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US 2004/0070220 A1Published application
Bumper with integrally formed energy absorber
AssigneeNetshape Corporation
InventorDarin Evans
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A bumper system comprising a metal tubular beam, an energy absorber and mounts. The metal tubular beam has a center section having front, rear, top, and bottom walls. The energy absorber includes a rail having a rear surface with a rearwardly-facing C-shaped recess mateably receiving the tubular beam therein, with the energy absorber being configured to crush and absorb impact energy prior to collapse of the tubular beam. The mounts engage a rear of the metal tubular beam.
Claims19
A bumper system comprising:
- a metal tubular beam with a center section having front, rear, top, and bottom walls;
- an energy absorber including a rail having a rear surface with a rearwardly-facing C-shaped recess mateably receiving the tubular beam therein, the energy absorber being configured to crush and absorb impact energy prior to collapse of the tubular beam;
- and
- mounts engaging a rear of the metal tubular beam.
1 more element
A bumper system comprising:
- a metal tubular beam;
- a polymeric energy absorber having a rear surface with a recess mateably receiving the tubular beam, the energy absorber being configured to crush and absorb impact energy prior to collapse of the tubular beam;
- mounts engaging a rear of the metal tubular beam;
- wherein the energy absorber includes enlarged structural corner sections that extend outboard of the mounts and outboard of outer ends of the beam for providing impact structure to a corner of the vehicle outboard of the beam and mounts;
- and
- wherein the corner sections form at least one honeycomb-shaped structure for absorbing impact energy during a vehicle crash, the corner sections further providing a top surface configured to support a force placed thereon.
3 more elements
A bumper system comprising:
- a metal tubular beam;
- an energy absorber having a rear surface with a recess mateably receiving the tubular beam, the energy absorber being configured to crush and absorb impact energy prior to collapse of the tubular beam;
- mounts engaging a rear of the metal tubular beam;
- wherein the energy absorber includes enlarged structural corner sections that extend outboard of the mounts and outboard of outer ends of the beam for providing impact structure to a corner of the vehicle outboard of the beam and mounts;
- and
- wherein the corner sections include a portion located proximate the mounts, the corner sections being configured to flex, engage and slide on a side of the mounts during a corner impact by an object directed along a line angled with respect of a length of the mounts, whereby the object bounces sideways off the corner section in a direction parallel to a longitudinal direction of the energy absorber upon the corner impact.
3 more elements
A bumper system comprising:
- a metal beam with a center section;
- an energy absorber including a rail having the beam therein, the energy absorber being configured to crush and absorb impact energy prior to collapse of the beam;
- and
- mounts engaging a rear of the metal beam;
- the energy absorber including a top section connected to a top portion of the rail and a bottom section connected to a bottom portion of the rail;
- the top section having an upwardly angled top first segment extending from the rail and a forwardly extending top second segment extending from the first segment;
- the bottom section having a downwardly angled bottom first segment extending from the rail and a forwardly extending bottom second segment extending from the first segment;
- wherein the upwardly angled top first segment folds rearwardly over a top face of the rail during a front impact of the forwardly extending top second segment;
- and
- wherein the downwardly angled bottom first segment folds rearwardly over a bottom face of the rail during a front impact of the forwardly extending bottom second segment.
7 more elements
A bumper system for a vehicle having a passenger compartment, comprising:
- a tubular bumper beam that includes a center section, end sections, and bent interconnecting sections that interconnect each end section with an end of the center section, the center section being at least 25% of a length of the bumper beam and defining a longitudinal primary centerline, and the end sections being at least 15% of the length and each defining a secondary centerline that extends parallel the primary centerline;
- an energy absorber with at least one recess shaped to receive a portion of the tubular bumper beam, the energy absorber being configured to crush and absorb impact energy prior to collapse of the tubular beam;
- and
- mounts adapted for attachment to a vehicle and that are attached to the end sections, the secondary centerline being spaced horizontally from the primary centerline when in a vehicle-mounted position, with the center section being located partially between the mounts and closer to the passenger compartment than the end sections, the energy absorber including enlarged structural corner sections that extend outboard of the mounts and outboard of the outer ends of the beam for providing impact structure to a corner of the vehicle outboard of the beam and mounts.
1 more element
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.