Impact absorbing member for vehicle

• US 8,297,668 B2
• Filed: 12/16/2009
• Issued: 10/30/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 12/26/2008
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Toyoda Iron Works Company Limited
• Original Assignee: Toyoda Iron Works Company Limited
• Inventors: Nakanishi, Makoto, Kano, Mitsutoshi
• Primary Examiner(s): Dayoan, Glenn
• Assistant Examiner(s): Westbrook, Sunsurraye
• Application Number:
  US12/654,294
• Publication Number:
  US 20100164238A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,049 Days
• Field of Search: 293/132, 293/133, 293/120, 293/155, 293/122, 293/109, 293/121, 293/136, 293/154, 296/197.09, 296/203.02, 296/187.08, 296/187.03, 296/187.01
• US Class Current: 293/132
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 19/34 destroyed upon impact, e.g. one-shot type
• CPC Class Codes: F16F 7/12 using plastic deformation of members F16F9/30 takes precedence; yieldable means for mounting bumpers on vehicles B60R19/26; yieldable or collapsible steering columns B62D1/192

Abstract

Flanges (68) are provided on outer sides (in an upper-lower direction) of a pair of narrow side walls (66) of a crash box (50). Each of flanges (68) is provided to be connected to the narrow side wall (66) at the central portion thereof, and the both lateral portions thereof (wing-like flanges (70a, 70b)) extend parallel to the narrow side walls (66) and in the opposite directions relative to each other. Therefore, even when an impact load is applied to the crash box (50) in an oblique direction of the vehicle, owing to disposition of the flanges (68) the crush box (50) is suppressed from lateral falling, so that excellent impact-absorbing property is stably obtained. Because the flanges (68) are formed parallel to the narrow side walls (66), the impact absorbing member can be appropriately prevented from the lateral falling resulted from the impact load acting in an oblique direction of the vehicle, and can be compactified in size. As a result, mountability on a vehicle is improved.

Claims

1. An impact absorbing member for a vehicle disposed between a vehicle body side member and a bumper member in a posture such that an axial direction of the impact absorbing member is directed in a fore and aft direction of the vehicle, and collapsed like bellows axially upon receipt of a compressive load to absorb an impact energy, the impact absorbing member comprising:

a tubular body portion with a closed section constructed of a plurality of plate-shaped side walls;

at least one concave groove provided in at least one of the side walls, recessed inwardly and extended parallel to an axial direction of the tubular body portion;

reinforcing side walls respectively formed by a pair of parallel side walls which are other than the at least one side wall of the plurality of plate-shaped side walls provided with the at least one concave groove, and which are symmetrically located in the closed section; and

flanges integrally formed on the tubular body portion over an entire axial length thereof respectively outside of the pair of reinforcing side walls, each of the flanges including, in a section perpendicular to the axial direction of the tubular body portion, a central portion and a pair of lateral portions, the central portion being connected to the reinforcing side wall, and the lateral portions projecting outward in directions away from the tubular body portion and being bent to spread substantially parallel to the reinforcing side wall in opposite directions, to form a shape of a concave groove as a whole having a bottom portion at a side of the reinforcing side wall outside of the tubular body portion.

2. The impact absorbing member for the vehicle according to claim 1, wherein, in the section perpendicular to the axial direction of the tubular body portion, a width dimension between the both ends of each of the flanges is equal to or less than a width dimension between the outer surfaces of the tubular body portion in a direction parallel to each of the reinforcing side walls.

3. The impact absorbing member for the vehicle according to claim 1, wherein the flanges are formed integrally with the tubular body portion, and the central portion of each of the flanges is shared by each of the reinforcing side walls of the tubular body portion.

4. The impact absorbing member for the vehicle according to claim 1, wherein the impact absorbing member is disposed in a posture such that the pair of reinforcing side walls are located in both end areas in a vehicle upper-lower direction, and the reinforcing side walls and the flanges are substantially parallel to the vehicle width direction in the section perpendicular to the axis of the tubular body portion.

5. An impact absorbing member for a vehicle disposed between a vehicle body side member and a bumper member in a posture such that an axial direction of the impact absorbing member is directed in a fore and aft direction of the vehicle, and collapsed like bellows axially upon receipt of a compressive load to absorb an impact energy, the impact absorbing member comprising:

a tubular body portion with a closed section forming an elongate shape and having a pair of parallel long sides;

a pair of wide side walls provided with the long sides of the elongate shape;

at least one concave groove provided in at least one of the wide side walls, recessed inwardly and extended parallel to an axial direction of the tubular body portion;

reinforcing side walls formed by a pair of narrow side walls of the tubular body portion which are located in both end areas in a longitudinal direction of the closed section and are perpendicular to the longitudinal direction; and

flanges integrally formed with the tubular body portion over an entire axial length thereof respectively outside of the pair of reinforcing side walls, each of the flanges including, in a section perpendicular to the axial direction of the tubular body portion, a central portion and a pair of lateral portions, the central portion being connected to the reinforcing side wall, and the lateral portions projecting outward in directions away from the tubular body portion and being bent to spread substantially parallel to the reinforcing side wall in opposite directions, to form a shape of a concave groove as a whole having a bottom portion at a side of the reinforcing side wall outside of the tubular body portion.

6. The impact absorbing member for the vehicle according to claim 5, wherein, in the section perpendicular to the axial direction of the tubular body portion, a width dimension between the both ends of each of the flanges is equal to or less than a width dimension between the outer surfaces of the tubular body portion in a direction parallel to each of the reinforcing side walls.

7. The impact absorbing member for the vehicle according to claim 5, wherein the flanges are formed integrally with the tubular body portion, and the central portion of each of the flanges is shared by each of the reinforcing side walls of the tubular body portion.

8. The impact absorbing member for the vehicle according to claim 5, wherein the impact absorbing member is disposed in a posture such that the pair of reinforcing side walls are located in both end areas in a vehicle upper-lower direction, and the reinforcing side walls and the flanges are substantially parallel to the vehicle width direction in the section perpendicular to the axis of the tubular body portion.