One-shot Type Patents (Class 293/133)
  • Patent number: 9086110
    Abstract: A structural part dissipates energy delivered during an impact that compresses the part along an axis Z, including a web having two opposite surfaces. The part includes: a through-window extending between the opposite surfaces of the web, dividing the web into a first portion and a second portion respectively, arranged in series along the Z axis; and an energy-dissipation device, including a cutting element arranged within the window and able to cut at least one of the portions of the web into strips as a result of a compressive force exerted on the part along the Z axis, and an element for clearing away the strips thus formed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 16, 2011
    Date of Patent: July 21, 2015
    Assignee: EUROPEAN AERONAUTIC DEFENCE AND SPACE COMPANY EADS FRANCE
    Inventors: Jean-Mathieu Guimard, Frederick Cavaliere
  • Patent number: 9079551
    Abstract: A front stay member is inserted into a through-hole in a bumper reinforcement. A first end of a middle stay member is fitted onto a portion of the front stay member that protrudes from the through-hole until the first end of the middle stay member comes into contact with the bumper reinforcement. A rear stay member is inserted into a second end of the middle stay member until the second end of the middle stay member comes into contact with the step on the rear stay member. A magnetic field shaper is disposed so as to face portions of an outer peripheral surface of the middle stay member that respectively overlap the front stay member and the rear stay member, and the middle stay member is clinched onto the front and rear stay members by applying an electromagnetic force to the magnetic field shaper.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 10, 2013
    Date of Patent: July 14, 2015
    Assignee: Kobe Steel, Ltd.
    Inventors: Yoshihaya Imamura, Kazumori Horiguchi
  • Patent number: 9061637
    Abstract: Provided is a hybrid crash box for a vehicle that includes a latticed box pipe connected with a bumper beam and a mount mounted on a bumper stay. The latticed box pipe may include a metallic hollow pipe and plastic lattices integrally formed in the hollow pipe by injection molding. A plurality of holes that contract against a shock may be formed at predetermined positions through the hollow pipe. Configuration of the holes, including shape, number and position, may be determined by the hollow pipe which depends on the type of the vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 7, 2014
    Date of Patent: June 23, 2015
    Assignee: HYUNDAI MOTOR COMPANY
    Inventors: Hye Rim Yun, Kyung Tae Kwak, Seung Gu Kim
  • Patent number: 9045162
    Abstract: A frame rail for a vehicle has a pair of elongated structural members, each one of the pair of elongated structural members having flanges protruding from lateral edges thereof. The flanges of one of the pair of elongated structural members extend in a direction toward the flanges of the other one of the pair of elongated structural members. The frame rail also has first and second metallic web panels interconnecting the pair of elongated structural members. Overall, the frame rail has a box beam structure, wherein at least a major portion of each one of the first and second metallic web panels has a material thickness that is less than a material thickness of at least a major portion of each one of the pair of elongated structural members.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 30, 2011
    Date of Patent: June 2, 2015
    Assignee: Magna International Inc.
    Inventors: Zachary Marten, Frank N. Casali
  • Patent number: 9045100
    Abstract: A shock absorbing member provided between a side member extending in a front-rear direction of a vehicle and a bumper reinforcement extending in a vehicle width direction and provided at the side member, includes: a shock absorbing portion, which extends in the front-rear direction of the vehicle and is supported by the side member and which is configured to absorb an impact caused by a load by being compressed in the front-rear direction of the vehicle when the load is applied to the bumper reinforcement in at least one of a forward direction and a backward direction; and a bumper reinforcing portion, which extends from an end portion side closer to the side member in the impact absorbing portion toward a vehicle-width-direction outside and a bumper reinforcement side and which reinforces the vehicle-width-direction end portion side of the bumper reinforcement.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 22, 2014
    Date of Patent: June 2, 2015
    Assignees: Aisin Seiki Kabushiki Kaisha, Aisin Keikinzoku Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Takanobu Kaneko, Kiyoichi Kita, Tamaki Obayashi, Yuta Takanami
  • Patent number: 9027695
    Abstract: A first projection portion projecting outward, in a vehicle width direction, from a front side frame is provided. A front end of the first projection portion is located at the same position, in the vehicle longitudinal direction, as a connection portion of a crash can to the front side frame or located in back of the connection portion. An outward side face of the first projection portion is configured to slant rearward and inward in a plan view. The first projection portion and a power unit are arranged to overlap each other in the vehicle longitudinal direction. Accordingly, an impact transmitted to a vehicle-compartment side in a small overlap collision can be reduced, restraining repair costs of the crash can broken in a low-speed collision as well as maintaining appropriate design flexibility of a vehicle-body front portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 1, 2013
    Date of Patent: May 12, 2015
    Assignee: Mazda Motor Corporation
    Inventors: Satoshi Nakamura, Hiroaki Takeshita, Masanobu Kobashi
  • Publication number: 20150108775
    Abstract: A crush box includes a tubular body having a polygonal section and disposed between an end portion of a bumper beam and a vehicle body in such a posture that an axial direction of the tubular body generally coincides with a longitudinal direction of a vehicle, in which the tubular body has an outer side wall and an inner side wall that is located inward of the outer side wall in a vehicle-width direction, and both the outer side wall and the inner side wall are inclined outward in the vehicle-width direction, in a direction from the vehicle body toward the bumper beam, and in which the tubular body is crushed into a bellows shape to absorb impact energy as a compressive load is applied to the tubular body from the bumper beam in the axial direction of the tubular body, wherein an angle of inclination of the outer side wall is greater than an angle of inclination of the inner side wall.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 21, 2014
    Publication date: April 23, 2015
    Applicant: TOYODA IRON WORKS CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Makoto NAKANISHI, Kazuaki KITAGUCHI
  • Publication number: 20150108776
    Abstract: A collision energy absorption apparatus and a vehicle front end structure including the apparatus. The apparatus is welded to a bumper beam and is laterally adjacent a longitudinally extending member disposed behind the bumper beam. The apparatus has a central body having a front edge attached to the bumper beam and a rear edge that is spaced from the bumper beam and the longitudinally extending member. Upper and lower triangular walls extend between the central body and the longitudinally extending member. A rib extends laterally outwardly from the central body.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 30, 2014
    Publication date: April 23, 2015
    Inventors: Saeed David Barbat, Mohamed Ridha Baccouche, Rahul Arora, Saied Nusier
  • Publication number: 20150102615
    Abstract: An impact absorption assembly includes a bumper that is attached to a crush-can. The crush-can is assembled within a frame rail or other chassis frame member. A load path for a low speed impact is provided from the bumper through the crush-can and to the frame rail. An outer body structure defines an opening through which the crush-can is assembled to avoid damage to the outer body structure that may include a back-light support panel, a lift-gate and a rear tail light.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 16, 2013
    Publication date: April 16, 2015
    Applicant: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Bhimaraddi Vankaraddi Alavandi, Sankar Krishnamoorthy, Kevin Gustafson, John Michael McGuckin, Erika Kristin Low
  • Patent number: 9004576
    Abstract: When a collision load is transmitted to a gusset, the load is transmitted to an inner side in a vehicle width direction via an inclined wall. Accordingly, moment that causes a front side member to be projected and bent inward to the inner side in the vehicle width direction with an intersection being a starting point acts on the front side member. Then, the front side member, which has been projected and bent inward, collides with a power unit that is disposed in an engine compartment from an outer side in the vehicle width direction. Accordingly, a lateral force to the inner side in the vehicle width direction can be obtained for a vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 11, 2014
    Date of Patent: April 14, 2015
    Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Kosuke Sakakibara, Tomoyuki Kuriyama, Akihiro Tamaoki, Kenjiro Yamada, Shintaro Kitakata, Yasuyuki Hihara, Yasutaka Hasegawa
  • Patent number: 8991903
    Abstract: A front-end assembly including a deflector and a catcher bracket. The V-shaped deflector is attached to a bumper of a vehicle, a rear leg of the deflector has a distal end disposed adjacent to the frame rail. In a collision, the distal end of the rear leg engages the catcher bracket to reduce intrusion into the passenger compartment of the vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 4, 2013
    Date of Patent: March 31, 2015
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Bhimaraddi Venkaraddi Alavandi, Morteza Tanbakuchi
  • Publication number: 20150076846
    Abstract: The present disclosure provides an apparatus, a system for a under-run protection device for a vehicle comprising a first beam member extending laterally to the direction of the vehicle, wherein a partial portion of the first beam has a corrugated cross-section. A second beam member mounted on the first beam member positioned and adapted to absorb an impact from another vehicle by deforming when the impact force exceeds a predetermined level, further the partial corrugated cross-section of the first beam member enables reduction in construction/manufacturing material for the said second beam member. A plurality of brackets characterized by a L-shape, joined to the first beam member at one arm of the L-shape and with the vehicle at other arm of the L-shape.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 16, 2013
    Publication date: March 19, 2015
    Applicant: Tata Technologies Pte Ltd
    Inventors: Gopal MUSALE, Jagat PATTNAIK, Aniket KATTI, Shiva HANCHINHAL, Subhendu Ghosh
  • Publication number: 20150069773
    Abstract: An impact absorber includes a an energy absorbing member that is formed of a composite material and absorbs impact energy by being crushed in a predetermined crush direction, an outer tube member disposed so as to surround the periphery of the energy absorbing member over the energy absorbing member along the crush direction, and a pressing member disposed so as to be in contact with the front end of the energy absorbing member and the front end of the outer tube member and presses the energy absorbing member and the outer tube member simultaneously in the crush direction to thereby crush them. The outer tube member is formed in a shape in which tubular portions are coupled in the crush direction, and is crushed in the crush direction while the tubular portions are regularly folded when the outer tube member is pressed by the pressing member in the crush direction.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 29, 2014
    Publication date: March 12, 2015
    Inventors: Yuya MUKAINAKANO, Satoshi IKEDA, Isamu NAGASAWA
  • Publication number: 20150061307
    Abstract: A vehicular impact absorber including: a hollow tubular body having a plurality of flat plate-shaped side walls and having a polygonal section; and a vehicle body-side attachment plate that is fixed integrally with the tubular body via a bracket in a state where the vehicle body-side attachment plate is in contact with one end portion of the tubular body in an axial direction, the vehicular impact absorber being fixed at the vehicle body-side attachment plate to a vehicle body-side member, and the vehicular impact absorber absorbing impact energy as the tubular body is crushed in the axial direction when an impact load is applied to the tubular body through the other end portion of the tubular body in the axial direction, the vehicular impact absorber being configured such that the bracket has a fixed plate portion that has a prescribed length in the axial direction of the tubular body.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 20, 2012
    Publication date: March 5, 2015
    Applicant: TOYODA IRON WORKS CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Makoto Nakanishi
  • Publication number: 20150061320
    Abstract: In a vehicle body frame structure, a bumper beam extending in the vehicle width direction, and lower members extending forwardly from the front ends of upper members, are connected to the front ends of bumper beam extensions, which are made of a fiber-reinforced resin and extend forwardly from front ends of front side frames, and the front end faces of the pair of left and right bumper beam extensions, and the front face of the bumper beam are curved into a U-shape pointing toward the front of the vehicle body. Thus, is it possible to reduce the weight of the vehicle body frame in the front part of the motor vehicle, to transmit to the bumper beam extensions a collision load inputted even into the bumper beam or inputted even into the front parts of the lower members, and to reduce the dimensions of the vehicle body front part.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 17, 2012
    Publication date: March 5, 2015
    Applicant: Honday Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Tomoya Yabu, Shigeto Yasuhara
  • Publication number: 20150061322
    Abstract: Provided is an impact absorber capable of effectively absorbing impact even if an impact receiving position deviates from a desired position. An impact absorber according to an aspect of the present disclosure has a front wall for receiving impact, a rear wall opposed to the front wall, and surrounding walls for connecting the circumferences of the front wall and the rear wall, wherein thin portions are formed at corner portions for connecting the front wall and the surrounding walls.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 21, 2013
    Publication date: March 5, 2015
    Applicant: KYORAKU CO., LTD .
    Inventors: Teruo Tamada, Naoto Tani
  • Patent number: 8967700
    Abstract: A motor vehicle includes a first side member having first lower and upper darts. The motor vehicle also includes a second side member parallel with and spaced apart from the first side member, the second side member having second lower and upper darts. The upper darts are positioned between the lower darts and end portions of the respective first or second side members. The motor vehicle further includes first and second bumper brackets coupled to the end portion of the respective first or second side members, a bumper reinforcement member coupled to the first and second bumper brackets, and a counter rotation bracket coupled to the bumper reinforcement member and extending upwards from the bumper reinforcement member. The lower darts and the upper darts form a preferential buckling zone of the first and the second side members.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 6, 2013
    Date of Patent: March 3, 2015
    Assignees: Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing North America, Inc., Toyota Motor Corporation
    Inventors: Paul Maria-Antonius Slaats, Kanichi Saito, Paxton Steven Williams, Joseph Charles Walusek, Sagar Vilas Kulkarni
  • Patent number: 8960742
    Abstract: A vehicular crash sensing system includes a bumper cap for contacting a bumper. A chamber fits into a side rail attached to the bumper, the chamber being sealed by the bumper cap. A stop element limits movement of the chamber into the side rail. A pressure sensor detects an increased chamber air pressure during crushing of the chamber resulting from movement of the bumper with respect to the stop element.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 19, 2014
    Date of Patent: February 24, 2015
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Mahmoud Y. Ghannam, Todd N. Clark, Eric L. Stratten, Swadad A. Carremm
  • Publication number: 20150048636
    Abstract: A collision energy absorption apparatus and a vehicle front end structure including the apparatus. The apparatus is welded to a bumper beam and is laterally adjacent a longitudinally extending member disposed behind the bumper beam. The apparatus has a central body having a front edge attached to the bumper beam and a rear edge that is spaced from the bumper beam and the longitudinally extending member. Upper and lower triangular walls extend between the central body and the longitudinally extending member. A rib extends laterally outwardly from the central body.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 15, 2013
    Publication date: February 19, 2015
    Applicant: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Saeed David Barbat, Mohamed Ridha Baccouche, Rahul Arora, Saied Nusier
  • Patent number: 8950793
    Abstract: The device may have a plurality of upright supports where the supports may include a mounting plate with mounting openings, a plurality of vertical members that may be in non-welded communication with the extruded back mounting plate and a plurality of horizontal members where the vertical members provide strength and support to the supports. The horizontal under-run prevention beam may include mounting openings that correspond to the horizontal beam mounting openings and a removable reflective strip that correspond to reflective strip openings in the beam. The vertical and horizontal members may be stacked extruded rectangles of the desired widths and lengths.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 25, 2013
    Date of Patent: February 10, 2015
    Assignee: Sapa Extrusions Inc.
    Inventor: Malcolm Deighton
  • Patent number: 8950794
    Abstract: The invention relates to a vehicle bumper assembly (1) having a bumper cross-member (2) and at least two energy-absorption components (3), which are arranged at a distance from one another and which are connected to the rear side of the bumper cross-member (2) and supported thereon by means of a first end. The energy-absorption components have an x-direction absorption effective direction oriented perpendicular to the y-axes longitudinal extension of the bumper. The energy-absorption components (3) are designed to be supported on a chassis part (4) of a vehicle by means of the end of the energy-absorption components pointing away from the bumper cross-member, wherein the energy-absorption component (3) has a slanted end face (5) in the direction toward the bumper cross-member (2).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 1, 2012
    Date of Patent: February 10, 2015
    Assignee: Kirchhoff Automotive Deutschland GmbH
    Inventors: Christian Lenkenhoff, Marco Töller, Markus Löcker
  • Publication number: 20150028606
    Abstract: A motor vehicle structure is disclosed which includes a cross member, at least one side member connected to the cross member via a crash box. At least one strut supports a lateral region of the cross member, and the strut is connected to a molded part which is connected to the crash box and/or the side member.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 28, 2014
    Publication date: January 29, 2015
    Inventors: Uwe Eckert, Ronald Scheer
  • Patent number: 8939480
    Abstract: A collision energy absorption apparatus and a vehicle front end structure including the apparatus. The apparatus is welded to a bumper beam and is laterally adjacent a longitudinally extending member disposed behind the bumper beam. The apparatus has a central body having a front edge attached to the bumper beam and a rear edge that is spaced from the bumper beam and the longitudinally extending member. Upper and lower triangular walls extend between the central body and the longitudinally extending member. A rib extends laterally outwardly from the central body.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 15, 2013
    Date of Patent: January 27, 2015
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Saeed David Barbat, Mohamed Ridha Baccouche, Rahul Arora, Saied Nusier
  • Publication number: 20150021940
    Abstract: A number of variations may include a product including an energy absorbing component for a vehicle comprising at least one of a crush can, an insert for a cross car beam or a front impact extension.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 18, 2014
    Publication date: January 22, 2015
    Inventors: Eric Roselli, Mark J. McGuire, Edward D. Moss, Daniel K. Davis, Peter M. Parlow, Giles D. Bryer
  • Publication number: 20150021941
    Abstract: The invention relates to a deformation element, in particular for bumper cross member (2) on a motor vehicle, having at least one predetermined breaking point (S) at which, in the event of a crash, the deformation element (1) breaks apart into a breaking segment (1a) facing the crash which is displaced over the course of the crash and into a stationary breaking segment (1b) facing away from the crash. According to the invention the deformation element (1) is produced with at least one material layer (4) made of a fibre-reinforced plastic having a fibre fabric (14) embedded in a bedding material (10), said fibre fabric being exposed, after the deformation element (1) breaks apart, between the breaking segments (1a, 1b) and connecting said breaking segments to each other.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 29, 2013
    Publication date: January 22, 2015
    Inventors: Patrick Heberling, Matthias Krüger
  • Patent number: 8936285
    Abstract: A bumper structure, that can mitigate impact when a collision body collides with a vehicle transverse direction end portion of an impact absorbing member, is obtained. A bumper structure has a bumper reinforcement that extends along a vehicle transverse direction at a vehicle front-rear direction end portion; an impact absorbing member that is provided at a vehicle front-rear direction outer side of this bumper reinforcement, and at which an outer side surface of a vehicle transverse direction end portion is made to be an inclined surface that is inclined toward a vehicle transverse direction outer side, from a vehicle front-rear direction outer side toward a vehicle front-rear direction inner side; and a plate-shaped member that is provided along the inclined surface, and whose rigidity is higher than the impact absorbing member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 15, 2011
    Date of Patent: January 20, 2015
    Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Katsuya Inoue
  • Publication number: 20150001866
    Abstract: Providing a vehicular shock absorbing device and a vehicular shock absorbing structure, which includes a crash box composed of a hollow structure having a transverse cross sectional surface area which gradually decreases in the backward direction of the vehicle. The crash box is disposed on a rear side of a bumper reinforcement, while a crash box supporting member having a through hole is fixed to the vehicle such that the crash box is interposed between the crash box supporting member and the bumper reinforcement in the longitudinal direction of the vehicle, and the through hole is open in the longitudinal direction of the vehicle. The crash box has an end portion on a rear side of the vehicle, which is fitted in the through hole in the crash box supporting member.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 27, 2014
    Publication date: January 1, 2015
    Applicant: Kojima Industries Corporation
    Inventor: Keisuke NOYORI
  • Patent number: 8919834
    Abstract: A bumper assembly includes a bumper beam having a bumper beam surface extending along a bumper plane X and a crash box including a crash box surface extending along a crash box plane Y. One of the bumper beam and the crash box includes an alignment joint to mate the bumper beam and the crash box and dispose the surfaces in abutting and aligned relationship relative to one another for establishing a linear load path extending linearly along the planes X, Y. A method of assembling a bumper assembly includes the steps of mating the bumper beam and the crash box about the alignment joint and connecting the bumper beam and the crash box together along the alignment joint. The step of connecting the bumper beam and the crash box includes friction stir welding the bumper box and the crash box together along the alignment joint.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 20, 2012
    Date of Patent: December 30, 2014
    Assignee: Magna International Inc.
    Inventors: Thomas James Freundl, Jeffery Jay Mellis
  • Patent number: 8919835
    Abstract: A structure for absorbing frontal collision energy of a vehicle absorbs frontal collision energy of a vehicle using both front side members configured to support a bumper beam disposed at a front side of a vehicle body, a shock absorber housing panel disposed outside the front side member, and a fender apron member disposed outside the shock absorber housing panel, and the structure includes: an enlarged member installed to be inclined between an outer surface of the front side member and a rear surface of the fender apron member so as to be spaced forward and apart from the outer surface of the front side member; and an enlarged frame engaged between a lower side of the fender apron member and a front mounting portion of a sub-frame.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 23, 2013
    Date of Patent: December 30, 2014
    Assignees: Hyundai Motor Company, Kia Motors Corporation
    Inventors: Min Uke Han, Kang San Lee
  • Publication number: 20140379223
    Abstract: A passenger protection device for a vehicle includes: an impact absorber for absorbing impact energy, which impact absorber has a cavity for receiving and deforming a deformation element during a movement of the deformation element in an advancing direction which is determined by the impact energy; a blocking element for blocking the movement of the deformation element; and a pedestrian protection device which is coupleable to the deformation element and which is designed to actively move the deformation element by a predetermined distance in the advancing direction based on a deactivation of the blocking element.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 27, 2012
    Publication date: December 25, 2014
    Inventors: Maja Wolkenstein, Gian Antonio D'Addeta, Josef Kolatschek
  • Patent number: 8915025
    Abstract: A method of creating a bend in a construction component for use in a transportation vehicle. The method comprises providing a plurality of cuts in the construction component so as to create a region of increased flexibility in the construction component. The method further comprises bending the construction component in the region of increased flexibility so as to cause the construction component to acquire a bent shape, and then rigidifying the construction component in the region of increased flexibility so as to cause said construction component to maintain the acquired bent shape.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 21, 2007
    Date of Patent: December 23, 2014
    Assignee: Bombardier Transportation GmbH
    Inventors: Martin Laflamme, Nicolas Bernier, Mario L'Allier, Alain Robichaud, Gabriel Côté
  • Patent number: 8915537
    Abstract: There is provided a vehicle body structure that can improve collision performance at the time of a rear collision. The vehicle body structure includes first and second crash boxes that are provided at rear ends of rear side members. Further, the second crash boxes are disposed at positions different from the positions of the first crash boxes in a vertical direction of the vehicle. The second crash boxes, which are disposed at the positions different from the positions of the first crash boxes, can absorb a load applied from bumper reinforcement of another vehicle. Since a load at the time of a rear collision is absorbed by the second crash boxes, it is possible to suppress the deformation of a trunk that is provided at the rear portion of a vehicle body.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 21, 2009
    Date of Patent: December 23, 2014
    Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Masao Muraji
  • Publication number: 20140367985
    Abstract: A frame structure for a motor vehicle is disclosed which includes a side member, a bumper cross member, a first crash box arranged in extension of the side member and a second crash box, which obliquely branches off to the side from the arrangement of side member and first crash box. The bumper cross member protrudes over the first crash box towards the side, and an outer end of the second crash box is fastened to the bumper cross member.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 12, 2014
    Publication date: December 18, 2014
    Inventors: Michael Weil, Jens Hartmann, Klaus-Peter Eckhardt
  • Publication number: 20140361561
    Abstract: A vehicle body front structure includes a front side member that is arranged on a side portion of a vehicle body front portion and extends in a vehicle body front-rearward direction; an extending portion that extends farther toward an outside in a vehicle width direction than the front side member; and a load transmitting member that connects the extending portion and the front side member together, and is configured such that a pushing portion on a front end side is guided toward a receiving portion on a rear end side by an intermediate portion deforming in response to a frontal collision load.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 28, 2014
    Publication date: December 11, 2014
    Applicant: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Tomoyuki Kuriyama, Kosuke Sakakibara, Akihiro Tamaoki, Masanobu Omi
  • Publication number: 20140361559
    Abstract: In a vehicle body front structure, a crash box provided in a front part of a front side member is broken by applying pressure due to a collision load, so that a second load transmission member moves backward toward a first load transmission member. This allows the second load transmission member to abut with the first load transmission member, thereby making it possible to transmit the collision load input into the second load transmission member, to a body portion of the front side member via the first load transmission member. Besides, since the second load transmission member is not provided in a bumper reinforcement, it is possible to replace the bumper reinforcement separately from the second load transmission member.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 28, 2014
    Publication date: December 11, 2014
    Applicant: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Kosuke Sakakibara, Masanobu Omi, Akihiro Tamaoki, Tomoyuki Kuriyama
  • Publication number: 20140361562
    Abstract: An energy-absorbing support structure has an absorbing body including a fiber-reinforced plastics material. The latter is arranged between a support structure abutment component and a support structure impact-absorbing component. The absorbing body absorbs energy by deforming from a starting state into a deformed deformation state based on an impact-induced relative displacement of the support structure components, the energy being introduced into the support structure by an impact. The absorbing body is configured as a body which has already been predeformed in the starting state by energy absorption compared to an original state. During production of the support structure, the absorbing body is firstly produced in the original state, the latter is then predeformed into the starting state and finally the absorbing body is connected to the support structure components. The result is a support structure which absorbs energy in a predictable and defined manner upon an impact-induced introduction of energy.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 9, 2013
    Publication date: December 11, 2014
    Inventor: Herbert Börger
  • Publication number: 20140361560
    Abstract: In a vehicle body front structure, a crush box axially compression-deforms and a bumper extending portion of a bumper reinforcement bends toward a vehicle body rear side when an impact load is input to the bumper extending portion from a vehicle body front side. As a result, a rear end of the bumper extending portion abuts against a front surface of a gusset. This gusset is provided protruding toward a vehicle body width direction outside from a front end portion of a main body portion of a front side member, so the impact load on the bumper extending portion is able to be nicely transmitted to the main body portion via the gusset.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 28, 2014
    Publication date: December 11, 2014
    Applicant: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Kosuke Sakakibara, Masanobu Omi, Akihiro Tamaoki, Tomoyuki Kuriyama
  • Patent number: 8905444
    Abstract: A polymeric crash box (10) for a motor vehicle having a first open frontal extremity (12) and a second rear extremity (14), further including a substantially alveolar structure (20) having a plurality of channels (30) realized in just one piece which extends internally to the polymeric crash box (10), each channel (30) further being internally tapered towards the second rear extremity (14). The polymeric crash box (10) includes at least a substantially planar polymeric fixing element (52) which is realized in a single piece in proximity of the first frontal open extremity (12) and which further can be fixed to a crossbeam (60). A bumper structure for a vehicle including at least two polymeric crash boxes (10) and having a substantially ?-shaped cross-section, and an external polymeric bumper housing covering the crossbeam (60) and the two at least polymeric crash boxes (10).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 4, 2011
    Date of Patent: December 9, 2014
    Assignee: Tres Srl
    Inventor: Stefania Zannier
  • Patent number: 8905463
    Abstract: The invention relates to a bumper system with which the requirements for compatibility between motor vehicles can be accommodated. In particular the invention relates to a bumper system for a motor vehicle which has a force distributing element (10) and which is characterized in that in at least two planes at different heights there are force absorbing components (20, 13) on the motor vehicle (2) and the force distributing element (10) is mounted on the force absorbing components (20, 13) and connects the force absorbing components (20, 13).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 17, 2005
    Date of Patent: December 9, 2014
    Assignee: Audi AG
    Inventor: Steffen Kuhne
  • Patent number: 8905206
    Abstract: A polymeric crash box (10) for a motor vehicle, having a first open frontal extremity (12) and a second rear extremity (14), and besides it includes a substantially alveolar structure (20) having a plurality of channels (30) realized in just one piece which extends internally to the polymeric crash box (10), besides each channel (30) being internally tapered towards the second rear extremity (14). The substantially alveolar structure (20) includes a second plurality of channels (40) realized in just one piece with the plurality of channels (30), besides each channel (40) being internally tapered towards the first open frontal extremity (12). Besides each channel (40) internally tapered towards the first open frontal extremity (12) it is surrounded by channels (30) internally tapered towards the second rear extremity (14).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 30, 2011
    Date of Patent: December 9, 2014
    Assignee: Tres SRL
    Inventor: Stefania Zannier
  • Publication number: 20140353990
    Abstract: An end of a stay material made of a tubular aluminum alloy extruded material is expanded by electromagnetic molding to form a flange for producing a bumper stay. The flange width is increased without cracking and a decrease in the thickness. A stay material having a circumferential wall undulating in a waveform pattern is used. A circumferential length L (one round length along waveform pattern) of the outer periphery wall along the circumferential direction of the stay material is longer than a circumferential length L0 of a simple cylindrical circumferential wall having the same outer diameter (circumscribed circle) (L>L0). L?L0 is an excessive line length. Since the circumferential wall has the excessive line length, when the end of the circumferential wall is expanded to form the flange, the flange having a large diameter can be formed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 24, 2013
    Publication date: December 4, 2014
    Applicant: KABUSHIKI KAISHA KOBE SEIKO SHO (Kobe Steel, Ltd.)
    Inventors: Hideki Ishitobi, Hiroaki Hosoi, Keisuke Akasaki
  • Patent number: 8899642
    Abstract: A bumper-stay mounting structure includes a rear side member, a bumper stay and a load transmission member, in the bumper-stay mounting structure, a load being transmitted intensively to a lower side of a rear end portion of the rear side member, the bumper-stay mounting structure, the load transmission member having, on an inner peripheral side of a fastened portion, a protruding portion in a box shape, which protrudes toward the rear portion of the bumper stay in the vehicle longitudinal direction so as to be inserted into an opening of the bumper stay; and a side wall of the protruding portion having a substantially U-shaped cross section that is perpendicular to the vehicle longitudinal direction, is opened on a vehicle upper side, and is provided with, at a front end edge of the side wall, a flange extending outward from a side wall as the fastened portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 24, 2011
    Date of Patent: December 2, 2014
    Assignees: Toyoda Iron Works Co., Ltd., Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha, Toyota Motor East Japan, Inc.
    Inventors: Hiroyasu Kosaka, Takeshi Taniguchi, Mitsutoshi Kano, Shimpei Urata, Takashi Niiya
  • Publication number: 20140346790
    Abstract: A sinusoidal crush can assembly for a bumper assembly includes a top wall, a bottom wall spaced from the top wall, and a pair of spaced side walls that extend between the top wall and the bottom wall to present a generally tubular and trapezoidal shape. The crush can assembly further includes a sinusoidal wave portion disposed along each of the walls from the rear end towards the front end. Each of the wave portions include peaks and troughs that define a sinusoidal wave depth, and the sinusoidal wave depth reduces gradually from the front end toward the rear end. Each of the peaks and the troughs are aligned with one another. The crush can assembly further includes a wave portion separator that extends angularly between adjacent ones of the wave portions to transition between each of the sinusoidal wave portions that are disposed along each of the walls.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 10, 2013
    Publication date: November 27, 2014
    Inventors: Suresh R. Kale, Santosh Billur, Prashant G. Khadabadi
  • Publication number: 20140339837
    Abstract: A modular front end system includes a main bumper structure, outer bumper structures disposed on either end of the main bumper structure, and tension plates disposed at junctions between the main bumper structure and each of the outer bumper structures and supportably coupling each outer bumper structure to the main bumper structure, wherein each tension plate is configured to fail before the main bumper structure and the outer bumper structures in the event of a collision.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 16, 2014
    Publication date: November 20, 2014
    Inventor: Robert Charles Hermann, III
  • Patent number: 8888151
    Abstract: A collision load is appropriately absorbed even in a case that the collision load is intersectionally input from the oblique rear with respect to the vehicle longitudinal direction. Plural first to sixth corner portions provided at the rear end of an extension are arranged such as to be located at respective different positions along the vehicle longitudinal direction, wherein the first corner portion located at the vehicle transverse inner upper end is located the rearmost, and wherein the first to sixth corner portions and first to sixth edge lines, which form the rear end of the extension, are provided such as to be located at the rear in a spiral form from the first corner portion toward the vehicle front in order.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 20, 2013
    Date of Patent: November 18, 2014
    Assignee: Honda Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Masakazu Kashiwagi, Norikazu Matsuura, Hiroyoshi Watanabe, Ryota Tanabe
  • Patent number: 8882181
    Abstract: The invention relates to a crash structure having adjustable rigidity for a deformation element for a vehicle, wherein the crash structure comprises a continuously adjustable rigidity, in that at least one blocking element (SR) moves in a plane rotated by an angle relative to the vehicle longitudinal axis with respect to a profile (MW), so that the rigidity is adjusted by a position of the at least one blocking element reached by the motion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 6, 2011
    Date of Patent: November 11, 2014
    Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
    Inventors: Bernd Goetzelmann, Thomas Friedrich
  • Publication number: 20140327254
    Abstract: A front vehicle body structure includes: a front side member that is arranged on a side portion of a front vehicle body longitudinally in a vehicle front-rear direction; a bumper reinforcement that is arranged longitudinally in a vehicle width direction, that is connected directly or indirectly to a front end of the front side member, and that includes a protruding portion that protrudes more outward in the vehicle width direction than the front side member; and a high-strength member that is formed with a higher strength than the protruding portion, that is mounted to a rear-surface side of the protruding portion, and that is formed such that a dimension in the vehicle front-rear direction is increased as the high-strength member extends more outward in the vehicle width direction.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 15, 2014
    Publication date: November 6, 2014
    Applicant: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Toshiya MIYASHITA
  • Publication number: 20140325970
    Abstract: An impact energy conversion device, designed particularly for a car bumper comprises cylinders and at least one confusor (4), where each confusor (4) is, at its inlet, connected to the main hydraulic cylinder (6) fitted inside with the bearing of the main piston rod (7), which receives the impulse of the impact, and at its outlet is, via a non-return valve (3), connected to a hydropneumatic cylinder (8, 10), its hydraulic section (8) separated from the pneumatic section (10) with a separator, which preferably serves as the piston rod (9) between the hydraulic section and the pneumatic section and cooperates with the agent flowing through the confusor (4). The confusor (4), the main hydraulic cylinder (6), and the hydropneumatic cylinder (8,10) are arranged coaxially, or at an angle, preferably the right angle.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 1, 2011
    Publication date: November 6, 2014
    Inventor: Piotr Mitre Radowski
  • Publication number: 20140319860
    Abstract: A bumper arrangement includes a bumper cross member, at least one crash box, which extends in a longitudinal direction and of which a front end is fastened to the bumper cross member, at least one support element extending along an outside of the crash box obliquely to the longitudinal direction, and a connection portion (8, 9), which is anchored on the crash box and at least on a with respect to the longitudinal direction middle region of the support element.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 28, 2014
    Publication date: October 30, 2014
    Applicant: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS LLC
    Inventors: Bardo Braunbeck, Jens Hartmann
  • Publication number: 20140319859
    Abstract: A method of extruding a component includes: creating a first design of a component, wherein in the first design the component comprises a member and is configured for an implementation; adding at least one radial fin to the member in the first design, the member and the radial fins being a second design of the component; extruding a piece that conforms to the second design and has at least one extruded radial fin; and altering the extruded radial fin on the extruded piece, the alteration adding or enhancing a structural property of the component in the implementation.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 29, 2013
    Publication date: October 30, 2014
    Inventor: Michael J. Baldwin