Patent · US Expired

Bumper system with face-mounted energy absorber

US6609740B2 · kind B2 · utility

56Cited by
7References
31Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventor

Key dates

Filing dateFeb 1, 2002
Grant dateAug 26, 2003
Priority date
Expiry dateFeb 1, 2022

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC B)Performing Operations; Transporting
  • CPC primaryB60R2019/1866
  • WIPO fieldTransport
  • WIPO sectorMechanical engineering

Abstract

A bumper system for vehicles includes a B-shaped tubular bumper beam with top and bottom mid-walls defining a channel in its front surface. A polymeric energy absorber has multiple box-shaped sections that abut the front surface of the bumper beam and further includes rearwardly-extending nose sections that extend into the channel. The nose sections include collapse-controlling kick walls that lie along the top and bottom mid-walls and that are connected to the box-shaped sections. Upon impact by an object against the bumper system, the kick walls press into the top and bottom mid-walls, resulting in a consistent and controlled collapse of the energy absorber and tubes of the bumper beam. In another form, an energy absorber having box-shaped sections is positioned on a face of the bumper beam and integral box-shaped end sections designed for a consistent and controlled collapse on impact.

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