Self-adaptive, energy-absorbing bumper
First Claim
Patent Images
1. A vehicle comprising:
- an energy absorber comprisinga base mounted laterally to a vehicle chassis support;
a first fin having an end proximal to the base and another end extending distally away from the base;
a second fin having an end proximal to the base and having another end extending distally away from the base, the second fin separated from the first fin by a lateral gap in the base; and
a stopper including a first surface and a second surface, an edge of the first surface intersecting with the base within the lateral gap, an edge of the second surface intersecting with the base within the lateral gap, the first surface and the second surface extending and intersecting distally away from the base to form a triangular prism with a portion of the base between the intersections with the first surface and the second surface in the lateral gap.
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Abstract
A passive energy absorber to be supported by a bumper of a vehicle is disclosed. The passive energy absorber may include a base extending laterally, multiple fins, and multiple stoppers. Each fin may extend longitudinally from the base and be spaced laterally from adjacent fins to form lateral gaps therebetween. Each stopper may form, with a corresponding portion of the base, a triangular prism in a different lateral gap. The base, multiple fins, and multiple stoppers may be formed of polymeric material.
23 Citations
20 Claims
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1. A vehicle comprising:
an energy absorber comprising a base mounted laterally to a vehicle chassis support; a first fin having an end proximal to the base and another end extending distally away from the base; a second fin having an end proximal to the base and having another end extending distally away from the base, the second fin separated from the first fin by a lateral gap in the base; and a stopper including a first surface and a second surface, an edge of the first surface intersecting with the base within the lateral gap, an edge of the second surface intersecting with the base within the lateral gap, the first surface and the second surface extending and intersecting distally away from the base to form a triangular prism with a portion of the base between the intersections with the first surface and the second surface in the lateral gap. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 15, 16)
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5. A vehicle comprising:
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a chassis defining longitudinal, lateral, and transverse directions that are mutually orthogonal; the chassis having a front end and a rear end spaced from the front end in the longitudinal direction; a passive energy absorber connected to the chassis proximate the front end; and the passive energy absorber comprising a base extending in the lateral direction, a plurality of fins, each fin thereof (a) having a proximal end connected to the base, (b) having a distal end extending away from the chassis and the base in the longitudinal direction, and (c) being spaced in the lateral direction from adjacent fins of the plurality of fins to form a plurality of lateral gaps, and a plurality of stoppers, each stopper including a first surface and a second surface, each stopper being positioned within a different lateral gap of the plurality of lateral gaps and having (a) a proximal edge of the first surface connecting to the base proximate the proximal end of a first adjacent fin of the plurality of fins, (b) a proximal edge of the second surface connecting to the base proximate the proximal end of a second adjacent fin of the plurality of fins, and (c) a distal edge of the first surface and a distal edge of the second surface extending away from the base longitudinally and intersecting one another to form a triangular prism with a portion of the base between the connection of the first surface and the connection of the second surface in the different lateral gap, the intersection at a specified distance longitudinally from the base. - View Dependent Claims (6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14)
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17. A vehicle comprising:
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a chassis defining longitudinal, lateral, and transverse directions that are mutually orthogonal; the chassis having a front bumper and a rear bumper spaced from the front bumper in the longitudinal direction; a passive energy absorber connected to the chassis and positioned to be directly outboard the front bumper; and the passive energy absorber comprising a base extending in the lateral direction, a top being spaced in the longitudinal direction from, and extending parallel to, the base, a plurality of fins, each fin thereof (a) having a proximal end connected to the base, (b) a distal end connected to the top, and (c) being spaced in the lateral direction from adjacent fins of the plurality of fins to form a plurality of lateral gaps, a first stopper positioned within a lateral gap of the plurality of lateral gaps, the first stopper including a first surface and a second surface, the first stopper having (a) a proximal edge of the first surface connecting to the base proximate the proximal end of a first adjacent fin of the plurality of fins, (b) a proximal edge of the second surface connecting to the base proximate the proximal end of a first surface of a second stopper, and (c) a distal edge of the first surface and a distal edge of the second surface extending away from the base longitudinally and intersecting one another to form a triangular prism with a portion of the base in the lateral gap, and the second stopper positioned within the lateral gap, the second stopper including the first surface and a second surface, the second stopper having (a) a proximal edge of the first surface connecting to the base proximate the proximal end of the second surface of the first stopper, (b) a proximal edge of the second surface connecting to the base proximate the proximal end of a second adjacent fin of the plurality of fins, and (c) a distal edge of the first surface and a distal edge of the second surface extending away from the base longitudinally and intersecting one another to form another triangular prism with another portion of the base in the lateral gap. - View Dependent Claims (18, 19, 20)
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Specification