Abstract: A vehicle includes a fender panel support assembly including a hood that at least partially covers an engine compartment. A front fender structure includes a connecting wall portion located at least partially below the hood in a vehicle vertical direction. A side structural member extends in a vehicle longitudinal direction. A deforming fender attachment bracket mounts the front fender structure to the side structural member. The deforming fender attachment bracket includes a fender attachment portion connected to the connecting wall portion of the front fender structure at a connecting location. A support leg is connected to the side structural member. The support leg extends toward the side structural member from a lateral edge of the fender attachment portion. The support leg has a width in a vehicle lateral direction that is defined by flexure and shear formulas in response to a target vehicle lateral force applied to the fender attachment portion.

Abstract: A hood assembly is provided. The hood assembly includes an outer panel having an interior surface and a peripheral edge. The hood assembly further includes a frame mounted to the outer panel. The frame has a contoured section. The contoured section is spaced apart from the interior surface of the outer panel and adjacent a forward portion of the peripheral edge of the outer panel. The contoured section includes an opening disposed on the contoured section so as to facilitate a deformation of the outer panel from a top down load.

Abstract: A bumper assembly includes a bumper reinforcement beam, a bumper energy absorber member coupled to a face of the bumper reinforcement beam, and a bumper cover reinforcement coupled to the bumper reinforcement beam, the bumper cover reinforcement including a base portion and an outward extending portion extending outward of the base portion in a vehicle longitudinal direction to an end, the bumper cover support portion including a horizontally extending portion and a vertically extending portion, where the at least one of the horizontally extending portion decreases in dimension in the vehicle lateral direction and the vertically extending portion decreases in dimension in the vehicle vertical direction.

Abstract: A vehicle includes a fender panel support assembly including a hood that at least partially covers an engine compartment. A front fender structure includes a connecting wall portion located at least partially below the hood in a vehicle vertical direction. A side structural member extends in a vehicle longitudinal direction. A deforming fender attachment bracket mounts the front fender structure to the side structural member. The deforming fender attachment bracket includes a fender attachment portion connected to the connecting wall portion of the front fender structure at a connecting location. A support leg is connected to the side structural member. The support leg extends toward the side structural member from a lateral edge of the fender attachment portion. The support leg has a width in a vehicle lateral direction that is defined by flexure and shear formulas in response to a target vehicle lateral force applied to the fender attachment portion.

Abstract: A vehicle including a bumper assembly includes a bumper reinforcement beam that extends generally in a vehicle lateral direction. The bumper reinforcement beam has a front face, a rear face opposite the front face and a top extending between the front face and the rear face. A bumper cover is located above the bumper reinforcement beam in a vehicle vertical direction. A bumper cover reinforcement includes an anchor portion supported on the bumper reinforcement beam and a bumper cover support portion extending outwardly from the anchor portion toward the bumper cover. The bumper cover support portion is arranged and configured to resist a downward force applied to the bumper cover in the vehicle vertical direction.

Abstract: A bumper assembly includes a bumper reinforcement beam, a bumper energy absorber member coupled to a face of the bumper reinforcement beam, and a bumper cover reinforcement coupled to the bumper reinforcement beam, the bumper cover reinforcement including a base portion and an outward extending portion extending outward of the base portion in a vehicle longitudinal direction to an end, the bumper cover support portion including a horizontally extending portion and a vertically extending portion, where the at least one of the horizontally extending portion decreases in dimension in the vehicle lateral direction and the vertically extending portion decreases in dimension in the vehicle vertical direction.

Abstract: A vehicle including a bumper assembly includes a bumper reinforcement beam that extends generally in a vehicle lateral direction. The bumper reinforcement beam has a front face, a rear face opposite the front face and a top extending between the front face and the rear face. A bumper cover is located above the bumper reinforcement beam in a vehicle vertical direction. A bumper cover reinforcement includes an anchor portion supported on the bumper reinforcement beam and a bumper cover support portion extending outwardly from the anchor portion toward the bumper cover. The bumper cover support portion is arranged and configured to resist a downward force applied to the bumper cover in the vehicle vertical direction.

Abstract: An attachment bracket for attaching one vehicle component, such as a headlamp housing, to another vehicle component includes a wall with an upper end flange and a rib structure defining stiffness along one axis of the vehicle component and having a buckle portion allowing buckling and deformation of the attachment bracket along at least one perpendicular axis to absorb energy. The rib structure includes at least one rib extending along the wall of the attachment bracket, where the at least one rib includes a shape defining an intermediate buckle portion along the rib. The at least one rib may have a laterally extending notch, a lateral offset segment, a curved segment, or a thinner segment. One or more apertures formed in the wall to define the buckle portion. Any rib configuration may be provided on one or all of the opposed major wall surfaces of the attachment bracket.

Abstract: A bumper assembly includes a bumper fascia and a bumper reinforcement beam covered by the bumper fascia providing an upper projecting bumper portion. A lower reinforcement member is below the bumper reinforcement beam in a vehicle vertical direction and is covered by the bumper fascia providing a lower projecting bumper portion. The lower reinforcement member includes a reinforcement body having a front end and a rear end. The bumper fascia is connected to the lower reinforcement member at a fastening location that is located below reinforcement body.

Abstract: A bumper assembly includes a bumper fascia and a bumper reinforcement beam covered by the bumper fascia providing an upper projecting bumper portion. A lower reinforcement member is below the bumper reinforcement beam in a vehicle vertical direction and is covered by the bumper fascia providing a lower projecting bumper portion. The lower reinforcement member includes a reinforcement body having a front end and a rear end. The bumper fascia is connected to the lower reinforcement member at a fastening location that is located below reinforcement body.

Abstract: A hood assembly is provided. The hood assembly includes an outer panel having an interior surface and a peripheral edge. The hood assembly further includes a frame mounted to the outer panel. The frame has a contoured section. The contoured section is spaced apart from the interior surface of the outer panel and adjacent a forward portion of the peripheral edge of the outer panel. The contoured section includes an opening disposed on the contoured section so as to facilitate a deformation of the outer panel from a top down load.

Abstract: An attachment bracket for attaching one vehicle component, such as a headlamp housing, to another vehicle component includes a wall with an upper end flange and a rib structure defining stiffness along one axis of the vehicle component and having a buckle portion allowing buckling and deformation of the attachment bracket along at least one perpendicular axis to absorb energy. The rib structure includes at least one rib extending along the wall of the attachment bracket, where the at least one rib includes a shape defining an intermediate buckle portion along the rib. The at least one rib may have a laterally extending notch, a lateral offset segment, a curved segment, or a thinner segment. One or more apertures formed in the wall to define the buckle portion. Any rib configuration may be provided on one or all of the opposed major wall surfaces of the attachment bracket.

Abstract: A hood and, in particular, a hood inner panel for increasing pedestrian safety during a collision between a pedestrian and a motor vehicle. The hood inner panel includes two regions separated by an angled wall or a reinforcing structure which increases local rigidity. The rigidity of the hood inner panel in the vicinity of the angled wall is then adjusted for energy absorption by the inclusion of apertures which can increase the deformability of the hood inner panel.

Abstract: A hood assembly is provided. The hood assembly includes an outer panel having an interior surface and a peripheral edge. The hood assembly further includes a frame mounted to the outer panel. The frame has a contoured section. The contoured section is spaced apart from the interior surface of the outer panel and adjacent a forward portion of the peripheral edge of the outer panel. The contoured section includes an opening disposed on the contoured section so as to facilitate a deformation of the outer panel from a top down load.

Abstract: A hood assembly is provided. The hood assembly includes an outer panel having an interior surface and a peripheral edge. The hood assembly further includes a frame mounted to the outer panel. The frame has a contoured section. The contoured section is spaced apart from the interior surface of the outer panel and adjacent a forward portion of the peripheral edge of the outer panel. The contoured section includes an opening disposed on the contoured section so as to facilitate a deformation of the outer panel from a top down load.

Abstract: A hood and, in particular, a hood inner panel for increasing pedestrian safety during a collision between a pedestrian and a motor vehicle. The hood inner panel includes two regions separated by an angled wall or a reinforcing structure which increases local rigidity. The rigidity of the hood inner panel in the vicinity of the angled wall is then adjusted for energy absorption by the inclusion of apertures which can increase the deformability of the hood inner panel.