Patent · US Expired

Bumper apparatus for automobile

US5201912A · kind A · utility

64Cited by
5References
10Claims
0Family size

Assignees

Inventors

Key dates

Filing dateMar 12, 1992
Grant dateApr 13, 1993
Priority date
Expiry dateMar 12, 2012

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC B)Performing Operations; Transporting
  • CPC primaryB60R2019/1886
  • WIPO fieldTransport
  • WIPO sectorMechanical engineering

Abstract

An energy absorbing member (12) is installed in a bumper reinforcement (4) so that one end of the energy absorbing member (12) faces the side member (3) of an automobile. During an accident, if a force is applied to the bumper apparatus (2), the energy absorbing member (12) collapses like a bellows in order to absorb this shock. The energy absorbing member (12) will reliably collapse in this desired manner under many conditions, for example, where the automobile is large and heavy or where the accident occurs under a high-speed condition. The energy absorbing member (12) is of a tubular shape with smooth and straight surfaces so that the energy absorbing member (12) can be easily produced by an extraction forming method or the like. Furthermore, the energy absorbing member (12) is installed within the bumper reinforcement (14) so that the bumper apparatus (2) projects less from an automobile body (1) in comparison to conventional bumpers.

Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.