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US 7,066,509 B2Granted
Energy absorption impact system and method for vehicle bumpers and the like
AssigneeBenteler Automotive Corporation
InventorsJoseph C. Kollaritsch, Jason Blust, Atalolo Dagba
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
An energy absorption impact system for vehicle bumpers and the like includes a mounting plate with a central opening therethrough, and a generally box-shaped sheet metal crush member. The crush member has a top wall, a bottom wall and opposite sidewalls arranged in a generally frustro-pyramidal shape, defining a large end connected with a vehicle bumper, and a small end connected with the mounting plate about the central opening. Impact on the vehicle bumper inelastically deforms the walls of the crush member toward the central opening in the mounting plate to absorb energy associated with the impact.
Claims89
In a vehicle having a frame and a bumper, the improvement of an energy absorption impact system, comprising:
- a mounting plate operably connected with said frame, and including a central opening extending therethrough;
- and
- a generally box-shaped, sheet metal energy absorbing crush member having a top wall, a bottom wall and opposite sidewalls arranged in a generally frustro-pyramidal shape, defining a larger end thereof operably connected with said bumper, and a smaller end thereof operably connected with said mounting plate about said central opening therein, whereby impact on said bumper inelastically deforms said top wall, said bottom wall and said opposite sidewalls of said crush member toward said central opening in said mounting plate to absorb energy associated with the impact.
An energy absorption impact system as set forth in claim 4, wherein:
- said sidewalls include an innermost sidewall facing a central portion of said bumper, and an outermost sidewall facing an end portion of said bumper;
- and
- said tab is rigidly connected with the interior surface of said outermost sidewall to absorb energy from an impact having a significant side component.
An energy absorption impact system as set forth in claim I, wherein:
- said central opening is defined by a top edge, a bottom edge and opposite side edges;
- and
- each of said edges of said central opening includes a tab extending forwardly therefrom.
A method for making an energy absorption impact system for vehicle bumpers, comprising:
- forming a mounting plate with a central opening therethrough;
- forming a generally box-shaped, sheet metal energy absorbing crush member having a top wall, a bottom wall and oppositely inclined sidewalls arranged in a generally frustro-pyramidal shape, defining a larger end thereof adapted for connection with a vehicle bumper, and a smaller end thereof adapted for connection with said mounting plate;
- positioning the smaller end of the crush member on the mounting plate about the central opening;
- rigidly fastening the smaller end of the crush member to the mounting plate;
- rigidly fastening the mounting plate to an end of a vehicle frame;
- and
- connecting a vehicle bumper to the larger end of the crush member, whereby impact on the vehicle bumper inelastically deforms the top wall, the bottom wall and the opposite sidewalls of the crush member toward the central opening in the mounting plate to absorb energy associated with the impact.
4 more elements
An energy absorption impact system for vehicle bumpers, comprising:
- a mounting plate adapted to be connected with a vehicle frame, and including a central opening extending therethrough, and at least one tab extending forwardly from said central opening;
- and
- a generally box-shaped, sheet metal energy absorbing crush member having a top wall, a bottom wall and opposite sidewalls arranged in a generally frustro-pyramidal shape, defining a larger end thereof adapted for connection with a vehicle bumper, and a smaller end thereof connected with said mounting plate about said central opening therein by rigid connection of said tab with an adjacent one of said top wall, said bottom wall and said opposite sidewalls, whereby impact on the vehicle bumper inelastically deforms said top wall, said bottom wall and said opposite sidewalls of said crush member toward said central opening in said mounting plate to absorb energy associated with the impact.
An energy absorption impact system for vehicle bumpers, comprising:
- a mounting plate adapted to be connected with a vehicle frame, and including a central opening extending therethrough and a stiffening bead extending about the periphery of said central opening;
- and
- a generally box-shaped, sheet metal energy absorbing crush member having a top wall, a bottom wall and opposite sidewalls arranged in a generally frustro-pyramidal shape, defining a larger end thereof adapted for connection with a vehicle bumper, and a smaller end thereof connected with said mounting plate about said central opening therein, whereby impact on the vehicle bumper inelastically deforms said top wall, said bottom wall and said opposite sidewalls of said crush member toward said central opening in said mounting plate to absorb energy associated with the impact.
An energy absorption impact system for vehicle bumpers, comprising:
- a mounting plate adapted to be connected with a vehicle frame, and including a central opening extending therethrough defined by a top edge, a bottom edge and opposite side edges;
- a tab extending forwardly from each of said edges of said central opening;
- and
- a generally box-shaped, sheet metal energy absorbing crush member having a top wall, a bottom wall and opposite sidewalls arranged in a generally frustro-pyramidal shape, defining a larger end thereof adapted for connection with a vehicle bumper, and a smaller end thereof connected with said mounting plate about said central opening therein, whereby impact on the vehicle bumper inelastically deforms said top wall, said bottom wall and said opposite sidewalls of said crush member toward said central opening in said mounting plate to absorb energy associated with the impact.
1 more element
An energy absorption impact system for vehicle bumpers, comprising:
- a mounting plate adapted to be connected with a vehicle frame, and including a central opening extending therethrough and a generally flat outer portion, with a marginal edge having a stiffening bead extending along at least a portion thereof;
- said outer portion of said mounting plate being spot welded to an open forward end of the vehicle frame;
- and
- a generally box-shaped, sheet metal energy absorbing crush member having a top wall, a bottom wall and opposite sidewalls arranged in a generally frustro-pyramidal shape, defining a larger end thereof adapted for connection with a vehicle bumper, and a smaller end thereof connected with said mounting plate about said central opening therein, whereby impact on the vehicle bumper inelastically deforms said top wall, said bottom wall and said opposite sidewalls of said crush member toward said central opening in said mounting plate to absorb energy associated with the impact.
1 more element
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.