Energy-absorbing apparatus

• US 9,340,231 B1
• Filed: 08/08/2014
• Issued: 05/17/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 08/08/2014
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Google LLC (Alphabet Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Google Inc. (Alphabet Inc.)
• Inventors: Minahan, Jason, Rivera, Felix Jose Alvarez, Larner, Daniel Lynn, Daniel, Thomas
• Primary Examiner(s): Patel, Kiran B
• Application Number:
  US14/455,252
• Time in Patent Office: 648 Days
• Field of Search: 296/187.09
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 19/023 Details
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 19/18 characterised by the cross-section; Means within the bumper to absorb impact
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 19/22 containing mainly cellular material, e.g. solid foam
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2019/1846 comprising a cellular structure
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/34 Protecting non-occupants of a vehicle, e.g. pedestrians B60R19/02 takes precedence
• 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

In one example, an apparatus includes a casing configured to be coupled to a frame of a vehicle at a first end of the casing. The casing comprises friable foam having a first stiffness. The apparatus further includes a void within the casing defined by (i) an inner wall of the casing and (ii) an opening at a second end of the casing. The apparatus further includes an insert positioned within the void, the insert comprising a material having a second stiffness that is different from the first stiffness.

Claims

1. An apparatus comprising:

an inner casing configured to be coupled to a frame of a vehicle at a first end of the inner casing, wherein the inner casing is made of a first friable foam having a first stiffness;

a first void within the inner casing defined by (i) an inner wall of the inner casing and (ii) an opening at a second end of the inner casing; and

a first insert made of a second friable foam, wherein the first insert is positioned within the first void, and wherein the second friable foam has a second stiffness that is different from the first stiffness.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the first end of the inner casing is opposite the second end of the inner casing.

3. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the first insert comprises a first structure configured to collapse as the first insert absorbs an impact force.

4. The apparatus of claim 3, wherein the first structure has a hexagonal shape.

5. The apparatus of claim 4, further comprising a second structure that has a hexagonal shape with an open end.

6. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising:

an outer casing placed over the second end of the inner casing; and

a second void within the outer casing configured to receive an object.

7. The apparatus of claim 6, wherein the second stiffness is less than the first stiffness and the first insert is positioned behind the second void.

8. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising:

a horizontally elongated insert that is located at the second end of the inner casing below the first insert, wherein a stiffness of the horizontally elongated insert is greater than the first stiffness, and wherein the first stiffness is greater than the second stiffness.

9. The apparatus of claim 8, further comprising:

a first wedge-shaped insert located on a first side of the second end of the inner casing, wherein the first wedge-shaped insert has a stiffness that is greater than the first stiffness; and

a second wedge-shaped insert located on a second side of the second end of the inner casing, wherein the second side is opposite the first side, and wherein the second wedge-shaped insert has a stiffness that is greater than the first stiffness.

10. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising:

a first wedge-shaped insert located on a first side of the second end of the inner casing, wherein the first wedge-shaped insert has a stiffness that is greater than the first stiffness; and

a second wedge-shaped insert located on a second side of the second end of the inner casing, wherein the second side is opposite the first side, wherein the second wedge-shaped insert has a stiffness that is greater than the first stiffness, and wherein the first stiffness is greater than the second stiffness.

11. The apparatus of claim 6, wherein the object comprises a sensor.