The present disclosure relates to automotive vehicles, and more particularly to bumper structures of automotive vehicles. A vehicle typically includes a body structure having a bumper beam attached thereto. The bumper beam is provided to receive and dissipate forces applied to the exterior of the vehicle, e.g. as may occur during a collision. Such bumper beams accommodate a variety of design considerations, including collision requirements, airflow requirements, and stylistic requirements.
An automotive vehicle according to the present disclosure includes a vehicle body having a width direction, a fore portion, and an aft portion. The vehicle additionally includes a bumper beam coupled to the vehicle body. The bumper beam has a long dimension oriented in the width direction, and a bumper beam height in a vertical direction orthogonal to the width direction. The vehicle also includes a fascia assembly coupled to the vehicle body and extending about the bumper beam. The vehicle further includes an expansion member coupled to the bumper beam and disposed between the bumper beam and the fascia assembly. The expansion member has an initial position with respect to the bumper beam and a deployed position with respect to the bumper beam. In the initial position the expansion member presents a first frontal height and in the deployed position the expansion member presents a second frontal height. The second frontal height exceeds the first frontal height and exceeds the bumper beam height. The expansion member is configured to deploy from the initial position to the deployed position in response to contact by the fascia assembly.
In an exemplary embodiment, the expansion member is hingedly coupled to the bumper beam, and the expansion member is configured to deploy through pivoting motion about the hinged coupling. In such embodiments, the hinged coupling may have a pivot axis extending generally parallel to the width direction.
In an exemplary embodiment, the expansion member comprises a rigid member fixedly coupled to the bumper beam. The expansion member is configured to inelastically deform in response to contact by the fascia assembly. In such embodiments, the expansion member may have an elongate upper portion, an elongate lower portion, and a curved central portion coupling the upper portion to the lower portion. In the initial position the central portion defines a foremost region of the expansion member with the upper portion and lower portion extending generally aftward of the central portion. In the deployed position, the upper portion may extend above the bumper beam and the lower portion extends below the bumper beam.
A bumper assembly for an automotive vehicle according to the present disclosure includes a bumper beam. The bumper beam has a fore side, an aft side, a long dimension, and a bumper beam height in a vertical direction orthogonal to the long dimension. The assembly additionally includes an expansion member coupled to the fore side of the bumper beam. The expansion member has an initial position with respect to the bumper beam and a deployed position with respect to the bumper beam. In the initial position the expansion member presents a first frontal height and in the deployed position the expansion member presents a second frontal height. The second frontal height exceeds the first frontal height and exceeds the bumper beam height. The expansion member is configured to deploy from the initial position to the deployed position in response to contact from a body forward of the expansion member.
In an exemplary embodiment, the expansion member is hingedly coupled to the bumper beam, and the expansion member is configured to deploy through pivoting motion about the hinged coupling. In such embodiments, the hinged coupling may have a pivot axis extending generally parallel to the long dimension.
In an exemplary embodiment, the expansion member comprises a rigid member fixedly coupled to the bumper beam. The expansion member is configured to inelastically deform in response to contact by the body. In such embodiments, the expansion member may have an elongate upper portion, an elongate lower portion, and a curved central portion coupling the upper portion to the lower portion. In the initial position the central portion defines a foremost region of the expansion member with the upper portion and lower portion extending generally aftward of the central portion. In the deployed position, the upper portion may extend above the bumper beam and the lower portion extends below the bumper beam.
Embodiments according to the present disclosure provide a number of advantages. For example, a bumper assembly according to the present disclosure may present a relatively narrow fore portion, providing stylistic freedom and adequate airflow performance, while also enabling desirable bumper performance.
The above advantage and other advantages and features of the present disclosure will be apparent from the following detailed description of the preferred embodiments when taken in connection with the accompanying drawings.
Embodiments of the present disclosure are described herein. It is to be understood, however, that the disclosed embodiments are merely examples and other embodiments can take various and alternative forms. The figures are not necessarily to scale; some features could be exaggerated or minimized to show details of particular components. Therefore, specific structural and functional details disclosed herein are not to be interpreted as limiting, but are merely representative. The various features illustrated and described with reference to any one of the figures can be combined with features illustrated in one or more other figures to produce embodiments that are not explicitly illustrated or described. The combinations of features illustrated provide representative embodiments for typical applications. Various combinations and modifications of the features consistent with the teachings of this disclosure, however, could be desirable for particular applications or implementations.
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In an initial configuration, as shown in
One or more portions of damping material 26, e.g. a foam material, plastic honeycombed structure, or other compressible material, may be disposed proximate the expansion members 22, e.g. between the expansion members 22 and the fascia assembly 20 and bumper beam 16. The damping material 26 may be secured to the expansion members 22, the fascia assembly 20 and/or the bumper beam 16, e.g. by adhesive.
As illustrated in
As may be seen, the bumper assembly thereby provides a relatively low-profile initial shape, while also providing a relatively larger area for impact forces when necessary.
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As may be seen, the present disclosure provides a bumper assembly according to the present disclosure may present a relatively narrow fore portion, providing stylistic freedom and adequate airflow performance, while also enabling desirable bumper performance.
While exemplary embodiments are described above, it is not intended that these embodiments describe all possible forms encompassed by the claims. The words used in the specification are words of description rather than limitation, and it is understood that various changes can be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the disclosure. As previously described, the features of various embodiments can be combined to form further exemplary aspects of the present disclosure that may not be explicitly described or illustrated. While various embodiments could have been described as providing advantages or being preferred over other embodiments or prior art implementations with respect to one or more desired characteristics, those of ordinary skill in the art recognize that one or more features or characteristics can be compromised to achieve desired overall system attributes, which depend on the specific application and implementation. These attributes can include, but are not limited to cost, strength, durability, life cycle cost, marketability, appearance, packaging, size, serviceability, weight, manufacturability, ease of assembly, etc. As such, embodiments described as less desirable than other embodiments or prior art implementations with respect to one or more characteristics are not outside the scope of the disclosure and can be desirable for particular applications.