# US 8,465,054 B1 · System for providing crash compatibility between automotive vehicles

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- Number: US 8,465,054 B1
- Document ID: US8465054B1
- Status: Granted
- Kind: B1
- Application number: 13/463,835
- Filed: 2012-05-04
- Granted: 2013-06-18
- Earliest claimed: 2012-05-04
- Assignees: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
- Applicants: Mark Wlotkowski; Eric William Barrett; Michael M. Azzouz; Yu-Kan Hu; Leonard Anthony Shaner
- Inventors: Mark Wlotkowski; Eric William Barrett; Michael M. Azzouz; Yu-Kan Hu; Leonard Anthony Shaner
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US8465054B1

## CPC

- B62D 21/152: {Front or rear frames}
- B60R 19/02: Bumpers, i.e. impact receiving or absorbing members for protecting vehicles or fending off blows from other vehicles or objects ({B60R19/56 takes precedence; initiating brake action by contact of bumper with an external object B60T7/22; for rail vehicles B61F19/04; safety equipment for cycles B62J27/00;} integral with waterborne vessels or specially adapted therefor B63B59/02)
- B62D: MOTOR VEHICLES; TRAILERS (steering, or guiding on a desired track, of agricultural machines or implements A01B69/00; wheels, castors, axles, increasing wheel adhesion B60B; vehicle tyres, tyre inflation or tyre changing B60C; connections between vehicles of a train or the like B60D; vehicles for use on rail and road, amphibious or convertible vehicles B60F; suspension arrangements B60G; heating, cooling, ventilating or other air treating devices B60H; windows, windscreens, non-fixed roofs, doors or similar devices, protective coverings for vehicles not in use B60J; propulsion plant arrangements, auxiliary drives, transmissions, controls, instrumentation or dashboards B60K; electric equipment or propulsion of electrically-propelled vehicles B60L; power supply for electrically-propelled vehicles B60M; passenger accommodation not otherwise provided for B60N; adaptations for load transportation or to carry special loads or objects B60P; arrangement of signalling or lighting devices, the mounting or supporting thereof or circuits therefor, for vehicles in general B60Q; vehicles, vehicle fittings or vehicle parts not otherwise provided for B60R; servicing, cleaning, repairing, supporting, lifting, or manoeuvring, not otherwise provided for, B60S; brake arrangements, brake control systems or parts thereof B60T; air-cushion vehicles B60V; motor-cycles, accessories therefor B62J, B62K; testing of vehicles G01M)
- B60R: VEHICLES, VEHICLE FITTINGS, OR VEHICLE PARTS, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR

## Abstract

A system for providing crash compatibility between automotive vehicles is disclosed. The system includes crush horns and a bracket located below the longitudinal axis of the crush horns.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A system for providing crash compatibility between automotive vehicles, comprising:
a frame assembly including a plurality of crush horns and at least one cross member, the cross-member being connected to and extending substantially beneath the plane formed by the crush horns; and
at least one bracket located on the at least one cross member and extending toward the front-end of the crush horns.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The system as claimed in claim 1, wherein the bracket is welded to the at least one cross member.

### Claim 3

An automotive vehicle comprising:
at least one cross member attached to a frame assembly; and
a frame assembly including one or more crush horns, and at least one cross-member attached to the crush horns, the cross-member being mounted substantially beneath the plane formed by the crash horns, and
a bracket located on the at least one cross member, the bracket being positioned to extend towards a front end of the crush horns.

### Claim 4 (depends on 3)

The automotive vehicle as claimed in claim 3, wherein the bracket is welded to the at least one cross member.

### Claim 5 (depends on 3)

The automotive vehicle as claimed in claim 3, wherein the at least one cross member is located near the front-end of at least one crush horn included in the frame assembly.