Patent ID: 7086690
Filing Date: 2006-08-08
Classification: B60R

Abstract:
1. A bumper system for an automobile vehicle, said bumper system comprising: a first beam configured to attach to the vehicle; a first energy absorber coupled to said first beam, said first energy absorber being tunable for meeting predetermined criteria for both low speed and pedestrian impacts, said first energy absorber comprising a plurality of tunable lobes, said lobes tuned so that a stiffness of said first energy absorber varies from a center of said first energy absorber to each end; a second beam configured to attach to the vehicle; and a second energy absorber coupled to said second beam, said second energy absorber being tunable for meeting predetermined criteria for both low speed and pedestrian impacts, said second energy absorber comprising a plurality of tunable lobes, said lobes tuned so that a stiffness of said second energy absorber varies from a center of said second energy absorber to each end; wherein said stiffness of said second energy absorber is greater than said stiffness of said first energy absorber at any point along a longitudinal axis of said first and said second energy absorbers.