| Patent application number | Description | Published |
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| 20100109353 | VEHICLE BUMPER SYSTEM WITH ENERGY ABSORBER - A vehicle bumper system includes a beam configured to attach to a vehicle and a thermoformed energy absorber positioned on the beam. The energy absorber comprises a frame and a crush lobe extending from the frame. The crush lobe comprises a lobe wall extending between the frame and an outer wall. The change in lobe wall thickness may be constant. The outer wall is curved away from the frame. | 05-06-2010 |
| 20110227353 | PLASTICALLY DEFORMABLE SPRING ENERGY MANAGEMENT SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR MAKING AND USING THE SAME - In one embodiment, an energy management system can comprise: a support structure; a covering; and a plastically deformable compression spring located between the support structure and the covering. In one embodiment, a method of absorbing energy can comprise: impacting a portion of a vehicle comprising an energy management system and plastically deforming the compression spring. A method for energy management in a vehicle comprises installing the energy management system in a vehicle. | 09-22-2011 |
| 20120104775 | REINFORCED PLASTIC ENERGY ABSORBER SYSTEM AND METHODS OF MAKING THE SAME - In one embodiment, an energy absorber, comprises: a plurality of crush lobes including a base and sides extending from the base to an outer wall; and a composite insert in the energy absorber. The insert comprises a second plastic material and reinforcement. The second plastic material is different than the crush lobe material. The insert is located at an area of the crush lobes, and wherein the area is the side and/or the outer wall. In another embodiment, an energy absorber comprises: a plastic frame; thermoplastic crush lobes extending from the frame, wherein the crush lobes comprise an outer wall, an extending wall, and a base; and a plastic insert located at an area having a volume of the crush lobes, wherein the insert occupies less than or equal to 90% of the area volume. The insert comprises reinforcement and a plastic material different than the thermoplastic crush lobes. | 05-03-2012 |
| 20120104778 | UNITARY ENERGY ABSORBING ASSEMBLY AND METHOD OF MAKING THE SAME - An energy absorbing assembly can comprise: a support structure having a first wall and an outer wall that extend in an x direction from a first end to a second end; an energy absorber that extends across the first wall of the support structure, the energy absorber comprising a plurality of crushable members are configured to crush and absorb energy upon impact, a first crash can; and a second crash can, wherein the first and second crash cans extend from the first and second ends of the support structure. The energy absorbing assembly is an in situ formed single element. A method of making an energy absorbing assembly can comprise: introducing molten thermoplastic material to a mold to in situ form the energy absorbing assembly and removing the energy absorbing assembly from the mold by moving the mold in a y direction. | 05-03-2012 |
| 20120112479 | ENERGY ABSORBING DEVICE AND METHODS OF MAKING AND USING THE SAME - In an embodiment, an energy absorbing device comprises: a metal component comprising greater than or equal to three walls forming a metal component channel; and a plastic component having a honeycomb structure with a plurality of walls defining comb channels therein. The plastic component is located in the metal component channel forming a crash can. The plastic component is inseparable from the metal component without damage to the metal component and/or the plastic component. In one embodiment, a method of making an energy absorbing device can comprise: co-molding the metal component and the plastic component to form a crash can. The energy absorbing device can be used on a vehicle, adjacent to a vehicle component. | 05-10-2012 |
| 20120153643 | VEHICLE LOWER-LEG PROTECTION DEVICE AND METHOD OF MAKING AND USING THE SAME - In one embodiment, a thermoplastic lower-leg device, comprises: corrugations in a direction perpendicular to an impact direction; and an interior section extending in the impact direction and having an outbound portion having an outbound length D | 06-21-2012 |
| 20120153644 | BLOW MOLDED ENERGY ABSORBER AND SYSTEMS AND METHODS OF MAKING AND USING THE SAME - In one embodiment, a vehicle energy absorber system, comprises: blow molded crush lobes that are open on one side, wherein the energy absorber comprises fillets having a fillet radius of less than 20 mm and a thickness of less than or equal to 1.5 mm; a bumper beam adjacent the open side; and a fascia, wherein the energy absorber is located between the fascia and the bumper beam. In one embodiment, a method for making a blow molded energy absorber comprises: introducing a molten plastic to a first mold cavity; introducing gas into the plastic to conform the plastic to the interior of the first mold cavity and form a first preform; and separating the first preform along a centerline thereof to form open, first preform portions having first crush lobes. | 06-21-2012 |
| 20120153647 | ASYMMETRIC ENERGY ABSORBER AND METHOD OF MAKING AND USING THE SAME - In one embodiment, an asymmetric energy absorber can comprise: an upper wall and a lower wall defining crush lobes; a flange, wherein the lower wall is between the flange and the upper wall; a base extending between the lower wall and the flange, wherein the flange extends from a first side of the base; and a rib extending along the base toward the flange and away from a second side of the base. In an embodiment, a vehicle bumper system, can comprise: a bumper beam having an outer face and a bottom surface; an asymmetric energy absorber. The asymmetric energy absorber can comprise: a generally triangular shaped section formed by an upper wall extending from an upper wall first end toward a lower wall to a joining area; a base extending from a second end of the lower wall opposite the joining area and in a direction away from the upper wall; a flange extending away from the base, below the lower wall; and a rib extending from the base along the bottom surface of the bumper beam. | 06-21-2012 |
| 20120153669 | REINFORCED BODY IN WHITE AND METHOD OF MAKING AND USING THE SAME - In various embodiments, a structural body of a vehicle comprises: a hollow metal component comprising walls that define a channel, wherein the metal vehicle component has a metal component length, and wherein the metal vehicle component is selected from the group consisting of beam, rail, pillar, chassis, floor rocker, and cross-bar, combinations comprising at least one of the foregoing; and a plastic reinforcement having a honeycomb structure, wherein the plastic reinforcement is located in the channel. The metal component can be a portion of the structural body of the vehicle. | 06-21-2012 |
| 20120200098 | METHODS FOR MAKING AND USING PLASTICALLY DEFORMABLE COIL ENERGY MANAGEMENT SYSTEMS - In an embodiment, a method of absorbing energy comprises: impacting a portion of a vehicle comprising a coil energy absorber, and compressing and plastically deforming the coil energy absorber. The coil energy absorber has an initial height and is located between the support structure and the covering, and wherein the coil energy absorber absorbs energy upon impact such that, after the impact, the coil energy absorber has a final height that is less than or equal to 90% of the initial height. The coil energy absorber is made of plastic. The coil energy absorber is located between a fascia and a support structure of the vehicle. | 08-09-2012 |
| 20120200099 | PLASTICALLY DEFORMABLE COIL ENERGY ABSORBER SYSTEMS - In one embodiment, an energy management system can comprise: a vehicle energy management system comprises: a support structure selected from a bumper beam, a body in white, a body in black, a front-end module, a radiator support beam, a bumper support bracket, a component projecting from the body in white, a component projecting from the body in black, and combinations comprising at least one of the foregoing; a covering; and a coil energy absorber made of plastic. The coil energy absorber has an initial height and is located between the support structure and the covering. The coil energy absorber absorbs energy upon impact such that, after the impact, the coil energy absorber has a final height that is less than or equal to 90% of the initial height. | 08-09-2012 |
| 20120304445 | BLOW MOLDED ENERGY ABSORBER AND SYSTEMS AND METHODS OF MAKING AND USING THE SAME - In one embodiment, a vehicle energy absorber system, comprises: blow molded crush lobes that are open on one side, wherein the energy absorber comprises fillets having a fillet radius of less than 20 mm and a thickness of less than or equal to 1.5 mm; a bumper beam adjacent the open side; and a fascia, wherein the energy absorber is located between the fascia and the bumper beam. In one embodiment, a method for making a blow molded energy absorber comprises: introducing a molten plastic to a first mold cavity; introducing gas into the plastic to conform the plastic to the interior of the first mold cavity and form a first preform; and separating the first preform along a centerline thereof to form open, first preform portions having first crush lobes. | 12-06-2012 |
| 20130106139 | IMPACT DEVICE AND METHODS OF MAKING AND USING THE SAME | 05-02-2013 |
| 20130113226 | ENERGY ABSORBING SYSTEM FOR CONFLICTING REGULATORY REQUIREMENTS FOR VEHICLE BUMPERS - In an embodiment, multi-stage energy absorbing system can comprise: a thermoplastic flanged frame and a crush lobe having a proximal base aligned with the flanged frame and a distal end protruding from the flanged frame. The crush lobe comprises a central slab and slab pairs such that the crush lobe comprises a total of 2i+1 slabs, wherein i is the number of slab pairs and is greater than or equal to 1. The slabs are disposed in a stepped arrangement and configured to absorb impact energy by collapsing in a telescopic manner with increasing energy level. | 05-09-2013 |
| 20130193698 | ENERGY ABSORBING ASSEMBLY AND METHODS OF MAKING AND USING THE SAME - In an embodiment, an energy absorbing assembly comprises a foam stage having a first surface and a second surface, wherein the second surface comprises a recess; and a thermoplastic stage comprising a frame and crush lobes; wherein the crush lobes extend from the frame of the thermoplastic stage into the recess. In another embodiment, a method of making an energy absorbing assembly comprises forming a foam stage having a first surface and a second surface, wherein the second surface comprises recesses; forming a thermoplastic stage having a frame and crush lobes protruding from the frame; and engaging the recesses and the crush lobes to form the energy absorbing assembly. | 08-01-2013 |
| 20130221691 | ENERGY ABSORBING SYSTEM - An embodiment of a thermoplastic energy absorber for a vehicle comprises: a base and a crush lobe. The crush lobe comprises load walls extending from the base and a convex front face located at an end of the load walls opposite the base, wherein the convex front face bow outward, away from the base. The convex front face is connected to the load walls with fillets. The base and crush lobes comprise a plastic material. | 08-29-2013 |
