EXTRUDED ALUMINUM BUMPER HAVING TRIGGERS

• US 20110204663A1
• Filed: 02/25/2010
• Published: 08/25/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 02/25/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC (Ford Motor Company)
• Original Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC (Ford Motor Company)
• Inventors: Baccouche, Mohamed Ridha, Nusier, Saied
• Granted Patent: US 8,205,921 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 293/102
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 19/18 characterised by the cross-section; Means within the bumper to absorb impact
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2019/182 of light metal, e.g. extruded

Abstract

An energy absorbing extruded bumper for a vehicle is disclosed. The extruded bumper is formed from a lightweight metal, preferably aluminum base alloy material. The extruded bumper includes an outer wall, an inner wall, a top wall connecting the outer and inner walls, and a bottom wall connecting the outer and inner walls. Extending between the outer and inner walls are two or more s-curved trigger stiffeners. The trigger stiffeners include an upper s-curved trigger stiffener connecting the outer and inner walls and a lower s-curved trigger stiffener connecting the outer and inner walls. The lower s-curved trigger stiffener is spaced apart from the upper s-curved trigger stiffener.

Claims

1. An extruded bumper for a vehicle comprising:

an outer wall;

an inner wall;

a top wall connecting said outer and inner walls;

a bottom wall connecting said outer and inner walls;

an upper s-curved trigger stiffener connecting said outer and inner walls; and

a lower s-curved trigger stiffener connecting said outer and inner walls, said lower s-curved trigger stiffener being spaced apart from said upper s-curved trigger stiffener.

2. The extruded bumper of claim 1 wherein the bumper is extruded from a lightweight metal.

3. The extruded bumper of claim 1 wherein the bumper is extruded from aluminum base alloy material

4. The extruded bumper of claim 1 wherein said upper s-curved trigger stiffener is inverted with respect to said lower s-curved trigger stiffener such that the inward-curving section of the s-curve of each trigger stiffener are in opposition and the outward-curving section of the s-curve of each trigger stiffener are in opposition.

5. The extruded bumper of claim 4 wherein said inward-curving sections of said s-curves are adjacent said outer wall and said outward-curving sections of said s-curves are adjacent said inner wall.

6. The extruded bumper of claim 4 wherein said inward-curving sections of said s-curves have a thickness and the areas of said trigger stiffeners adjacent said inward-curving sections have a thickness, said thickness of said inward-curving sections of said s-curves being greater than said thickness of said adjacent areas.

7. The extruded bumper of claim 6 wherein said outward-curving sections of said s-curves have a thickness and the areas of said trigger stiffeners adjacent said outward-curving sections have a thickness, said thickness of said outward-curving sections of said s-curves being greater than said thickness of said adjacent areas.

8. A bumper structure for use with a vehicle having a frame comprising:

a pair of supporting rails attached to the frame;

a bumper comprising an outer wall, an inner wall, a top wall, a bottom wall, a first s-curved trigger stiffener connecting said outer and inner walls; and

a second s-curved trigger stiffener connecting said outer and inner walls, said second s-curved trigger stiffener being spaced apart from said first s-curved trigger stiffener.

9. The extruded bumper of claim 8 wherein the bumper is extruded from a lightweight metal.

10. The extruded bumper of claim 8 wherein the bumper is extruded from aluminum base alloy material

11. The extruded bumper of claim 8 wherein said first s-curved trigger stiffener is inverted with respect to said second s-curved trigger stiffener such that the inward-curving section of the s-curve of each trigger stiffener are in opposition and the outward-curving sections of the s-curves of each trigger stiffener are in opposition.

12. The extruded bumper of claim 11 wherein said inward-curving sections of said s-curves are adjacent said outer wall and said outward-curving sections of said s-curves are adjacent said inner wall.

13. The extruded bumper of claim 11 wherein said inward-curving sections of said s-curves have a thickness and the areas of said trigger stiffeners adjacent said inward-curving sections have a thickness, said thickness of said inward-curving sections of said s-curves being greater than said thickness of said adjacent areas.

14. The extruded bumper of claim 13 wherein said outward-curving sections of said s-curves have a thickness and the areas of said trigger stiffeners adjacent said outward-curving sections have a thickness, said thickness of said outward-curving sections of said s-curves being greater than said thickness of said adjacent areas.

15. An extruded bumper for a vehicle comprising:

a first wall;

a second wall;

a third wall connecting said first and second walls;

a fourth wall connecting said first and second walls;

a first s-curved trigger stiffener connecting said first and second walls; and

a second s-curved trigger stiffener connecting said first and second walls, said second s-curved trigger stiffener being spaced apart from said first s-curved trigger stiffener.

16. The extruded bumper of claim 15 wherein the bumper is extruded from aluminum.

17. The extruded bumper of claim 15 wherein said first s-curved trigger stiffener is inverted with respect to said second s-curved trigger stiffener such that the inward-curving section of the s-curve of each trigger stiffener are in opposition and the outward-curving section of the s-curves of each trigger stiffener are in opposition.

18. The extruded bumper of claim 17 wherein said inward-curving sections of said s-curves are adjacent said first wall and said outward-curving sections of said s-curves are adjacent said second wall.

19. The extruded bumper of claim 17 wherein said inward-curving sections of said s-curves have a thickness and the areas of said trigger stiffeners adjacent said inward-curving sections have a thickness, said thickness of said inward-curving sections of said s-curves being greater than said thickness of said adjacent areas.

20. The extruded bumper of claim 19 wherein said outward-curving sections of said s-curves have a thickness and the areas of said trigger stiffeners adjacent said outward-curving sections have a thickness, said thickness of said outward-curving sections of said s-curves being greater than said thickness of said adjacent areas.