Devices and methods for an energy-absorbing end of a vehicle

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9393922-B2
Application number	US-201414286545-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	May 23, 2014
Priority date	May 23, 2014
Publication date	Jul 19, 2016
Grant date	Jul 19, 2016

Abstract

A vehicle is provided that includes a frame and a mount to couple a first end of an apparatus to the frame. The apparatus comprises a central region that includes a first energy-absorbing material. A first side of the central region is included in the first end of the apparatus coupled to the frame. The apparatus comprises a side region that includes a second energy-absorbing material. The side region is positioned along a second side of the upper region. The side region is configured to be positioned above a wheel of the vehicle.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A vehicle comprising:
a frame;
an apparatus coupled to the frame at a first end of the apparatus, wherein the apparatus extends from one side of the vehicle to an opposite side of the vehicle, and wherein the apparatus comprises:
a central region of the apparatus that includes a first energy-absorbing material, wherein a first side of the first energy-absorbing material is included in the first end of the apparatus coupled to the frame, and
a side region of the apparatus that includes a second energy-absorbing material positioned outside the central region to overlap in contact with a second side of the first energy-absorbing material other than the first side, wherein the first energy-absorbing material is positioned outside the side region, wherein the second energy-absorbing material is positioned to overlap above a wheel of the vehicle, and wherein the first energy-absorbing material and the second energy-absorbing material have different material characteristics; and

a mount to couple the apparatus with the frame.

2. The vehicle of claim 1 , wherein the first energy-absorbing material of the central region has a first hardness that is less than a second hardness of the second energy-absorbing material of the side region.

3. The vehicle of claim 1 , wherein the apparatus further comprises a bumper that includes a third energy-absorbing material, wherein the bumper is positioned at a second end of the apparatus opposite to the first end, and wherein a third side of the first energy-absorbing material opposite to the first side is included in the second end of the apparatus where the bumper is positioned.

4. The vehicle of claim 3 , wherein the apparatus further comprises a protruding structure positioned below the bumper and at the second end of the apparatus.

5. The vehicle of claim 4 , wherein the protruding structure includes a fourth energy-absorbing material having a hardness that is greater than a given hardness of the third energy-absorbing material in the bumper.

6. The vehicle of claim 1 , wherein the apparatus further comprises a removable energy-absorbing material positioned below the first energy-absorbing material, wherein the removable energy-absorbing material includes wiring for connectivity between the frame and one or more electronic devices included in the apparatus.

7. The vehicle of claim 1 , wherein the apparatus further comprises an energy-absorbing coating layer.

8. The vehicle of claim 1 , wherein the central region includes a hood.

9. The vehicle of claim 1 , wherein the central region includes a trunk.

10. The vehicle of claim 1 , wherein the apparatus further comprises a windshield.

11. An apparatus comprising:
a mount to couple a first end of the apparatus with a vehicle, wherein the apparatus extends from one side of the vehicle to an opposite side of the vehicle;
a central region that includes a first energy-absorbing material, wherein a first side of the first energy-absorbing material is included in the first end of the apparatus coupled to the mount; and
a side region that includes a second energy-absorbing material positioned outside the central region to overlap in contact with a second side of the first energy-absorbing material other than the first side, wherein the first energy-absorbing material is positioned outside the side region, wherein the second energy-absorbing material is configured to be positioned to overlap above a wheel of the vehicle, and wherein the first energy-absorbing material and the second energy-absorbing material have different material characteristics.

12. The apparatus of claim 11 , further comprising:
a bumper that includes a third energy-absorbing material, wherein the bumper is positioned at a second end of the apparatus opposite to the first end, and wherein a third side of the first energy-absorbing material opposite to the first side is included in the second end of the apparatus where the bumper is positioned.

13. The apparatus of claim 12 , further comprising a protruding structure positioned below the bumper and at the second end of the apparatus.

14. The apparatus of claim 11 , further comprising:
one or more electronic devices; and
a removable energy-absorbing material positioned below the first energy-absorbing material, wherein the removable energy-absorbing material includes wiring for connectivity between the frame and the one or more electronic devices.

15. The apparatus of claim 11 , further comprising a windshield.

16. An apparatus comprising:
a mount to couple a first end of the apparatus with a vehicle, wherein the apparatus extends from one side of the vehicle to an opposite side of the vehicle;
a foam bumper positioned at a second end of the apparatus opposite to the first end;
a central foam structure, wherein a first side of the central foam structure is included in the first end of the apparatus coupled to the mount, and wherein a second side of the central foam structure opposite to the first side is included in the second end of the apparatus where the foam bumper is positioned;
a side foam structure positioned outside the central foam structure to overlap in contact with a third side of the central foam structure other than the first side and the second side, wherein the central foam structure is positioned outside the side foam structure, wherein the side foam structure is configured to be positioned to overlap above a wheel of the vehicle, and wherein the central foam structure and the side foam structure have different material characteristics; and
a windshield coupled to the central foam structure and positioned at the first side of the central foam structure.

17. The apparatus of claim 16 , further comprising:
one or more electronic devices; and
a removable foam structure positioned below the central foam structure, wherein the removable foam structure includes wiring for connectivity between the frame and the one or more electronic devices.

18. The apparatus of claim 16 , further comprising a polyurethane coating layer.

19. The apparatus of claim 16 , further comprising a protruding structure positioned below the foam bumper and at the second end of the apparatus.

Assignees

• Google Inc

Inventors

• Larner Daniel Lynn
• Khaykin Alex
• Daniel Thomas
• Alvarez Rivera Felix Jose

Classifications

• B60R19/04 Primary

  formed from more than one section {in a side-by-side arrangement} · CPC title

• B60R2011/004

  outside the vehicle · CPC title

• B60R21/34

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

• B60R2021/343

  using deformable body panel, bodywork or components · CPC title

• B60R11/04

  Mounting of cameras operative during drive; Arrangement of controls thereof relative to the vehicle · CPC title