Bumper arrangement for the front region of a passenger car

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11052844-B2
Application number	US-201916448645-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jun 21, 2019
Priority date	Dec 22, 2016
Publication date	Jul 6, 2021
Grant date	Jul 6, 2021

Abstract

A bumper arrangement of a passenger car has an upper and a lower load path. A spring element is provided on the transverse support of the lower load path, which, in the event of a collision of a pedestrian with the passenger car, exerts an additional force on the lower leg of the pedestrian, so as to support the movement of the pedestrian in the direction of the front hood of the passenger car.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A bumper arrangement for a front region of a passenger car, comprising:
an upper load path having upper longitudinal members and an upper crossmember;
a lower load path having lower longitudinal members and a lower crossmember; and
at least one spring element arranged on a front side of the lower crossmember over at least a portion of a widthwise extent of the lower crossmember, wherein
the at least one spring element comprises a material and/or is dimensioned such that collision-related deformation of the spring element lies at least predominantly in a range of elastic deformation, whereby a rebound effect exerts an additional force on a pedestrian causing the collision-related deformation.

2. The bumper arrangement according to claim 1 , wherein
the spring element is provided substantially over the entire widthwise extent of the lower crossmember.

3. The bumper arrangement according to claim 2 , wherein
a spring stiffness of the spring element is at least regionally different over the widthwise extent of the lower crossmember.

4. The bumper arrangement according to claim 1 , wherein
the spring element is formed in a wavy manner in a cross section defined approximately in an X-Z plane of the passenger car.

5. The bumper arrangement according to claim 4 , wherein
the spring element exhibits substantially a complete wave with a profile similar to a sine curve.

6. The bumper arrangement according to claim 1 , wherein
the spring element has at least one stiffening element oriented approximately in a direction of travel of the passenger car.

7. The bumper arrangement according to claim 6 , wherein
the at least one stiffening element is formed in a two-dimensional manner, extends approximately in an X-Z plane of the passenger car, and is inserted in a wave arc of the spring element.

8. A bumper arrangement for a front region of a passenger car, comprising:
an upper load path having upper longitudinal members and an upper crossmember;
a lower load path having lower longitudinal members and a lower crossmember; and
at least one spring element arranged on a front side of the lower crossmember over at least a portion of a widthwise extent of the lower crossmember, wherein
the spring element is arranged on the lower crossmember in a pretensioned state, and
a device is provided that releases the pretension of the spring element in the event of a collision, such that the spring element generates a force directed in the direction of travel.

9. The bumper arrangement according to claim 8 , wherein
the device has a portion that is in a form fit with the crossmember when the spring element is pretensioned, and
in the event of a force acting counter to the direction of travel, the form fit is undone and the spring element releases the pretension.

10. A passenger car comprising a bumper arrangement according to claim 1 .

11. The passenger car according to 10 , wherein
the spring element is provided substantially over the entire widthwise extent of the lower crossmember.

12. The passenger car according to 11 , wherein
a spring stiffness of the spring element is at least regionally different over the widthwise extent of the lower crossmember.

13. The passenger car according to 10 , wherein
the spring element is formed in a wavy manner in a cross section defined approximately in an X-Z plane of the passenger car.

14. The passenger car according to 13 , wherein
the spring element exhibits substantially a complete wave with a profile similar to a sine curve.

15. The passenger car according to 10 , wherein
the spring element has at least one stiffening element oriented approximately in a direction of travel of the passenger car.

16. The passenger car according to 15 , wherein
the at least one stiffening element is formed in a two-dimensional manner, extends approximately in an X-Z plane of the passenger car, and is inserted in a wave arc of the spring element.

17. A passenger car, comprising:
a bumper arrangement for a front region of the passenger car, the bumper arrangement comprising:
an upper load path having upper longitudinal members and an upper crossmember;
a lower load path having lower longitudinal members and a lower crossmember; and
at least one spring element arranged on a front side of the lower crossmember over at least a portion of a widthwise extent of the lower crossmember, wherein

the spring element is arranged on the lower crossmember in a pretensioned state, and
a device is provided that releases the pretension of the spring element in the event of a collision, such that the spring element generates a force directed in the direction of travel.

18. The passenger car according to 17 , wherein
the device has a portion that is in a form fit with the crossmember when the spring element is pretensioned, and
in the event of a force acting counter to the direction of travel, the form fit is undone and the spring element releases the pretension.

Assignees

• Bayerische Motoren Werke Ag

Inventors

• Fichtinger Gerhard
• Gross Martin
• Novine Mazdak
• Rudolph Tim

Classifications

• B60R21/34

  Protecting non-occupants of a vehicle, e.g. pedestrians {(B60R19/02 takes precedence)} · CPC title

• B60R19/18 Primary

  {characterised by the cross-section;} Means within the bumper to absorb impact · CPC title

• B60R2019/186

  Additional energy absorbing means supported on bumber beams, e.g. cellular structures or material · CPC title

• B60R19/12 Primary

  vertically spaced · CPC title