Vehicle fenders – Buffer or bumper type – Composite bumper
Reexamination Certificate
2000-04-25
2001-04-03
Pape, Joseph D. (Department: 3612)
Vehicle fenders
Buffer or bumper type
Composite bumper
C293S132000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06209934
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a bumper assembly for vehicles having an improved reinforcement member made of a metal.
In order to alleviate impact on a passenger or decrease a damage of a vehicle body in collision, a bumper assembly is attached to a front portion of a vehicle. One example thereof is disclosed in, for example, Japanese Patent Laid-Open Publication No. Hei
4-303046/1992.
According thereto, as shown by
FIG. 7
, there is constructed a basic structure in which a hollow reinforcement member (bumper reinforcement)
2
made of a metal having a section substantially in a rectangular shape and extended in a width direction of the vehicle, is fixed to each of side members
1
on both sides of a front portion of the vehicle.
An absorber
3
comprising a urethane material and a bumper cover
4
constituting an exterior of the vehicle are arranged at a region frontward from the reinforcement member
2
. The bumper cover
4
is fixed to the reinforcement member
2
and a cover supporting member
7
by using bolts or clips
5
and
6
.
According to the example shown by
FIG. 7
, holes are perforated at a rear wall portion of the reinforcement member
2
and energy absorbing members
8
are arranged at inside of the reinforcement member
2
via the holes. The energy absorbing member
8
is constituted in a shape of a pipe comprising an aluminum alloy or a fiber reinforced resin and press-inserted into the hole of the reinforcement member
2
. A front end thereof is brought into contact with a front wall portion of the reinforcement member
2
and a rear end thereof is brought into contact with a front face of the side member
1
.
When impact is applied on the bumper assembly in collision of the vehicle, the reinforcement member (bumper reinforcement)
2
is deformed. According to the deformation of the reinforcement member
2
, an upper wall portion and a lower wall portion are deformed to buckle toward outer sides such that the front wall portion becomes proximate to the rear wall portion and the energy absorbing members
8
are compressed to deform in a bellow-like shape. Thereby, as shown by
FIG. 8
, there is provided a characteristic of an energy absorbing amount (E/A amount) indicating a long and low displacement region and a high yield load A.
According to the conventional bumper assembly, as shown by
FIG. 8
, although there is observed rapid energy absorption caused by buckling the reinforcement member, thereafter, regardless of adding the energy absorbing members, there is indicated the long and low displacement region and the energy absorbing function is not high.
Further, there are needed the energy absorbing members other than the reinforcement member and accordingly, a number of parts is increased, which is disadvantageous in view of the cost and in view of the productivity.
According to the deformation of the reinforcement member, the upper wall portion and the lower wall portion are deformed to buckle on the outer sides and therefore, there is a concern that the deformation interferes with functional parts (head light, winker lamps and so on) other than the bumper assembly and destruction thereof is caused, which is not preferable.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
Hence, it is a problem of the invention to resolve the drawback of the conventional technology, mentioned above.
According to the invention, in order to resolve the above-described problem, basically, there is used technical means or conception in which radii of curvature of corners (circular arcs) on outer sides of portions connecting a front and a rear wall portion and an upper and a lower wall portion of a reinforcement member (bumper reinforcement), are made larger than radii of curvature of corners (circular arcs) on inner sides thereof and in deforming the reinforcement member, the upper wall portion and the lower wall portion are bent toward inner sides. At this occasion, the upper wall portion and the lower wall portion deformed to buckle toward the inner sides will interfere with the rear wall portion, as a result, the upper wall portion and the lower wall portion are deformed in a bellow-like shape, thereby, there is achieved operation and effect in which there is provided a characteristic of a long and high deformation region and a high yield load, that is, a characteristic having a large energy absorbing amount (E/A amount) without using energy absorbing members as in the conventional case.
Further, the upper wall and the lower wall are deformed to buckle on the inner sides and accordingly, there is no concern that the upper wall and the lower wall interfere with functional parts other than the bumper apparatus.
Specifically, according to an aspect of the invention, there is provided a bumper assembly for vehicles which is a bumper apparatus fixed to side members of a vehicle and having a reinforcement member having a section substantially in a rectangular shape wherein the reinforcement member comprises a front and a rear wall portion and an upper and a lower wall portion for connecting the front and the rear wall portions, the upper and the lower wall portions are disposed on inner sides of upper and lower edges of the front and the rear wall portions and when impact load is operated on the front wall portions, at least a portion of the upper and the lower wall portions of portions of the reinforcement member fixed to the side members is bent to deform to the inner sides and in a direction of the rear wall portion.
REFERENCES:
patent: 4457547 (1984-07-01), Sekiyama et al.
patent: 5201912 (1993-04-01), Terada et al.
patent: 6000738 (1999-12-01), Stewart et al.
patent: 4-303046 (1992-10-01), None
Azuchi Kazunari
Haneda Shinichi
Inagaki Toshiyuki
Kamiya Tsuyoshi
Matsutani Taku
Aisin Seiki Kabushiki Kaisha
Burns Doane , Swecker, Mathis LLP
Pape Joseph D.
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