crash box may include one or more layers arranged to absorb crash energy. In some embodiments, the crash box includes a first layer having an outer skin defining a periphery of the first layer and at least one of: 1) a rib and web structure, and 2) an array of tubes disposed within the outer skin for absorbing crash energy, and a second layer adjacent to the first layer, the second layer having an outer skin defining a periphery of the second layer and at least one of: 1) a rib and web structure, and 2) an array of tubes disposed within the outer skin for absorbing crash energy.
Claims22
A crash box for a motor vehicle, the crash box comprising:
- a first crash pad having an outer skin defining a periphery of the first crash pad and a plurality of discrete, hollow tubes arranged to absorb crash energy, wherein each of the discrete, hollow tubes is joined to a base of the first crash pad and/or directly to an adjacent tube;
- and
- a second crash pad located adjacent the first crash pad, the second crash pad having an outer skin defining a periphery of the second crash pad and a plurality of discrete, hollow tubes arranged to absorb crash energy, wherein each of the discrete, hollow tubes is joined to a base of the second crash pad and/or directly to an adjacent tube.
A method of assembling a crash box for a motor vehicle, the method comprising:
- providing a plurality of crash pads, the plurality of crash pads configured to absorb crash energy;
- selecting a first crash pad of the plurality of crash pads, the first crash pad having an outer skin defining a periphery of the first crash pad and a plurality of discrete, hollow tubes disposed within the outer skin for absorbing crash energy, wherein each of the discrete, hollow tubes are joined to a base of the first crash pad and/or directly to an adjacent tube;
- and
- selecting a second crash pad of the plurality of crash pads, the second crash pad having an outer skin defining a periphery of the second crash pad and a plurality of discrete, hollow tubes disposed within the outer skin for absorbing crash energy, wherein each of the discrete, hollow tubes are joined to a base of the second crash pad and/or directly to an adjacent tube, and wherein the second crash pad is configured to be crushed after the first crash pad.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.