Shape Corporation

Netshape Corporation

Netshape International LLC

Netshape Energy Management, LLC

David Powell

Robert Weykamp

Mark Weissenborn

Darin Evans

Michael J Hall

A bumper system includes a bumper beam having a face and ends, and an energy absorber mounted on the face. The energy absorber has a one-piece injection-molded non-foam piece with box sections and interconnecting straps, and a one-piece or multi-piece foam component securely insert-molded onto the injection-molded non-foam piece. Different foam molds can be used to form differently shaped front surfaces on the foam component. By this arrangement, different energy absorbing systems are provided for vehicles, such as to satisfy the need for different styling and shapes, while still using the same non-foam piece. By this arrangement, the energy absorber is a single unit that can be handled and attached to the bumper beam. At the same time, capital investment in molding dies and tooling is reduced.

Bumper system with energy absorber

A bumper system for vehicles includes a tubular beam having front, top, bottom, and rear walls, and further having open tubular ends. The bumper system further includes a pair of mounting brackets each attached to the rear wall and extending around the associated ends and forwardly to a location where it attaches to the front wall of the one end. One or more crush initiating apertures are formed in one or more of the walls of the ends of the beam to provide more controlled energy absorption upon corner impost so as to reduce or better control damage to the vehicle's frame.

Bumper beam with crush initiating apertures

A bumper system for vehicles includes a tubular beam having front, top, bottom, and rear walls, and further having open tubular ends. The bumper system further includes a pair of mounting brackets each having a V-shaped mounting section attached to the rear wall of the open tubular ends and having an integral corner-forming section extending from the mounting section laterally around the associated ends and forwardly to a location where the corner-forming section attaches to the front wall of the one end. The corner-forming section includes a resilient portion shaped to flex and absorb energy upon corner impact, and further is adapted to transfer energy directly to the vehicle frame, thus providing efficient and effective energy absorption upon corner impact.

Bumper mount forming corner on end of beam

Bumper with integrated foam and non-foam components

A bumper system includes a bumper beam having a face and ends, and an energy absorber mounted on the face. The energy absorber has a foam piece engaging the face and an injection-molded end piece securely attached to each end of the foam piece and also engaging the face. By this arrangement, the energy absorber is a single unit that can be handled and attached to the bumper beam, and also can include different end pieces while still using the same foam piece. In one form, the energy absorber also includes a center injection-molded piece and, in another form, includes a long injection-molded piece having foam sections molded onto it.

Growing community of inventors

Grand Haven, MI, United States of America

David Powell