Patent Application
20090315346
Embodiments of the present invention are generally directed to systems and methods for vehicle bumper reinforcement, and are specifically directed to vehicle bumper reinforcement systems comprising bumper reinforcement extensions to prevent a vehicle from riding under a deformable barrier.
Collision testing, which is devoted to minimizing vehicle damage and passenger injuries and fatalities, is a common practice in vehicle design and production. New Insurance Institute of Highway Safety (IIHS) test procedures use deformable barriers for impact evaluations instead of flat walls. As a result of these collisions, vehicles may ride under the deformable barrier, thereby damaging sheet metal and other portions of the vehicle. As a result, there is a need for vehicle bumper reinforcement systems which comply with IIHS test procedures and minimize vehicle damage.
According to one embodiment, a vehicle bumper reinforcement system is provided. The vehicle bumper reinforcement system comprises bumper fascia configured to couple to a vehicle body and operable to deform in response to a collision, a bumper reinforcement beam operable to couple to a vehicle body at a position spaced underneath the bumper fascia, and a bumper reinforcement extension disposed on a top edge of the bumper reinforcement beam, wherein the bumper reinforcement extension extends within a portion of the spacing between the bumper reinforcement beam and the bumper fascia. The bumper fascia is configured to deform and contact the bumper reinforcement beam and the bumper reinforcement extension in response to a collision, wherein the position of the bumper reinforcement extension below the bumper fascia is configured to reduce the deformation distance of the bumper fascia.
According to another embodiment, a method of protecting a vehicle during a collision with a deformable barrier is provided. The method comprises providing a vehicle comprising bumper fascia and a bumper reinforcement beam spaced underneath the bumper fascia, and attaching a bumper reinforcement extension onto a top edge of the bumper reinforcement beam at least partially within the spacing between the bumper reinforcement beam and the bumper fascia. The bumper reinforcement extension minimizes a deformation distance of the bumper fascia in response to a collision with a deformable barrier thereby preventing the vehicle from riding under the deformable barrier.
These and additional features provided by the embodiments of the present invention will be more fully understood in view of the following detailed description, in conjunction with the drawings.
The following detailed description of specific embodiments of the present invention can be best understood when read in conjunction with the drawing enclosed herewith.
The embodiments set forth in the drawing are illustrative in nature and not intended to be limiting of the invention defined by the claims. Moreover, individual features of the drawings and invention will be more fully apparent and understood in view of the detailed description.
Embodiments of the present invention are directed to vehicle bumper reinforcement systems which comply with International Institute of Highway Safety (IIHS) test procedures and thereby minimize vehicle damage by providing adequate overlap to ensure the vehicle bumper fascia does not ride under the deformable barrier. If the vehicle rides under the barrier, the test barrier may impact surrounding sheet metal and other parts causing undesired vehicle damage.
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Particularly, the gap C between the bumper reinforcement extension 20 and the bumper fascia 5 allows the bumper fascia 5 to deform in response a collision and thereby absorb a portion of the impact. However, the bumper reinforcement extension 20, which comprises a height A, minimizes the gap C between bumper reinforcement extension 20 and the bumper fascia 5 thereby allowing the bumper fascia 5 to deform a lesser distance. By deforming a lesser distance, the bumper fascia 5 is not so compacted that the vehicle under rides the deformable barrier 100, which results in significant vehicle damage such as to be the hood or the luggage door of the vehicle. As shown, the bumper reinforcement extension 20 allows the vehicle bumper reinforcement system 1 to provide adequate overlap while keeping the beam 10 in a location that meets packaging constraints and style requirements. Due to the minimized gap C between the bumper fascia 5 and bumper reinforcement extension 20, the deformable barrier cannot ride under the vehicle during a collision. The bumper reinforcement extension 20 may comprise various suitable shapes e.g., triangular shape.
Although various materials are contemplated herein, the bumper reinforcement extension 20 may comprise sheet metal, for example, a steel sheet with a thickness of about 1 mm. In operation, a collision with a deformable barrier 100 (e.g., a deformable barrier comprising size and performance properties as defined by the International Institute of Highway Safety) causes the bumper fascia 5 to deform. Referring to
For the purposes of describing and defining the present invention it is noted that the terms “substantially” and “about” are utilized herein to represent the inherent degree of uncertainty that may be attributed to any quantitative comparison, value, measurement, or other representation. These terms are also utilized herein to represent the degree by which a quantitative representation may vary from a stated reference without resulting in a change in the basic function of the subject matter at issue.
Having described the invention in detail and by reference to specific embodiments thereof, it will be apparent that modifications and variations are possible without departing from the scope of the invention defined in the appended claims. More specifically, although some aspects of the present invention are identified herein as preferred or particularly advantageous, it is contemplated that the present invention is not necessarily limited to these aspects of the invention.
