A lower stiffener is provided for a bumper of a vehicle. The lower stiffener is mounted on a lower portion of a bumper beam or a front end module (FEM) carrier of the vehicle. The lower stiffener includes a pair of core portions formed by extending in a width direction of the vehicle in an elongated loop shape corresponding to a shape of the bumper of the vehicle, and arranged parallel to each other at a regular interval. A pair of molding portions surrounds the core portions, respectively and a connection portion connects and integrates the pair of molding portions with each other.

A vehicle component includes a main panel extending in a first direction; a plurality of lobes extending in a second direction transverse to the first direction; and a plurality of ridges extending in the second direction. Each ridge extends around a subset of the lobes. Each lobe may be encircled by one of the ridges. The cover may include a plurality of depressions connecting the ridges to the corresponding lobes.

A bumper assembly for a motor vehicle includes an energy absorber providing a variable stiffness for different displacements. The energy absorber includes a skin portion attached to a bumper beam, a rib pivotally attached to an end of the skin portion and a reinforced element attached to an end of the rib. The rib is movable from a first position that provides a first stiffness for a first displacement to a second position providing a second stiffness greater than the first stiffness over a second displacement.

A vehicle component includes a main panel extending in a first direction; a plurality of lobes extending in a second direction transverse to the first direction; and a plurality of ridges extending in the second direction. Each ridge extends around a subset of the lobes. Each lobe may be encircled by one of the ridges. The cover may include a plurality of depressions connecting the ridges to the corresponding lobes.

A bumper assembly includes a beam and a plurality of members attached to and positioned sequentially along the beam. Each member includes an outer tube extending transverse to the beam and an inner tube extending parallel to and in the outer tube. Adjacent ones of the members are configured to contact each other when both adjacent ones of the members are deformed.

A bumper beam for a vehicle has a hat beam profile, i.e. a generally U-shaped cross-section with the crown (12-16) pointing outwards. In each attachment region (20) it has a transverse bulkhead (25) fastened between the crown's sides (12, 13) and running generally in the longitudinal direction of the vehicle.

A bumper assembly includes a beam and a plurality of members attached to and positioned sequentially along the beam. Each member includes an outer tube extending transverse to the beam and an inner tube extending parallel to and in the outer tube. Adjacent ones of the members are configured to contact each other when both adjacent ones of the members are deformed.

A passive energy absorber to be supported by a bumper of a vehicle is disclosed. The passive energy absorber may include a base extending laterally, multiple fins, and multiple stoppers. Each fin may extend longitudinally from the base and be spaced laterally from adjacent fins to form lateral gaps therebetween. Each stopper may form, with a corresponding portion of the base, a triangular prism in a different lateral gap. The base, multiple fins, and multiple stoppers may be formed of polymeric material.

A protective member such as a helmet includes an outer layer and an inner layer interconnected by multiple connectors, such as extension springs, under tension along their longitudinal axis. The connectors absorb energy from an impact force by resisting further tension along their longitudinal axis and allow the outer layer and inner layer to move relative to each other. In the helmet application, the head of a user experiences less impact force, reduced change in momentum or position of the head and neck, reduced head and neck loads and reduced amounts of linear and rotational acceleration. The protective member can be used in numerous applications and environments, including for participants in sports, in applications including bumpers, passenger cabins, car seats and beds.

In an embodiment, multi-stage energy absorbing system can comprise: a thermoplastic flanged frame and a crush lobe having a proximal base aligned with the flanged frame and a distal end protruding from the flanged frame. The crush lobe comprises a central slab and slab pairs such that the crush lobe comprises a total of 2i+1 slabs, wherein i is the number of slab pairs and is greater than or equal to 1. The slabs are disposed in a stepped arrangement and configured to absorb impact energy by collapsing in a telescopic manner with increasing energy level. The single energy-absorbing system is able to absorb low energy impact associated with vehicle-to-pedestrian impact; simultaneously with the ability to mitigate damageability associated with low-speed vehicle-to-barrier impact, as well as damageability associated with vehicle-to-vehicle moderate speed impact, head-on, as well as at an angle.