ATTACHMENT FOR BUMPER BEAM ENABLING ADDITIONAL FUNCTION ASSEMBLY

Abstract

An attachment device for mounting a bumper cross-beam having a vertical front wall and a vertical rear wall spaced apart by a transverse wall onto a vehicle structure, the attachment device having a first end to be fixed to the vehicle structure and a second end configured to be attached to the bumper cross-beam, the attachment device being made from a hollow section profile, the periphery of which includes opposite side walls and substantially parallel opposite outer walls; the second end includes a flange, which can extend substantially beyond the vertical front wall after mounting the bumper cross beam, and on which a component is attached to the flange in front of said vertical front wall.

Claims

1. Attachment means (20) for mounting a bumper cross-beam (10) having a vertical front wall (11) and a vertical rear wall (12) spaced apart by at least one transverse wall (13) onto a vehicle structure, the said attachment means having a first end (22) to be fixed to the said vehicle structure and a second end (23) designed to be attached to the said bumper cross-beam, the said attachment means being made from a hollow section profile (21), the periphery of which comprises opposite side walls (24 and 25) and substantially parallel opposite outer walls (26 and 27), characterised in that the said second end (23) comprises at least one flange (41), which can extend substantially beyond said vertical front wall (11) after mounting said bumper cross beam (10) and on which a component (50) is attached to the flange (41) in front of said vertical front wall (11).

2. Attachment means (20) according to claim 1 characterized in that said hollow section profile (21) comprises at least a peripheral chamber (29 and/or 30), being at least delimited by one of the said opposite outer wall (26 or 27) and an inner wall (31 or 32), which is substantially parallel to the said outer wall and extends between the said opposite side walls wherein said at least one flange (41 and/or 42) results from bringing closer together the outer wall (26 and/or 27) and the inner wall (31 and/or 32) of a peripheral chamber (29 and/or 30) until they are in contact, such that the said peripheral chamber collapses.

3. Attachment means according to claim 1 wherein the length of the portion of the flange extending beyond the vertical front wall of the cross-beam is a least one tenth and preferably at least one fifth of the distance between the opposite side walls of the attachment means.

4. Attachment means according to claim 1 wherein said flange is cut to a width narrower than the width of the outer walls of the hollow section profile adapted to the size of the added component.

5. Attachment means according to claim 1 wherein a reinforcement part (48) is added on the flange.

6. Bumper system (100) comprising a bumper cross-beam (10) and attachment means (20) for mounting the said bumper cross-beam onto a vehicle structure, characterised in that at least one of the said attachment means is an attachment means according to claim 1.

7. Bumper system according to claim 1 wherein the component is selected among an energy-absorbing element, a pendulum-stopper, an additional energy-absorbing-element for Pedestrian-impact, a radar-sensor; an acceleration-sensor, a horn, a module-carrier, a support for fascia.

8. Process for manufacturing a bumper system comprising an attachment means (20), a bumper cross-beam (10) and a component (50), the said process comprising following successive steps: providing a hollow section profile (21), with a cross-section having a periphery comprising opposite side walls (24 and 25), and opposite outer walls (26 and 27), cutting the said hollow section profile at a predetermined length to obtain a profile part; at one of the ends (23) of the said profile part, providing at least one flange (41) to obtain an attachment means (20) providing a bumper cross beam having a vertical front wall (11) and a vertical rear wall (12) spaced apart by at least one transverse wall (13) assembling said attachment means (20) to said cross-beam (10) in such a way that said flange (41) extends substantially beyond said vertical front wall (11) of the bumper cross beam (10), assembling the additional part (50) to the flange (41).

9. Process for manufacturing a bumper system according to claim 8 wherein said flange is obtained by cutting out the opposite side walls and optionally one outer wall and/or collapsing a peripheral chambers after optionally cutting out side walls and/or cutting out inner walls.

Description

DRAWINGS

[0029] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a bumper system according to the invention.

[0030] FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the second end of an attachment means according to the invention.

[0031] FIG. 3 is a perspective detailed view of an attachment means and a cross beam for a bumper system according to the invention.

[0032] FIG. 4 is a cross-section of second end of a bumper system according to the invention.

[0033] FIG. 5 is a perspective view of a bumper system according to the invention, illustrating the attachment of a component.

[0034] FIG. 6 is a cross-section of second end of a bumper system according to the invention, showing addition of a reinforcement part.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION, OF THE INVENTION

[0035] Referring to FIG. 1, there is provided a perspective view of a bumper system according to the invention. The bumper system (100) comprises a bumper cross-beam (10) and two attachment means (20) for mounting the said bumper cross-beam onto the longitudinal beams of a vehicle (not illustrated). The bumper cross-beam comprises a front wall (11) and a rear wall (12) spaced apart thanks to flanking walls. Each attachment means is made from a hollow section profile (21) having a first end (22) to be fixed to the said longitudinal beams of the vehicle structure and a second end (23) designed to attach the said bumper cross-beam (10). A flange (41) extends substantially beyond said vertical front wall (11) of the bumper cross beam (10) which can be used to fix a component in front of the front wall.

[0036] Referring to FIG. 2 there is provided a detailed perspective view of an embodiment of the second end of an attachment means (20) according to the invention, showing flanges (41) and (42) which can be used to fix a component.

[0037] Referring to FIGS. 3 and 4, there is provided an embodiment of the invention. FIG. 4 is a cross section of the assembly according to the dotted line (A:A′) shown on FIG. 3. The attachment means (20) which is, in the illustrated embodiment a crash-box, is fixed to a cross-beam (10) made of a hollow profile having a vertical front wall (11) and a vertical rear wall (12) spaced apart by at least one transverse wall (13). The said attachment means has a first end (22) designed to be fixed to the vehicle structure and a second end (23) designed to be attached to the said bumper cross-beam. The said attachment means is made from a hollow section profile (21), the periphery of which comprises opposite side walls (24 and 25) and substantially parallel opposite outer walls (26 and 27). In the illustrated embodiment the hollow section profile (21) comprises three chambers, the lower chamber (30) is at least delimited by the lower outer wall (27) and a lower inner wall (32), which is substantially parallel to the lower outer wall and extends between the opposite side walls (24 and 25). The upper chamber (29) is at least delimited by the upper outer wall (26) and an upper inner wall (31), which is substantially parallel to the said upper outer wall and extends between the opposite side walls (24 and 25). The said second end (23) comprises two flanges (41, 42), which extend substantially beyond said vertical front wall (11) of the bumper cross beam (10). In the illustrated embodiment, said flanges (41, 42) are double-walled flanges which result from bringing closer together the outer wall and the inner wall of the peripheral chambers (29, 30) until they are in contact, such that the peripheral chamber collapses. Specifically illustrated is an upper flange obtained by pushing the upper outer wall (21) towards the upper inner wall (31) and a lower flange obtained by pushing the lower inner (32) wall towards the lower outer wall (27). The length of the flanges is adapted to extend substantially beyond said vertical front wall (11) of the cross-beam (10).

[0038] Illustrated by FIG. 5 is a local view of a bumper assembly according to the invention wherein a component (50) has been attached to the flange (41).

[0039] Referring to FIG. 6 there is provided a cross-section view of second end of a bumper system according to the invention wherein reinforcement parts (48,49) are added on the flange, for example to facilitate bolting of the added component and wherein a part of the outer walls (26, 27) has been cut out to facilitate the addition of the reinforcement part.