Patent ID: 6334639
Filing Date: 2002-01-01
Classification: B60R

Abstract:
A bumper (1) for a vehicle, said bumper comprising a shell (2) including shock-absorbing means for damping impacts, a rigid support (3), two arms (5), a control system (11), and at least one sensor selected from the group consisting of impact sensors and deceleration sensors (12a, 12b, 12c), said shell (2) being attached to the rigid support, and the rigid support being linked to the vehicle by the two arms, said arms each comprising a pyrotechnic actuator (9) for exerting force on said shell, each said actuator being electrically connected to said control system (11), said control system being electrically connected to said at least one sensor (12a, 12b, 12c), and each pyrotechnic actuator (9) incorporating at least two gas-generating powder tablets (10a, 10b, 10c) each tablet capable of being primed individually by the control system (11) to energize the actuator responsive to at least two impacts of differing intensities.