U.S. patent application number 13/275531 was filed with the patent office on 2013-04-18 for energy absorber for automotive bumper.
This patent application is currently assigned to GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS LLC. The applicant listed for this patent is Laura L. Tanton. Invention is credited to Laura L. Tanton.
Application Number | 20130093200 13/275531 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 47989705 |
Filed Date | 2013-04-18 |
United States Patent
Application |
20130093200 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Tanton; Laura L. |
April 18, 2013 |
ENERGY ABSORBER FOR AUTOMOTIVE BUMPER
Abstract
An energy absorber for an automotive bumper assembly having an
impact beam includes a first component positioned adjacent the
impact beam. The energy absorber also includes a second component
positioned such that the first component is disposed substantially
between the second component and the impact beam. The energy
absorber additionally includes a locking feature configured to join
the first component and the second component. A vehicle having a
bumper assembly with such an energy absorber is also disclosed.
Inventors: |
Tanton; Laura L.;
(Clarkston, MI) |
|
Applicant: |
Name |
City |
State |
Country |
Type |
Tanton; Laura L. |
Clarkston |
MI |
US |
|
|
Assignee: |
GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS
LLC
Detroit
MI
|
Family ID: |
47989705 |
Appl. No.: |
13/275531 |
Filed: |
October 18, 2011 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
293/132 |
Current CPC
Class: |
B60R 19/18 20130101;
B60R 2019/1873 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
293/132 |
International
Class: |
B60R 19/18 20060101
B60R019/18 |
Claims
1. An energy absorber for an automotive bumper assembly having an
impact beam, the energy absorber comprising: a first foam component
positioned adjacent the impact beam; a second foam component
positioned such that the first component is disposed substantially
between the second component and the impact beam; and a locking
feature configured to secure the first component to the second
component; wherein the locking feature includes a snap-together
arrangement having an aperture defined by one of the first
component and the second component and a hook element arranged on
the other of the first component and the second component such that
the hook element is configured to be inserted and snapped into the
aperture.
2. (canceled)
3. The energy absorber of claim 1, wherein the hook element is
arranged on and integrally molded with the second component.
4. The energy absorber of claim 1, wherein the locking feature
includes a plurality of snap-together arrangements.
5. The energy absorber of claim 1, wherein the first component is
formed from a first magnitude density foam that is configured to
withstand up to a first predetermined level of impact force on the
bumper assembly, wherein the second component is formed from a
second magnitude density foam that is configured to withstand up to
a second predetermined level of impact force on the bumper
assembly, and wherein the second magnitude is lower than the first
magnitude.
6. (canceled)
7. The energy absorber of claim 5, wherein the second predetermined
level of impact force is lower than the first predetermined level
of impact force.
8. An automotive bumper assembly comprising: a bumper impact beam;
a first foam component positioned adjacent the bumper impact beam;
a second foam component positioned such that the first component is
disposed substantially between the second component and the bumper
impact beam; and a locking feature configured to secure the first
component to the second component; wherein the locking feature
includes a snap-together arrangement having an aperture defined by
one of the first component and the second component and a hook
element arranged on the other of the first component and the second
component such that the hook element is configured to be inserted
and snapped into the aperture.
9. (canceled)
10. The bumper assembly of claim 8, wherein the hook element is
arranged on and integrally molded with the second component.
11. The bumper assembly of claim 8, wherein the locking feature
includes a plurality of snap-together arrangements.
12. The bumper assembly of claim 8, wherein the first component is
formed from first magnitude density foam that is configured to
withstand up to a first predetermined level of impact force on the
bumper assembly, wherein the second component is formed from a
second magnitude density foam that is configured to withstand up to
a second predetermined level of impact force on the bumper
assembly, and wherein the second magnitude is lower than the first
magnitude.
13. (canceled)
14. The bumper assembly of claim 12, wherein the second
predetermined level of impact force is lower than the first
predetermined level of impact force.
15. A vehicle comprising: a vehicle body; and a bumper assembly
operatively connected to the body, the bumper assembly having: a
bumper impact beam; a first foam component positioned adjacent the
bumper impact beam; a second foam component positioned such that
the first component is disposed substantially between the second
component and the bumper impact beam; and a locking feature
configured to secure the first component to the second component;
wherein the locking feature includes a snap-together arrangement
having an aperture defined by one of the first component and the
second component and a hook element arranged on the other of the
first component and the second component such that the hook element
is configured to be inserted and snapped into the aperture.
16. (canceled)
17. The vehicle of claim 15, wherein the hook element is arranged
on and integrally molded with the second component.
18. The vehicle of claim 15, wherein the locking feature includes a
plurality of snap-together arrangements.
19. The vehicle of claim 15, wherein the first component is formed
from a first magnitude density foam that is configured to withstand
up to a first predetermined level of impact force on the bumper
assembly and the second component is formed from a second magnitude
density foam that is configured to withstand up to a second
predetermined level of impact force on the bumper assembly, wherein
the second magnitude is lower than the first magnitude.
20. The vehicle of claim 19, wherein the second predetermined level
of impact force is lower than the first predetermined level of
impact force.
Description
TECHNICAL FIELD
[0001] The disclosure relates to an energy absorber for an
automotive bumper assembly.
BACKGROUND
[0002] A vehicle bumper is typically the front-most or rear-most
component that is attached to the vehicle's body. Such a bumper is
generally designed to allow the vehicle to withstand some level of
impact without sustaining extensive damage to the vehicle's body or
its safety systems.
[0003] In most jurisdictions, vehicles are legally required to
include bumpers. The height and placement of bumpers may be legally
specified as well, to ensure that when vehicles of different
heights are involved in an accident, the smaller vehicle will not
slide under the larger vehicle.
[0004] Typically, vehicular bumpers are not capable of fully
absorbing forces that result from high-speed impacts. On the other
hand, bumpers are increasingly being designed to deflect and
generate less damage to other objects during lower speed
impacts.
SUMMARY
[0005] An energy absorber for an automotive bumper assembly having
an impact beam includes a first component positioned adjacent the
bumper impact beam. The energy absorber also includes a second
component positioned such that the first component is disposed
substantially between the second component and the bumper impact
beam. The energy absorber additionally includes a locking feature
configured to join the first component and the second
component.
[0006] The locking feature may include a snap-together arrangement.
The snap-together arrangement may have an aperture defined by one
of the first component and the second component and a hook element
arranged on the other of the first component and the second
component. Furthermore, the hook element and the aperture may be
configured as complementary features such that the hook element may
be inserted and snapped into the aperture. The hook element may be
arranged on and integrally molded with the second component.
Additionally, the locking feature may include a plurality of
snap-together arrangements.
[0007] The first component may be formed from a relatively high
density foam that is configured to withstand up to a first
predetermined level of impact force on the bumper assembly.
Furthermore, the second component may be formed from a relatively
low density foam that is configured to withstand up to a second
predetermined level of impact force on the bumper assembly. The
second predetermined level of impact force may be lower than the
first predetermined level of impact force.
[0008] A vehicle having a bumper assembly with such an energy
absorber is also disclosed.
[0009] The above features and advantages, and other features and
advantages of the present disclosure, will be readily apparent from
the following detailed description of the embodiment(s) and best
mode(s) for carrying out the described invention when taken in
connection with the accompanying drawings and appended claims.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0010] FIG. 1 is a schematic perspective view of a vehicle having a
bumper assembly with an energy absorber.
[0011] FIG. 2 is a schematic cross-sectional view of the bumper
assembly shown in FIG. 1, wherein the energy absorber is
illustrated with the first and second components in a joined
state.
[0012] FIG. 3 is a schematic cross-sectional view of the bumper
assembly shown in FIG. 2, wherein the energy absorber is
illustrated having a first and second component in a pre-joined
state.
[0013] FIG. 4 is a schematic cross-sectional view of the bumper
assembly shown in FIG. 2, wherein the energy absorber is
illustrated in the process of being joined.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0014] Referring to the drawings, wherein like reference numbers
refer to like components, FIG. 1 shows a vehicle 10 having a
vehicle body 12. A bumper assembly 14 is operatively connected to
the vehicle body 12. As shown in FIG. 2, the bumper assembly 14
includes a bumper beam 16 and an energy absorber 18. The energy
absorber 18 may be attached or connected to the bumper beam 16 by
any known method, such as via standard nuts and bolts or straps
(not shown). Although only a particular portion of the vehicle body
12 is illustrated with the bumper assembly 14, nothing precludes
the bumper assembly from being employed in any location on the
vehicle body.
[0015] Generally, bumper systems are provided to allow the vehicle
to withstand some level of impact without sustaining extensive
damage to the vehicle body or the vehicle's safety systems.
Vehicular bumper systems are also increasingly being called upon to
deflect and generate less damage to other objects during lower
speed impacts. As such, the energy absorber 18 is configured to
perform a dual role of withstanding impact from a relatively high
mass object, such as another vehicle, without significant damage to
the bumper assembly 14, as well as yielding during contact with a
relatively low mass object.
[0016] The energy absorber 18 includes a first component 20
configured to absorb a portion of impact energy incident on the
bumper assembly 14. The first component 20 is positioned adjacent
the bumper impact beam 16. The first component 20 is formed from a
relatively high density foam. The relatively high density foam is
configured to withstand up to a first predetermined level of impact
force on the bumper assembly 14. The first predetermined level of
impact may be indicative of a force that is generated during impact
of the vehicle 10 with another vehicle or some physical structure
characterized by a mass that is comparable to that of the subject
vehicle.
[0017] The energy absorber 18 also includes a second component 22
configured to absorb another portion of impact energy incident on
the bumper assembly 14. The second component 22 is formed from a
relatively low density foam that is more compliant than the
relatively high density foam of the first component 20. The
relatively low density foam is configured to withstand up to a
second predetermined level of impact force on the bumper assembly
14. The second predetermined level of impact force may be
indicative of a force that is generated by impact or contact of the
vehicle 10 with an object having a mass that is significantly lower
than that of the subject vehicle.
[0018] The relatively low density foam is more compliant than the
relatively high density foam. Accordingly, the second predetermined
level of impact force that the second component 22 is capable of
withstanding is lower than first predetermined level of impact
force that may be withstood by the first component 20. The first
and second predetermined levels of impact force may be determined
empirically based on impact testing of the vehicle 10 with various
simulated and real objects.
[0019] As shown in FIGS. 2-4, the second component 22 is positioned
such that the first component 20 is disposed substantially between
the second component and the bumper impact beam 16. As additionally
shown in FIG. 2, the energy absorber 18 also includes a locking
feature 24 configured to join or secure the first component 20 with
the second component 22. The locking feature 24 is configured as at
least one snap-together arrangement between the first component 20
and the second component 22. As shown, the locking feature 24
includes an aperture 26 defined by first component 20. The locking
feature 24 also includes a catch or hook element 28 arranged on the
second component 22 such that the hook element is configured to be
inserted and snapped into the aperture 26. The locking feature 24
may include a plurality of snap-together arrangements each having
the complementary aperture 26 and hook element 28 in order to fix
and positively retain the connection between first component 20 and
the second component 22.
[0020] As additionally shown in FIGS. 2-4, the hook element 28 may
be arranged on and integrally molded with the second component 22.
The hook element 28 additionally includes a tapered tip 30. The
tapered tip 30 is configured as a locating feature that permits
assembly of the first and second components 20, 22 in the event
less than absolute alignment has been achieved during assembly
between the hook element 28 and the aperture 26. Accordingly, as
the first component 20 is being assembled with the second component
22 the hook element 28 will be brought into contact with the first
component 20 such that the tip 30 engages the aperture 26.
Furthermore, as shown in FIG. 4, the hook element 28 may deflect as
the tip 30 progresses through the aperture 26 and thereby align the
first and second components 20, 22 to achieve the desired final
configuration of the energy absorber 18. As shown in FIGS. 2 and 4,
the bumper impact beam 16 may include an indented region 32 having
sufficient depth in order to clear the tip 30 when the bumper
assembly 14 has been put together and installed in the vehicle
10.
[0021] During impact of an object with the bumper assembly 14,
initially the second component 22 will deflect and absorb the force
of the impact. In the event that the impact force exceeds the
second predetermined level of impact force, the second component 22
will compress and transmit the impact force to the first component
20. If the hook element 28 is part of the second component 22, as
shown in FIG. 3, in the final assembly of the energy absorber 18
the tip 30 protrudes toward the bumper impact beam 16. Such
configuration of the second component permits the energy absorber
18 to present a substantially flat or even surface to any object
that may impact the bumper assembly 14. On the other hand, if the
hook element 28 is part of the first component 20 (not shown), and
if presenting a substantially flat or even surface to an impacting
object is desired, the second component 22 may require an indented
region of sufficient depth where the hook element protrudes through
the first component.
[0022] The detailed description and the drawings or figures are
supportive and descriptive of the invention, but the scope of the
invention is defined solely by the claims. While some of the best
modes and other embodiments for carrying out the claimed invention
have been described in detail, various alternative designs and
embodiments exist for practicing the invention defined in the
appended claims.
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