JP2003011750A - Bumper structure for automobile - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a bumper structure for an automobile capable of securely reducing damage to a knee of a pedestrian. SOLUTION: The bumper structure 1 for an automobile includes a bumper upper part 2 having an upper side bumper beam 10 extended in a automobile width direction and an upper side impact absorbing member 12 interposed between a bumper face 4 in front of the upper side bumper beam 10, and a bumper lower part 3 including a lower side bumper beam 20 extended in the automobile width direction and a lower side impact absorbing member 30 interposed between the bumper face 4 in front of the lower side bumper beam 20, with a front end arranged at the back of a vehicle body than a front end of the bumper upper part 2. The lower side impact absorbing member 30 is provided so as to be extended along a direction of a normal Y of a straight line X linking the front end of the bumper upper part 2 and the front end of the bumper lower part 3.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a bumper structure for an automobile, which secures the safety of a pedestrian when it comes into contact with a pedestrian when traveling at a low speed.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In recent years, various bumper structures for automobiles have been proposed in consideration of protecting pedestrians when they come into contact with pedestrians during low-speed traveling.

For example, as shown in FIG. 8, a bumper face 1 made of a soft resin extends in the vehicle width direction at the front of the vehicle body.
There is a bumper structure for an automobile having a bumper upper portion 102 and a bumper lower portion 110 whose front surface is covered with 01.

The upper bumper beam 102 has an upper bumper beam 103 extending in the vehicle width direction and an upper bumper beam 10 thereof.
3 and the bumper face 101, and an upper impact absorbing member 104 interposed therebetween.
It is supported by the radiator panel 106 via the connector 5.

The lower bumper 110 is the upper bumper beam 1
03, a lower bumper beam 111 extending rearward in the vehicle width direction, and a lower impact absorbing member interposed between the lower bumper beam 111 and the bumper face 101 so as to extend substantially horizontally. And 112. In the conventional example, the lower bumper beam 111 is composed of the lower frame of the radiator panel 106.

According to the above bumper structure for an automobile, for example, as shown schematically in FIG. 9 and FIG. 10, when a pedestrian is contacted at low speed, first, the limb R of the pedestrian is in the vicinity of the knee H of the lower limb R. The bumper upper portion 102 comes into contact with the pedestrian's lower limb R, and a biasing force for rotating the pedestrian's lower limb R in the direction of arrow A acts. Therefore, the lower limb R rotates in the direction of the arrow A with the contact portion with the bumper upper portion 102 as the center of rotation, and comes into contact with the bumper lower portion 110. As a result, the lower leg R1 of the lower leg R is prevented from being caught in the lower side of the vehicle body, the bending angle of the lower leg R with the knee H as the apex is reduced, and damage to the knee H is reduced.

[0007]

However, in the vehicle body front structure of the automobile, since the lower leg R1 is acted on by the biasing force rotating in the direction of arrow A about the knee H, it extends in a substantially horizontal direction. The lower impact absorbing member 112 existing there may be kicked up by the lower leg R1 and it may be difficult to properly receive the lower leg R1.

If the lower leg R1 cannot be properly received, there is a concern that the bending angle of the lower limb R with the knee H as the apex becomes large and damage to the knee H is increased.

The present invention has been made in view of the above points, and an object of the present invention is to provide a bumper structure for an automobile that more reliably reduces damage to the knees of a pedestrian.

[0010]

The invention of a bumper structure for an automobile according to claim 1 for solving the above-mentioned problems is a bumper structure for an automobile provided in a vehicle body front portion extending in the vehicle width direction, An upper bumper beam extending in the vehicle width direction, a bumper upper portion having an upper shock absorbing member interposed between the bumper face in front of the upper bumper beam, and a lower bumper beam extending in the vehicle width direction, A lower impact absorbing member that is interposed between the lower bumper beam and the bumper face in front of the lower bumper beam, and has a lower end of the bumper whose front end is disposed rearward of the vehicle body with respect to the front end of the upper bumper; The shock absorbing member is characterized in that it extends along the normal direction of a straight line connecting the front end of the upper part of the bumper and the front end of the lower part of the bumper.

According to the first aspect of the present invention, when a pedestrian is contacted from the front of the vehicle body, the upper part of the bumper first comes into contact with the vicinity of the knee of the lower limb, and the lower leg of the lower limb comes into contact with the upper part of the bumper. Is rotated toward the rear of the vehicle body about the rotation center, contacts the front end of the lower part of the bumper, and is supported so as to be bridged between the front end of the upper part of the bumper and the front end of the lower part of the bumper.

Since the lower impact absorbing member extends along the normal direction of the straight line connecting the tip of the upper part of the bumper and the tip of the lower part of the bumper, it is applied so as to be substantially orthogonal to the lower leg of the lower limb. A load is input in the direction in which they come into contact with each other and are compressed in the extending direction. Thus, the lower impact absorbing member is smoothly compressed and deformed, the lower leg is properly received, the behavior of the lower limb is appropriately controlled, and the impact energy is appropriately absorbed. Then, the angle of bending of the lower limbs with the knee as the apex is reduced,
Reliably reduces damage to your knees.

According to a second aspect of the invention, in the automobile bumper structure according to the first aspect, the lower side of the bumper lower portion, which is opposed to the lower bumper beam in the normal direction of a straight line connecting the front end of the upper portion of the bumper and the front end of the lower portion of the bumper. It is characterized by having a shock absorbing member mounting surface.

According to the second aspect of the present invention, it is possible to enhance the mounting support rigidity of the lower impact absorbing member to the lower bumper beam and to ensure smooth compression deformation of the lower impact absorbing member. As a result, the lower impact absorbing member is smoothly compressed and deformed, the lower leg is properly received, the behavior of the lower leg is appropriately controlled, the impact energy is appropriately absorbed, and the bending angle of the lower leg with the knee as the apex. Can be reduced to more reliably reduce damage to the knee.

According to a third aspect of the present invention, in the vehicle bumper structure according to the second aspect, the vertical cross section in which the lower shock absorbing member gradually increases in width in the vertical direction as the lower shock absorbing member moves rearward along the normal line. Has a substantially trapezoidal shape.

According to the invention of claim 3, unexpected deformation such as buckling deformation of the lower impact absorbing member can be prevented. Therefore, it smoothly and reliably compresses and deforms in the extending direction to properly receive the lower leg, appropriately control the behavior of the lower limb, appropriately absorb impact energy, and adjust the bending angle of the lower limb with the knee as the apex. By making it smaller, damage to the knee can be surely reduced.

According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, in the automobile bumper structure according to any of the first to third aspects, the lower bumper beam is a lower frame of a radiator panel that extends in the vehicle width direction behind the bumper. It is characterized by

According to the invention of claim 4, by using the lower frame, it is not necessary to separately provide a lower bumper beam, the number of parts is reduced, the number of manufacturing steps is reduced, the cost is reduced, and the weight of the vehicle body is reduced. It is possible to improve fuel efficiency.

[0019]

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION (First Embodiment) Next, a first embodiment of a vehicle bumper structure according to the present invention will be described with reference to FIG.
It will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 1 is a vertical cross-sectional explanatory view of a front portion of a vehicle body of an automobile. In FIG. 1, reference symbol Fr indicates the front direction of the vehicle body. As shown in FIG. 1, the automobile bumper structure 1 has a bumper upper portion 2 and a bumper lower portion 3.

The upper part 2 of the bumper has an upper bumper beam 11 extending in the vehicle width direction, and an upper impact absorbing member 12 interposed between the upper bumper beam 11 and the bumper face 4.
Is formed by. The upper bumper beam 11 has a rectangular hollow cross-sectional shape, extends in the vehicle width direction over substantially the entire width of the vehicle body at the front position of the radiator panel 5, and is directed rearward to the rear surface near both ends of the upper bumper beam 11. And a pair of bumper beam stays 13 are projected,
The rear ends of the pair of bumper beam stays 13 are fixed to the front ends of the left and right side beams 6 with the radiator panel 5 interposed therebetween. Upper shock absorbing member 12
Is formed of an elastic body such as foamed resin or rubber, and is interposed between the bumper face 4 and the upper bumper beam 11 and arranged over the entire length.

On the other hand, the lower part 3 of the bumper is a radiator panel 5 which functions as a lower bumper beam and extends in the vehicle width direction.
The lower frame 20 and the lower impact absorbing member 30 interposed between the lower frame 20 and the bumper face 4. The lower frame 20, which has a rectangular hollow cross-sectional shape, extends in the vehicle width direction over almost the entire width of the automobile as a strength member, and is arranged at a vehicle body rear position below the upper bumper beam 11. As described above, by using the lower frame 20 of the radiator panel 5 as the lower bumper beam, it is not necessary to separately provide the lower bumper beam on the vehicle body, the cost is reduced by reducing the number of parts and the number of manufacturing steps, and It is possible to improve fuel efficiency by reducing weight.

The lower impact absorbing member 30 is formed of an elastic member such as foamed resin or rubber like the upper impact absorbing member 12, and at the lower position of the upper bumper beam 11, the front end portion 2a of the upper bumper 2 and the bumper 2 are disposed. A front end face 30 facing in the direction Y of a normal line X connecting the front end portions 3a of the lower portion 3
a, an upper end surface 30b and a lower end surface 3 extending from the upper end and the lower end of the front end surface 30a along the normal line Y direction to the rear of the vehicle body substantially in parallel.
0c and a rear end surface 30d supported by the lower shock absorbing member mounting surface 20a.

The bumper face 4 is made of an easily deformable member such as a soft resin, and the upper impact absorbing member 1
2 and the front surface of the lower shock absorbing member 30 are covered.

Next, the operation and effect of the automobile bumper structure 1 thus constructed at the time of personal contact will be described with reference to FIGS. 2 and 3 which schematically show the states before and after the contact. In addition, in these drawings, members and the like unnecessary for description are omitted as appropriate.

When an automobile running at a low speed comes into contact with a pedestrian, the bumper upper portion 2 first comes into contact with the vicinity of the knee H of the lower leg R of the pedestrian. As a result, the lower leg R1 of the lower limb R rotates toward the rear of the vehicle body about the contact portion with the bumper upper portion 2 as the center of rotation and abuts on the bumper lower portion 3. Therefore, the lower leg R
1 is supported so as to bridge the front end portion 2a of the bumper upper portion 2 and the front end portion 3a of the bumper lower portion 3.

The lower shock absorbing member 30 of the lower bumper 3 is
Front end 2a of upper bumper 2 and front end 3a of lower bumper 3
Since it extends in the direction Y of the straight line X connecting the
The load is input in the direction of being compressed in the extending direction by 1.

Therefore, the lower impact absorbing member 30 is smoothly compressed and deformed in the extending direction to properly receive the lower leg R1,
It is possible to appropriately control the behavior of the lower limb R and appropriately absorb the impact energy. Thereby, the impact load applied to the knee H of the lower limb R can be reduced, and the bending angle of the lower limb R with the knee H as the apex can be reduced to reduce damage to the knee H.

In the case of the present invention, the lower impact absorbing member 3
By using foamed resin or rubber for the elastic body that constitutes 0, the shock absorbing characteristics of the lower shock absorbing member 30 can be easily changed. In particular, when a foamed resin is used, the impact absorption characteristics of the lower impact absorption member 30 can be arbitrarily changed by adjusting the foaming diameter of the foamed resin. Therefore, the shock absorbing characteristics of the bumper can be optimized, and the setting range of the shock absorbing characteristics can be widened.

(Second Embodiment) FIG. 4 is a view for explaining the second embodiment of the present invention, and is an enlarged view of the main part of the lower portion 3 of the bumper. What is characteristic of the present embodiment is that the lower frame 21 is formed in a shape opposed to the input direction of the load to the lower shock absorbing member 31.

The lower frame 21 is, in the present embodiment,
The lower shock absorbing member mounting surface 21a of the lower frame 21 is
It is formed in an inclined shape so as to be opposed to and orthogonal to the normal line Y direction. On the other hand, the lower shock absorbing member 31 attached to the lower shock absorbing member 21a is formed of an elastic member such as foamed resin or rubber, and the upper bumper beam 1
1, a front end face 31a extending orthogonally to the normal line Y direction, and a normal line Y from the upper end and the lower end of the front end face 31a.
Upper end surface 31b extending substantially parallel to the rear of the vehicle along the direction
And a lower end surface 31c and a rear end surface 31d supported by the lower shock absorbing member mounting surface 21a, and has a shape in which a vertical cross section has a substantially rectangular shape.

Therefore, the lower impact absorbing member 31 can be stably supported against the input of the load by the lower leg R1, the supporting rigidity of the lower impact absorbing member 31 can be enhanced, and the lower impact can be reduced. It is possible to ensure smooth compressive deformation of the absorbing member 31.

Thus, the movement of the lower leg R1 can be properly received and the impact energy can be properly absorbed. Therefore, the bending angle of the lower limb with the knee as the apex can be reduced, and damage to the knee can be more reliably reduced.

(Third Embodiment) FIG. 5 is a view for explaining the third embodiment of the present invention, and is an enlarged view of a main part of the lower portion 3 of the bumper. A feature of this embodiment is that the lower impact absorbing member 32 in the second embodiment has a shape in which a vertical cross section whose vertical width gradually increases with respect to a load input direction has a substantially trapezoidal shape. Is formed.

As shown in FIG. 5, the lower impact absorbing member 32 includes a front end face 32a extending perpendicularly to the normal line Y direction, and a vehicle body extending from the upper and lower ends of the front end face 32a along the normal line Y direction. The upper end surface 32 is gradually separated vertically as it moves rearward.
b, a lower end surface 32c, and a rear end surface 33d that is supported in opposition to the lower shock absorbing member mounting surface 21a, extends parallel to the front end surface 32a, and is wider in the vertical direction than the front end surface 32a. The vertical cross section has a substantially trapezoidal shape.

Therefore, in response to the input of the load by the lower leg R1, the lower shock absorbing member 32 is smoothly and surely compressed and deformed along the direction of the normal line Y, so that the lower shock absorbing member 32 such as buckling. Unexpected deformation can be prevented. This allows the lower leg R1 to be properly received and the impact energy thereof to be appropriately absorbed. Therefore, the bending angle of the lower limb with the knee as the apex can be reduced, and damage to the knee can be more reliably reduced.

(Fourth Embodiment) FIG. 6 is a view for explaining the fourth embodiment of the present invention, and is an enlarged view of a main part of the lower portion 3 of the bumper. A characteristic of the present embodiment is that the lower impact absorbing member 33 is made of a sheet metal member.

As shown in FIG. 6, the lower impact absorbing member 33 has a front end face 33a and a front end face 33 which face each other in the normal line Y direction.
A pair of support leg surface portions 33 extending substantially parallel to the rear of the vehicle body from the upper and lower ends of a along the normal line Y direction.
b, 33c, and flange portions 33d, 33e, which are bent along the rear end edges of the support leg surface portions 33b, 33c in directions away from each other and face the lower impact absorbing member mounting surface 21a, The vertical cross section is formed into a shape having a substantially hat shape.

Therefore, in response to the load input by the lower leg R1, the lower impact absorbing member 33 is smoothly compressed and deformed in the direction of the normal line Y to properly receive the lower leg R1 and appropriately absorb the impact energy. can do. Therefore, the bending angle of the lower limb with the knee as the apex can be reduced, and damage to the knee can be more reliably reduced.

Further, according to the present embodiment, the impact absorbing characteristics of the lower impact absorbing member 33 can be easily changed by providing the support leg surface portions 33b and 33c with beads, opening holes and the like. Therefore, it is possible to widen the setting range of the shock absorption characteristic and optimize it.

(Fifth Embodiment) FIG. 7 is a view for explaining the fifth embodiment of the present invention, and is an enlarged view of a main part of the lower portion 3 of the bumper. A feature of the present embodiment is that the lower shock absorbing member 34 is configured by a combination of the foamed resin 36 and the sheet metal member 35.

As shown in FIG. 7, the sheet metal member 35 is substantially parallel to the rear end of the vehicle along the normal Y direction from the front end surface 35a facing the normal Y direction and the upper and lower ends of the front end surface 35a. A pair of support leg surface portions 35b, 35 extending in the
c and the supporting leg surface portions 35b and 35c are bent in directions away from each other along the rear end edges of the supporting leg surface portions 35b and 35c, and the lower impact absorbing member mounting surface 2
It has flange portions 35d and 35e facing 1a, and has a vertical cross section of a substantially hat shape.

The foamed resin 36 is applied to the front end face 3 of the sheet metal member 35.
5a and has a shape in which a vertical cross section extending in the front direction of the vehicle body along the normal line Y direction has a substantially rectangular shape.

According to the lower shock absorbing member 34 having the above-mentioned structure, a variety of shock absorbing characteristics can be set by combining various materials, materials and shapes, and the setting range of the shock absorbing characteristics can be set. Can be expanded.

The present invention is not limited to the above-mentioned embodiments, and various modifications can be made without departing from the spirit of the present invention. For example, in each of the above-described embodiments, the example in which the lower frames 20, 21 of the radiator panel 5 are used as the lower bumper beam has been shown, but the lower bumper beam may be provided separately.

[0045]

As described above, according to the bumper structure for an automobile of the present invention, the lower leg of the lower leg can be properly received and the lower impact absorbing member can be smoothly operated when a pedestrian is contacted from the front of the vehicle body. Compresses and deforms to absorb impact energy properly, and reduces the bending angle of the leg with the knee as the apex.
It is possible to reduce damage to the lower limbs, especially to the knees.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a vertical cross-sectional explanatory view of a front portion of a vehicle body showing an outline of a first embodiment of a vehicle bumper structure according to the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a diagram schematically showing a state before personal contact.

FIG. 3 is a diagram schematically showing a state after contact with a person.

FIG. 4 is a diagram illustrating a second embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 5 is a diagram illustrating a third embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 6 is a diagram illustrating a fourth embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 7 is a diagram illustrating a fifth embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 8 is a diagram illustrating a conventional automobile bumper structure.

FIG. 9 is a conventional explanatory view.

FIG. 10 is a conventional explanatory view.

[Explanation of symbols]

1 Automotive Bumper Structure 2 Upper Bumper 3 Lower Bumper 4 Bumper Face 11 Upper Bumper Beam 12 Upper Bumper Absorption Member 20 Lower Bumper Beam (Lower Frame) (First Embodiment) 21 Lower Bumper Beam (Lower Frame) (Second Embodiment) 30 Lower impact absorbing member (first embodiment) 31 Lower impact absorbing member (second embodiment) 32 Lower impact absorbing member (third embodiment) 33 Lower impact Absorbing member (fourth embodiment) 34 Lower impact absorbing member (fifth embodiment)

Claims (4)

[Claims] 1. A bumper structure for an automobile, which is provided in a vehicle body front portion of a vehicle so as to extend in the vehicle width direction, between an upper bumper beam extending in the vehicle width direction and a bumper face in front of the upper bumper beam. A bumper upper portion having an upper impact absorbing member interposed, a lower bumper beam extending in the vehicle width direction, and a lower impact absorbing member interposed between the bumper face in front of the lower bumper beam. And a front end of the bumper lower portion arranged rearward of the bumper upper portion relative to the front end of the bumper upper portion, wherein the lower impact absorbing member is a straight line connecting the front end of the bumper upper portion and the front end of the bumper lower portion. A bumper structure for an automobile, which is characterized by extending along a line direction. 2. The lower bumper beam according to claim 1, wherein the lower bumper beam has lower absorbent member mounting surfaces that face each other in a direction normal to a straight line connecting a front end of the bumper upper part and a front end of the bumper lower part. Bumper structure for automobiles. 3. The lower shock absorbing member has a substantially trapezoidal vertical cross section whose vertical width gradually increases as it moves rearward of the vehicle body along the normal line. Bumper structure for automobiles. 4. The bumper structure for an automobile according to claim 1, wherein the lower bumper beam is a lower frame of a radiator panel that extends in the vehicle width direction behind the bumper.