Crush box for vehicle impact
AssigneeToyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing North America, Inc.
InventorsWilliam F. Graves, Ryan A. Mikolaizik, Tyler E. Schnug, Mark D. Clauser
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
Embodiments of a crush box are described. One embodiment of the crush box includes a first sidewall that is coupled to a vehicle and a second sidewall that is coupled to the vehicle, where the first sidewall and the second sidewall include similarly pre-bent portions that cause the first sidewall and the second sidewall to bend outward upon receipt of a force. In some embodiments, the first sidewall and the second sidewall include a plurality of tabs that couple the first sidewall and the second sidewall to a top wall that bends inward upon receipt of the force.
Claims20
A crush box, comprising:
- a first sidewall that is coupled to a vehicle;
- a second sidewall that is coupled to the vehicle,
- wherein the first sidewall and the second sidewall are similarly pre-bent portions that cause the first sidewall and the second sidewall to bend outward upon receipt of a force, and
- wherein the first sidewall and the second sidewall include a plurality of tabs that couple the first sidewall and the second sidewall to a top wall that bends towards a center of the crush box upon receipt of the force.
A system, comprising:
- a vehicle;
- and
- a crush box that is coupled to the vehicle, the crush box comprising:
- a first sidewall that is coupled to the vehicle, wherein the first sidewall includes a first sidewall securing surface to secure the first sidewall to the vehicle and a first lateral surface that is substantially perpendicular to the first sidewall securing surface, and wherein the first sidewall further includes a first plurality of tabs;
- a second sidewall that is coupled to the vehicle, wherein the second sidewall includes a second sidewall securing surface to secure the second sidewall to the vehicle and a second lateral surface that is substantially perpendicular to the second sidewall securing surface, and wherein the second sidewall further includes a second plurality of tabs;
- and
- a top wall that is coupled to the first plurality of tabs and the second plurality of tabs to create a substantially rectangular outer surface,
- wherein the first sidewall and the second sidewall include similarly pre-bent portions that cause the first sidewall and the second sidewall to bend outward upon receipt of a force.
A vehicle with a crush box, the crush box comprising:
- a first sidewall that is coupled to the vehicle, wherein the first sidewall includes a first lateral surface, wherein the first sidewall further includes a first plurality of tabs;
- a second sidewall that is coupled to the vehicle, wherein the second sidewall includes a second lateral surface, wherein the second sidewall further includes a second plurality of tabs;
- and
- a top wall that is coupled to the first plurality of tabs and the second plurality of tabs,
- wherein the first sidewall and the second sidewall include similarly pre-bent portions that cause the first sidewall and the second sidewall to bend according to a predetermined buckle configuration upon receipt of a force, and the top wall bends towards a center of the crush box.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.