Energy-absorbing bumper
AssigneeDaimlerChrysler AG
InventorsEduardo Arvelo, Gary Brown, Thomas Frank, Klaus Rathje, Maya Ziegs
Life of this patent
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Abstract
An energy-absorbing bumper with a structural part of foam material or the like which is arranged underneath an outer skin or shell, supports the outer skin or shell in a flexible manner and is arranged between a collision contact zone of the outer skin or shell and a rear side of the bumper.
Claims10
An energy-absorbing bumper comprising a structural part which is arranged underneath an outer skin or shell, supports the outer skin in a flexible manner and has a cross section that differs from a cross section of the outer skin or shell, wherein the structural part is composed of foam capable of deformation and energy-absorbing compression or of a material having similar properties and a space-lattice structure that can be crushed in a manner that involves energy absorption, the structural part being arranged between an impact or contact zone of the outer skin or shell and a rear side of the bumper facing away from the impact or contact zone.
A bumper comprising:
- an outer shell having an impact or contact zone,
- a structural part being arranged inward of the outer shell and flexibly supporting the outer shell, the structural part having a cross section that differs from a cross section of the outer shell, and
- an inner side facing away from the impact contact zone,
- wherein the structural part comprises a material capable of deformation and energy-absorbing compression and having a space-lattice structure adapted to be crushed in a manner that involves energy absorption, and
- wherein the structural part is arranged between the impact or contact zone and the inner side of the bumper.
In a bumper of a vehicle, a structural part is arranged behind an outer skin to support the outer skin in a flexible manner and has a cross section that differs from a cross section of the outer skin, the structural part comprising a foam or material capable of deformation and energy-absorbing compression with a space-lattice structure that is crushable, wherein the structural part is arranged between an impact or contact zone of the outer skin and a rear side of the bumper facing away from the impact or contact zone.
A method of making an energy-absorbing bumper, comprising:
- arranging a structural part underneath an outer skin or shell to operatively support the outer skin in a flexible manner, the structural part having a cross section that differs from a cross section of the outer skin or shell, and
- further arranging the structural part between an impact or contact zone of the outer skin or shell and a rear side of the bumper facing away from the impact or contact zone,
- wherein the structural part is composed of foam or a material operatively capable of deformation and energy-absorbing compressor and having a space-lattice structure crushable in a manner that involves energy absorption.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.