The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Jun. 19, 2001
Filed:
Feb. 07, 2000
Phillip Patrick Carroll, III, Bloomfield Hills, MI (US);
Joel Matthew Cormier, Ferndale, MI (US);
Donald Scott Smith, Commerce Township, MI (US);
Richard Francois Audi, Dearborn, MI (US);
Oakwood Energy Management, Inc., Dearborn, MI (US);
Abstract
A modular energy absorbing assembly,comprising at base,, and at least one energy absorbing module,associated with the base for accommodating deformation of the assembly. At least some of the energy absorbing modules have a plurality of recesses,defined within the base. Each of the plurality of recesses has a floor and at least one wall extending from the floor to the base. An intermediate segment extends between the floor and the at least one wall. The intermediate segment has an average radius (R). At least some of the recesses are oriented such that their floors are substantially orthogonal to a major incident component of the impacting force and their walls are inclined at an angle (&agr;) to the major incident component of the impacting force, where (0<&agr;<45 degrees), in order to maximize energy absorption by the wall over a given distance. The wall at least partially collapses and at least some of the recesses become at least partially compressed during energy absorption.