# US 11,999,411 B2 · Energy absorber for front-end vehicle protection

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- Number: US 11,999,411 B2
- Document ID: US11999411B2
- Status: Granted
- Kind: B2
- Application number: 17/464,266
- Filed: 2021-09-01
- Published: 2023-03-02
- Granted: 2024-06-04
- Earliest claimed: 2021-09-01
- Assignees: Nissan North America, Inc.
- Applicants: Nissan North America, Inc.
- Inventors: Alejandro Enrique Gonzalez; Md Hafizur Rahman; Freddy Miranda
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US11999411B2

## CPC

- B62D 21/152: {Front or rear frames}
- B60K 11/08: Air inlets for cooling; Shutters or blinds therefor
- B60R 11/04: Mounting of cameras operative during drive; Arrangement of controls thereof relative to the vehicle
- B60R 19/48: combined with, or convertible into, other devices or objects, e.g. bumpers combined with road brushes, bumpers convertible into beds
- B60R 19/52: Radiator or grille guards {; Radiator grilles (cooling aspects B60K11/08)}
- B62D 25/085: {Front-end modules}
- B60R 2011/004: {outside the vehicle}
- B60R 2019/525: {Radiator grilles}
- B62D: MOTOR VEHICLES; TRAILERS (steering, or guiding on a desired track, of agricultural machines or implements A01B69/00; wheels, castors, axles, increasing wheel adhesion B60B; vehicle tyres, tyre inflation or tyre changing B60C; connections between vehicles of a train or the like B60D; vehicles for use on rail and road, amphibious or convertible vehicles B60F; suspension arrangements B60G; heating, cooling, ventilating or other air treating devices B60H; windows, windscreens, non-fixed roofs, doors or similar devices, protective coverings for vehicles not in use B60J; propulsion plant arrangements, auxiliary drives, transmissions, controls, instrumentation or dashboards B60K; electric equipment or propulsion of electrically-propelled vehicles B60L; power supply for electrically-propelled vehicles B60M; passenger accommodation not otherwise provided for B60N; adaptations for load transportation or to carry special loads or objects B60P; arrangement of signalling or lighting devices, the mounting or supporting thereof or circuits therefor, for vehicles in general B60Q; vehicles, vehicle fittings or vehicle parts not otherwise provided for B60R; servicing, cleaning, repairing, supporting, lifting, or manoeuvring, not otherwise provided for, B60S; brake arrangements, brake control systems or parts thereof B60T; air-cushion vehicles B60V; motor-cycles, accessories therefor B62J, B62K; testing of vehicles G01M)
- B60K: ARRANGEMENT OR MOUNTING OF PROPULSION UNITS OR OF TRANSMISSIONS IN VEHICLES; ARRANGEMENT OR MOUNTING OF PLURAL DIVERSE PRIME-MOVERS IN VEHICLES; AUXILIARY DRIVES FOR VEHICLES; INSTRUMENTATION OR DASHBOARDS FOR VEHICLES; ARRANGEMENTS IN CONNECTION WITH COOLING, AIR INTAKE, GAS EXHAUST OR FUEL SUPPLY OF PROPULSION UNITS IN VEHICLES
- B60R: VEHICLES, VEHICLE FITTINGS, OR VEHICLE PARTS, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR

## Abstract

A vehicle is disclosed that includes: a grille supporting a functional accessory; a bumper beam that is located (positioned) axially inward of the grille; and a first energy absorber that is connected to the bumper beam. The first energy absorber defines a cavity that is configured to accommodate inward axial displacement of the grille resulting from a low-force impact between the vehicle and an external object to thereby inhibit damage to the functional accessory.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A vehicle, comprising:
a grille supporting a functional accessory;
a bumper beam located axially inward of the grille; and
a first energy absorber connected to the bumper beam and defining a cavity configured to accommodate inward axial displacement of the grille resulting from a low-force impact between the vehicle and an external object to thereby inhibit damage to the functional accessory.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The vehicle of claim 1, wherein the functional accessory includes at least one of an emblem and an image capture device.

### Claim 3 (depends on 1)

The vehicle of claim 1, wherein the cavity defines an axial dimension extending in generally parallel relation to a length of the vehicle that lies substantially within a range of approximately 35 mm to approximately 65 mm.

### Claim 4 (depends on 1)

The vehicle of claim 1, wherein the first energy absorber is configured such that the cavity is generally aligned with the functional accessory.

### Claim 5 (depends on 4)

The vehicle of claim 4, wherein the first energy absorber defines a first lateral end and a second lateral end opposite to the first lateral end, the cavity being located adjacent to the second lateral end.

### Claim 6 (depends on 5)

The vehicle of claim 5, wherein the first energy absorber defines:
a first end wall at the first lateral end;
a second end wall at the second lateral end; and
an intermediate end wall located between the first end wall and the second end wall, the cavity extending between the intermediate end wall and the second end wall.

### Claim 7 (depends on 6)

The vehicle of claim 6, wherein the functional accessory defines a first lateral end and a second lateral end opposite to the first lateral end, the intermediate end wall of the first energy absorber being generally aligned with the first lateral end of the functional accessory.

### Claim 8 (depends on 6)

The vehicle of claim 6, wherein the functional accessory defines a first lateral end and a second lateral end opposite to the first lateral end, the intermediate end wall of the first energy absorber being spaced laterally outward of the first lateral end of the functional accessory.

### Claim 9 (depends on 1)

The vehicle of claim 1, wherein the first energy absorber includes a base wall defining a lower end of the cavity, the base wall being configured for contact with an inner surface of the grille upon the inward axial displacement thereof.

### Claim 10 (depends on 9)

The vehicle of claim 9, wherein the base wall subtends an angle with a reference plane extending in generally parallel relation to a length of the vehicle that lies substantially within a range of approximately 10 degrees to approximately 15 degrees.

### Claim 11 (depends on 1)

The vehicle of claim 1, further comprising a second energy absorber connected to the bumper beam and positioned below the first energy absorber.

### Claim 12 (depends on 11)

The vehicle of claim 11, wherein the first energy absorber defines a first density and the second energy absorber defines a second density different than the first density.

### Claim 13

A vehicle, comprising:
a grille supporting a functional accessory;
a bumper beam located axially inward of the grille;
a first energy absorber connected to the bumper beam, the first energy absorber including:
a first body having a first density, the first body defining a cavity generally aligned with the functional accessory and configured to receive and accommodate inward axial displacement of the grille resulting from a low-force impact between the vehicle and an external object to thereby inhibit damage to the functional accessory; and
a flange extending axially from the first body; and
a second energy absorber connected to the bumper beam and positioned below the first energy absorber, the second energy absorber including a second body having a second density different than the first density.

### Claim 14 (depends on 13)

The vehicle of claim 13, wherein the first density is greater than the second density.

### Claim 15 (depends on 13)

The vehicle of claim 13, wherein the first energy absorber defines a first lateral end and a second lateral end opposite to the first lateral end, the flange extending from the first lateral end to the second lateral end.

### Claim 16 (depends on 15)

The vehicle of claim 15, wherein the bumper beam defines a first lateral end and a second lateral end opposite to the first lateral end, the second energy absorber extending from the first lateral end of the bumper beam to the second lateral end of the bumper beam.

### Claim 17 (depends on 16)

The vehicle of claim 16, wherein the first energy absorber defines a first lateral dimension and the second energy absorber defines a second lateral dimension greater than the first lateral dimension.

### Claim 18

A method of protecting a functional accessory supported by a grille in a vehicle during a low-force impact between the vehicle and an external object, the method comprising:
securing an energy absorber to a bumper beam of the vehicle such that a cavity defined by the energy absorber is positioned to accommodate inward axial displacement of the grille resulting from the low-force impact.

### Claim 19 (depends on 18)

The method of claim 18, wherein securing the energy absorber to the bumper beam includes positioning the energy absorber such that the cavity and the functional accessory are generally aligned along a lateral dimension of the vehicle.

### Claim 20 (depends on 18)

The method of claim 18, wherein securing the energy absorber to the bumper beam includes positioning the energy absorber such that a base wall defining a lower end of the cavity subtends an angle with a reference plane extending in generally parallel relation to a length of the vehicle that lies substantially within a range of approximately 10 degrees to approximately 15 degrees.