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US 6,547,280 B1Granted
Energy-absorbing structures
AssigneeCellbond Limited
InventorMichael Ashmead
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
An energy absorbing sheet 1 has alternating front 3 and rear 5 projections at angles between 25 to 60 degrees from the plane of the sheet. The sheet absorbs impact by plastic deformation such that the curve of stress to deformation shows a plateau for example at a level of stress which does not break bone. The sheet 1 may be made of aluminium.
Claims17
An energy-absorbing vehicle component for reducing the risk of injuries, wherein
- the component comprises a sheet extending substantially in a median plane and formed to have a pattern of alternating front and rear projections in front of and behind the median plane, the projections being arranged to alternate in two directions in the median plane without substantial flat areas therebetween with each projection having a frusto-conical pitch region with the sheet inclined at an angle of 25 to 60 degrees from the median plane of the sheet at the position of maximum steepness in the pitch region whereby the sheet absorbs impact by bending in the pitch region so as to provide a plateau at a predetermined level in the curve of stress normal to the median plane required to deform the sheet against increasing deformation.
A vehicle comprising an energy-absorbing vehicle component for reducing the risk of injuries, wherein
- the component comprises a sheet extending substantially in a median plane and formed to have a pattern of alternating front and rear projections in front of and behind the median plane, the projections being arranged to alternate in two directions in the median plane without substantial flat areas therebetween and each projection having a frusto-conical pitch region with the sheet inclined at an angle of 25 to 60 degrees from the median plane of the sheet at the position of maximum steepness in the pitch region whereby
- the sheet absorbs impact by bending in the pitch region so as to provide a plateau at a predetermined level in the curve of stress normal to the median plane required to deform the sheet against increasing deformation.
A method of absorbing energy comprising
- providing a component comprising a sheet extending substantially in a median plane and formed to have a pattern of alternating front and rear projections in front of and behind the median plane, the projections being arranged to alternate in two directions in the median plane without substantial flat areas therebetween and each projection having a frusto-conical pitch region with the sheet inclined at an angle of 25 to 60 degrees from the median plane of the sheet at the position of maximum steepness in the pitch region;
- absorbing impact by bending in the pitch region so as to provide a plateau at a predetermined level in the curve of stress normal to the median plane required to deform the sheet against increasing deformation.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.