One-shot Type Patents (Class 293/133)
  • Patent number: 8123264
    Abstract: A crash box device and an impact absorption system with a crash box device are provided for motor vehicles. The device includes, but is not limited to: a deformable element for absorbing a collision force impacting in the main direction through a corresponding re-shaping and/or damping movement, an impact limitation device fastened on one final range of the deformable element, a support element connected with the other final range of the deformable element, preferably the final range which is opposite the other final range for the reception of the deformable element and for attaching further building components and fasteners to attach the deformable element with the impact limitation device and/or the support element.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 30, 2007
    Date of Patent: February 28, 2012
    Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC
    Inventor: Stefan Zielke
  • Patent number: 8123265
    Abstract: A bumper beam has a hat shaped profile and is turned with the crown (12-14) towards the vehicle and has a lid (17) that gives the bumper beam a closed profile. The bumper beam has two mountings (20, 21) that usually are adapted to be fitted to the side rails of the vehicle. The mountings (20, 21; 40) consist of a plate formed from one piece that has two standing sides (23, 24; 43, 44) and from these out-turned flanges (25, 26) with holes (28) for mounting to the vehicle, where the standing sides have cut-outs (27) adapted for the bottom and sides of the bumper beam and are welded to these.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 9, 2008
    Date of Patent: February 28, 2012
    Assignee: Gestamp Hardtech AB
    Inventor: Johan Nilsson
  • Patent number: 8118286
    Abstract: An impact energy dissipation device for the prevention of high-speed vehicles and more specifically automotive vehicles, aircraft, helicopters, components and the like from receiving high-speed impact energy directly onto their structures in case of a collision. The device is to isolate high-speed impact energy from the crashworthy structures by breaking down the huge impact energy with many small manageable shear fragments. The device includes a slidable assembly with a series of resistive pins with predetermined shear strength, staggered in two tandem rows to shear in a controlled manner that only one pin is sheared at a time thereof bearing an approximate equivalent of one shear pin load transmission throughout a collision.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 10, 2005
    Date of Patent: February 21, 2012
    Inventor: Chin Wah Nyee Chong
  • Patent number: 8118346
    Abstract: The supporting piece is intended to be mounted at the end of a motor vehicle side member, this side member including, in the continuation thereof, a plate for mounting a transverse impact beam. The supporting piece includes a bearing surface for an absorber positioned in front of this bearing surface, the bearing surface being arranged in such a way as to extend under the mounting plate and substantially parallel thereto when the supporting piece is mounted at the end of the side member. The supporting piece is shaped in such a way that it does not deform irreversibly when the vehicle suffers an insurance impact.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 21, 2007
    Date of Patent: February 21, 2012
    Assignee: Compagnie Plastic Omnium
    Inventors: Stéphane Ginja, Sébastien Charnaux, Hugues Cheron
  • Publication number: 20120025547
    Abstract: An impact absorbing device for a vehicle includes an impact-absorbing portion including an inner wall surface extending smoothly in an axial direction and configured to compressively deform in the axial direction for absorbing an impact energy, a first attaching portion closing an opening end of the impact-absorbing portion closer to a bumper reinforcement and configured to be attached to the bumper reinforcement, a second attaching portion extending from an opening end of the impact-absorbing portion closer to the side member and configured to be attached to a side member, a readily deformable portion provided at the impact-absorbing portion and formed by forming a plate thickness to be thinner in a partial range of the impact-absorbing portion in the axial direction, and an initial peak load restraining portion provided at the first attaching portion and set to be away from the bumper reinforcement in the axial direction, which are integrally formed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 15, 2011
    Publication date: February 2, 2012
    Inventors: Shinichi Haneda, Shuji Inoue, Makoto Ito, Kenichi Adachi, Kiyoichi Kita, Jun Shobo
  • Publication number: 20120025548
    Abstract: A side rail for vehicles has a tensile strength in excess of 1400 MPa and has one end (16) projecting from the safety cage of the vehicle and adapted to carry a bumper. The end projecting from the safety cage has lower strength with a yield point of less than 1000 MPa over a length of at least 0.4 m. It has an outer portion with a length of at least 0.2 m and a tensile strength below 800 MPa and an inner portion with a higher tensile strength than the outer portion.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 20, 2010
    Publication date: February 2, 2012
    Inventor: Hans Bodin
  • Patent number: 8104804
    Abstract: A safety automobile bumper assembly includes energy absorbers interposed between a fascia and bumper beam comprised of a strip of deformable material formed with a loop with opposite curved ends deformed by relative movement of the fascia and bumper beam in an impact. Additional curved strip positions are provided by one or more additional loops or by one or more inner webs to increase energy absorbing capacity.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 25, 2010
    Date of Patent: January 31, 2012
    Inventor: Ayyakannu Mani
  • Patent number: 8100237
    Abstract: An energy-absorbing device in the form of a safety device against shock loads for a track-borne vehicle includes an energy-absorbing member and a mating member. The mating member co-operates with the energy-absorbing member in such a way that, if a critical shock force applied to the energy-absorbing device is exceeded, the mating member and the energy-absorbing member move relative to one another, towards one another, while at the same time absorbing at least some of the shock energy which is applied to the energy-absorbing device. To enable the overall energy which can be dissipated by the energy-absorbing device to be increased in a way which is easy to implement, provision is made for the energy-absorbing member to have at least one energy-absorbing region made of fibrous composite material which, in the course of the movement of the mating member relative to the energy-absorbing member, is at least partly reduced to fibers non-ductilely.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 9, 2010
    Date of Patent: January 24, 2012
    Assignee: Voith Patent GmbH
    Inventors: Uwe Beika, Sascha Ende
  • Publication number: 20110316307
    Abstract: A crash box (10) for a motor vehicle, is made of a polymeric material and has a first open frontal extremity (12) and a second rear extremity (14). The crash box (10) includes a structure (20) substantially alveolar defined by a plurality of channels (30) realized in just one piece, each of which extends internally to the crash box starting form the first open frontal extremity (12) towards the second rear extremity (14). The crash box includes stiffening elements (50) of the second rear extremity, which are able to stiffen the plurality of channels (30) only in proximity of the second rear extremity 14. Preferably the stiffening elements (50) are directly integrated with the second rear extremity (14), in particular internally to the same, and are preferably made of a polymeric material having a good impact strength.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 8, 2010
    Publication date: December 29, 2011
    Applicant: TRES SRL
    Inventor: Francesca Di Modugno
  • Patent number: 8079638
    Abstract: Provided is a front structure of a vehicle 1, and the front structure includes a pair of side members 30, a first cross member 10, a bumper 60, upper protruding-plate portions 41, lower protruding-plate portions 42, and a bracket 70. Each of the side members 30 includes an upper plate 31, a lower plate 32, and a vertical plate 33, the upper plate 31 and the lower plate 32 arranged to vertically face each other, the vertical plate 33 connecting the upper and lower plates 31 and 32. The first cross member 10 connects front-end portions 35 respectively of the side members 30. Each of the upper protruding-plate portions 41 extends frontwards integrally from the corresponding upper plate 31. Each of the lower protruding-plate portions 42 extends frontwards integrally from the corresponding lower plate 32 so as to face the corresponding upper protruding-plate portion 41.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 27, 2007
    Date of Patent: December 20, 2011
    Assignee: Isuzu Motors Limited
    Inventors: Noriyuki Miura, Tatsuji Ooeda
  • Patent number: 8070197
    Abstract: The present invention relates to an energy absorption device (1) for a bumper arrangement of a vehicle, with a hollow longitudinal section (2) intended for deformation, a rolled-back region (3) adjoining the hollow longitudinal section, and an extension section (4) connected to the rolled-back region. In order to improve an energy absorption device of this type to the extent that obliquely acting accident forces can be absorbed with a high degree of efficiency in as simple a manner as possible, it is proposed, in an initial state prior to energy absorption, to orient the hollow longitudinal section (2) obliquely with respect to the axial direction of the extension section (4).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 27, 2007
    Date of Patent: December 6, 2011
    Assignee: Cosma Engineering Europe AG
    Inventors: Toros Akgün, Michael Blümel
  • Publication number: 20110291431
    Abstract: A crash box for installation between a bumper crossbeam and a side rail of a motor vehicle is made from a longitudinal beam made of a steel alloy having the following composition in weight-%, 0.15 to 0.30% of carbon (C), 0.10 to 0.70% of silicon (Si), 1.00 to 2.50% of manganese (Mn), 0.10 to 0.50% of chromium (Cr), 0.02 to 0.05% of titanium (Ti), 0.001 to 0.005% of boron (B), 0.01 to 0.06% of aluminum (Al), up to 0.50% of molybdenum (Mo), max. 0.025% of phosphorus (P), max. 0.015% of sulfur (S), remainder iron (Fe) including impurities resulting from smelting. The longitudinal beam is hot-formed and press-hardened and then heat-treated at a temperature of 200° C. to 800° C., with a material of the longitudinal beam having a bend angle of greater than or equal to 60° after heat treatment and measured in accordance with DIN EN ISO 7438.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 2, 2010
    Publication date: December 1, 2011
    Applicant: Benteler Automobiltechnik GmbH
    Inventors: Otto Buschsieweke, Markus Kettler, Martin Schroeter
  • Patent number: 8056685
    Abstract: A mechanical device including an elongated structural element provided for absorbing, at least in part, certain shocks by deformation. The structural element or piece has a selected right sectional profile, the profile being provided with localized alterations, shapes, and with selected respective positions for approximately satisfying a given law of deformation under the combined effort of compression in an axis of the piece and of the moment of the axis perpendicular to a plane passing through the axis. The law includes an energy absorption phase followed by a retraction of the piece.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 28, 2010
    Date of Patent: November 15, 2011
    Assignee: Vallourec Composants Automobiles Vitry
    Inventors: Cyril Canot, Arnaud Cocu, Jean-Louis Colmont
  • Patent number: 8052184
    Abstract: A base-plate-less crashbox is provided for absorbing impact energy, which is suitable for insertion into a corresponding support frame, in particular, a motor vehicle support frame, and has a deformable profile. The base-plate-less crashbox includes, but is not limited to at least one first chamber and a second chamber formed adjacent thereto which are each surrounded by a wall of the profile. One of the chambers is formed such as to be shorter in the direction of insertion so that the other chamber has a protruding portion which is adapted to be inserted into the corresponding support frame in order to realize a coupling between the crashbox and the support frame. The protruding portion has at least one first connecting means for connecting the protruding portion to the support frame.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 30, 2007
    Date of Patent: November 8, 2011
    Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC
    Inventors: Bardo Braunbeck, Theobald Hock
  • Publication number: 20110233947
    Abstract: An energy absorbing assembly for a vehicle that has a bumper and a frame. A receptacle is defined within the frame. A collapsible member is provided between the bumper and a recessed location spaced away from the bumper in the receptacle. The collapsible member may collapse at least partially into the receptacle in the event of a collision.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 26, 2010
    Publication date: September 29, 2011
    Applicant: FORD GLOBAL TECHNOLOGIES, LLC
    Inventors: Mohamed Ridha Baccouche, Saied Nusier, Saeed David Barbat, Hikmat F. Mahmood
  • Patent number: 8020906
    Abstract: A crash apparatus, in particular a crash box in a motor vehicle, has a deformation body for absorbing energy in the event of a crash, which body is assembled from two half shells having beads running transversely to the main deformation direction. The two half shells each have outwardly projecting flanges with beads also running transversely to the main deformation direction. The two half shells exclusively press against one another via the contact surfaces lying between the beads of the flanges and are connected to one another in these areas.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 25, 2008
    Date of Patent: September 20, 2011
    Assignee: Dr. Ing h.c.F. Porsche Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Ralf Schmid, Martin Sedlar
  • Patent number: 8020907
    Abstract: A bumper for a motor vehicle includes a cross member which is disposed transversely to a side rail of a motor vehicle frame. A crash box is incorporated between the cross member and the side rail, with set bolts being provided to join the crash box to the cross member in the absence of prepunching.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 20, 2010
    Date of Patent: September 20, 2011
    Assignee: Benteler Automobiltechnik
    Inventors: Michael Wibbeke, Christian Handing, Jochen Dörr, Ulrich Lütke-Bexten, Michael Roll
  • Publication number: 20110204663
    Abstract: An energy absorbing extruded bumper for a vehicle is disclosed. The extruded bumper is formed from a lightweight metal, preferably aluminum base alloy material. The extruded bumper includes an outer wall, an inner wall, a top wall connecting the outer and inner walls, and a bottom wall connecting the outer and inner walls. Extending between the outer and inner walls are two or more s-curved trigger stiffeners. The trigger stiffeners include an upper s-curved trigger stiffener connecting the outer and inner walls and a lower s-curved trigger stiffener connecting the outer and inner walls. The lower s-curved trigger stiffener is spaced apart from the upper s-curved trigger stiffener.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 25, 2010
    Publication date: August 25, 2011
    Applicant: FORD GLOBAL TECHNOLOGIES, LLC
    Inventors: Mohamed Ridha Baccouche, Saied Nusier
  • Patent number: 8002338
    Abstract: Horizontally elongated member interconnects respective front end portions of a lower frame and a front side frame spaced apart from each other in a width direction of the vehicle body. Impact absorbing section is mounted on a substantially entire front surface of the horizontally elongated member, and a bumper beam is fixedly mounted to the front surface of the impact absorbing section. The impact absorbing section is a cylindrical member having a cross-sectional shape elongated in the width direction and having its outer side wall portion disposed generally on an imaginary extension line of an inner vertical wall portion of the lower frame.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 25, 2009
    Date of Patent: August 23, 2011
    Assignee: Honda Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Shigeto Yasuhara, Yuji Matsuura
  • Publication number: 20110198873
    Abstract: An energy absorber for a bumper assembly of a vehicle and a method for the manufacture thereof are described. The absorber includes a tubular body (1) aligned with the longitudinal direction of the vehicle, with a first end (1a) for being joined to the body of the vehicle and a second end (1b) for being joined to a transversely arranged bumper cross-member. The tubular body (1) is made of a single piece of bent sheet metal with two end edges (11, 12) defining the first and second ends (1a, 1b) and two adjacent side edges (13, 14) joined together defining a longitudinal seam (2) extending between the first and second ends (1a, 1b). The method includes providing sheet metal provided with opposite side edges (13, 14) and bending it until the side edges (13, 14) are adjacent to form a tubular body (1) with first and second ends (1a, 1b) defined by the end edges (11, 12) and joining the adjacent side edges (13, 14) together defining a longitudinal seam (2).
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 30, 2010
    Publication date: August 18, 2011
    Applicant: AUTOTECH ENGINEERING A.I.E.
    Inventors: Francesc PERARNAU RAMOS, Toni CABRERA ORTEGA, Isabel CARCIA BONILLA
  • Publication number: 20110193357
    Abstract: A bumper arrangement is provided for a motor vehicle with a bumper member structure extending essentially in the transverse direction of the vehicle, which is operatively connected by means of at least one energy absorber in a load path-conveying manner with an end section of a frame side rail of the vehicle body lying in the front in the traveling direction of the vehicle, and with a carrier of the vehicle chassis lying underneath it.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 4, 2011
    Publication date: August 11, 2011
    Applicant: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS LLC
    Inventor: Stanislaw KLIMEK
  • Publication number: 20110193358
    Abstract: A crashbox is provided for connecting a bumper carrier and a longitudinal beam in a frame structure of a motor vehicle. The crashbox has a section that is compressible in a longitudinal direction and a first fixing element for attachment to the longitudinal beam and a second fixing element for attachment to the bumper carrier at opposite ends of the section. The first fixing element is in the form of a spigot member that is insertible into a cavity in the longitudinal beam and a support strut extends between two rigid side flanks of the spigot member through an internal cavity of the spigot member.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 15, 2011
    Publication date: August 11, 2011
    Applicant: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS LLC
    Inventors: Bardo BRAUNBECK, Theobald HOCK
  • Publication number: 20110193370
    Abstract: A motor vehicle front structure is provided with at least one front frame having two side members and an impact cross member structure. Two crash boxes are fixed between the respective front end of the side members and the impact cross member structure. Each of the crash boxes includes, but is not limited to a first and a second leg that are jointly fixed to the front end of each side member and in the shape of a V merge with ends spread from each other in the direction of the impact cross member structure. The spread ends are fixed on end regions of the impact cross member structure. A connecting structure with honeycomb construction is arranged between the legs.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 4, 2011
    Publication date: August 11, 2011
    Applicant: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS LLC
    Inventor: Stanislaw KLIMEK
  • Publication number: 20110193356
    Abstract: A motor vehicle forward structure is provided with at least two vehicle chassis beams, at least two crash boxes, which are arranged at the front ends of the vehicle chassis beams, and at least one transverse beam structure, which is secured to the crash boxes. The trans-verse beam structure exhibits two transverse bumper carriers with a first transverse bumper carrier above the crash boxes, and a second transverse bumper carrier below the crash boxes. The crash boxes are fixed in a left and right end area of the transverse beam structure, between the transverse bumper carriers and at the ends of the vehicle chassis beams.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 2, 2011
    Publication date: August 11, 2011
    Applicant: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS LLC
    Inventor: Stanislaw KLIMEK
  • Publication number: 20110193371
    Abstract: A motor vehicle front structure is provided with at least one front frame having two side members and an impact cross member structure. Two crash boxes are fixed between the respective front end of the side members and the impact cross member structure. Each of the crash boxes includes, but is not limited to a first and a second leg that are jointly fixed to the front end of each side member and in the shape of a V in the direction of the impact cross member structure turn into ends spread from each other The spread ends are fixed on end regions of the impact cross member structure.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 4, 2011
    Publication date: August 11, 2011
    Applicant: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS LLC
    Inventor: Stanislaw KLIMEK
  • Patent number: 7992905
    Abstract: A forward structure of a motor vehicle, particularly of a passenger car, includes a bumper cross member and an energy absorption element, particularly a foam-type impact absorbing element, disposed in front of the bumper cross member in the driving direction. A plurality of recesses are shaped into the forward-side outer contour of the energy absorption element. To ensure optimal energy reduction while the mounting space is reduced, and thereby a best-possible protective function with respect to a leg impact, at least several of the recesses completely penetrate the energy absorption element along its entire depth, whereby a plurality of breakthroughs are arranged in the energy absorption element.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 9, 2008
    Date of Patent: August 9, 2011
    Assignee: Dr. Ing. h.c.F. Porsche Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Joerg Kusche, Michael Soellner, Dimitar Danev, Ferdinand Schwinger
  • Publication number: 20110187135
    Abstract: Of side wall portions (60a, 60b) of a tubular body portion (52) mainly constituting an impact absorbing member (50), a wider side wall portion (60a) on the vehicle inner side is provided with a projecting rib (70) projects outward in the direction perpendicular to the axis of the body portion. The projecting rib (70) extends from an axial end (52a) adjacent to a mounting plate (54) and parallel to the axial direction of the body portion. Therefore, even when an impact load is applied to the impact absorbing member (50) in an oblique direction with respect to the vehicle to generate a moment load, the existence of the projecting rib (70) prevents the impact absorbing member from falling down laterally. Accordingly, excellent impact-absorbing properties are stably obtained. The projecting rib (70) is formed not to reach the load input side, i.e., the axial end (52b) adjacent to a mounting plate (56), where collapse starts.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 19, 2011
    Publication date: August 4, 2011
    Inventors: Mitsutoshi Kano, Makoto Nakanishi, Kenji Tamura
  • Patent number: 7988225
    Abstract: A support member for attaching a vehicle fascia such as a front bumper fascia, to a vehicle frame or other support component is described. The support member includes a bracket at one end of the member and various fasteners for attachment to the vehicle fascia.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 9, 2008
    Date of Patent: August 2, 2011
    Assignee: Honda Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Nicholas Goldsberry
  • Publication number: 20110175380
    Abstract: An underrun prevention member for a vehicle bumper beam including a substantially vertical outer side wall faced an area outside the vehicle and a horizontal wall provided so as to be extended substantially horizontally from an end of the outer side wall in a top-bottom direction toward an inside of the vehicle, disposed at a front portion or a rear portion of the vehicle so as to be extended substantially horizontally in a vehicle widthwise direction, and integrally fixed to the bumper beam so as to protrude in the top-bottom direction beyond the horizontal wall to prevent an underrun of the bumper beam under an object outside the vehicle or the object outside the vehicle under the bumper beam, the underrun prevention member includes: a vertical plate portion integrally fixed to the outer side wall so as to be in surface contact with the outer side wall, protruding in the top-bottom direction beyond the horizontal wall by a predetermined protrusion length, and having a predetermined width in the vehicle widt
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 18, 2011
    Publication date: July 21, 2011
    Applicant: TOYODA IRON WORKS CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Keisuke KAMIYA
  • Publication number: 20110169283
    Abstract: The invention relates to an impact absorbing device (10) comprising as a minimum a bumper beam (12) and mounting plates (14-1; 14-2) for mounting the bumper beam (12) to the chassis of a motor vehicle. The bumper beam (12) comprises a central part (16) and connecting ends (18-1; 18-2). The central part (16) is offset with respect to the connecting ends (18-1; 18-2), and the connecting ends (18-1; 18-2) of the bumper beam (12) are fastened to the mounting plates (14-1; 14-2) by added connecting means. The device (10) also comprises a central impact absorber (22) and repairable impact absorbers (24-1; 24-2) and said repairable impact absorbers (24-1; 24-2) are separate from the connecting ends (18-1; 18-2) of the bumper beam (12). The invention also relates to a front end equipped with such an impact absorbing device with particular application to motor vehicles.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 19, 2009
    Publication date: July 14, 2011
    Inventors: Laurent Salin, Sebastien Guinehut, Jacques Sigonneau
  • Patent number: 7976082
    Abstract: A bumper-stay structure for a vehicle, provided between a bumper back beam and a side member, for absorbing collision impact, may include a buffer member fixed to a front end of the side member and having a first impact absorbing member slidably absorbing the collision impact while the collision impact is applied to the bumper back beam, a support member, a front end of which is coupled to the bumper back beam and a rear end of which is telescopically mounted to a front end of the buffer member, wherein the rear end of the support member is pressingly coupled by the first impact absorbing member to the buffer member so that the first impact absorbing member maintains pressing contact with the support member while the collision impact is applied to the bumper back beam.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 9, 2009
    Date of Patent: July 12, 2011
    Assignee: Hyundai Motor Company
    Inventor: Dae Hyun Song
  • Patent number: 7959197
    Abstract: A bumper system includes primary and secondary structural cross beams, at least one having an S-shaped cross section with forwardly-facing (or outwardly-facing) top concavity. The beams include different arrangements of stiffening ribs in concavities formed by the S-shaped cross section for impact and bending strength. In one form, the beams are made of polymeric material. The beams may include integrally formed crush cans for attachment to the vehicle frame, or alternatively can be attached to vehicle frame rail tips by separate metal crush cans and brackets.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 28, 2009
    Date of Patent: June 14, 2011
    Assignee: Shape Corp.
    Inventors: Shailesh K. Agrahari, Devesh Soni, Gowher Qadri, Dhiraj Uikey
  • Patent number: 7954864
    Abstract: An automobile bumper system including an isolator disposed adjacent a cross beam of an automobile frame, and a bumper edge guard strip mounted adjacent upper and/or lower edges of the cross beam. The bumper edge guard strip may include an upper extension fixedly engaged with an upper surface of the cross beam and a lower extension fixedly engaged with a frontal surface of the cross beam, with the upper extension having a length greater than the lower extension for distributing impact energy in a predetermined manner.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 22, 2008
    Date of Patent: June 7, 2011
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Gregory S. Frederick, Conrad M. Kudelko
  • Publication number: 20110121587
    Abstract: A bumper system includes a crossbeam having ends constructed to form attachment zones, and two crash boxes which are secured to side rails of a motor vehicle and coupled to the attachment zones, respectively. The crossbeam has a front wall, a rear wall, and an inner wall which extends between the front and rear walls along a major length of the crossbeam. The inner wall is hereby recessed to leave a gap in the area of the attachment zones.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 17, 2010
    Publication date: May 26, 2011
    Applicant: Benteler Automobiltechnik GmbH
    Inventors: Christian Handing, Konstantin Tatarinov, Michael Roll, Jochem Grewe
  • Patent number: 7938476
    Abstract: A crashbox is provided for connecting a bumper carrier and a longitudinal beam in a frame structure of a motor vehicle. The crashbox has a section that is compressible in a longitudinal direction and a first fixing element for attachment to the longitudinal beam and a second fixing element for attachment to the bumper carrier at opposite ends of the section. The first fixing element is in the form of a spigot member that is insertible into a cavity in the longitudinal beam and a support strut extends between two rigid side flanks of the spigot member through an internal cavity of the spigot member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 28, 2010
    Date of Patent: May 10, 2011
    Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC
    Inventors: Bardo Braunbeck, Theobald Hock
  • Patent number: 7931319
    Abstract: A bumper of a motor vehicle includes a cross member which is disposed transversely to a side rail of a motor vehicle frame and movable from a standby position in a direction of the motor vehicle. Placed between the cross member and the side rail is a crash box. A coupler maintains a distance between the cross member and the crash box, when the cross member assumes the standby position, and a strut extends at an inclination between the cross member and the crash box to connect the cross member to the crash box. The strut is supported upon the cross member by a linear guide and supported upon the crash box by a swivel joint.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 26, 2010
    Date of Patent: April 26, 2011
    Assignee: Benteler Automobiltechnik GmbH
    Inventors: Christoph Schmidt, Frank Seifert, Torsten Gröning
  • Patent number: 7931317
    Abstract: A reusable trailer mounted attenuator with a collapsible scissor frame assembly supported by front, intermediate and rear vertical frames. A self-adjusting shock absorber with staged metering is attached to the scissor frame assembly and controls its collapse under impact in a manner that deceleration of an impacting vehicle does not exceed permitted rates irrespective of the weight and speed of the impacting vehicle within the design range. Guides are provided to permit the scissor frame assembly to collapse without twisting and a replaceable strike plate with vertical fins concealed with a cover plate is attached to the rear vertical frame.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 11, 2008
    Date of Patent: April 26, 2011
    Inventor: Charles L. Kern
  • Patent number: 7931318
    Abstract: The present invention provides a bumper attachment portion structure that can ensure the deformation stroke of a side member when a vehicle impacts such that the vehicle is offset to one side in a vehicle width direction of a bumper. When a load that is equal to or greater than a predetermined value is inputted to a bumper attachment portion during an offset impact, an attachment releasing structure portion in a bumper bracket releases the state of attachment at a vehicle width direction inside part of that bumper attachment portion to thereby cause a point of origin of bending in the bumper attachment portion to be positioned in a vehicle width direction outside part.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 10, 2008
    Date of Patent: April 26, 2011
    Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Katsuya Matsumura
  • Patent number: 7926868
    Abstract: An energy absorbing element for a motor vehicle body comprises a tube section that is roll-formed from a steel strip. The cross-section of the tube section has at least one concavity.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 22, 2006
    Date of Patent: April 19, 2011
    Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC
    Inventors: Bardo Braunbeck, Theobald Hock
  • Patent number: 7918493
    Abstract: A main body of an impact energy absorber is formed by integrally molding a deformable portion and a plurality of deformation controlling portions which are adapted to control the direction of plastic deformation of the deformable portion. The deformation controlling portions have such a configuration and shape that, when a compression load equal to or greater than a predetermined value is input to the main body in a tube axis direction, the deformable portion undergoes plastic deformation in at least one of a radially outward direction and a radially inward direction of the main body concurrently with the compressive plastic deformation in the tube axis direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 6, 2009
    Date of Patent: April 5, 2011
    Assignee: Mazda Motor Corporation
    Inventors: Katsuya Nishiguchi, Toshitsugu Ueoka, Kenichi Yamamoto, Kenji Murase
  • Patent number: 7909373
    Abstract: An apparatus is disclosed for extending a bumper on a motor vehicle having driven wheels. The apparatus includes a drive to derive power from the rotating wheels, an actuator for extending the bumper, and a controller for connecting the actuator to the drive. When bumper extension is desired, drive power is transferred from the motor vehicle's rotating wheels to the actuator to effect deployment of the bumper.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 3, 2008
    Date of Patent: March 22, 2011
    Inventor: Paul Donovan
  • Publication number: 20110049916
    Abstract: It is provided an impact absorbing member for a vehicle, which includes a hollow cylindrical body that has plurality of side walls in a form of flat plates and has a polygonal section, wherein the impact absorbing member is disposed between a vehicle body-side member and a bumper member, in a manner such that axial direction of the cylindrical body coincides with a front-rear direction of a vehicle, and the impact absorbing member absorbs impact energy by being crushed in an accordion shape when the impact absorbing member receives a compression load in the axial direction, the cylindrical body including, paired side end edge portions being overlapped with each other by a predetermined width in a first side wall in a form of a flat plate, and integrally joined to each other along the axial direction.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 30, 2010
    Publication date: March 3, 2011
    Applicant: TOYODA IRON WORKS CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Makoto NAKANISHI
  • Patent number: 7896411
    Abstract: Of side wall portions (60a, 60b) of a tubular body portion (52) mainly constituting an impact absorbing member (50), a wider side wall portion (60a) on the vehicle inner side is provided with a projecting rib (70) projects outward in the direction perpendicular to the axis of the body portion. The projecting rib (70) extends from an axial end (52a) adjacent to a mounting plate (54) and parallel to the axial direction of the body portion. Therefore, even when an impact load is applied to the impact absorbing member (50) in an oblique direction with respect to the vehicle to generate a moment load, the existence of the projecting rib (70) prevents the impact absorbing member from falling down laterally. Accordingly, excellent impact-absorbing properties are stably obtained. The projecting rib (70) is formed not to reach the load input side, i.e., the axial end (52b) adjacent to a mounting plate (56), where collapse starts.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 20, 2008
    Date of Patent: March 1, 2011
    Assignee: Toyoda Iron Works Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Mitsutoshi Kano, Makoto Nakanishi, Kenji Tamura
  • Patent number: 7896412
    Abstract: A crash box for placement between a bumper beam and a side rail of a motor vehicle includes a longitudinal profile made of two U-shaped shells having overlapping ends sized to realize a material doubling for increasing side stiffness and to suit the side stiffness to a load level. A flange plate is provided on a side-rail-proximal end of the longitudinal profile and has an opening for passage of the longitudinal profile. The side-rail-proximal end of the longitudinal profile is configured with a collar which is turned outwards. The collar rests against the flange plate and is joined with the flange plate. In the event of a collision, the longitudinal profile of the crash box is moved into the side rail as the longitudinal profile folds into the side rail starting from the flange plate, while the side-rail-proximal end of the longitudinal profile remains secured to the flange plate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 6, 2010
    Date of Patent: March 1, 2011
    Assignee: Benteler Automobiltechnik GmbH
    Inventors: Hui Wang, Mirko Paare, Christian Handing
  • Patent number: 7874601
    Abstract: A crash box (11,12) is positioned high relative to the bumper beam (13) on, for example, an SUV. The underside (22) of the crash box has a profiled cross-section with upper (25,26) and lower (24) longitudinal portions. At least one upward profile portion (25,26) changes to being a downward-pointing profile portion (27,28) near to the outer end of the crash box, thereby increasing the vertical extent of the crash box. The underside of the crash box may have a hat profile which at its outer end changes to an inverted hat profile.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 16, 2007
    Date of Patent: January 25, 2011
    Assignee: Gestamp Hardtech AB
    Inventor: Michael Tanskanen
  • Publication number: 20110012381
    Abstract: A lightweight bumper structure is achieved without a reduction in the amount of absorption of collision energy. A bumper structure (B1) is provided with a left and right pair of bumper stays (1, 1) fixed to side members (S), and also with a bumper reinforcing member (2) supported by both the bumper stays (1, 1). Each bumper stay (1) is formed in a shape the width of which gradually increases from the side member (S) toward the bumper reinforcing member (2). The bumper reinforcing member (2) is curved between both the bumper stays (1, 1). The rigidity of the bumper stays (1) and the bumper reinforcing member (2) is set so that the bumper stays (1) are crushed in the front-rear direction after the curved portion of the bumper reinforcing member (2) is rectilinearly extended.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 3, 2009
    Publication date: January 20, 2011
    Applicants: NIKKEIKIN ALUMINUM CORE TECHNOLOGY COMPANY LTD., NIPPON LIGHT METAL COMPANY, LTD.
    Inventors: Shigenori Saito, Yasutoshi Shimano, Ji Li, Kazuhiro Noguchi, Katsu Nakajima
  • Patent number: 7866716
    Abstract: An energy absorber for a vehicle bumper system includes a plurality of crush boxes that are configured to absorb impact energy. Each of the plurality of crush boxes are generally hollow and have a front wall and a plurality of side walls integrally formed with and extending from the front wall to a rear of the energy absorber. A first crush box is separated from a second crush box by a distance such that an open space is defined between a side wall of the first crush box and a side wall of the second crush box. At least one rib extends between the side wall of the first crush box and the side wall of the second crush box in the open space to couple the first crush box to the second crush box. The at least one rib is integrally formed with the first crush box and the second crush box, and extends at least partially between the rear of the energy absorber and the front walls of the first and second crush boxes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 7, 2009
    Date of Patent: January 11, 2011
    Assignee: Flex-N-Gate Corporation
    Inventors: Steven R. Perucca, Jeffery S. Cherniausky
  • Publication number: 20100320782
    Abstract: The present invention relates to an energy absorption device (1) for a bumper arrangement of a vehicle, with a hollow longitudinal section (2) intended for deformation, a rolled-back region (3) adjoining the hollow longitudinal section, and an extension section (4) connected to the rolled-back region. In order to improve an energy absorption device of this type to the extent that obliquely acting accident forces can be absorbed with a high degree of efficiency in as simple a manner as possible, it is proposed, in an initial state prior to energy absorption, to orient the hollow longitudinal section (2) obliquely with respect to the axial direction of the extension section (4).
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 27, 2007
    Publication date: December 23, 2010
    Inventors: Toros Akgün, Michael Blümel
  • Patent number: 7823939
    Abstract: A crash box for installation between a bumper beam and a side rail of a motor vehicle includes an outer tube, and an inner tube which is held inside the outer tube, with the outer and inner tubes being movable in relation to one another. At least one of the inner and outer tubes is provided with a coat of varnish at least in a contact area between the outer pipe and the inner pipe.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 25, 2009
    Date of Patent: November 2, 2010
    Assignee: Benteler Automobiltechnik GmbH
    Inventors: Christian Handing, Jochen Dörr
  • Patent number: 7810858
    Abstract: An automobile bumper system including an isolator disposed adjacent a cross beam of an automobile frame, and a bumper edge guard strip mounted adjacent upper and/or lower edges of the cross beam. The bumper edge guard strip may include an upper extension fixedly engaged with an upper surface of the cross beam and a lower extension fixedly engaged with a frontal surface of the cross beam, with the upper extension having a length greater than the lower extension for distributing impact energy in a predetermined manner.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 22, 2008
    Date of Patent: October 12, 2010
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Gregory S. Frederick, Conrad M. Kudelko