Source: http://www.google.com/patents/US8075029?dq=5,758,352
Timestamp: 2014-12-21 12:51:32
Document Index: 468997612

Matched Legal Cases: ['Application No. 7', 'Application No. 8', 'Application No. 2004', 'Application No. 2005', 'Application No. 2005', 'Application No. 200680032681']

Patent US8075029 - Vehicular front bumper structure - Google PatentsSearch Images Maps Play YouTube News Gmail Drive More »Sign inAdvanced Patent SearchPatentsIn a vehicular front bumper structure having the function of detecting the collision of an object against the front bumper of a vehicle in the vehicle, the length of a front bumper area in widthwise directions of the vehicle, in which area a load applied to the front bumper is detected with a collision...http://www.google.com/patents/US8075029?utm_source=gb-gplus-sharePatent US8075029 - Vehicular front bumper structureAdvanced Patent SearchPublication numberUS8075029 B2Publication typeGrantApplication numberUS 11/991,386Publication dateDec 13, 2011Filing dateAug 30, 2006Priority dateSep 6, 2005Also published asCN101258058A, CN101258058B, EP1923274A1, EP1923274A4, EP1923274B1, US20090108598, WO2007029583A1Publication number11991386, 991386, US 8075029 B2, US 8075029B2, US-B2-8075029, US8075029 B2, US8075029B2InventorsHiroyuki TakahashiOriginal AssigneeToyota Jidosha Kabushiki KaishaExport CitationBiBTeX, EndNote, RefManPatent Citations (36), Non-Patent Citations (4), Referenced by (1), Classifications (6), Legal Events (1) External Links: USPTO, USPTO Assignment, EspacenetVehicular front bumper structureUS 8075029 B2Abstract In a vehicular front bumper structure having the function of detecting the collision of an object against the front bumper of a vehicle in the vehicle, the length of a front bumper area in widthwise directions of the vehicle, in which area a load applied to the front bumper is detected with a collision detection sensor (104), is more than or equal to a maximum distance in the widthwise directions of the vehicle between the right and left front pillars (A pillars; 107) of the vehicle, the collision detection sensor being provided to extend along a bumper reinforce (103) between the bumper reinforce and a shock absorber (105), the bumper reinforce and the shock absorber forming the front bumper; and the collision detection sensor has an interface part (106) provided at one of the ends of the collision detection sensor in the widthwise directions of the vehicle which one is on the side opposite to a walkway (a right front end in left-hand traffic/a left front end in right-hand traffic).
TECHNICAL FIELD The present invention relates generally to vehicular front bumper structures having the function of detecting the collision of an object against the front bumper of the vehicle in the vehicle, and more particularly to a vehicular front bumper structure that appropriately combines collision detection and durability.
BACKGROUND ART Conventionally, a vehicular front bumper structure with the function of detecting the collision of an object is known. (For example, see Patent Documents 1 through 5).
[Patent Document 1] Japanese Laid-Open Patent Application No. 7-108903 [Patent Document 2] Japanese Laid-Open Patent Application No. 8-91170 [Patent Document 3] Japanese Laid-Open Patent Application No. 2004-191136 [Patent Document 4] Japanese Laid-Open Patent Application No. 2005-35422 [Patent Document 5] Japanese Laid-Open Patent Application No. 2005-53273 DISCLOSURE OF THE INVENTION Problems to Be Solved By the Invention However, in the conventional front bumper structures with a collision detection function as described above, no attention is paid to the length of the sensor detecting the collision of the vehicle and a pedestrian in the widthwise directions of the vehicle, so that no consideration is given to how much is an appropriate length.
Means for Solving the Problems A mode of the present invention for achieving the above-described object is a vehicular front bumper structure having the function of detecting the collision of an object against the front bumper of a vehicle in the vehicle, wherein the length of a front bumper area in widthwise directions of the vehicle, in which area a load applied to the front bumper is detected with a collision detection sensor (for example, a load sensor or a displacement sensor), is more than or equal to a maximum distance in the widthwise directions of the vehicle between the right and left front pillars (A pillars) of the vehicle, the collision detection sensor being provided to extend along a bumper reinforce between the bumper reinforce and a shock absorber (for example, a foam material), the bumper reinforce and the shock absorber forming the front bumper.
Effects of the Invention According to the present invention, it is possible to provide a front bumper structure for a vehicle that appropriately combines collision detection and durability.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram of a front part of a vehicle that adopts a front bumper structure according to an embodiment of the present invention.
DESCRIPTION OF REFERENCE NUMERALS 100 Vehicle
BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION A description is given below, with reference to the accompanying drawings, of the best mode for carrying out the present invention by giving embodiments. The collision detection sensor, the basic concept of its collision detection, its principal hardware configuration, its working principle, and its basic control method are known to a person having ordinary skill in the art, and accordingly, a detailed description thereof is omitted.
Embodiments A description is given below, using FIGS. 1 and 2, of a front bumper structure for a vehicle according to one embodiment of the present invention. Here, it is assumed that a vehicle is driven on the left-hand side of the road as in Japan.
Specifically, the length of the collision detection sensor 104 according to this embodiment in the widthwise direction of the vehicle is more than or equal to a maximum distance between the right and left front pillars 107 in the widthwise directions of the vehicle (hereinafter referred to as �front pillar width� for convenience).
INDUSTRIAL APPLICABILITY The present invention can be used for a front bumper structure with the function of detecting the collision of an object against the front bumper of a vehicle in the vehicle, irrespective of the appearance, weight, size, running performance, etc., of the vehicle.
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