Forward Projector Patents (Class 293/24)
  • Patent number: 9233662
    Abstract: A protecting member includes a pair of right-and-left brackets which extend obliquely downward and forward from front portions of a pair of right-and-left side frames and a stiffener which extends in a vehicle width direction below a bumper beam and attached to front ends of the pair of right-and-left brackets. The protecting member has a load/deformation characteristic including a first stage from a collision start, a second stage after the first stage, and a third stage after the second stage. Herein, the first stage is set so as to restrain the obstacle from coming in below a vehicle-body front portion, the second stage is set so as to absorb collision energy to restrain a local deformation of the obstacle, and the third stage is set so as to flick the obstacle up.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 7, 2014
    Date of Patent: January 12, 2016
    Assignee: MAZDA MOTOR CORPORATION
    Inventors: Masatoki Kito, Hiroshi Sogabe, Hirofumi Takada, Tsutomu Watanabe, Arihiro Furumoto, Ryuma Murakami, Takayuki Nakamae
  • Patent number: 9132793
    Abstract: A front end for a motor vehicle is disclosed which includes a bumper covering and a support extending in the longitudinal direction of the vehicle between the bumper covering and a supporting body component. The support has a buckling load which is less than the loading capacity of a connection of the support with the supporting body component and is able to elastically buckle in a collision.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 6, 2014
    Date of Patent: September 15, 2015
    Assignee: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS LLC
    Inventors: Marco Nickel, Matthias Erzgraeber, Theobald Hock
  • Patent number: 7192079
    Abstract: A pedestrian protection apparatus particularly adapted for motor vehicle front end structures for mitigating injuries of pedestrians struck by the vehicle. The apparatus incorporates a front grill which is moveable between extended and retracted positions. While it is in its extended position, the grill is designed to absorb energy from a pedestrian impact to reduce pedestrian injuries. The position of the grill is controlled by an actuator which responds to control inputs such as vehicle speed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 26, 2004
    Date of Patent: March 20, 2007
    Assignee: Autoliv ASP, Inc.
    Inventors: Michael Schramm, Brent Parks
  • Patent number: 6540275
    Abstract: The invention provides a structure of a front part of a vehicle body that is simple and free from the risk of maloperation. In the event of a collision between the vehicle and a pedestrian, a projecting part sweeps the pedestrian by parts of his or her legs lower than the knees in the event of a collision between the vehicle and the pedestrian, causing the pedestrian to be thrown over toward the vehicle, and after an energy-absorbing member has absorbed impact energy exerted on the legs, the pedestrian is caused to drop onto the top of a hood and protected from secondary damage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 19, 2000
    Date of Patent: April 1, 2003
    Assignee: Mazda Motor Corporation
    Inventors: Tatsuhiko Iwamoto, Arihiro Furumoto, Yutaka Tsukiji, Masao Hara, Yushi Matsuda, Daisaburou Adachi, Masanori Ogawa, Takayuki Nakamae, Sakayu Terada, Kazuma Kondou
  • Patent number: 6213526
    Abstract: A school bus crossing or a mounting system that more fully integrates the crossing arm and the bumper. To achieve this, the primary mounting brackets for the crossing arm drive system may be mounted to the bus chassis and an opening is formed in the bumper itself. The crossing arm is mounted to the drive system such that the arm projects through the opening in the bumper. Alternatively, the primary mounting brackets may be mounted to an inner surface of the bumper. A recess may be formed into an outer surface of the bumper such that the crossing arm is at least partially tucked into the recess when retracted. In one embodiment, there is no recess in the bumper. The crossing arm is contoured to follow the outer surface of the bumper.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 29, 1999
    Date of Patent: April 10, 2001
    Assignee: Navistar International Transportation Corp.
    Inventors: Eric D. Swanger, Brad A. Hively, Andrew J. Zielinski, Frank H. Stanhope
  • Patent number: 5042858
    Abstract: In order to prevent a car being run over or run onto by a commercial vehicle with which it collides, an anti-crash system is proposed for commercial vehicles which on the one hand absorbs kinetic energy and on the other hand is able to deflect a colliding car. For this purpose, beneath the conventional bumper, there is provided a spoiler which is either rigidly connected with the commercial vehicle, is curved forwards in the longitudinal direction of the vehicle or is formed by a plurality of components which are able to be moved out forards by a measuring and range finding sensor and a suitable operating system. The components are then so aligned that they are able to deflect the colliding car.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 1, 1989
    Date of Patent: August 27, 1991
    Assignee: Man Nutzfahrzeuge GmbH
    Inventors: Klaus Schubert, Gerhard Rieck
  • Patent number: 4946002
    Abstract: A hood bumper protector is provided and consists of a bumper member which can be raised to an operative position by a hydraulic mechanism activated by the brake pedal to protect the hood and windshield of the motor vehicle from damage caused by a collision into another object such as a trailer truck.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 30, 1989
    Date of Patent: August 7, 1990
    Inventors: Thuan D. Vu, George Spector
  • Patent number: 4273369
    Abstract: A reversible push block-rear bumper assembly for attachment to a motor vehicle is provided in which a support unit having a forwardly inclined downwardly extending surface is secured to the underside of a vehicle in close proximity to the rear end of the vehicle. A block unit having an upper incline surface which can be mated with the forwardly incline downwardly extending surface of the support unit is also provided, such surfaces being adapted so that when the block unit and support unit are secured together, the block unit will either extend downwardly from the support unit in a plane substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal plane of the vehicle and thus function as a bumper or, upon rotating the block unit 180.degree. into a reverse position, the block unit will extend outwardly from the rear end portion of the vehicle for use as a push block. An extension unit for modifying the length as well, as the angular relationship of the block unit to the support means, is also provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 6, 1979
    Date of Patent: June 16, 1981
    Assignee: CMI Corporation
    Inventor: Glen F. Rosenbaum
  • Patent number: 3992047
    Abstract: A protective installation for a motor vehicle which includes a bumper mounted transversely in front of the respective vehicle end while a further outwardly projecting cross beam which is preferably padded is arranged underneath the bumper.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 16, 1974
    Date of Patent: November 16, 1976
    Assignee: Daimler-Benz Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Bela Barenyi, Hermann Renner