Multi extension front bumper beam

• US 8,662,566 B1
• Filed: 03/15/2013
• Issued: 03/04/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 03/15/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Honda Motor Co., Ltd. (Honda Motor Company)
• Original Assignee: Honda Motor Co., Ltd. (Honda Motor Company)
• Inventors: Edwards, David M., Ellison, Patrick J., Heitkamp, Eric M., Brewer, William W., Thom, Walter
• Primary Examiner(s): Morrow, Jason S
• Application Number:
  US13/834,145
• Time in Patent Office: 354 Days
• Field of Search: 296/187.09, 296/193.1, 296/193.09, 293/133, 293/135, 293/136, 293/150, 293/154, 293/155, 293/102, 293/132
• US Class Current: 296/187.09
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 19/24 Arrangements for mounting bumpers on vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2019/247 Fastening of bumpers' side ends

Abstract

A vehicle body front structure includes a front end frame assembly, a bumper beam, left and right inner extension members, and left and right outer extension members. The front end frame assembly is disposed adjacent a forward end of the vehicle. The bumper beam is disposed forward of the front end frame assembly. The left and right inner extension members connect the bumper beam with the front end frame assembly. The left and right outer extension members are disposed on respective external sides of the left and right inner extension members and connect the bumper beam with the front end frame assembly. Each outer extension member includes a forward end section for connecting with the bumper beam, a rear end section having connection locations for connecting with the front end frame assembly and a curved section disposed between the forward end section and the rear end section.

Claims

1. A vehicle body front structure for a vehicle comprising:

a front end frame assembly disposed adjacent a forward end of the vehicle;

a bumper beam disposed forward of the front end frame assembly;

left and right inner extension members connecting the bumper beam with the front end frame assembly; and

left and right outer extension members disposed on respective external sides of the left and right inner extension members and connecting the bumper beam with the front end frame assembly, wherein each outer extension member includes a forward end section for connecting with the bumper beam, a rear end section having connection locations for connecting with the front end frame assembly and a curved section disposed between the forward end section and the rear end section, wherein the rear end section has a plate—

like configuration having a vertical dimension greater than a horizontal dimension in a lateral direction of the vehicle, a vertical plane having the vertical dimension thereon is generally parallel to a longitudinal direction of the vehicle.

2. The vehicle body front structure of claim 1, wherein the connection locations are openings extending through the rear end section.

3. The vehicle body front structure of claim 2, wherein the openings extend horizontally in the lateral direction of the vehicle.

4. The vehicle body front structure of claim 1, wherein each outer extension member includes at least one vertically extending bore for receiving a fastener to connect the bumper beam with the outer extension member.

5. The vehicle body front structure of claim 1, wherein each outer extension member includes a single vertically extending bore for receiving a fastener to connect the bumper beam with the outer extension member.

6. The vehicle body front structure of claim 1, wherein the front end frame assembly further includes:

left and right longitudinally extending front side frames; and

left and right upper frames disposed on respective external sides of the left and right front side frames.

7. The vehicle body front structure of claim 6, wherein the upper frames extend in an upward slope toward a rear of the vehicle.

8. The vehicle body front structure of claim 6, further comprising laterally extending fasteners connected with the upper frames and received in openings in the rear end section of the outer extension members.

9. The vehicle body front structure of claim 8, further comprising a respective collar surrounding each laterally extending fastener, wherein each collar contacts a respective outer extension member.

10. The vehicle body front structure of claim 9, wherein each outer extension member is offset laterally inwardly from the respective upper frame.

11. The vehicle body front structure of claim 8, wherein each outer extension member includes a vertically extending bore for receiving a fastener to connect the bumper beam with the outer extension member and each outer extension member is offset laterally inwardly from the respective upper frame.

12. The vehicle body front structure of claim 11, wherein the curved section curves laterally inwardly or outwardly from the forward section and the rear section.

14. The vehicle body front structure of claim 11, wherein a vertical plane having the vertical dimension of the rear end section thereon is generally parallel to a longitudinal direction of the vehicle.

15. The vehicle body front structure of claim 11, further comprising laterally extending fasteners connected with the upper frames and received in openings in the rear end section of the outer extension members.

16. The vehicle body front structure of claim 15, further comprising a respective collar surrounding each laterally extending fastener, wherein each collar contacts a respective outer extension member to offset the respective outer extension member from the respective upper frame.

17. The vehicle body front structure of claim 16, wherein each outer extension member is offset laterally inwardly from the respective upper frame.

13. A vehicle body front structure for a vehicle comprising:

a front end frame assembly disposed adjacent a forward end of the vehicle including left and right longitudinally extending front side frames and left and right upper frames disposed on respective external sides of the left and right front side frames;

a bumper beam disposed forward of the front end frame assembly;

left and right inner extension members connecting the bumper beam with the front end frame assembly; and

left and right outer extension members disposed on respective external sides of the left and right inner extension members and connecting the bumper beam with the front end frame assembly, wherein each outer extension member includes a forward end section for connecting with the bumper beam, a rear end section having connection locations for connecting with a respective upper frame and a curved section disposed between the forward end section and the rear end section, wherein at least the curved section and the rear end section has a plate—

like configuration having a vertical dimension greater than a horizontal dimension, wherein the curved section curves laterally inwardly from the forward section and the rear section.

18. A vehicle body front structure for a vehicle comprising:

a front end frame assembly disposed adjacent a forward end of the vehicle including left and right longitudinally extending front side frames and left and right upper frames disposed on respective external sides of the left and right front side frames;

fasteners extending laterally inwardly from the upper members;

a bumper beam disposed forward of the front end frame assembly;

left and right inner extension members connecting the bumper beam with the front end frame assembly; and

left and right outer extension members disposed on respective external sides of the left and right inner extension members and connecting the bumper beam with the front end frame assembly, wherein each outer extension member includes a forward end section for connecting with the bumper beam, a rear end section having openings each for receiving a respective fastener for connecting with a respective upper member and a curved section disposed between the forward end section and the rear end section.

19. The vehicle body front structure of claim 18, wherein the rear end section has a plate—

like configuration having a vertical dimension greater than a horizontal dimension in a lateral direction of the vehicle, a vertical plane having the vertical dimension thereon is generally parallel to a longitudinal direction of the vehicle.

20. The vehicle body front structure of claim 18, wherein each outer extension member has a generally constant thickness measured in a generally lateral direction from a rear end of the outer extension member moving forward through the rear end section and the curved section to adjacent the forward end section.