US 9,650,003 B2Granted

Impact resistant component for a vehicle

AssigneesGM Global Technology Operations LLC, Teijin Limited

InventorsJohn N. Owens, Mark A. Voss, Bhavesh Shah, Venkat Aitharaju, Chris James Tadeusz Wisniewski, Yutaka Yagi, Tsukasa Arai

Life of this patent

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Abstract

Provided is a load-carrying or non-load carrying structural component for a vehicle having improved impact resistance, such as a gas tank protection shield, an underbody shield, a structural panel, an interior floor, a floor pan, a roof, an exterior surface, a storage area, a glove box, a console box, a trunk, a trunk floor, a truck bed, and combinations thereof. The component has a support structure with ridges, each spaced apart from one another at predetermined intervals, to form a corrugated surface capable of load-carrying. The ridges are longitudinally extending, raised ridges. The corrugated designs provide support structures that are impact resistant.

Claims6

Dependent claims

An impact resistant component for a vehicle, comprising:

a support structure comprising a plurality of elongate ridges and a plurality of elongate valleys formed therein, wherein the plurality of elongate valleys are defined between the plurality of elongate ridges and the plurality of elongate ridges are exposed for direct contact with objects, wherein the plurality of elongate ridges defines an undulated surface on the support structure with a predetermined periodicity, wherein the plurality of elongate rides and the plurality of elongate valleys have a period of oscillation that is distinct from the predetermined periodicity of the undulated surface, wherein the undulated surface further comprises raised portions and non-raised portions, wherein the support structure is impact resistant.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Facts

Application: 14/321,902Filed 2 Jul 2014
Published: US 2016/0001721 A17 Jan 2016
Granted: 16 May 2017
Term ends: Not estimatedThe source records don’t support an estimate.

Classification11 codes

B60R 19/023
Bumpers, i.e. impact receiving or absorbing members for protecting vehicles or fending off blows from other vehicles or objects: details
B62D 25/00
Superstructure or monocoque structure sub-units
B62D 25/02
Superstructure or monocoque structure sub-units; Parts or details thereof not otherwise provided for: side panels
B62D 25/06
Superstructure or monocoque structure sub-units; Parts or details thereof not otherwise provided for: fixed roofs