Wheel catcher assembly
AssigneeGM Global Technology Operations LLC
InventorsRonald A. Panganiban, Wendy W. Malone, Bhushan W. Dandekar, Mark J. Koski
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A wheel catcher assembly can inhibit a wheel from moving toward a passenger compartment of a vehicle when an external force is applied to the vehicle. The wheel catcher assembly generally includes an energy absorbing bracket and a plate coupled to the energy absorbing bracket. The energy absorbing bracket includes a plurality of ridges and grooves so as to define a waveform portion. The plate is coupled to the energy absorbing bracket at the ridges such that an external force applied to the wheel catcher assembly is transferable from the plate to the energy absorbing bracket.
Claims20
A vehicle, comprising
- a vehicle body including a rocker panel;
- a wheel catcher assembly coupled to the rocker panel, wherein the wheel catcher assembly includes:
- an energy absorbing bracket coupled to the rocker panel, wherein the energy absorbing bracket includes a plurality of ridges and grooves so as to define a waveform portion;
- a plate coupled to the energy absorbing bracket at the ridges;
- and
- wherein the wheel catcher assembly is coupled to the rocker panel such that an external force applied to the vehicle is transferable from the plate to the rocker panel via the energy absorbing bracket.
A wheel catcher assembly, comprising:
- an energy absorbing bracket including a plurality of ridges and grooves so as to define a waveform portion;
- a plate coupled to the energy absorbing bracket at the ridges;
- and
- wherein the plate is coupled to the energy absorbing bracket such that an external force applied to the wheel catcher assembly is transferable from the plate to the energy absorbing bracket.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.