Vehicle with bumper and deformation element

• US 6,814,381 B1
• Filed: 09/09/2003
• Issued: 11/09/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 02/21/2001
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Constellium Switzerland AG
• Original Assignee: Alcan Technology & Management Ltd.
• Inventors: Frank, Simon
• Primary Examiner(s): PATEL, KIRAN B
• Application Number:
  US10/658,474
• Time in Patent Office: 427 Days
• Field of Search: 293/133, 293/120, 293/122, 293/102, 296/186, 296/189
• US Class Current: 293/133
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 19/34 destroyed upon impact, e.g. one-shot type
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 19/48 combined with, or convertible into, other devices or objects, e.g. bumpers combined with road brushes, bumpers convertible into beds
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2019/182 of light metal, e.g. extruded

Abstract

In a vehicle with bumper which is attached to the vehicle transverse to the longitudinal direction of the vehicle via a deformation element (10) the deformation element (10) exhibits two first side walls (28, 30) that are spaced apart, and are joined to second side walls (40,42) that are spaced apart.

The first and second side walls (28, 30, 40, 42) feature first and second grooves (48a,b, 50a,b; 50a,b, 54a,b) that run transverse to the longitudinal direction of the vehicle and are arranged in pairs opposite each other, each in a common plane. The first grooves (48a,b, 58a,b) extend over the whole breadth of the first side walls (28, 30) and the second grooves (52a,b, 54a,b) extend over only a middle part of the second side walls (40,42), leaving a region free at both edges. The first grooves (48a,b, 58a,b) are arranged in pairs in first planes and the second grooves (52a,b, 54a,b) are arranged in pairs in second planes situated between two subsequent first planes.

The deformation element exhibits a high capacity for absorbing the energy of deformation on collision with the bumper, and leads to essentially symmetric deformation.

Claims

1. A deformation element, comprising two first side walls that are spaced apart and are joined together by two second side walls that are spaced apart, the first and second side walls have first and second grooves that run transverse to the longitudinal direction of the vehicle and are arranged in pairs opposite each other, each in a common plane, the first grooves extend over an entire width of the first side walls and the second grooves extend over only a middle part of the second side walls, leaving a groove-free region at both edges, the first grooves being arranged in pairs in first planes and the second grooves being arranged in pairs in second planes situated between two subsequent first planes.