Abstract:
A cushioning structure (73) for dampening shocks useful as a packing material to protect shipments of goods and as a protective shield or garment to prevent injury from falls including one or more planar sheets (77) of pliable material bonded to a matrix of polygon shape cells (76) containing a fluid such as air or other gas. In one aspect the cells are in fluid communication with each other to provide a valved fluid transfer from one cell to the next (81).
Abstract:
Es wird ein Fahrzeuginnenausstattungsteil (10), insbesondere für ein Kraftfahrzeug, und ein Verfahren zur Herstellung eines Fahrzeuginnenausstattungsteil vorgeschlagen, wobei das Fahrzeuginnenausstattungsteil einen Trägerelement und einen Energieabsorptionselement aufweist, wobei das Trägerelement mit dem Energieabsorptionselement einstückig mittels eines Verbindungsbereichs verbunden ist und wobei mittels des Verbindungsbereichs das Trägerelement relativ zum Energieabsorptionselement vormontierbar vorgesehen ist.
Abstract:
A modular energy absorber 10 that is tunable. It comprises one or more energy absorbing modules 12. The energy absorbing modules have means for coordinating energy absorbing units 16 of the one or more modules. The means 14 for coordinating position and support the units in relation to each other before, during and after relative motion between an incident object and the energy absorber. A crushable member 16 is provided that has an upper perimeter 22, a lower perimeter 24 and an intermediate wall 26 extending therebetween. It also includes a number (m) of breaches defined therein before impact. A method for configuring the modular energy absorber is also disclosed.
Abstract:
A honeycomb structure (60, 62) for use in a motor vehicle component may be manufactured by providing a mold half (90, 394) with a shape defining cavity that is contoured to have generally the same as the shape of one side of the honeycomb structure that is to be formed. A plurality of vertically indexed straws (314) that, include a central core formed from a first thermoplastic material having a relatively high melting point and an outer layer of second thermoplastic material that has a relatively low melting point, are placed in contact with the shape defining cavity of the mold and heated. The honeycomb structure is mechanically affixed to an interior shell of an automobile component by, for example, means of an interference fit or bonded to an the automobile component by inserting the honeycomb structure into the molding apparatus, and then molding the automobile interior component around the honeycombstructure.
Abstract:
A crash pad (10) for use in vehicle interiors. The crash pad (10) includes an energy-absorbing honeycomb (12) which has a cover plate (20) attached thereon to prevent noise from being generated due to contact between the crash pad (10) and vehicle interior surface during normal vehicle operation. The cover plate (20) is attached on one side to the honeycomb (12) with the other side being molded to match the shape of the interior surface of the vehicle. The cover plate (20) includes positioning devices (23) which locate and hold the crash pad (10) during interior panel fabrication. The cover plate (20) protects the honeycomb (12) and the technician during handling and installation. The cover plate (20) also helps to retain the shape of the honeycomb (12) and provides a suitable surface for labels (21) that may contain product identification and other information needed during use of the pads (10) in mass production of vehicles.
Abstract:
A modular energy absorber (10) that is tunable. It comprises one or more energy absorbing modules (12). The energy absorbing modules have means for coordinating energy absorbing units 16 of the one or more modules. The means (14) for coordinating position and support the units in relation to each other before, during and after relative motion between an incident object and the energy absorber. A crushable member (16) is provided that has an upper perimeter (22), a lower perimeter (24) and an intermediate wall (26) extending therebetween. It also includes a number (m) of breaches defined therein before impact. A method for configuring the modular energy absorber is also disclosed.
Abstract:
An energy absorbing module (10) including a plurality of cells (12, 112) with each cell (12, 112) including a first step wall (22 and 122) horizontally interconnecting first (16, 116) and second (18, 118) walls and having a greater thickness than the second wall (18, 118) for assuring collapse of the second wall (18, 118) before collapse the first wall (16, 166) in response to a force applied to the second wall (18, 118). Likewise, a second step wall (24 and 124) horizontally interconnects the second wall (18, 118) and a third wall (20, 120) and has a greater thickness than the first step wall (22 and 122) for assuring collapse of the third wall (20, 120) before collapse of the second wall (18, 118) in response to a force applied to the third wall (20, 120).
Abstract:
Various motor vehicle components that are designed to satisfy certain impact standards are disclosed. In one example, a bumper system includes an elongated beam configured to be operatively mounted to the frame of the vehicle. Also included is a foam portion that extends along a portion of the beam and a fascia surrounding the foam portion. In another application, an automobile interior component that includes a honeycomb structure is disclosed. A honeycomb defining structure may be formed in one of the mold halves of a mold that is used to manufacture the automobile interior c omponent in order to manufacture the component. A honeycomb structure for use in a motor vehicle component may be manufactured by providing a mold half with a shape defining cavity that is contoured to have generally the same as the shape of one side of the honeycomb structure that is to be formed. A plurality of vertically indexed straws that, include a central core formed from a first thermoplastic material having a relatively high melting point and an outer layer of second thermoplastic material that has a relatively low melting point, are placed in contact with the shape defining cavity of the mold and heated. In another application , a honeycomb structure is mechanically affixed to an interior shell of an automobile component by, for example, means of an interference fit. In another application, a honeycomb structure is bonded to an the automobile component by inserting the honeycomb structure into the molding apparatus, and then molding the automobile interior component around the honeycombstructure.
Abstract:
The invention relates to an energy absorber for absorbing impact energy. Said energy absorber comprises a molded element (4) that is provided with a plurality of honeycomb-shaped cells (2) that are substantially oriented in the same direction and that are arranged so as to adjoin one another. The inventive energy absorber is further characterized in that the molded element is produced from extruded polycarbonate and that the honeycomb-shaped cells extend in the direction of extrusion.
Abstract:
A reversible energy absorbing assembly including a cellular lattice comprising a shape memory material disposed within an expandable interior region of the assembly, wherein the shape memory material is adapted to expand from a first configuration to an expanded configuration in response to fluid communication with a fluid source. Once expanded, the assembly effectively absorbs kinetic energy of an object upon impact with the assembly. The shape memory material can be thermally activated to restore the first configuration of the energy absorbing assembly. Methods of operating the energy absorbing assembly are also disclosed.