Vehicle crash gusset for rear impact
AssigneeToyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing North America, Inc.
InventorsChristopher M. Kors, Palaniappan Palaniappan, Sanjeev Gupta
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
An example gusset for attaching a rear bumper assembly to a vehicle has a first attachment portion configured to attach to the bumper reinforcement bracket and the lower back panel of the vehicle, a second attachment portion configured to attach to the rear side member of the vehicle, and an angled portion presenting an oblique surface to a rear impactor to the vehicle. A pair of side portions are interconnected and spaced apart by the second attachment portion, and each side portion has an angled edge adjacent the angled portion.
Claims18
An apparatus for attaching a rear bumper assembly to a vehicle, the rear bumper assembly including a bumper reinforcement bracket, the vehicle having a rear side member and a lower back panel, the apparatus including:
- a first attachment portion, the first attachment portion being configured to attach to the bumper reinforcement bracket and the lower back panel;
- an angled portion, the angled portion extending from the first attachment portion at an angle to the first attachment portion, the angled portion presenting an angled surface to the rear of the vehicle;
- a second attachment portion, configured to attach to the rear side member of the vehicle,
- a pair of side portions interconnected by the second attachment portion, each side portion extending downwardly from the second attachment portion and having an angled edge adjacent the angled portion,
- the apparatus being a metal gusset attaching the bumper reinforcement bracket to the lower back panel and to the rear side member.
An apparatus for attaching a rear bumper assembly to a vehicle, the rear bumper assembly including a bumper reinforcement bracket, the vehicle including a rear side member and a lower back panel, the apparatus including:
- a first metal plate, the first metal plate including a first attachment portion configured to attach the apparatus to the bumper reinforcement bracket and to the lower back panel;
- and
- a second metal plate, the second metal plate including a second attachment portion and a pair of side portions,
- the second attachment portion including a second attachment point configured to attach the apparatus to the side member of the vehicle,
- the pair of side portions being interconnected by the second attachment portion, each side portion having an edge adjacent the first plate,
- the first and second plates being welded together along the edge of each side portion,
- the apparatus being a gusset for attaching the bumper reinforcement bracket to the lower back panel and to the rear side member.
A method of improving vehicle safety during a rear impact to the vehicle by an impactor, the vehicle having a bumper assembly including a bumper reinforcement bracket, a lower back panel and a rear side member, the method including:
- attaching the bumper reinforcement bracket to both the lower back panel and to the rear side member of the vehicle using a gusset,
- the attachment of the bumper reinforcement bracket to both the lower back panel and to the rear side member of the vehicle improving vehicle safety during a rear impact.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.