US5934743A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Impact absorbing outer body structure of a motor vehicle
Assignee: Mercedes Benz Group AG
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Filing: 1997-04-21
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Granted: 1999-08-10
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Expires: 2017-04-21
Abstract
Abstract An impact absorbing outer body structure of a motor vehicle including an outer panel with a deformable impact region. For the protection of a person or object making impact on the outer-panel, the deformable impact region can be displaced outwardly toward said person or object. The outer panel is provided with at least one plastically deformable impact region which is weakened in relation to the rest of the outer panel, and a supporting shell is firmly connected to the outer panel on an inner side. The supporting shell has at least the stability of the rest of the outer panel, enclosing the impact region and forming, along with the outer panel, a closed cavity. In the event of an impact load, the plastically deformable impact region can be expanded rapidly outward by means of a high-pressure charge, such as a pyrotechnical propellant charge, to provide a deformation area to absorb the energy of the impact. The impact absorbing structure is particularly used in hoods and doors of motor vehicles.
Inventors
- 👤 Matthias Nohr
- 👤 Herbert Mehren
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-02 20:22
CPC Classifications
B; B60; B60R; B60R19/00; B60R21/00; B60R21/34; B60R2019/007; B60R2021/0002; B60R2021/0006; B60R21/02; B60R21/16; B60R21/23; B60R21/235; B60R2021/23504; B60R2021/23528; B60R2021/343
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 21
Claim 1
Independent Claim
88 words
An impact absorbing outer body structure of a motor vehicle, comprising: an outer motor vehicle body panel having at least one plastically deformable impact region; a supporting shell fixed to an inner side of the outer motor vehicle body panel such that a closed cavity is defined between the supporting shell and the impact region; and a high pressure charge which is dischargeable into said closed cavity in response to an impact load in order to deform said impact region of the outer motor vehicle body panel outwardly.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
88 words
An impact absorbing outer body structure of a motor vehicle, comprising: an outer motor vehicle body panel having at least one plastically deformable impact region; a supporting shell fixed to an inner side of the outer motor vehicle body panel such that a closed cavity is defined between the supporting shell and the impact region; and a high pressure charge which is dischargeable into said closed cavity in response to an impact load in order to deform said impact region of the outer motor vehicle body panel outwardly.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
41 words
An impact absorbing outer body structure of a motor vehicle according to claim 1, wherein said plastically deformable impact region of the outer motor vehicle body panel is weakened relative to a remaining portion of the outer motor vehicle body panel.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
47 words
An impact absorbing outer body structure of a motor vehicle according to claim 1, wherein said plastically deformable impact region of the outer motor vehicle body panel has a thickness which is less than a thickness of a remaining portion of the outer motor vehicle body panel.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
41 words
An impact absorbing outer body structure of a motor vehicle according to claim 2, wherein said supporting shell has a stability which is at least as great as a stability of the remaining portion of the outer motor vehicle body panel.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
41 words
An impact absorbing outer body structure of a motor vehicle according to claim 3, wherein said supporting shell has a thickness which is at least as great as the thickness of the remaining portion of the outer motor vehicle body panel.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
24 words
An impact absorbing outer body structure of a motor vehicle according to claim 1, wherein said high pressure charge comprises a pyrotechnical propellant charge.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
24 words
An impact absorbing outer body structure of a motor vehicle according to claim 5, wherein said high pressure charge comprises a pyrotechnical propellant charge.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
41 words
An impact absorbing outer body structure of a motor vehicle according to claim 1, wherein a side of the supporting shell facing the interior of the motor vehicle is supported on a drive unit which is fixed to the motor vehicle.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
41 words
An impact absorbing outer body structure of a motor vehicle according to claim 3, wherein a side of the supporting shell facing the interior of the motor vehicle is supported on a drive unit which is fixed to the motor vehicle.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
41 words
An impact absorbing outer body structure of a motor vehicle according to claim 7, wherein a side of the supporting shell facing the interior of the motor vehicle is supported on a drive unit which is fixed to the motor vehicle.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
56 words
An impact absorbing outer body structure of a motor vehicle according to claim 1, further comprising an impact sensor system mounted on said motor vehicle to sense said impact load, and wherein said high pressure charge is a pyrotechnical propellant charge produced by a pressure accumulator, said impact sensor system being connected to said pressure accumulator.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
30 words
An impact absorbing outer body structure of a motor vehicle according to claim 1, wherein said outer motor vehicle body panel and said supporting shell are formed from sheet metal.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
28 words
An impact absorbing outer body structure of a motor vehicle according to claim 1, wherein said outer motor vehicle body panel comprises a hood of said motor vehicle.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
28 words
An impact absorbing outer body structure of a motor vehicle according to claim 1, wherein said outer motor vehicle body panel comprises a door of said motor vehicle.
Claim 16
Independent Claim
95 words
A method of absorbing an impact load at an outer body structure of a motor vehicle, comprising the steps of: providing an outer motor vehicle body panel having at least one plastically deformable impact region; connecting a supporting shell to an inner side of the outer motor vehicle body panel such that a closed cavity is defined between the supporting shell and the impact region; sensing an impact load; and pressurizing said closed cavity in response to an impact load such that said impact region of the outer motor vehicle body panel is deformed outwardly.
Claim 17
Independent Claim
95 words
A method of absorbing an impact load at an outer body structure of a motor vehicle, comprising the steps of: providing an outer motor vehicle body panel having at least one plastically deformable impact region; connecting a supporting shell to an inner side of the outer motor vehicle body panel such that a closed cavity is defined between the supporting shell and the impact region; sensing an impact load; and pressurizing said closed cavity in response to an impact load such that said impact region of the outer motor vehicle body panel is deformed outwardly.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
34 words
A method of absorbing an impact load at an outer body structure of a motor vehicle according to claim 15, wherein said pressurizing step comprises discharging a pyrotechnical propellant charge into said closed cavity.
Claim 19
Independent Claim
140 words
A method of manufacturing an impact absorbing outer body structure of a motor vehicle, comprising the steps of: forming an outer motor vehicle body panel having at least one plastically deformable impact region having a thickness less than a thickness of a remaining portion of the outer motor vehicle body panel; forming a supporting shell having a thickness at least as great as the thickness of the remaining portion of the outer motor vehicle body panel; connecting said supporting shell to an inner side of the outer motor vehicle body panel such that a closed cavity is defined between the supporting shell and the impact region; arranging an impact sensor system on said motor vehicle to sense an impact load; and arranging a high pressure discharge means in communication with said closed cavity and connected to said impact sensor system.
Claim 20
Independent Claim
140 words
A method of manufacturing an impact absorbing outer body structure of a motor vehicle, comprising the steps of: forming an outer motor vehicle body panel having at least one plastically deformable impact region having a thickness less than a thickness of a remaining portion of the outer motor vehicle body panel; forming a supporting shell having a thickness at least as great as the thickness of the remaining portion of the outer motor vehicle body panel; connecting said supporting shell to an inner side of the outer motor vehicle body panel such that a closed cavity is defined between the supporting shell and the impact region; arranging an impact sensor system on said motor vehicle to sense an impact load; and arranging a high pressure discharge means in communication with said closed cavity and connected to said impact sensor system.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
33 words
A method of manufacturing an impact absorbing outer body structure of a motor vehicle according to claim 17, wherein said high pressure discharge means comprises a pressure accumulator containing a pyrotechnical propellant charge.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 2002-08-09 | 2003-02-08 | 2003-08-10 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2006-08-09 | 2007-02-08 | 2007-08-10 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2010-08-09 | 2011-02-08 | 2011-08-10 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |