Patent ID: 6685243
Filing Date: 2004-02-03
Classification: B60R

Abstract:
A bumper system for a vehicle comprising:a beam for attachment to a vehicle and having a curvilinear longitudinal shape when viewed from above in a vehicle-mounted position, the beam including mounts positioned at ends of the beam; an energy absorber engaging a face of the beam; the energy absorber having a middle section engaging the face and further having end sections that extend outwardly from the middle section and at least partially around the associated ends of the beam, the end sections each having an enlarged free end portion and a transition portion connecting the free end portion to an end of the middle section; and each of the transition portions of the end sections of the energy absorber, during a first part of a bumper stroke caused by a corner impact, being constructed to provide a relatively low-energy absorption and further being torsionally crushed so that the enlarged free end portion swings rearward and contacts an impacted object, and then during a further continuing part of the bumper stroke, the transition portion providing increased energy absorption and counteractive forces such that the free end portion pushes the impacted object away both due to lateral resistive forces developed in the energy absorber non-parallel a line of impact and also due to sliding of the impacted object along an inclined surface of the free end portion.