Bumper Having Impact Force Absorbing Means Directly Interposed Between Bumper And Vehicle Structure Patents (Class 293/132)
  • Publication number: 20150137540
    Abstract: A bumper support for a motor vehicle with a stiffening structure and at least two connections for connecting the bumper support on the one hand to a bumper and on the other hand to a vehicle body is provided. The bumper support comprises at least one expansion structure arranged in the region of at least one of the connections and serving as energy absorber, which is connected to the stiffening structure in a materially joined manner.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 14, 2014
    Publication date: May 21, 2015
    Inventors: Marco Nickel, Theobald Hock
  • Publication number: 20150115633
    Abstract: A vehicle front structure includes a bumper beam formed as a hollow body having open ends, and elongation members received within the open ends and extending laterally outward.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 31, 2014
    Publication date: April 30, 2015
    Inventors: Bardo Braunbeck, Ronald Scheer, Uwe Eckert
  • Publication number: 20150115572
    Abstract: Disclosed are a tubular back beam assembly for a vehicle and a method of manufacturing the tubular back beam assembly. The tubular back beam assembly may include a plurality of main members, each of which is formed by cold rolling and hot stamping. The plurality of main members may be coupled to form a vertically stacked structure with flat portions coupled in a surface contact fashion. Or the tubular back beam assembly may include a main member and at least one support member that are directly coupled to form a vertically stacked structure.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 8, 2014
    Publication date: April 30, 2015
    Applicant: Hyundai Motor Company
    Inventors: Hyun Gyung KIM, Seok Jae Park, Dong Hak Kim
  • Patent number: 9004216
    Abstract: An airbag system mitigates intrusion in the event of an offset rigid barrier impact to a forward corner of a motor vehicle. An airbag is attached proximate a distal end of a front rail. When in the inflated condition, the airbag has an angular leading edge. An impact detection sensor generates a signal upon a corner impact event, whereby a controller processes the signal generated by the detection sensor and electrically actuates an inflator upon a predetermined impact severity. The angular leading edge of the airbag in the inflated condition acts against the offset rigid barrier to generate a lateral force against the offset rigid barrier to push the motor vehicle away from the barrier and thereby redirect impact energy by lateral movement of the motor vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 18, 2013
    Date of Patent: April 14, 2015
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Mohamed Ridha Baccouche, Ping Chen, Manoharprasad K. Rao, Jialiang Le, James Chih Cheng
  • Patent number: 8985649
    Abstract: A material handling vehicle includes a laminated bumper that provides both durability and reduced energy transmissibility. The laminated bumper includes at least a first bumper layer and a second bumper layer, such that at least one of the first bumper layer and second bumper layer of the laminate bumper are allowed to translate upon bumper contact with an object.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 5, 2013
    Date of Patent: March 24, 2015
    Assignee: The Raymond Corporation
    Inventors: Kurt Richard Lutz, Brian Matthew Warner
  • Patent number: 8979146
    Abstract: A vehicle bumper beam including: a resin beam having an elongate body extending along a vehicle-width direction, two tubular shock-absorbing portions disposed at the beam body's opposite longitudinal end portions extending in front-rear direction, the beam body and shock-absorbing portions being formed with each other; a metal beam disposed outside the resin beam in the front-rear direction, fixedly fitted to the resin beam. Further, flat attachment portions, formed with inner end portions of the shock-absorbing portions in front-rear direction; bent portions bent in a crank extending from attachment portions outward in front-rear direction, the beam body being to attachment portions via bent portions, the metal beam fixedly fitted to an outer surface of the beam body's intermediate portion; metal beam's opposite end portions extending beyond bent portions covering the right and left sides, fixedly fitted to distal end portions; each space defined by shock-absorbing portion, metal beam and bent portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 5, 2012
    Date of Patent: March 17, 2015
    Assignee: Toyoda Iron Works Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Mitsutoshi Kano, Yasuhiro Yoshimura
  • Publication number: 20150069774
    Abstract: An impact absorber includes a energy absorbing member that is formed of a composite material obtained by reinforcing a resin with a fiber and absorbs impact energy by being crushed in a predetermined crush direction, and a pressing member that is disposed on the front side of the energy absorbing member and presses it in the crush direction to thereby crush the energy absorbing member. The energy absorbing member is configured by stacking, along a radial direction orthogonal to the crush direction, fiber layers having different elastic moduli to a load along the crush direction, and the front end portion of the energy absorbing member is inclined relative to a pressing surface of the pressing member such that the fiber layers are gradually brought into contact with the pressing member sequentially in ascending order of the elastic modulus as the energy absorbing member is pressed by the pressing member.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 29, 2014
    Publication date: March 12, 2015
    Inventors: Yuya MUKAINAKANO, Satoshi IKEDA, Isamu NAGASAWA
  • 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
  • Publication number: 20150021938
    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: Giles D. Bryer, ROBERT N. SAJE, JOHN C. JOHNSON, BRYAN F. LAKE, EDWARD D. MOSS
  • Publication number: 20150021939
    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: GILES D. BRYER, ROBERT N. SAJE, JOHN C. JOHNSON, BRYAN F. LAKE
  • 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: 20140367984
    Abstract: A crash box includes a body portion extending from a top edge to a bottom edge along a global z-axis (A) and having a pair of side walls disposed in spaced relationship to one another. At least one x-shaped reinforcing web extends between the side walls along a plane (P) disposed transverse to the axis (A). An extension portion is integral with the body portion and extends outwardly from one of the side walls and is disposed along the plane (P). A flange plate is also integral with the body portion and defines at least one flange plate attachment hole for securing the crash box to a frame of a vehicle.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 3, 2013
    Publication date: December 18, 2014
    Inventors: Michael Blümel, Christian Hengst
  • 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
  • Publication number: 20140333077
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a bumper back beam being equipped with a fiber composite reinforcing material with hollow section inside and a bumper having the same. The bumper back beam comprise a body formed with a synthetic resin, and a fiber composite reinforcing material with hollow section that is fastened inside the body, wherein the bumper back beam, as being built inside a bumper cover, reduces impact coming in from outside. A bumper back beam according to the present invention comprised as described above has high reliability, by having excellent ability to absorb impact energy because cracks almost do not occur during collision since it not only provides satisfactory strength and stiffness but also has high elongation with synthetic resin and fiber composite reinforcing materials generating synergies, and especially by having excellent impact resistance since fiber composite reinforcing materials take the shape of a hollow section.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 21, 2012
    Publication date: November 13, 2014
    Applicant: LG Hausys, Ltd.
    Inventors: Yong Kil Kil, Yong-Hoon Yoon, Byoung Heuk Kim, Chun Ho Park, Hee June Kim
  • Publication number: 20140306470
    Abstract: An energy absorber system for a vehicle includes a brace assembly having a front end. The system includes an energy absorber attachable to the assembly and having an inner wedge and an outer wedge. The inner wedge is attachable to the front end, defines a cavity, and has a primary side, a secondary side, a proximal side, and a distal side. The outer wedge is attachable to the inner wedge to cover the cavity, and has a first side configured for contacting and covering the primary side, a second side configured for contacting and covering the secondary side, a third side configured for contacting and covering the proximal side, a fourth side extending from the third side at an angle of less than or equal to 90 degrees and having a deflection surface and an interior surface, and a plurality of bulkheads projecting from the inner surface.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 12, 2013
    Publication date: October 16, 2014
    Applicant: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS LLC
    Inventor: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS LLC
  • Patent number: 8807632
    Abstract: A frontal impact countermeasure assembly for an automotive vehicle, the countermeasure assembly comprising: a front side rail extending in a generally longitudinal direction and having a forward end; a bumper extending generally laterally to the longitudinal direction of the front side rail and having an outboard end; and a pivot link having outer and inner mounting portions, the outer mounting portion being pivotably engaged with the bumper in a region of the outboard end to define a front pivot joint, the inner mounting portion being pivotably engaged with the front side rail to define a rear pivot joint, the rear pivot joint being located rearward and inward relative to the front pivot joint.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 18, 2013
    Date of Patent: August 19, 2014
    Assignee: Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing North America, Inc.
    Inventors: Naipaul D. Ramoutar, Taichi Yamashita
  • Patent number: 8744743
    Abstract: Provided is a front structure of a vehicle wherein damage on auxiliary equipment by a millimeter-wave radar is limited at the time of collision, and cooling efficiency for auxiliary equipment using traveling wind is not reduced. A front structure of a vehicle comprises a front right side radar for detecting an obstacle on the front right side of a vehicle by transmitting/receiving a radio wave, a front left side radar for detecting an obstacle on the front left side of a vehicle by transmitting/receiving a radio wave, a bumper reinforcement, right and left crush boxes, and a condenser cooled by traveling wind, wherein the front right side radar is disposed on the outboard side of the right end of the condenser, and the front left side radar is disposed on the outboard side of the left end of the condenser.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 24, 2009
    Date of Patent: June 3, 2014
    Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Tomoya Kawasaki, Hitoshi Mitsumata, Takashi Kobiki
  • Patent number: 8740268
    Abstract: A bumper structure includes a bumper beam that extends in a vehicle width direction and a bumper absorber that is provided along a front surface of the bumper beam and that has an opening in a top center portion of the bumper absorber in the vehicle width direction. The bumper beam includes a center portion that extends parallel to the vehicle width direction and a pair of oblique portions that obliquely extend backward and outward in the vehicle width direction from respective ends of the center portion. The bumper absorber includes a pair of load receiving portions outside the opening in the vehicle width direction, and the load receiving portions are arranged at positions corresponding to a pair of bent portions that are formed at boundaries between the center portion and the respective oblique portions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 15, 2013
    Date of Patent: June 3, 2014
    Assignee: Honda Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Yoshiaki Ebara, Kosuke Katsumata
  • Publication number: 20140126985
    Abstract: A crowd machinery guard system for a mining shovel is provided. The crowd machinery guard system includes a mounting bracket assembly coupled to the front of the mining shovel frame. The crowd machinery guard system also includes at least one support leg rotatably coupled to the mounting bracket assembly, and an impact plate assembly coupled to the support leg. The impact plate assembly includes an impact plate configured to receive dipper impacts, at least one support leg bracket coupled to the impact plate, and at least one cushion subassembly including a dampening portion. The crowd machinery guard system is configured to absorb and distribute the force of dipper impacts.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 5, 2012
    Publication date: May 8, 2014
    Applicant: Caterpillar Global Mining LLC
    Inventors: Jeanne Yaunke, Andrew Freres, Neil Doll, Jonathan Vitas
  • Patent number: 8714603
    Abstract: An energy absorber for a vehicle includes a structure with an I-shaped cross-sectional structure, preventing collision energy from causing a buckling phenomenon. Particularly, the wiring for an electric wire connected to a sensor can be realized by making use of extra space.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 11, 2012
    Date of Patent: May 6, 2014
    Assignees: Hyundai Motor Company, Kia Motors Corp.
    Inventor: Hyun Gyung Kim
  • Patent number: 8714294
    Abstract: A pedestrian protection apparatus for a vehicle is provided that can sufficiently protect a pedestrian and can advantageously improve aerodynamic performance at a lower region of the vehicle. The apparatus includes a reinforcing portion at a front section thereof. The reinforcing portion includes a plurality of cylindrical structures that extend in a front to back direction of the vehicle and are arranged in a line in a vehicle width direction. The cylindrical structures include: vertical ribs that are opposed to each other in the vehicle width direction and extend in the front to back direction of the vehicle; an upper connecting plate that extends across upper ends of all of the vertical ribs so as to integrally connect the upper ends; and a lower connecting plate that extends across lower ends of all of the vertical ribs so as to integrally connect the lower ends.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 18, 2012
    Date of Patent: May 6, 2014
    Assignee: Kojima Press Industry Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Kuniaki Hasegawa, Keisuke Noyori
  • Patent number: 8702137
    Abstract: A trailer-mounted crash impact attenuator is attachable to a host vehicle, which comprises an anti-rotational attachment system having an internal support tube and a plurality of external support tubes. The internal support tube has a connector on its front end for attachment to a suitable receptacle on the host vehicle, and the plurality of external support tubes each have an anti-rotation support pad on their front ends. At least one of the internal support tube and the plurality of external support tubes is comprised of a telescoping construction. A backup frame is disposed on a rear end of the attachment system, and a crash attenuator unit is disposed on an axle and pair of wheels for mobility. When the crash attenuator is impacted by an errant vehicle, the anti-rotational attachment system is actuated to prevent the trailer mounted crash impact attenuator from rotating relative to the host vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 28, 2012
    Date of Patent: April 22, 2014
    Assignee: Traffix Devices, Inc.
    Inventor: Geoffrey B. Maus
  • Patent number: 8689955
    Abstract: There is provided a shock absorbing structure that can improve shock absorption performance by stabilizing the compressive deformation of a shock absorbing member in an axial direction. High-strength portions controlling deformation and low-strength portions controlling deformation are alternately disposed. Accordingly, when a shock is applied to a front side member from the front side of a vehicle, the front side member can be deformed in the shape of a bellows. Further, the respective low-strength portions, which are disposed closer to a rear end side in a longitudinal direction, have higher strength. Therefore, the front side member can be sequentially deformed from a front end side.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 14, 2009
    Date of Patent: April 8, 2014
    Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Takeo Mori
  • Publication number: 20140084608
    Abstract: A front vehicle structure includes: a bumper fascia; a radiator panel upper disposed in a vehicle width direction behind the bumper fascia; and an upper energy absorbing (EA) member for pedestrian protection. The upper EA member is provided in the vehicle width direction in a substantially ? shape as a side view between the top of the bumper fascia and the radiator panel upper. A rear of the upper EA member for pedestrian protection is fixed to the radiator panel upper. An upper projection and a lower projection are respectively formed above and below the upper EA member.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 12, 2013
    Publication date: March 27, 2014
    Applicant: Fuji Jukogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Masami HASEGAWA, Hiroshi SUEMUNE, Kazutoshi HATSUSAKI, Kazuhiro OOTA, Takashi SUZUKI
  • Publication number: 20140077510
    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: Application
    Filed: March 6, 2013
    Publication date: March 20, 2014
    Applicants: Toyota Motor Corporation, Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing North America, Inc.
    Inventors: Paul Maria-Antonius Slaats, Kanichi Saito, Paxton Steven Williams, Joseph Charles Walusek, Sagar Vilas Kulkarni
  • Patent number: 8668247
    Abstract: A segmented tube formed of a magnesium-based alloy and wrapped or jacketed with a reinforcement to apply a restraining force on the external surface of the tube for resisting fragmentation of the tube by the compressive force applied to the end of the tube serves as a structural member for receiving a compressive stress applied to an end of the tube and acting along the axis of the tube toward the opposing end of the tube. The magnesium alloy tube is comparatively light, and the segmented and wrapped or jacketed tube has an increased capacity to absorb compressive forces. The tubes are useful as components of automotive vehicles.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 23, 2012
    Date of Patent: March 11, 2014
    Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC
    Inventors: Hamid G. Kia, Aihua A. Luo, John N. Owens, James F. Quinn
  • Publication number: 20140062129
    Abstract: An impact deflection and absorption structure for a vehicle having a vehicle body that includes a passenger compartment and an under-hood compartment. The impact deflection and absorption structure includes a frame having a frame rail configured to support the vehicle body. The impact deflection and absorption structure also includes a bumper assembly secured to the frame rail. The bumper assembly includes an impact beam arranged substantially transverse to the frame rail and a lateral member secured to the impact beam. The lateral member projects away from the impact beam and is configured to counteract impact energy that is directed substantially parallel to the frame rail into the frame rail and away from the under-hood compartment and the passenger compartment. A vehicle employing the impact deflection and absorption structure is also disclosed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 4, 2012
    Publication date: March 6, 2014
    Applicant: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS LLC
    Inventors: Sajid H. Syed, Patrick H. Clark, Bhushan W. Dandekar, Sigit P. Santosa, Jeffrey S. McCormick
  • Patent number: 8653958
    Abstract: A collision detector includes a chamber, a pressure sensor, and a bumper absorber. The chamber defines a hollow space, and the pressure sensor detects a pressure in the hollow space. The bumper absorber absorbs impact caused by a collision of an object with a vehicle, and covers an outer periphery of the chamber. The chamber and the bumper absorber are interposed with a gap in an entire width of the vehicle. In case of collision, the chamber is not bound by the bumper absorber deformed by the impact of the collision, thereby enabling an accurate detection of the collision of the vehicle with the object.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 21, 2008
    Date of Patent: February 18, 2014
    Assignee: Denso Corporation
    Inventors: Takatoshi Tanabe, Tomoya Shimizu
  • Patent number: 8649937
    Abstract: An energy absorber for a vehicle is described, which includes a sensor integrated into the energy absorber, which is designed to detect an impact magnitude acting on the energy absorber and to provide information about the impact magnitude. Furthermore, the energy absorber includes at least one setting element, which is designed to set a stiffness of the energy absorber in response to the information about the impact magnitude.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 8, 2010
    Date of Patent: February 11, 2014
    Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
    Inventors: Heiko Freienstein, Kai Weeber, Markus Koenning
  • Patent number: 8622463
    Abstract: A front region of a vehicle is provided that includes, but is not limited to an upper front region, a middle front region, and a lower front region. The upper front region includes, but is not limited to an engine hood, front regions of mudguards headlamps or driving direction indicators. The middle front region includes, but is not limited to an impact energy-absorbing region and has molding elements in driving direction. The molding elements interact with impact energy-absorbing, yielding structures. The yielding structures are plastically deformable. The lower front region includes, but is not limited to a molding apron. The lower front region is elastically deformable.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 28, 2011
    Date of Patent: January 7, 2014
    Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC
    Inventor: Joachim Schaefer
  • Publication number: 20140001780
    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: Application
    Filed: March 15, 2011
    Publication date: January 2, 2014
    Applicant: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Katsuya Inoue
  • Patent number: 8590952
    Abstract: A crash box of a bumper for a vehicle is provided in the bumper to absorb collision energy produced in a collision. The crash box is constructed such that upper and lower horizontal partitions and a plurality of vertical partitions are connected to each other to form a lattice structure having a plurality of hollow portions, and each of the vertical partitions is formed to be bent at a middle portion thereof. A vertical partition located at the outermost position of the hollow portions forming the lattice structure is bent towards the inside of the crash box, and a vertical partition provided in a middle portion of the crash box is bent to the outside or inside of the vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 27, 2011
    Date of Patent: November 26, 2013
    Assignees: Hyundai Motor Company, Kia Motors Corp., Sung Woo Hitech Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Phil Jung Jeong, Hyun Kim, Jun Mo Ku, Hee Jun Jeong, Do Hoi Koo, Do Hyun Kim
  • Patent number: 8583353
    Abstract: A traveling apparatus performs an inverted pendulum control to maintain an inverted state of a vehicle body and travels with a passenger thereon. The traveling apparatus includes a drive portion that drives the vehicle body; a riding detection portion that detects a start of riding on the vehicle body by the passenger; a command generation portion that generates a torque command value to perform the inverted pendulum control and a position control to move the vehicle body to a position that facilitates the riding, when the start of riding is detected by the riding detection portion; and a control portion that controls the drive portion based on the torque command value generated by the command generation portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 28, 2010
    Date of Patent: November 12, 2013
    Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Yusuke Kosaka
  • Patent number: 8567854
    Abstract: An impact absorption member is provided behind a bumper face, a lower stiffener is provided below this member and projects forward to sweep a leg portion of an object hitting against a front potion of a vehicle, and headlamp units are provided at both side portions of the bumper face. A lamp housing of the headlamp unit is supported at a vehicle-body member located in back of the lamp housing, a load absorption portion provided on the inside of and rearward from an edge of the bumper face to absorb an impact load is provided integrally at the lamp housing, and a load transmission portion to transmit the impact load inputted to the bumper face to the load absorption portion is provided at the bumper face.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 18, 2011
    Date of Patent: October 29, 2013
    Assignee: Mazda Motor Corporation
    Inventors: Hiroyuki Nishi, Yasuyuki Emi, Tetsuo Nagata, Toshiaki Wakabayashi, Kazuma Kondo, Toshio Sakamoto
  • Patent number: 8562043
    Abstract: An alignment device for attachment to a mounting support for vehicle front ends, whereby the alignment device is configured to receive a crash box that connects the mounting support to a bumper bracket. The alignment device includes a first abutment element and a second abutment element between which the crash box can be inserted and which are provided upon receiving the crash box to rest on opposite sides of the crash box. At least one abutment element is designed such that when receiving the crash box, it presses the same against the other abutment element, whereby one or more holding devices are provided on at least one of the first or second abutment elements that serve to limit the insertion of the crash box into the alignment device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 7, 2011
    Date of Patent: October 22, 2013
    Assignee: HBPO GmbH
    Inventors: Robert Raulf, Hartmut Fabiunke, Daniel Földi
  • Patent number: 8562042
    Abstract: This bumper assembly is adapted for a motor vehicle having a structure including a pair of upper side members (6) and a pair of lower side members (8). It includes an energy absorbing panel (12) having at least two columns (16) each provided to bear on the ends of an upper side member (6) and a lower side member (8) and a beam (18) extending transversely between the columns (16). According to one embodiment, the bumper assembly includes a plate (36) doubling the beam (18) such that the beam (18) is compressed between a frontal face (36a) of the plate (36) in case of impact. The device is applicable to front or rear bumpers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 23, 2010
    Date of Patent: October 22, 2013
    Assignee: Faurecia Bloc Avant
    Inventors: Vincent Gonin, Laurent Droz Bartholet, Julien Dufee
  • Patent number: 8550498
    Abstract: An impact-damping structure with crash boxes is provided with an extension of the ends of the chassis members of a vehicle to a transverse impact member. An extension pipe with a towing lug that aligns flush with the chassis member is arranged in a center of one of the crash boxes. The extension pipe is connected with the end of the chassis member via a spreading device of the crash box.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 22, 2011
    Date of Patent: October 8, 2013
    Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC
    Inventor: Stanislaw Klimek
  • Publication number: 20130257070
    Abstract: A bumper structure includes a bumper beam that extends in a vehicle width direction and a bumper absorber that is provided along a front surface of the bumper beam and that has an opening in a top center portion of the bumper absorber in the vehicle width direction. The bumper beam includes a center portion that extends parallel to the vehicle width direction and a pair of oblique portions that obliquely extend backward and outward in the vehicle width direction from respective ends of the center portion. The bumper absorber includes a pair of load receiving portions outside the opening in the vehicle width direction, and the load receiving portions are arranged at positions corresponding to a pair of bent portions that are formed at boundaries between the center portion and the respective oblique portions.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 15, 2013
    Publication date: October 3, 2013
    Applicant: HONDA MOTOR CO., LTD
    Inventors: Yoshiaki Ebara, Kousuke Katsumata
  • Patent number: 8544589
    Abstract: A deflector is attached to a frame on a vehicle in front of a front wheel which cooperates with the front wheel to glance a vehicle past a laterally offset impacting object. The deflector acts as a first boundary against the impacting object and the deflector turns the front wheel inboard to an inwardly turned position to act as a second deflecting boundary against the impacting object. The deflector and inwardly turned front wheel cooperate to deflect the vehicle past the object, such that the object passes outboard of a rocker member on the vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 4, 2012
    Date of Patent: October 1, 2013
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Jeffrey Dan Rupp, Michelle Duan, Hassen Hammoud, Benjamen David McClain, Stephen Thomas Kozak
  • Patent number: 8544905
    Abstract: A structural part for a motor vehicle includes an inner component having a generally rectangular cross section and configured in the form of a multichamber hollow section made of light metal, and an outer component having a generally rectangular cross section. The inner and outer components are movable in a telescoping manner relative to one another between an idle state and an activated state. A first locking mechanism is provided to lock the idle state and a second locking mechanism is provided to lock the activated state. The movement of the inner and outer components from the idle state to the activated state is hereby realized by an actuator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 21, 2011
    Date of Patent: October 1, 2013
    Assignee: Benteler Automobiltechnik GmbH
    Inventors: Christian Handing, Kegham Arzoumanian, Andreas Hitz, Otto Buschsieweke
  • Publication number: 20130249243
    Abstract: A crash brace is incorporated into a body structure of an automotive vehicle as an energy absorption and management device to assist in managing the energy during rear and side impact collisions, thereby protecting internal structures within the rear end of the vehicle.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 22, 2012
    Publication date: September 26, 2013
    Applicant: FORD GLOBAL TECHNOLOGIES, LLC
    Inventors: Chunhui Kevin LEE, Peyman AGHSSA, Matthew Brian MAKOWSKI, Stephen Wai-Fun SIU, Edward Michael WILSON
  • Patent number: 8534724
    Abstract: The invention relates to an assembly comprising a rear impact beam and an impact absorber. The beam and the absorber have respective fastener means fastening them to a motor vehicle body-in-white. The absorber is shaped to absorb a corner impact and is designed to be arranged in the vicinity of a rear corner of the body-in-white in line with the longitudinal direction of the beam so as to leave a gap between a proximal end of the beam and the absorber.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 7, 2008
    Date of Patent: September 17, 2013
    Assignee: Compagnie Plastic Omnium
    Inventor: Fernando Ballesteros
  • Patent number: 8531282
    Abstract: A vehicle bumper guard and monitoring assembly is provided for protecting the bumper area of a vehicle, monitoring the surrounding area, and providing an alert upon detection of contact with the bumper guard. The assembly includes a sheet having opposed ends. The sheet is configured for conforming to a bumper of a vehicle. A plurality of hooks is coupled to and extends from the sheet. Each hook is configured for securing to the vehicle whereby the sheet is positioned over the bumper of the vehicle. A plurality of sensors is coupled to the sheet. Each sensor is configured to detect contact or imminent contact between an object and the bumper of the vehicle. A transmitter is operationally coupled to the sensors to transmit an alert signal when contact is detected between the object and the bumper of the vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 24, 2011
    Date of Patent: September 10, 2013
    Inventor: William Santiago
  • Patent number: 8523251
    Abstract: A bumper fascia support assembly includes a front support, a bracket and a bumper fascia. The bracket has a support attachment end, a body section and a fascia attachment end. The support attachment end is fixedly attached to a forward facing surface of the front support. The bumper fascia has a central section fixedly attached to the fascia attachment end of the bracket. The body section of the bracket has a controlled deflection structure that is configured with respect to the support attachment end and the fascia attachment end to deform downwardly in response to a prescribed impacting force being applied to the bumper fascia so that the fascia attachment end and the central section of the bumper fascia move downward relative to the support attachment end absorbing impact energy.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 8, 2012
    Date of Patent: September 3, 2013
    Assignee: Nissan North America, Inc.
    Inventors: Hugo F. Fortin, Matthew Huber
  • Patent number: 8523273
    Abstract: Provided is a vehicle body structure which can improve collision performance. The sub-side member 3 has a deformation cooperative movement portion 7 whose strength is made lower than the deformation suppressing portion 8 on the rear side, at a position ahead of a power unit EG. The sub-side member 3 easily deforms at a position ahead of the power unit EG when the load is applied. The sub-side member 3 can deform in synchronization with the deformation of the front side member 2, in a region ahead of the power unit EG with high strength and a relatively small number of disposition parts. Accordingly, the sub-side member 3 can absorb the load efficiently in cooperative movement with the front side member 2. Additionally, the sub-side member 3 is constructed so as to have a higher strength than the deformation cooperative movement portion 7, on the rear side of the deformation cooperative movement portion 7. Accordingly, the sub-side member 3 sufficiently transmits the load to a rear frame structure structure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 23, 2009
    Date of Patent: September 3, 2013
    Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Koji Yoshida
  • Publication number: 20130221691
    Abstract: An embodiment of a thermoplastic energy absorber for a vehicle comprises: a base and a crush lobe. The crush lobe comprises load walls extending from the base and a convex front face located at an end of the load walls opposite the base, wherein the convex front face bow outward, away from the base. The convex front face is connected to the load walls with fillets. The base and crush lobes comprise a plastic material.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 28, 2012
    Publication date: August 29, 2013
    Applicant: SABIC INNOVATIVE PLASTICS IP B.V.
    Inventors: Dhanendra Kumar Nagwanshi, Sudhakar Ramamoorthy Marur, Gurunath PV
  • Publication number: 20130221692
    Abstract: A system for controlling displacement of a vulnerable component in connection with an impact event at the system. The system includes a frame structure, the vulnerable component, and a composite crush member (a) connected to the frame structure and the vulnerable component, forming a first close connection between the composite crush member and the vulnerable component and a second close connection between the composite crush member and the frame structure, (b) comprises primarily a polymer composite and is configured, and (c) is arranged in the system to fail in a predetermined manner in response to the impact event. The system also includes a retention feature configured and connected, directly or indirectly, to the vulnerable component and to the frame structure to, in operation of the system, maintain at least one of the first close connection and the second close connection during and following the composite crush member the impact event.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 29, 2012
    Publication date: August 29, 2013
    Applicant: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS LLC
    Inventors: Chen-Shih Wang, Hamid G. Kia, John N. Owens, Elisabeth J. Berger, Venkat Aitharaju
  • Patent number: 8496287
    Abstract: A front vehicle body structure includes, on each of left and right sides, a front side frame, an upper member, a frame connecting member, an impact absorbing mechanism. The impact absorbing mechanism has a closed cross-sectional shape in frontal view of a vehicle. The impact absorbing mechanism includes an external wall and an internal wall. The external wall is substantially straight with respect to an upper internal wall of the upper member such that the frame connecting member is disposed therebetween. The internal wall has a shape in which at least a front portion of the internal wall between a central portion of the internal wall in its longitudinal direction and the bumper beam is obliquely bent outward.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 23, 2011
    Date of Patent: July 30, 2013
    Assignee: Honda Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Yuji Matsuura, Shigeto Yasuhara, Kojiro Okabe, Ryota Abe, Ken Sato
  • Publication number: 20130175813
    Abstract: An energy absorbing assembly for impact energy absorption can comprise: an elongated plastic member having a major axis, a first side and a second side, comprising a central portion disposed between a first end portion and a second end portion, the second side defines a channel extending from the first end portion to the second end portion; and an elongated insert having a front, edges, tips, and a rear, wherein the insert is configured to flex upon impact, and is removably friction fit within the channel such that the plastic member surrounds the front, and greater than or equal to 50% of the edges and tips. The energy absorbing assembly can be configured to attach to a vehicle to absorb energy absorption impact. A vehicle can comprise: a vehicle rail and the energy absorbing assembly attached to the vehicle rail.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 22, 2012
    Publication date: July 11, 2013
    Applicant: SABIC INNOVATIVE PLASTICS IP B.V.
    Inventors: Dinesh Mana, Taehoon Kim
  • Patent number: 8473188
    Abstract: A collision detecting system includes a bumper reinforcement member, a crush box disposed between the bumper reinforcement member and a fixing member of the vehicle, a strain inducing member fixed to the crush box so as to distort in a longitudinal direction of the vehicle as the crush box is compressed between the reinforcement member and the fixing member and a strain measuring element fixed to the strain inducing member 5. The strain inducing member has a strain measuring portion having such a shape that stress of the strain inducing member concentrates into the strain measuring portion. The strain measuring element is fixed to the strain measuring portion to measure a component of the strain of the strain measuring portion in the longitudinal direction of the vehicle. The strain measuring portion has an asymmetrical cross-section in a vertical direction of the vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 11, 2008
    Date of Patent: June 25, 2013
    Assignee: Denso Corporation
    Inventor: Takatoshi Tanabe