Frangible bump stop support

• US 10,150,444 B1
• Filed: 09/15/2017
• Issued: 12/11/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 09/15/2017
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC (Ford Motor Company)
• Original Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC (Ford Motor Company)
• Inventors: Schwalm, Robert, Nizienski, John Joseph, Patel, Deepak
• Primary Examiner(s): O'Brien, Jeffrey
• Application Number:
  US15/705,717
• Time in Patent Office: 452 Days
• Field of Search: 16 86 R, 16 86 A, 29619311, 29618704
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/38 using means for lifting bonnets
• CPC Class Codes: E05F 5/02 specially for preventing the slamming of swinging wings during final closing movement, e.g. jamb stops
• CPC Class Codes: E05F 5/022 specially adapted for vehicles, e.g. for hoods or trunks
• CPC Class Codes: E05F 5/025 specially adapted for vehicle doors
• CPC Class Codes: E05Y 2800/684 Strength alteration by weakening, e.g. by applying grooves

Abstract

A support assembly includes a bump stop having a shaft. The support assembly includes an insert having a guide ring disposed around the shaft, a bump stop support supporting the bump stop, and a column connecting the guide ring to the bump stop support. The column is breakable relative to the guide ring and the bump stop support.

Claims

1. A bump stop assembly comprising:

a bump stop having a shaft with a first end and a second end; and

an insert having;

a guide ring disposed around the shaft between the first end and the second end of the shaft;

a bump stop support supporting the bump stop and connected to the second end of the shaft, the bump stop support axially spaced from the guide ring; and

a column connecting the guide ring to the bump stop support;

the column including a predetermined breaking region configured to break upon application of a threshold amount of force to the bump stop support for allowing relative movement of the shaft and the bump stop support with respect to the guide ring.

2. The bump stop assembly of claim 1, wherein the bump stop has a head, and the guide ring is disposed between the head and the bump stop support.

3. The bump stop assembly of claim 1, wherein the column has a first portion, a second portion, and an intermediate portion between the first and second portions, the intermediate portion includes the predetermined breaking region and is breakable relative to the first and second portions.

4. The bump stop assembly of claim 1, wherein the predetermined breaking region includes a neck between the bump stop support and guide ring.

5. The bump stop assembly of claim 1, wherein the bump stop support defines a hole, and the shaft includes threads threadedly engaging the hole.

6. The bump stop assembly of claim 1, wherein the guide ring includes a clip member.

7. The bump stop assembly of claim 1, wherein the bump stop support has an outer diameter and the guide ring has an outer diameter that is greater that the outer diameter of the bump stop support.

8. The bump stop assembly of claim 1, wherein the insert includes a plurality of columns including the column, the plurality of columns connecting the guide ring to the bump stop support.

9. The bump stop assembly of claim 1, wherein the shaft is elongated along a first axis, and the column is elongated along a second axis parallel to the first axis.

10. The bump stop assembly of claim 1, wherein the insert includes a second column extending from the guide ring toward the bump stop support, and the second column includes a distal end that is spaced from the bump stop support.

11. A bump stop insert comprising:

a guide ring having a main body defining an unthreaded hole about an axis configured to receive a bump stop shaft;

a bump stop support spaced from the guide ring and having a threaded hole configured to receive a bump stop shaft, the threaded hole coaxial with the unthreaded hole of the guide ring;

the guide ring having a clip member extending from the main body toward the bump stop support parallel to the axis; and

a column extending from the guide ring to the bump stop parallel to the axis and connecting the guide ring to the bump stop support;

the column including a predetermined breaking region configured to break upon application of a threshold amount of force to the bump stop support for allowing relative movement of the bump stop support with respect to the guide ring.

12. The bump stop insert of claim 11, wherein the threshold amount of force is greater than 300 Newtons.

13. The bump stop insert of claim 11, wherein the predetermined breaking region includes a neck.

14. The bump stop insert of claim 11, wherein the predetermined breaking region is breakable relative to the guide ring and the bump stop support when the column is in tension.

15. The bump stop insert of claim 11, wherein the bump stop support, the guide ring, and the column are monolithic.

16. The bump stop insert of claim 11, further comprising a second column extending from the guide ring toward the bump stop support.

17. The bump stop insert of claim 16, wherein the second column includes a distal end that is spaced from the bump stop support.

18. The bump stop insert of claim 17, wherein the bump stop support defines a slot and the second column is disposed within the slot.

19. The bump stop insert claim 18, wherein the bump stop support includes a pair of protruding portions defining the slot therebetween.