Ford Global Technolgoies, LLC

Volvo Car Corporation

Autoliv Development Ab

Mattias Wallman

Anders Fredriksson

Lennart Olsson

Peter Lindmark

Mats Erlingfors

Gunnar Hallneus

Peter Blum

Martin ÖStling

The present invention relates to a pedestrian safety structure for a motor vehicle body having a soft-nose outer skin panel and a bonnet providing an overlying structure for a grille opening reinforcing front cross member. The grille opening reinforcing front cross member carries a plurality of brackets. The brackets are designed to support loads distributed thereupon by the overlying structure, vertical (Z) loads in the range of 1.0-1.5 kN and longitudinal (X) loads in the range of 0.4-0.6 kN. The brackets are further designed for energy absorbing deformation when subjected to longitudinal (X) loads distributed thereupon by the overlying structure above 0.6 kN, such that the plurality of brackets provide an energy absorbing upper leg impact zone for the protection of pedestrians in the event of a collision with the motor vehicle.

Pedestrian safety structure for a motor vehicle body

A hood latch structure () for a motor vehicle body having a soft-nose outer skin panel () and a hood () providing an overlying structure for a grille opening reinforcing front cross member (). The grille opening reinforcing front cross member () supports at least one hood latch () carried by a mounting member () protruding towards the front of the vehicle. Mounting member () is designed to collapse downwards (Z) causing the hood latch () to move downwards (Z) when subjected to longitudinal (X) loads above a predetermined threshold load distributed thereupon by the overlying structure such that the hood latch () moves away to provide a forgiving upper leg impact zone for the protection of pedestrians in the event of a collision with the motor vehicle.

Engine compartment hood latch structure for a motor vehicle

A bonnet bumpstop for use on an automotive vehicle is formed with a first component having a support part for supporting a bonnet on the vehicle in the vertical direction during normal operation when the bonnet is closed against the automotive frame, a second component attachable to the vehicle frame, and a member interconnecting the first and second components to each other. When the bonnet bumpstop incurs a force greater than a predetermined value, such as a force transmitted from a bonnet to the bonnet bumpstop, the bonnet bumpstop is collapsible by substantially instantaneous neutralizing of the interconnection between the first component and the second component. At least a part of the first component, including said support part, is then freed to be move relative to the second component so as to allow the bonnet to move downwardly in case of an impact between an object and the bonnet.

Bonnet bumpstop for a vehicle

A bonnet for an automotive vehicle has a leading end, a trailing end, and a lock striker for locking the free end of the bonnet to the vehicle body during normal operation when the bonnet is closed. The lock striker is spaced from the bonnet portion by a mounting mechanism that includes at least one elongated arm extending between the inside of the bonnet portion and the lock striker. At least one portion of the elongated arm is weakened to permit relative pivoting of the bonnet portion and the lock striker around a geometrical axis when the elongated arm is loaded in excess of a predetermined value. The bonnet is thus allowed to move downwardly in the event of an impact between a pedestrian and the bonnet portion.

Bonnet for a vehicle

A grille and bonnet assembly is mounted at the forward end of an automotive vehicle. The bonnet is formed with a leading edge and a trailing edge with the leading edge positioned above or at an upper edge of the grille during normal operation of the automotive vehicle when the bonnet is closed. The grille and bonnet are designed with corresponding inclined surfaces that are located relative to each other such that a force greater than a predetermined value transmitted from the bonnet to the grille forces at least the upper part of the grille to move forwardly so as to allow the bonnet to move downwardly. Such yielding movement of the grille and bonnet can reduce injuries in the event of an impact between a pedestrian and the bonnet of the automotive vehicle.

Growing community of inventors

Varberg, Sweden

Mattias Wallman