UNIFORM DECELERATION UNIT

• US 20190308574A1
• Filed: 04/16/2019
• Published: 10/10/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 11/24/2014
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Tesseract Structural Innovations, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Tesseract Structural Innovations, Inc.
• Inventors: Renegar, Henry L.
• Granted Patent: US 11,021,120 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 19/00 Wheel guards; Radiator guards, e.g. grilles; Obstruction removers; Fittings damping bouncing force in collisions reinforcement elements for side doors B60J5/0412; mudguards B62D
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2019/002 Wheel guards
• CPC Class Codes: B62D 21/152 Front or rear frames
• CPC Class Codes: B62D 25/18 Parts or details thereof, e.g. mudguard flaps

Abstract

An apparatus and method for improving the safety and performance of an automobile in crash events is disclosed. The safety device includes first and second crash pad regions and a connecting member region disposed between the first and second crash pad regions. At least a portion of the connecting member region is arranged to move in one of an upward and downward direction at the initial moment of a crash to absorb crash energy. The safety device is arranged to collapse on itself upon continuation of the crash. In some embodiments, the safety device collapses in a horizontal direction upon continuation of the crash.

Claims

1. A safety device comprising:

first and second crash pad regions;

a connecting member region disposed between the first and second crash pad regions, wherein at least a portion of the connecting member region is arranged to move in one of an upward and downward direction at an initial moment of a crash to absorb crash energy.

2. The safety device of claim 1, wherein the safety device is arranged to collapse on itself upon continuation of the crash.

3. The safety device of claim 2, wherein the safety device is arranged to collapse in a horizontal direction upon continuation of the crash.

4. The safety device of claim 1, wherein the first crash pad region includes a leg disposed at or near a distal end of the first crash pad region.

9. The safety device of claim 1, wherein an inner surface of the safety device includes an inverted “

U”

shape.

10. The safety device of claim 9, wherein a shape of the device is not an inverted “

U”

shape.

11. The safety device of claim 1, wherein at least a portion of the first crash pad region includes an outer skin and a rib and web structure disposed within the outer skin.

12. The safety device of claim 11, wherein the first crash pad region includes a web extending outwardly from the outer skin.

13. The safety device of claim 11, wherein at least a portion of the connecting member region includes an outer skin and a rib and web structure disposed within the outer skin.

14. The safety device of claim 13, wherein the rib and web structure of the first crash pad region is different from the rib and web structure of the connecting member region.

15. The safety device of claim 1, wherein at least a portion of the connecting member region includes an outer skin and a rib and web structure disposed within the outer web.

16. The safety device of claim 15, wherein a cross-sectional shape of the rib and web structure includes at least one of a circular, rectangular, oval, and diamond shape.

17. The safety device of claim 15, wherein the rib and web structure is symmetric about a midpoint of the connecting member.

18. The safety device of claim 1, further comprising a plate, wherein the plate is disposed on one of a front side or a rear side of the safety device.

19. The safety device of claim 1, wherein the first crash pad region includes a contact surface, wherein the contact surface extends above the connecting member region.

20. The safety device of claim 19, wherein the second crash pad region includes a contact surface, wherein the contact surface of the second crash pad region extends above the connecting member region and is aligned with the contact surface of the first crash pad region.

21. The safety device of claim 1, wherein the connecting member region includes a notch formed in a top surface of the connecting member region.

22. The safety device of claim 21, wherein the notch extends along a width of the connecting member.

23. The safety device of claim 1, wherein the first and second crash pad regions and the connecting member region are integrally formed.

24. The safety device of claim 1, wherein the first and second crash pad regions and the connecting member region are separate components.

25. The safety device of claim 1, wherein the first crash pad region is longer than the second crash pad region.

5-8. -8. (canceled)

26-27. -27. (canceled)

28. A system comprising:

first and second crash pad regions;

a connecting member region disposed between the first and second crash pad regions, wherein at least a portion of the connecting member region is arranged to move in one of an upward and downward direction at an initial moment of a crash to absorb crash energy; and

an automobile having a wheel well;

wherein the first and second crash pad regions and the connecting member region are disposed in the wheel well.

29-30. -30. (canceled)

31. A method of improving the safety of an automobile in a crash via a safety device having first and second crash pad regions and a connecting member region disposed between the first and second crash pad regions, the method comprising:

at an initial moment of a crash, moving at least a portion of the connecting member region of the safety device in one of an upward and downward direction to absorb crash energy.

32-34. -34. (canceled)