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:
May. 30, 2006
Filed:
Jun. 13, 2000
Nick Kalageros, Coventry, GB;
Holly Giangrande, Troy, MI (US);
Roch Tolinski, Howell, MI (US);
Charlie Hopson, Lebanon, TN (US);
Steven Foster, Rochester Hills, MI (US);
Laurent Arquevaux, Sully sur Loire, FR;
Rainer Grimm, Frankfurt, DE;
Carmelo Mondello, Frankfurt, DE;
Nick Kalageros, Coventry, GB;
Holly Giangrande, Troy, MI (US);
Roch Tolinski, Howell, MI (US);
Charlie Hopson, Lebanon, TN (US);
Steven Foster, Rochester Hills, MI (US);
Laurent Arquevaux, Sully sur Loire, FR;
Rainer Grimm, Frankfurt, DE;
Carmelo Mondello, Frankfurt, DE;
Meritor Light Vehicle Systems, Inc., Troy, MI (US);
Abstract
The body panels of the present invention are designed to crumple in a predisposed manner upon impact. The body panels are preferably made from a polymeric material. Further, the body panels can include a sheet of colored material attached to the polymeric material so that no painting of the panel is necessary. Preferably, the colored material is on an exterior surface of the panel. The colored material could be made from a thermoplastic with molded in color. The preferred embodiment of the present invention includes a polymeric material reinforced with spaced reinforcing fibers. An alternative embodiment of the body panel includes a sheet of polymeric material that is reinforced with spaced mechanical ribs that are preferably molded into the sheet of material. Another alternative embodiment of the body panel includes alternating sections of high density polymeric foam and low density polymeric foam. Yet another alternative embodiment of the body panel includes a sheet of foam material, preferably polymeric, that is reinforced with spaced metal inserts. The metal inserts are preferably notched to yield in a predetermined manner.