Patent · US Expired

Bumper for reducing pedestrian injury

US6685243B1 · kind B1 · utility

50Cited by
20References
5Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventor

Key dates

Filing dateJul 30, 2002
Grant dateFeb 3, 2004
Priority date
Expiry dateJul 30, 2022

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC B)Performing Operations; Transporting
  • CPC primaryB60R2021/343
  • WIPO fieldTransport
  • WIPO sectorMechanical engineering

Abstract

A vehicle bumper system includes a beam, and an energy absorber with top and bottom horizontal sections and a mid-horizontal section. The horizontal sections form top and bottom nose portions that are semi-rigid but initially collapsible with a parallelogram motion that shifts the top and bottom portions vertically up (or down) upon impact. Horizontal impact forces are converted in part to vertical forces during an initial stroke of a frontal impact, “catching” an impacted human being. Then during a further continuing impact stroke, the top and bottom horizontal sections provide a “throwing” action. End sections of the energy absorber extend around ends of a bumper beam, forming a collapsible corner that, during impact, initially absorbs energy at a low rate to “catch” a person, and then develops increasing lateral forces that “throw” the person during a continuing impact stroke.

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