Vehicle bumper system with energy absorber
AssigneeSabic Innovative Plastics IP B.V.
InventorsKent Allen, Brian Joseph Czopek, Eric D. Kowal, Sandeep Kulkarni, Dhanendra Kumar Nagwanshi
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A vehicle bumper system includes a beam configured to attach to a vehicle and a thermoformed energy absorber positioned on the beam. The energy absorber comprises a frame and a crush lobe extending from the frame. The crush lobe comprises a lobe wall extending between the frame and an outer wall. The change in lobe wall thickness may be constant. The outer wall is curved away from the frame.
Claims31
A bumper system for a vehicle, comprising:
- a beam configured to couple to the vehicle;
- and
- a thermoformed energy absorber positioned on the beam, the energy absorber comprising:
- a frame;
- and
- at least one crush lobe extending from the frame, the crush lobe comprising an outer wall spaced apart from the frame at a lobe depth and a lobe wall extending between the frame and the outer wall;
- wherein the lobe wall has a base thickness near the frame and an outer thickness near the outer wall, the base thickness being less than the outer thickness;
- and
- the outer wall is curved away from the frame.
A thermoformed energy absorber for use in a vehicle, the energy absorber comprising:
- a frame;
- and
- at least one crush lobe extending from the frame, the crush lobe comprising an outer wall spaced apart from the frame at a lobe depth and a lobe wall extending between the frame and the outer wall;
- wherein the lobe wall has a base thickness near the frame and an outer thickness near the outer wall, the base thickness being less than the outer thickness;
- and
- the outer wall is curved away from the frame.
A bumper assembly, comprising:
- a beam;
- a thermoformed energy absorber positioned on the beam, the energy absorber comprising:
- a frame;
- and
- at least one crush lobe extending from the frame, the crush lobe comprising an outer wall spaced apart from the frame at a lobe depth and a lobe wall extending between the frame and the outer wall;
- wherein the lobe wall has a base thickness near the frame and an outer thickness near the outer wall, the base thickness being less than the outer thickness;
- and
- a fascia positioned and sized to envelop the beam and the energy absorber.
A thermoformed energy absorber for use in a vehicle, the energy absorber comprising:
- a frame;
- and
- at least one crush lobe extending from the frame, the crush lobe comprising an outer wall spaced apart from the frame at a lobe depth and a lobe wall extending between the frame and the outer wall;
- wherein the lobe wall has a base thickness near the frame and an outer thickness near the outer wall, wherein the base thickness and the outer thickness are different;
- and
- the outer wall is curved away from the frame.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.