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:
Dec. 28, 2004
Filed:
Feb. 20, 2003
Jenne-Tai Wang, Troy, MI (US);
Gary L. Jones, Farmington Hills, MI (US);
Ching-Shan Cheng, Canton, MI (US);
Heui Su Kim, Rochester Hills, MI (US);
General Motors Corporation, Detroit, MI (US);
Abstract
An actuator is adapted to selectively extend and retract a bumper member, the actuator is mounted at least partially within a tubular frame rail member of the motor vehicle. The main frame rail member may be of a standard length or of a shortened length. By mounting the actuator inside the tubular frame rail member, the bending stiffness is more effectively impacted by the outer tube of the actuator. An additional tubular frame rail member is optionally attached to the main tubular frame rail member. The actuator is mounted at least partially within the tubular frame rail member and at least partially within the additional tubular frame rail member. The wall thickness and cross-sectional shape of the additional tubular frame rail members may be adjusted to obtain a desired bending stiffness including the effect of the outer tube of the actuator.