Joints And Connections Patents (Class 293/155)
  • Patent number: 7083207
    Abstract: A bumper attachment clip for attaching and fixing a bumper to a vehicle body includes first and second sections, and an elastic part situated between the first and second sections to be elastically deformable between the first and second sections. At least two attachment parts are formed on the first and second sections for attaching the bumper to the vehicle body.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 23, 2005
    Date of Patent: August 1, 2006
    Assignee: Nifco Inc.
    Inventor: Kazunari Matsuzawa
  • Patent number: 7077442
    Abstract: A bumper assembly has a cross beam formed with an outer vertical web and two horizontal sides extending inward from upper and lower edges of the web, and two vehicle frame members having support ends spaced inward from and vertically offset from a center of the cross-beam web. Respective crash boxes each formed as a horizontally extending tube have an outer end engaging the bumper cross beam and an inner end fixed to the frame members. The outer ends of the crash boxes are vertically offset from the respective inner ends. The inner ends of the crash boxes bear outward generally only on the web and on one of the sides of the cross beam. The other of the sides of the cross beam is generally out of engagement with the crash boxes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 17, 2005
    Date of Patent: July 18, 2006
    Assignee: Benteler Automobiltechnik GmbH
    Inventor: Wilhelm Arns
  • Patent number: 7073831
    Abstract: A tubular bumper beam includes mounts for mounting to a vehicle frame and a crush cone in front of each mount. Each crush cone includes a flange engaging a front wall of the beam and includes a tube section extending through the front wall into engagement with a rear wall of the beam. A thermoformed energy absorber includes ridges engaging horizontal channels in the face and recesses receiving the flanges of the crush cones. The energy absorber is thermoformed to include crush boxes. At least two crush boxes include adjacent side walls having root sections bonded together near their base walls for increased strength. This is accomplished by scriving and cutting back a leading edge of one of the blade-shaped protrusions, such that the scrived leading edge leaves the root regions exposed so that the root regions bond together while the plastic material is hot.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 23, 2004
    Date of Patent: July 11, 2006
    Assignee: NetShape International LLC
    Inventor: Darin Evans
  • Patent number: 7066509
    Abstract: An energy absorption impact system for vehicle bumpers and the like includes a mounting plate with a central opening therethrough, and a generally box-shaped sheet metal crush member. The crush member has a top wall, a bottom wall and opposite sidewalls arranged in a generally frustro-pyramidal shape, defining a large end connected with a vehicle bumper, and a small end connected with the mounting plate about the central opening. Impact on the vehicle bumper inelastically deforms the walls of the crush member toward the central opening in the mounting plate to absorb energy associated with the impact.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 17, 2004
    Date of Patent: June 27, 2006
    Assignee: Benteler Automotive Corporation
    Inventors: Joseph C. Kollaritsch, Jason Blust, Atalolo Dagba
  • Patent number: 7063364
    Abstract: A moveable bumper arrangement. The moveable bumper arrangement includes an elongated bumper member, an end bumper member, and a mechanism coupled to the end bumper member. The mechanism allows substantially translational movement of the end bumper member with respect to the elongated bumper member from a first position where the end bumper member is positioned at an end of the elongated bumper member to a second position where the end bumper member is spaced apart from the elongated bumper member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 6, 2004
    Date of Patent: June 20, 2006
    Assignee: Volvo Trucks North America, Inc.
    Inventors: James Bird, Karl Duckett
  • Patent number: 7011350
    Abstract: An energy absorbing assembly for a vehicle including an elongated crash box having ends with circular cross sections. One end of the crash box is received in a bumper beam and is friction welded to an inside surface of the beam. The other end of the crash box is friction welded to a bracket assembly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 2, 2004
    Date of Patent: March 14, 2006
    Assignee: Alcoa, Inc.
    Inventors: Israel Stol, John W. Cobes
  • Patent number: 6988753
    Abstract: A vehicle bumper beam attachment structure includes a shock-absorbing extension member through which a bumper beam is attached to a vehicle body. The extension member is formed from an aluminum extruded hollow profile and includes a rear wall for abutment with the vehicle body, an inner sidewall extending convexly from an inner end the rear wall toward the bumper beam, a central sidewall extending from a central portion of the rear wall in substantially the same direction as the inner sidewall, a first front wall connecting distal ends of the inner and central sidewalls, a branched sidewall branched off from the central sidewall and extending convexly toward the bumper beam, an outer sidewall extending from an outer end of the rear wall toward the bumper beam, and a second front wall connecting distal ends of the branched and outer sidewalls.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 5, 2005
    Date of Patent: January 24, 2006
    Assignee: Honda Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Kazuo Omura, Keiichi Honda, Toshihiko Suzuki
  • Patent number: 6979030
    Abstract: The present invention provides a golf car bumper assembly which is mounted on a front axle of a golf car in order to reduce extensive damage to the body of the golf car in the event of a collision, comprising a bumper beam having a first end and a second end, a front surface and a back surface, and extending in a longitudinal direction, a pair of bumper guards, each having depending ends, a pair of mounting plates, a pair of bumper brackets, and at least two fasteners. Also provided is a kit comprised of the separate components of the bumper assembly and a method for attaching the bumper assembly components on the front axle of a golf car.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 5, 2003
    Date of Patent: December 27, 2005
    Assignee: Hud-Marsh Golf Products
    Inventor: James Hudson
  • Patent number: 6962380
    Abstract: A rear bumper assembly structure for a vehicle is adapted for the securing of a rear bumper to a rear side part of the vehicle via a mounting bracket integrally formed at the rear bumper. A mounting boss is integrally formed to a rear side outer panel, thereby reducing a vehicle's weight and improving the assembly process and maintenance of the vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 30, 2003
    Date of Patent: November 8, 2005
    Assignee: Hyundai Motor Company
    Inventor: Jeong-Ho Lee
  • Patent number: 6962379
    Abstract: A shock absorbing member attaching structure for attaching a shock absorbing member 12 made from a resin to a bumper beam 11 of a vehicle body, characterized in that protruding portions 22, 23 which protrude in opposite directions are provided on the bumper beam 11, and in that attaching portions 31, 32 are provided on the shock absorbing member 12 which are adapted to ride over the respective protruding portions 22, 23 by virtue of elastic deformation thereof to be locked onto the protruding portions 22, 23 on a longitudinally inward side thereof.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 16, 2003
    Date of Patent: November 8, 2005
    Assignee: Honda Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Hideki Minami, Akihiro Shibuya, Masashi Ohkubo
  • Patent number: 6959950
    Abstract: A vehicle bumper system defined principally by outboard and inboard elongate beams which project transversely across the vehicle. The ends of the front and rear beams are joined by connecting points which function as energy-absorbing fulcrums or hinges, with the remainder of the front and rear beams initially being free of direct structural connection. The front beam is outwardly curved so that the center portions of the front and rear beams define a gap therebetween. The rear beam has connections to the vehicle at two points spaced transversely inwardly from the end connections, which connections define inboard fulcrum or hinge points. The front and rear beams are each formed as elongate monolithic structures, such as of high strength steel, and have configurations which enable them to nest one within the other in the longitudinal direction of the vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 26, 2004
    Date of Patent: November 1, 2005
    Assignee: Pullman Industries, Inc.
    Inventors: Jeffrey L. Bladow, Tad V. Machrowicz, Steven N. Fidh
  • Patent number: 6942262
    Abstract: An energy-absorbing system includes a tube made of a continuous material, such as heat-treatable steel. The tube has first and second ring sections connected by an intermediate section. In one aspect, the intermediate section is flared and/or pinched to cause one tube section to predictably telescopingly roll upon impact. In another aspect, one section is annealed to optimize elongation and yield properties to facilitate rolling upon impact. By this arrangement, upon the bumper system receiving a longitudinal impact, the first and second ring sections telescopingly collapse with a predictable and consistent rolling collapse. Methods related to the above are also described.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 26, 2003
    Date of Patent: September 13, 2005
    Assignee: Shape Corporation
    Inventors: Scott C. Glasgow, David W. Heatherington, Bruce W. Lyons
  • Patent number: 6932398
    Abstract: A bumper having a hollow section and attached to it mounting brackets for attaching the bumper to a vehicle—in particular on longitudinal beams of a private car—is such that section walls that are spaced apart form a compression strut and a tensile strut and a pair of flanking walls joining the said struts make up the hollow section. The bracket itself is a hollow section which exhibits a length of hollow-section beam facing the longitudinal beam and a curved length which is bent out from its longitudinal axis and is for connection to the hollow section of the bumper.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 6, 2003
    Date of Patent: August 23, 2005
    Assignee: Alcan Technology & Management Ltd.
    Inventor: Simon Frank
  • Patent number: 6926327
    Abstract: A side member and bumper beam attaching structure has a side member adapted to retain the strength of a vehicle body in a longitudinal direction thereof, a bracket attached to the side member from a front or rear of the vehicle body, and a bumper beam attached to the bracket from the front or rear of the vehicle body. The side member has a closed cross-sectioned end portion at either a front end or a rear end of the vehicle body. The bracket is fitted into an inside of the closed cross-sectioned end portion for fixation to the side member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 23, 2003
    Date of Patent: August 9, 2005
    Assignee: Mitsubishi Jidosha Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Koji Shibata
  • Patent number: 6923484
    Abstract: A flange connection between a longitudinal beam of a vehicle as a first component and a carrier element, which can be mounted to it, as a second component, whereby a flange plate operatively mounted to either the first or second component and a counter flange plate operatively mounted to the other of the first or second component. To hold the flange plate tight to the counter flange plate, a wedge effect is used. A connection bolt having a wedge slope protrudes from the flange plate, wherein the wedge slope extends in a cross direction. The counter flange plate has a feed-through opening for the connection bolt, and wherein a locking component is placed at its inner side. In the connected position, the locking component surrounds the locking bolt and establishes a wedge surface that interacts with its wedge slope. Furthermore, the locking component exhibits at a side opposite the wedge surface, a clamping screw that can be tightened against the connection bolt.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 22, 2004
    Date of Patent: August 2, 2005
    Assignee: Hella-Behr Fahrzeugsysteme
    Inventors: Dieter Braun, Cornelia Wiehen, Robert Raulf
  • Patent number: 6908130
    Abstract: In order to prevent a rear bumper from penetrating in the event of a crash so far into the vehicle body that a rear flap can no longer be operated, a so-called supporting element is arranged within the bumper in the area of the longitudinal center plane of the vehicle and/or at the ends, which supporting element constructs the bumper in a rigid manner in this area.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 20, 2003
    Date of Patent: June 21, 2005
    Assignee: Dr. Ing. h.c.F. Porsche Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Peter Reutlinger, Eberhard Palmer, Andreas Piede
  • Patent number: 6896303
    Abstract: A vehicle bumper system for absorbing impacts thereby reducing damage to a vehicle and the potential for bodily injury. The vehicle bumper system includes a bumper member, a tongue member extending from the bumper member for being received within a receiver hitch of a vehicle, a pair of slots extending longitudinally within the tongue member for receiving a pin and an inner absorbing member positioned within the tongue member for providing a biasing force to the bumper member with respect to the vehicle. An outer absorbing member is preferably positioned about the external portion of the tongue member for providing an additional biasing force to the bumper member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 28, 2004
    Date of Patent: May 24, 2005
    Inventor: Jeff G. Mohr
  • Patent number: 6893064
    Abstract: A front portion of an under cover fastened to a cross member extends to the front, so that the extension is formed as a mounting bracket for a bumper face. A lower impact absorbing member is integrally formed on the bracket which lower impact absorbing member has a rib provided to erect from the bracket in such a manner as to be opposed to an inner vertical surface of a lower protruding portion of the bumper face and a plurality of beads disposed behind the rib for transmitting an impact from the rib to the cross member, to thereby provide a bumper structure with appropriate impact absorbing function at a lower portion thereof, with a simple structure and without increasing the number of components.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 7, 2002
    Date of Patent: May 17, 2005
    Assignee: Fuji Jukogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Kenichi Satou
  • Patent number: 6886872
    Abstract: An automobile bumper structure is provided which is capable of keeping down an increase in weight, strongly supporting a reinforcement member with a vehicle structure body behind it, preventing a pedestrian or the like from getting caught under a vehicle when the vehicle has hit the pedestrian or the like. In this automobile bumper structure, a bumper face 2 includes an opening portion 4, and a reinforcement member 20 is disposed behind and inside of a bumper lower face 2b which extends downward from this opening portion 4. Side-plane portions 22, an upper-plane portion 24, a front-plane portion 26 and a lower-plane portion 28 are formed in the reinforcement member 20. A vertical rib 32 is provided across the upper-plane portion 24, the front-plane portion 26 and the lower-plane portion 28.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 18, 2003
    Date of Patent: May 3, 2005
    Assignee: Mazda Motor Corporation
    Inventors: Takao Matsumoto, Arihiro Furumoto
  • Patent number: 6871890
    Abstract: The bumper mounting structure includes a front side member 1 and a bumper reinforcing member 2. In assembly, the tip end of the front side member 1 is connected with the bumper reinforcing member 2. The tip end of the member 1 is opened and provided with a slant part 10, forming a weakened part in the member 1. When an impact load causes the bumper reinforcing member 2 to be deformed, the deformation of the front side member 1 is induced at its opened end because of its weakened structure. Consequently, it is possible to carry out the effective absorption of impact energy without elevating a reaction force abruptly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 11, 2003
    Date of Patent: March 29, 2005
    Assignee: Nissan Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Manabu Sato, Toshiyuki Asai, Haruaki Nakatsukasa
  • Patent number: 6866333
    Abstract: A vehicle front body structure which includes: a pair of side members extending in a vehicle longitudinal direction; a bumper reinforcing member connected to front ends of the side members; a cross member connected to bottoms of the side members in the vicinities of the front ends thereof; and a connecting member connected to the bumper reinforcing member and the cross member. Connection strength between the connecting member and the bumper reinforcing member in the vehicle longitudinal direction is lower than a flexural strength of the cross member in the vehicle longitudinal direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 24, 2003
    Date of Patent: March 15, 2005
    Assignee: Nissan Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Tsutomu Saitou
  • Patent number: 6840554
    Abstract: A unibody style automobile has bumper attachment pads for a crash bar and bumper cover assembly of conventional configuration. Removal of these bumper components provides access to these pads for a load carrier or beam that defines two coupling connections for a frame selected from a plurality of frames, each designed for a different load. All the frames have one fixed slide bolt received in one of the two sockets in the beam. A second bolt provides a very secure attachment point for each of these frames.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 30, 2003
    Date of Patent: January 11, 2005
    Inventor: Paul Ferrigan
  • Patent number: 6827377
    Abstract: A unibody style automobile has bumper attachment pads for a crash bar and bumper cover assembly of conventional configuration. Removal of these bumper components provides access to these pads for a load carrier or beam that defines two coupling connections for a frame selected from a plurality of frames, each designed for a different load. All the frames have one fixed slide bolt received in one of the two sockets in the beam. A second bolt provides a very secure attachment point for each of these frames.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 28, 2002
    Date of Patent: December 7, 2004
    Assignee: Mini-Fini, Ltd.
    Inventor: Paul Ferrigan
  • Publication number: 20040232711
    Abstract: A bumper having a hollow section and attached to it mounting brackets for attaching the bumper to a vehicle—in particular on longitudinal beams of a private car—is such that section walls that are spaced apart form a compression strut and a tensile strut and a pair of flanking walls joining the said struts make up the hollow section. The bracket itself is a hollow section which exhibits a length of hollow-section beam facing the longitudinal beam and a curved length which is bent out from its longitudinal axis and is for connection to the hollow section of the bumper.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 6, 2003
    Publication date: November 25, 2004
    Inventor: Simon Frank
  • Publication number: 20040217607
    Abstract: A vehicle bumper system defined principally by outboard and inboard elongate beams which project transversely across the vehicle. The ends of the front and rear beams are joined by connecting points which function as energy-absorbing fulcrums or hinges, with the remainder of the front and rear beams initially being free of direct structural connection. The front beam is outwardly curved so that the center portions of the front and rear beams define a gap therebetween. The rear beam has connections to the vehicle at two points spaced transversely inwardly from the end connections, which connections define inboard fulcrum or hinge points. The front and rear beams are each formed as elongate monolithic structures, such as of high strength steel, and have configurations which enable them to nest one within the other in the longitudinal direction of the vehicle.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 26, 2004
    Publication date: November 4, 2004
    Applicant: Pullman Industries, Inc.
    Inventors: Jeffrey L. Bladow, Tad V. Machrowicz, Steven N. Fidh
  • Publication number: 20040195864
    Abstract: A side member and bumper beam attaching structure has a side member adapted to retain the strength of a vehicle body in a longitudinal direction thereof, a bracket attached to the side member from a front or rear of the vehicle body, and a bumper beam attached to the bracket from the front or rear of the vehicle body. The side member has a closed cross-sectioned end portion at either a front end or a rear end of the vehicle body. The bracket is fitted into an inside of the closed cross-sectioned end portion for fixation to the side member.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 23, 2003
    Publication date: October 7, 2004
    Inventor: Koji Shibata
  • Patent number: 6779821
    Abstract: A bumper arrangement for a vehicle comprises a bumper beam (17) fastened in two crash boxes (11, 12). The bumper beam (17) has a U-profile with a central flange (18) and two webs (19, 20) and has its opening towards the vehicle. The central flange has a recess (21) that is shallow at the mountings to the crash boxes (11, 12) and deepens therebetween so that the bumper beam will be so stiff that it will transfer substantial force to both crash boxes also in an off-set crash. This design makes the width of the part of the bumper beam adjacent the vehicle small.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 20, 2003
    Date of Patent: August 24, 2004
    Assignee: SSAB Hardtech AB
    Inventor: Ola Hallergren
  • Patent number: 6773045
    Abstract: In a bumper and/or a bumper protective strip which are arranged tightly together in a finished position, holding apparatus are provided, with which the bumper protective strip is detachably fastenable to provide a spacing from the bumper with respect to the finished spacing. In a method for the painting of the combination of a bumper and with a bumper protective strip, the bumper and the bumper protective strip are before painting, secured together in a spaced relationship and are painted together. Thus, it is possible to paint bumper with bumper protective strips economically with exactly the same color hue and to transport them joined with one another.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 6, 2002
    Date of Patent: August 10, 2004
    Assignee: Peguform GmbH & Co. KG
    Inventor: Thomas Grossklaus
  • Patent number: 6769727
    Abstract: The invention relates to an assemblage of two pieces of bodywork each having a flange for coming into contact with the flange of the other piece, the flange of a first piece having a slot while the flange of a second piece carries a tenon presenting an engagement shape and extending towards the first piece. The assemblage also a fastener member for taking up a position against the flange of the first piece and which has an engagement shape complementary to that of the tenon so as to engage therewith. The invention also provides a piece of bodywork belonging to such an assemblage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 19, 2002
    Date of Patent: August 3, 2004
    Assignee: Compagnie Plastic Omnium
    Inventors: Dominique Delavalle, Francis Cordebar
  • Patent number: 6764119
    Abstract: A vehicle bumper system defined principally by outboard and inboard elongate beams which project transversely across the vehicle. The ends of the front and rear beams are joined by connecting points which function as energy-absorbing fulcrums or hinges, with the remainder of the front and rear beams initially being free of direct structural connection. The front beam is outwardly curved so that the center portions of the front and rear beams define a gap therebetween. The rear beam has connections to the vehicle at two points spaced transversely inwardly from the end connections, which connections define inboard fulcrum or hinge points. The front and rear beams are each formed as elongate monolithic structures, such as of high strength steel, and have configurations which enable them to nest one within the other in the longitudinal direction of the vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 22, 2003
    Date of Patent: July 20, 2004
    Assignee: Pullman Industries, Inc.
    Inventors: Jeffrey L. Bladow, Tad V. Machrowicz, Steven N. Fidh
  • Publication number: 20040124645
    Abstract: A crash box is described with which a bumper is attached to the longitudinal beam of a motor vehicle. It ultimately involves segments of steel tubes which display an approximately rectangular cross section. The crash box is arranged such that in the case of a frontal impact on the bumper in the direction of the arrow a radial compression of the tubular crash box takes place.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 3, 2003
    Publication date: July 1, 2004
    Inventor: Eric Koch
  • Publication number: 20040094976
    Abstract: A method for making an automobile assembly having a moulded plastics structural member and a reinforcing member in which a polymerizable adhesive is employed to bond the two members together and an automobile assembly having a bonded structural member and a reinforcing member. The assembly is suitably used as a “front end carrier” or a bumper system in an automobile.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 7, 2003
    Publication date: May 20, 2004
    Inventors: Peter J. Cate, Padraig Naughton, Hein J. Koelman
  • Patent number: 6733054
    Abstract: A bumper beam reinforcement structure has plurality of pairs or plate insertion holes formed side by side in a longitudinal direction of a bumper beam. These insertion holes are formed on the upper surface and the lower surface of the bumper stay mounting part. Inverted U-shaped steel plates are inserted into the plurality of plate insertion holes. When an impact occurs, the deformation and the rotation of the bumper stay mounting part of the bumper beam is effectively prevented. In addition, parts such as a headlight, a corresponding panel and the like are preferably hardly damaged. Further, the cost for manufacturing the bumper beam reinforcement structure can be significantly reduced.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 30, 2002
    Date of Patent: May 11, 2004
    Assignee: Hyundai Motor Company
    Inventor: Sang Ha Kim
  • Patent number: 6729681
    Abstract: The present invention relates to an end module assembly for installation on a motor vehicle and a method for assembling the same. The assembly comprises an exterior fascia configured to comprise a portion of a vehicle body when the assembly is installed on the vehicle. An external visible component is configured to be positioned in a predetermined orientation with respect to the fascia with surfaces thereof facing exteriorly of the fascia. The external component is positioned relative to the fascia such that the position controlling portion guides the external component into the predetermined orientation and supports the component thereat, thereby allowing the assembly to be installed on the vehicle without requiring reorientation of the component. The present invention also relates to a loading fixture for installing a front end module assembly onto a motor vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 19, 2000
    Date of Patent: May 4, 2004
    Assignee: Decoma International Inc.
    Inventor: Robert F. Yustick
  • Patent number: 6729793
    Abstract: An assembly of a first and a second pieces of bodywork of plastics material, each piece having an edge for coming into contact with an edge of another piece, wherein the edge of the first piece has a slot while the edge of the second piece has a tongue extending towards the first piece and suitable for penetrating into the slot, so as to cause an end portion of the tongue to project beyond the slot, the tongue being pierced by a through orifice situated in its end portion, one of the two pieces being provided with a cotter attached to the one of the two pieces by a deformable link which enables the cotter to be engaged in the through orifice of the tongue once the tongue has been inserted in the slot, thereby retaining the tongue in the slot.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 4, 2002
    Date of Patent: May 4, 2004
    Assignee: Compagnie Plastic Omnium
    Inventor: Francis Cordebar
  • Patent number: 6712411
    Abstract: A bumper device can reduce a weight of a reinforcement member more than a weight of a conventional reinforcement member while sufficiently absorbing a given impact energy. A size “b” between both side mounting portions where the reinforcement member is mounted on a stay is set greater than a size “a” between both side longitudinal wall portions of a side frame, both outer longitudinal walls of the stay are inclined such that both outer longitudinal walls are opened toward the reinforcement member, and the distance between the inner longitudinal walls is set substantially equal to the distance between the both side longitudinal wall portions of the side frame.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 29, 2002
    Date of Patent: March 30, 2004
    Assignees: Aisin Seiki Kabushiki Kaisha, Aisin Keikinzoku Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Terutsugu Gotanda, Shinichi Haneda, Kazuo Mori, Kazunari Azuchi, Kiyoichi Kita, Kazunobu Nuno
  • Publication number: 20040046404
    Abstract: A bumper beam reinforcement structure has plurality of pairs or plate insertion holes formed side by side in a longitudinal direction of a bumper beam. These insertion holes are formed on the upper surface and the lower surface of the bumper stay mounting part. Inverted U-shaped steel plates are inserted into the plurality of plate insertion holes. When an impact occurs, the deformation and the rotation of the bumper stay mounting part of the bumper beam is effectively prevented. In addition, parts such as a headlight, a corresponding panel and the like are preferably hardly damaged. Further, the cost for manufacturing the bumper beam reinforcement structure can be significantly reduced.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 30, 2002
    Publication date: March 11, 2004
    Inventor: Sang Ha Kim
  • Patent number: 6702347
    Abstract: An integrated mounting system for mounting the bumper, recovery rings and a selectively removable winch to the frame of a motor vehicle. Left and right mounting plates are attached to the front ends of the left and right frame rails, wherein each mounting plate has a plate aperture. Left and right mounting brackets each have a bracket aperture formed in a planar base and a clevis perpendicularly upstanding in relation to the base. The front bumper also has a pair of bumper apertures. With the apertures aligned, the left and right mounting brackets are attached, respectively, to the left and right mounting plates, the bumper being sandwiched therebetween. Recovery rings are attached pivotally by a connector to each clevis. Removing a recovery ring allows a winch stinger to be received into the bracket, bumper and plate apertures at the selected mounting bracket, and be secured thereto via the connector at the clevis.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 26, 2003
    Date of Patent: March 9, 2004
    Assignee: General Motors Corporation
    Inventors: R. Donald Hollinger, David W. Verburgt
  • Patent number: 6698968
    Abstract: A first frame section is hollow and has a substantially uniform polygonal cross-sectional shape. An axial load is applied to the first frame section. A second frame section is hollow and has a substantially uniform polygonal cross-sectional shape. The axial load is transmitted from the first frame section to the second frame section. A transmitting portion is provided in at least one of the first and second frame sections. The transmitting portion receives the axial load that acts on each edge of the first frame section and transmits the axial load to each edge of the second frame section.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 20, 2001
    Date of Patent: March 2, 2004
    Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Kazutomo Kajiwara, Yuzo Konishi, Kiyohito Morimoto, Seiji Sakai, Terutsugu Gotanda, Shinichi Haneda, Kazuo Mori, Kazunari Azuchi, Kazunobu Nuno
  • Patent number: 6698808
    Abstract: A motor vehicle bumper has an internal bumper part mountable on a motor vehicle body. An external bumper part is fastened to the internal bumper part. The internal bumper part includes a base body fastened to the motor vehicle body and a holding bar fastened by a releasable fastener to the base body. An edge of the external bumper part is releasably fastened thereto. The holding bar is unfastened from the base body by the application of force to the external bumper part on the lengthwise direction of a motor vehicle and to the vehicle body.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 15, 2002
    Date of Patent: March 2, 2004
    Assignee: Dynamit Nobel Kunstsoff GmbH
    Inventors: Steffen Burkhardt, Dietmar Preissler, Anton Sautner
  • Patent number: 6698809
    Abstract: An energy absorbing assembly for a vehicle including an elongated crash box having ends with circular cross-sections. One end of the crash box is received in a bumper beam and is friction welded to an inside surface of the beam. The other end of the crash box is friction welded to a bracket assembly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 27, 2002
    Date of Patent: March 2, 2004
    Assignee: Alcoa Inc.
    Inventors: Israel Stol, John W. Cobes
  • Patent number: 6688675
    Abstract: For fixing a rear covering part on a side part with a zero gap, a guide rail is provided in the side part and is locked in place in channel-type supports, into which guide rail the rear covering part is slid. The guide rail is durably held in a precise position with respect to the side part.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 4, 2002
    Date of Patent: February 10, 2004
    Assignee: Dr. Ing. h.c.F. Porsche AG
    Inventors: Patrick Polzer, Wilfried Eberle, Ruediger Jahn
  • Patent number: 6685245
    Abstract: A truck grille guard mounting bracket consisting of a first laterally elongated clevis having front and rear arms, the front arm being adapted for fixed attachment to a truck bumper, the rear arm being adapted for fixed attachment to truck spring hangers, truck chassis members, or to a truck tow hook arm; the distal end of the rear arm of the first laterally elongated clevis forming a plurality of second devises, each second clevis being adapted for nesting receipt of and fixed attachment to truck chassis members or to truck spring hangers; and a plurality of third devises extending forwardly from the front arm of the first laterally elongated clevis, the second clevis being adapted for support of and pivoting attachment of a truck grille guard.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 12, 2002
    Date of Patent: February 3, 2004
    Assignee: Kritter Gitter, Inc.
    Inventors: Terrance Lane Houseman, Merrill Lee Cauble, Lonnie Ray Martin, II, Michael Lee McCoy
  • Patent number: 6676180
    Abstract: An apparatus for controlling articulating motion of an article such as a truck grille guard, the apparatus having a clevis having left and right arms; an article support axle extending laterally through a lower end of the clevis; a second laterally extending axle spanning between the arms of the clevis at the clevis's upper end; an upper guy having an upper end pivotally mounted upon the second axle, a lower guy having an upper end pivotally mounted upon a lower end of the upper guy, and an article supporting hinge sleeve fixedly mounted upon a lower end of the lower guy, the upper and lower guys being alternately flexible and extendable between an upwardly articulated article position and a downwardly articulated article position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 12, 2002
    Date of Patent: January 13, 2004
    Assignee: Kritter Gitter, Inc.
    Inventors: Terrance Lane Houseman, Merrill Lee Cauble, Lonnie Ray Martin, II, Michael Lee McCoy
  • Patent number: 6672635
    Abstract: A bumper system includes a bumper beam having a face and ends, and an energy absorber mounted on the face. The energy absorber has a one-piece injection-molded non-foam piece with box sections and interconnecting straps, and a one-piece or multi-piece foam component securely insert-molded onto the injection-molded non-foam piece. Different foam molds can be used to form differently shaped front surfaces on the foam component. By this arrangement, different energy absorbing systems are provided for vehicles, such as to satisfy the need for different styling and shapes, while still using the same non-foam piece. By this arrangement, the energy absorber is a single unit that can be handled and attached to the bumper beam. At the same time, capital investment in molding dies and tooling is reduced.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 6, 2002
    Date of Patent: January 6, 2004
    Assignee: Netshape Corporation
    Inventors: Mark Weissenborn, Darin Evans, Robert Weykamp, David Powell
  • Patent number: 6659220
    Abstract: A front grill structure includes a cover interposed between a front grill and a front bumper opening, which is formed in the upper portion of a front bumper to introduce engine cooling air, so as to cover the upper surface of the front bumper. A front bumper opening end and a bumper reinforcing flange are not visible through the front bumper opening because they are covered with the cover, and thereby the external appearance of the front grill structure can be improved. Further, since the bumper reinforcing flange is covered with the cover, it can be formed at any arbitrary height, and thereby the rigidity of the front bumper can be improved.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 11, 2002
    Date of Patent: December 9, 2003
    Assignee: Suzuki Motor Corporation
    Inventor: Kazuhiko Kobayashi
  • Patent number: 6659519
    Abstract: A supplemental bumper consists of an insertion section that is dimensioned to be inserted into a receiver hitch at the rear of a vehicle. The supplemental bumper further has a contact surface, which is preferably flat, and which is positioned below the fixed rear bumper. The positioning of the supplemental bumper is intended to eliminate or at least reduce the risk that a front portion of an oncoming vehicle will, upon rear-ending the vehicle with the supplemental bumper thereon, pass below the fixed rear bumper and cause potentially significant damage to each car.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 1, 2002
    Date of Patent: December 9, 2003
    Inventor: Don S. Turner
  • Publication number: 20030222477
    Abstract: A shock absorber as being of a bumper supporting member and a shock absorber as being of a side member, which retain the sinking motion of a smaller-diameter tube portion into a larger-diameter tube portion even if an impact is applied at a larger angle obliquely of an axial direction, thereby to achieve the absorption of the impact energy by a plastic deformation. A plastically deformable straight tube is partially reduced or partially enlarged to form smaller-diameter tube portion and larger-diameter tube portion, which joins to each other through a step portion. The step portion is formed by joining a folded-back portion of the smaller-diameter tube portion and a folded-back portion of the larger-diameter tube portion, which have circular arc-shaped sections having arcuate angles more than 90 degrees.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 6, 2003
    Publication date: December 4, 2003
    Applicant: OM CORPORATION
    Inventors: Hiroshi Yoshida, Hiroshi Goto, Koji Shimotsu
  • Publication number: 20030218343
    Abstract: The bumper mounting structure includes a front side member 1 and a bumper reinforcing member 2. In assembly, the tip end of the front side member 1 is connected with the bumper reinforcing member 2. The tip end of the member 1 is opened and provided with a slant part 10, forming a weakened part in the member 1. When an impact load causes the bumper reinforcing member 2 to be deformed, the deformation of the front side member 1 is induced at its opened end because of its weakened structure. Consequently, it is possible to carry out the effective absorption of impact energy without elevating a reaction force abruptly.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 11, 2003
    Publication date: November 27, 2003
    Inventors: Manabu Sato, Toshiyuki Asai, Haruaki Nakatsukasa
  • Patent number: 6644699
    Abstract: A bumper beam assembly comprising a center beam and at least two end caps that mount the center beam between structural components extending outward from a vehicle and a method of selectively altering side or offset impact resistance of a bumper beam assembly separate from the bumper beam assembly's front impact resistance by providing crush zones in the end caps and adjusting parameters for said end caps to alter the side or offset impact resistance.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 27, 2001
    Date of Patent: November 11, 2003
    Assignee: Meridian Automotive Systems, Inc.
    Inventors: Jeffrey A. Anderson, Sherry LaPeer, Chris Pelto