Patent ID: 6062634
Filing Date: 2000-05-16
Classification: B60R,B62D

Abstract:
Automotive front end structure constructed and arranged for mounting forwardly of and on a front end of an automotive vehicle frame to absorb frontal impact energy, comprisingan elongated first crush hoop having a central portion and side portions extending rearwardly from said central portion in horizontally spaced apart relation and each having a rear end for operable connection to and support by the front end of the vehicle frame, andan elongated second crush hoop vertically spaced from said first crush hoop having a central portion and side portions extending rearwardly from the central portion thereof in horizontally spaced apart relation and each having a rear end oriented for operable connection to and support by the front end of the vehicle frame,the central portion of said first crush hoop also being horizontally as well as vertically spaced apart from the central portion of said second crush hoop and projecting forwardly away from the vehicle front end by a greater distance than that of the central portion of said second hoop, said crush hoops being free of operable support connection for one another,said first and second hoops, when in use operably connected to and supported by the front end of the vehicle frame, being frontally unobstructed by one another and supported independently of one another and thereby adapted to crush and collapse initially sequentially to thereby smoothly, continuously and progressively absorb energy in a frontal impact as said first and then both of said crush hoops are independently loaded and deformed in a frontal impact.