US 12,441,261 B2
Energy absorbing structure for vehicle
Mohamed Ridha Baccouche, Ann Arbor, MI (US); Jamal Bakkar, Canton, MI (US); Fubang Wu, Woodhaven, MI (US); and Horst Heribert Lanzerath, Bad Muenstereifel (DE)
Assigned to Ford Global Technologies, LLC, Dearborn, MI (US)
Filed by Ford Global Technologies, LLC, Dearborn, MI (US)
Filed on Jun. 28, 2022, as Appl. No. 17/851,767.
Prior Publication US 2023/0415687 A1, Dec. 28, 2023
Int. Cl. B60R 19/34 (2006.01)
CPC B60R 19/34 (2013.01) 18 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. An energy absorbing structure connecting a first structure of a vehicle to an adjacent second structure of the vehicle, the energy absorbing structure comprising:
a plurality of support beams, each support beam being located at a respective corner of the energy absorbing structure and extending in a longitudinal direction of the vehicle, the plurality of support beams connecting the first structure to the second structure; and
a plurality of lattice arrays located at respective lateral sides of the energy absorbing structure facing in different directions so as to form a periphery of the energy absorbing structure, each lattice array of the plurality of lattice arrays connecting adjacent support beams to each other,
wherein the support beams and the lattice arrays surround a central area of the energy absorbing structure, the central area is unoccupied, and
wherein each support beam of the plurality of support beams is hollow.