Patent ID: 7163243
Filing Date: 2007-01-16
Classification: B60R

Abstract:
1. A bumper system for vehicles comprising: p 1 a beam; and a thermoformed energy absorber positioned on a face of the beam, the thermoformed energy absorber having a base flange, and having a plurality of spaced-apart crush boxes thermoformed from the base flange, some of the crush boxes being near a center of the beam and being designed for center impact, and others of the crush boxes being near ends of the beam and having a different shape designed for corner impact, the crush boxes each including a front section spaced from the base flange and including top, bottom, and fore-aft-extending side walls that extend from the front section to the base flange, the walls having a reduced thickness due to being stretched when thermoformed, with at least some of the walls having a side thickness less than half of a thickness of the base flange.