Patent ID: 6971691
Filing Date: 2005-12-06
Classification: B60R

Abstract:
1. A bumper beam for a vehicle comprising: a front section of high material strength, the front section including a front wall and upper and lower walls defining a rearwardly-facing C-shaped cross section and a rearwardly open cavity; and a back section of lesser material strength than the metal front section the back section including a rear wall and top and bottom walls defining a forwardly-facing C-shaped cross section and a forwardly open cavity; the upper and lower walls of the front section being positioned within the forwardly open cavity of the back section and telescopingly engaging the top and bottom walls, respectively, of the back section and being secured thereto at top and bottom attachment locations that are subject to shearing forces upon impact; the front section and rear section combining to form a tubular section of changing cross-sectional size that, when impacted, provides significant impact strength, even if one or more of the attachment locations shearingly break loose.