Land vehicles: bodies and tops – Tops – Cover
Reexamination Certificate
1999-02-01
2001-03-13
Pedder, Dennis H. (Department: 3612)
Land vehicles: bodies and tops
Tops
Cover
Reexamination Certificate
active
06199937
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates generally to vehicles and, more specifically, to an energy absorbing pocket member for a motor vehicle.
2. Description of the Related Art
It is known to provide front rails and a bumper on motor vehicles. One of the purposes of such rails and bumper is to absorb energy from an impact with an object. To improve the energy absorption, a passive guard member (PGM) is disposed inside a front rail to absorb energy at low speed impacts, i.e., five miles per hour. Another device to improve energy absorption is a molded-in rectangular pocket.
Although the above PGM device has worked well, it suffers from the disadvantage that it is heavy and costly to manufacture. As a result, there is a need in the art to provide an energy absorbing member that absorbs energy and rebounds utilizing a crush initiating shape.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
Accordingly, the present invention is an energy absorbing pocket member for a motor vehicle including at least one rail extending longitudinally and a bumper extending laterally at one end of the at least one rail. The energy absorbing pocket member includes a closed end disposed adjacent the bumper and an open end disposed adjacent the at least one rail and having a cavity to allow the energy absorbing member to crush and absorb energy of an impact on the bumper.
One advantage of the present invention is that an energy absorbing pocket member is provided for a motor vehicle. Another advantage of the present invention is that the energy absorbing pocket member is a crushable pocket member that absorbs energy and rebounds utilizing a crush initiating shape. Yet another advantage of the present invention is that the energy absorbing pocket member is a crushable pocket member that aids in low and high speed vehicle impacts. Still another advantage of the present invention is that the energy absorbing pocket member can be molded-in the same part without external tooling. A further advantage of the present invention is that the energy absorbing pocket member saves cost, is simple to tool and is flexible in geometry.
Other features and advantages of the present invention will be readily appreciated as the same becomes better understood after reading the subsequent description when taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.
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Balabhadra Kumar
Golovoy Angela Renee
Sharif Irtan
Zetouna Kurtis
Pedder Dennis H.
Shelton Larry I.
Visteon Global Technologies Inc.
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