Structure of the front of a vehicle body

• US 6,540,275 B1
• Filed: 06/19/2000
• Issued: 04/01/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 06/28/1999
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Mazda Motor Corporation
• Original Assignee: Mazda Motor Corporation
• Inventors: Ogawa, Masanori, Terada, Sakayu, Hara, Masao, Matsuda, Yushi, Tsukiji, Yutaka, Iwamoto, Tatsuhiko, Adachi, Daisaburou, Kondou, Kazuma, Furumoto, Arihiro, Nakamae, Takayuki
• Primary Examiner(s): Gordon, Stephen T.
• Assistant Examiner(s): ENGLE, PATRICIA LYNN
• Application Number:
  US09/596,649
• Time in Patent Office: 1,016 Days
• Field of Search: 293/15, 293/107, 293/109, 293/112, 293/120, 293/121, 293/131, 293/138, 293/143, 293/146, 293/24, 293/42, 293/122
• US Class Current: 293/24
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 19/12 vertically spaced
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 19/32 Fluid shock absorbers , e.g. with coaxial coil springs
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 19/34 destroyed upon impact, e.g. one-shot type
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2019/1813 made of metal
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2019/1866 Cellular structures
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2019/1873 Cellular materials
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2019/1886 Bumper fascias and fastening means therefor on fenders B60R2019/247
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/34 Protecting non-occupants of a vehicle, e.g. pedestrians B60R19/02 takes precedence

Abstract

The invention provides a structure of a front part of a vehicle body that is simple and free from the risk of maloperation. In the event of a collision between the vehicle and a pedestrian, a projecting part sweeps the pedestrian by parts of his or her legs lower than the knees in the event of a collision between the vehicle and the pedestrian, causing the pedestrian to be thrown over toward the vehicle, and after an energy-absorbing member has absorbed impact energy exerted on the legs, the pedestrian is caused to drop onto the top of a hood and protected from secondary damage. In one specific example, a structure of a front part of a vehicle body in which a bumper (9) is provided at a lower front position of a hood (1) of the vehicle comprises a lateral supporting member (7) provided in the front part of the vehicle body and extending in the direction of vehicle width, an energy-absorbing member (8) provided ahead of the lateral supporting member (7), and a projecting part (12) provided at a lower part of the bumper 9 in such a manner that a forward end of the projecting part (12) juts out more frontward than the lateral supporting member (7).

Claims

1. A structure of a front part of a vehicle body in which a bumper is provided at a lower front position of a hood at the front of the vehicle, said structure comprising:

a lateral supporting member provided in the front part of the vehicle body and extending in the direction of vehicle width;

an energy-absorbing member provided ahead of the lateral supporting member; and

a projecting part provided at a lower part of the bumper and beneath the lateral supporting member in spaced relationship, the projecting part arranged such that a forward end of the projecting part protrudes more frontward than the lateral supporting member,

wherein the rigidity of the projecting part is set to a value larger than that of the energy-absorbing member.

2. The structure of the front part of the vehicle body according to claim 1, wherein the lateral supporting member is formed of a bumper reinforcement.

3. The structure of the front part of the vehicle body according to claim 1, wherein the forward end of the projecting part is located at a more frontward position than a forward end of the energy-absorbing member.

4. The structure of the front part of the vehicle body according to claim 1, wherein the energy-absorbing member is located ahead of a line connecting a forward end of the hood and the forward end of the projecting part.

5. A The structure of the front part of the vehicle body according to claim 1, wherein the projecting part is formed of a resin member.

6. The structure of the front part of the vehicle body according to claim 1, wherein the projecting part includes a backing bar extending along a lower part of a bumper face and a support member which holds the backing bar at the front of the vehicle body.

7. The structure of the front part of the vehicle body according to claim 1, wherein the energy-absorbing member is a structural resin member or a mechanical damping device.

8. The structure of the front part of the vehicle body according to claim 1, wherein the projecting part is attached to a structural member of the vehicle body provided in its front part.

9. The structure of the front part of the vehicle body according to claim 1, wherein the lateral supporting member is attached to forward ends of left and right front side frame members, the projecting part is installed ahead of and below the front side frame members, and the strength of the projecting part in the vehicle'"'"'s longitudinal direction increases from its left and right ends to its middle part.

10. The structure of the front part of the vehicle body according to claim 1, wherein the lateral supporting member is attached to forward ends of left and right front side frame members, the projecting part is installed ahead of and below the front side frame members, and the projecting part has a U-shaped or channel-like cross section whose open side is directed rearward.

11. The structure of the front part of the vehicle body according to claim 10, wherein the projecting part has a corrugated surface having alternating furrows and ridges formed parallel to the vehicle'"'"'s longitudinal direction.

12. The structure of the front part of the vehicle body according to claim 10 wherein the lateral supporting member is formed of a bumper reinforcement.

13. A structure of a front part of a vehicle body in which a bumper is provided at a lower front position of a hood at the front of the vehicle, said structure comprising:

a lateral supporting member provided behind a bumper face of the bumper and extending in the direction of vehicle width;

an energy-absorbing member provided ahead of the lateral supporting member; and

a lower leg supporting part provided at a lower part of the bumper and extending in the direction of the vehicle width with a rear portion of the lower leg supporting part supported by a structural member of the vehicle body;

wherein a forward end of the lower leg supporting part protrudes relatively frontward compared to the lateral supporting member when the bumper face is displaced rearward, and the rigidity of the lower leg supporting part is set to a value larger than that of the energy-absorbing member.

14. The structure of the front part of the vehicle body according to claim 13, wherein the lateral supporting member is formed of a bumper reinforcement.

15. The structure of the front part of the vehicle body according to claim 13, wherein the lower leg supporting part has upper ribs and lower ribs, and wherein the thickness of the upper ribs is set to a value smaller than that of the lower ribs.

16. The structure of the front part of the vehicle body according to claim 13, wherein the lower leg supporting part has upper ribs and lower ribs, and wherein the spacing of the upper ribs is made larger than that of the lower ribs.