Bumper crossmember and vehicle equipped with it

Abstract

Bumper crossmember - a profiled support profile (2, 2.1, 2.2) extending with its longitudinal direction in the vehicle transverse direction (y-direction) with at least at its ends U-shaped sections profiled in the z-direction by two legs (9, 9.1) and a profile base (10) connecting the two legs (9, 9.1) and - a widening element (3, 3.1, 3.2) profiled in the z-direction, connected to each end of the support profile (2, 2.1, 2.2), by which the support profile (2, 2.1, 2.2) is extended in the longitudinal direction (y-direction), - wherein each widening element (3, 3.1, 3.2) has a U-shaped profiled connecting section (11) with a mounting section (12), - wherein the connecting section (11) has a profile base (15, 15.1) connecting two legs (16, 16.1-16.5) of the U-shaped profile and is engaged with one of the two U-shaped sections of the support profile (2, 2.1, 2.2) and is arranged overlapping with it in the y-direction, - wherein the connecting section (11) is connected to the profile base (10, 10.1) of the support profile (2, 2.1, 2.2) at least in the area of ​​its installation section (12), characterized in that - each widening element (3, 3.1, 3.2) has a fitting section (13) adjoining the system section (12) and providing a fit for connection to the support profile (2, 2.1, 2.2), and an extension section (14, 14.1, 14.2) adjoining the fitting section (13), - wherein the connecting section (11) in the area of ​​its pass section (13) contacts at least partially the legs (9, 9.1) of the support profile (2, 2.1, 2.2) with its legs (16, 16.1-16.5) and - wherein the plant section (12) is connected to the support profile (2, 2.1, 2.2) only by its profile base (15, 15.1), namely to its profile base (10, 10.1).

Description

[0001] The invention relates to a bumper cross member with - a profiled support profile extending with its longitudinal direction in the vehicle transverse direction (y-direction) with sections profiled in a U-shape in the z-direction at least at the end by two legs and a profile base connecting the two legs and - a widening element profiled in the z-direction, connected to each end of the support profile, by which the support profile is extended in the longitudinal direction (y-direction). - each widening element has a U-shaped profiled connecting section with a contact section, - wherein the connecting section has a profile base connecting two legs of the U-shaped profile and is engaged with one of the two U-shaped sections of the support profile and is arranged overlapping therewith in the y-direction and - wherein the connecting section is connected to the profile base of the support profile at least in the region of its contact section.Furthermore, a vehicle equipped with at least one such bumper cross member is described.

[0002] From the generic document US 9 902 349 B2 a bumper cross member is known, at the end of which an extension and a V-shaped bracket supported on a crash box and on a section of the extension are provided.

[0003] Another bumper cross member is known from DE 10 2017 222 081 A1. In this prior art, the cross member widening elements are placed butt against the ends of the support profile and are designed to extend the profile of the support profile. With the disclosed bumper cross member, bumper cross members of different widths can be provided for different motor vehicles using the support profile as a common part. In this respect, such a bumper cross member with its widening elements designed for different applications has a modular design. The widening elements have tabs as profile extensions in the vehicle transverse direction (y-direction) for connecting to the support profile, namely a middle tab for connecting to the support profile and an upper and lower tab for connecting the widening element to a crash box arranged on the support profile.This connection system enables simple and quick installation of the cross member extensions to the support profile. The disadvantage of this bumper cross member is that, especially under high loads, such as in a high-speed crash, the connection between the cross member and the support profile is not sufficiently stable, and the cross member extensions can tear away from the support profile, significantly increasing both the damage to the vehicle and the risk of injury to vehicle occupants. It would also be desirable to have fewer restrictions on the design of the extensions.

[0004] The invention is therefore based on the object of developing a bumper cross member of the type mentioned at the outset in such a way that it meets the requirements of different vehicle designs by using different widening elements and in which the design freedom is increased in adaptation to different vehicles and crash situations.

[0005] This object is achieved according to the invention by a bumper cross member of the generic type mentioned at the outset with the features of claim 1.

[0006] Advantageous developments of the invention are specified in the dependent claims and the following description. All described features, individually or in any combination, are fundamentally the subject of the invention, regardless of their summary in the claims and their interrelationships.

[0007] The directions used in this discussion: x-direction, y-direction, and z-direction, correspond to the directions commonly used in vehicles. The x-direction corresponds to the vehicle's longitudinal dimension, the y-direction to the vehicle's transverse direction, and the z-direction to the vertical axis.

[0008] In this bumper cross member, the connection between the widening element and the support profile is implemented as a profile-in-profile solution, in which the connecting section, with its contact section and its fitting section, overlaps and engages with the profiled section in the end area of ​​the support profile. Due to the high stability of the connection, the actual extension section intended for extending the support profile can be designed very individually, both in terms of its geometric shape, mechanical strength, and material. It should be noted that the widening element is usually formed in one piece. It can also be assembled from several components.

[0009] In this profile-in-profile connection between the support profile and a widening element, the complementary profile sections are inserted into one another. Therefore, when connecting the widening element to the support profile, no consideration needs to be given to the arrangement of other elements for its connection to the support profile. For this reason alone, the design freedom for the widening element is significantly greater compared to the state of the art mentioned above. The connecting section can be arranged on the outside around the U-shaped profile of the support profile or on the inside of it. This option also means that the design freedom for such a widening element is less restricted than with previously known designs.In one embodiment, the legs of the connecting section, in the region of its fitting section, are each in contact with their outer side facing away from the legs with an inner side of the legs of the support profile located between the legs, and the outer side of the profile base of the connecting section facing away from the legs is connected, typically welded, to the inner side of the profile base of the support profile, at least in the region of the contact section. In this embodiment, the connecting section of the widening element is located within the profiling of the support profile. The existing cavity in the support profile is utilized, so that no additional installation space is required for connecting such a widening element.

[0010] The U-profiled connecting section of the widening element comprises a contact section and a fitting section. The fitting section, with its U-shaped profile and thus the span and alignment of its legs, is designed to contact the legs of the U-shaped profiled end section of the support profile. The fitting section thus provides a fit for connection to the support profile. The contact section, which is typically much longer than the fitting section and extends in the y-direction, only needs to be connected to the base of the support profile with its profile base.For this reason, the widening element can be attached to the support profile with its connecting section using a two-point fastening system, whereby the two fastening points can be widely spaced apart in the y-direction, corresponding to the length of the connecting section in the y-direction. A first fastening point can be located, for example, on the free end face of the profile base of the contact section, at which point the widening element is typically joined to the profile base of the support profile by welding.The second fastening point is achieved by the fit provided by the fitting section and only needs to be secured in the opposite direction to the direction in which the widening element is engaged with its connecting section on the support profile, typically also by welding, which can certainly be realized in several places by spot welding.

[0011] This concept allows the connecting section of the widening element to be designed so that its connecting section only has a relatively small contact area with the support profile. In the area of ​​the contact section, the legs of the connecting section, which are intended for stiffening, do not necessarily have to lie against the legs of the support profile. The smaller the contact area between the two elements, the lower the risk of corrosion occurring between the two parts. By spacing the legs of the contact section from those of the support profile, a corrosion protection layer, applied, for example, via cathodic dip painting, can also reach the mutually facing sides of the legs of the two U-shaped profiled parts.

[0012] In a configuration in which the connecting section of the widening element is located within the U-shaped profile of the support profile in its end section, a design of the contact section allows it to be arranged so that it overlaps the front side of a crash box connected to the rear of the support profile. In this way, a force acting on the outer area of ​​the bumper cross member can be at least partially transmitted to the front side of the crash box via the widening element.

[0013] Due to this connection of the widening element to the support profile, the actual extension section can be designed in virtually any way desired. In many cases, the U-shaped profiling of the connecting section will continue into the extension section. This means that the extension section can, if desired, also continue the profiling of the support profile in the y-direction. However, the extension section can also be used to extend the extension of the support profile in the y-direction with other cross-sectional geometries. For example, the extension section can extend in the z-direction beyond that of the support profile, either upwards and downwards or only upwards or downwards. In addition, the extension section can also have a different profile in the x-direction than the support profile if a different deformation behavior is to be achieved in the outer edge areas of the bumper cross member.The extension element, with its end pointing away from the support profile in the y-direction, can represent the end of the bumper cross member. It is also possible to use such an extension element as an intermediate or connecting piece between the support profile and a separately manufactured bumper cross member end piece. The latter is typically connected to the widening element through a joining process, but can also be connected with mechanical connectors. Adhesive connections are also possible.

[0014] The design of the widening element allows the support profile to be extended in the y-direction without necessarily having to accept a weak point, as is the case with the state of the art. If desired, such a widening element can be designed with a predetermined bending point, for example by weakening the material in the legs of the widening element, for example through corresponding incisions or material recesses. Due to the extension of the extension section in the y-direction, such a predetermined bending point can be set up at virtually any position in this section and is not limited to the end of the support profile. Furthermore, the bending axis of such a predetermined bending point does not necessarily have to run strictly in the z-direction, even if this will be the case in many cases.If the material weakenings in the two legs, for example caused by recesses, are not aligned in the z-direction, a buckling of the outer section of the bumper cross member towards the vehicle can also be combined with a component in the z-direction.

[0015] To simplify the assembly of the two components and also to facilitate the application of a corrosion protection layer, a further development provides for the connecting section to have a slot-like recess in the area of ​​its contact section, following its longitudinal extent (y-direction). This slot-like recess is arranged in the profile base of the contact section. The slot-like recess further reduces the contact area between the two components. At the same time, such a recess, which typically extends in the y-direction, can be used to weld the profile base of the connecting section to that of the support profile, preferably along at least one long side of such a slot-like recess. Such a recess also achieves a weight reduction of the widening element.

[0016] According to one embodiment, the support profile is designed as a hat profile, and the legs of the U-shaped profiled connecting section of the widening element extend, at least in sections, to the plane of the flanges projecting in the z-direction relative to the U-shaped profiled section of the support profile. The support profile is closed with a locking plate. The locking plate is joined to the flanges of the support profile and the legs of the widening element in the region of its connecting section and / or in the region of its extension section. In these sections, the locking plate thus provides a double box profile and thus a section of particularly high flexural rigidity.

[0017] Bringing the legs of the U-shaped profile of the extension section closer to the strike plate can be used to simplify the installation of a strike plate. In this case, the free ends of the legs of the widening element protrude up to the plane formed by the flange-like free ends of the support profile, so that they butt against the strike plate and the strike plate can be supported on them. To facilitate installation, the legs of the U-shaped profiled extension section are designed to protrude slightly in some sections beyond the plane of the outer end of the support profile. These leg extensions can be used to fix a strike plate, which engages with a section, such as a tab, between the two leg extensions.The striking plate, with its tab pointing in the z-direction and engaging between the leg extensions, contacts the two leg extensions and is thus fixed in the z-direction. Such leg extensions can also be used so that, if the height (extension in the z-direction) of the striking plate exceeds the distance between the leg extensions, it has corresponding openings into which the leg extensions engage. In both cases, this not only fixes this section of the striking plate, but the leg extensions also allow both parts to be joined from the front of the striking plate.

[0018] To connect an additional extension element, the widening element can have two support arms arranged vertically (z-direction) at a distance from each other and extending longitudinally from the legs and away from the support profile. The extension section is usually also hat-shaped in cross-section. The support arms can be designed as legs extending longitudinally over the profile base. An additional extension element can be connected to the support arms. The support arms can also be used without an additional extension element if they are closed at the front with a locking plate. In this case, the support profile extension is designed to be lightweight.

[0019] Such a bumper cross member can be optimally adapted to the requirements of various crash tests. This applies to both the high-speed small overlap test and the Mobile Progressive Deformable Barrier (MPDB) test. This adaptation can also be provided with regard to the arrangement and design of a predetermined buckling point. As already explained above, this can be achieved by weakening the material in the extension section of the widening element. A predetermined buckling point also occurs where the contact section of the widening element ends if it does not overlap with the front end of the crash box. To meet such a test, high rigidity of the bumper cross member in the area of ​​the widening elements is important. This rigidity is designed to meet the requirements of the relevant crash test(s), such as the high-speed small overlap test and the MPDB test.In order to achieve a precise bending movement of the bumper cross member required at a specific section of the widening element in the event of such an accident, a further development of the invention provides that the widening element has predetermined bending points, as already outlined above, which are arranged in particular in the region of the extension section and enable a bending movement of a bending section of the extension section about a predetermined bending axis oriented in the vertical direction (z-direction). This makes it possible to bring about a very precise and targeted bending movement in the widening element in the event of a crash, so that the widening element is adjusted in the x-direction, specifically about a bending axis oriented in the vertical direction (z-direction). It is possible to control the bending movement even under high loads in such a way that the opposing vehicle continues to be guided past the vehicle.

[0020] The invention is described in more detail below using exemplary embodiments and with reference to the accompanying figures. They show: Fig. 1: a perspective view of a first embodiment of a bumper cross member, Fig. 2: a vertical section through the fitting section of the bumper cross member from Fig. 1, Fig. 3: in a horizontal section the bumper cross member from Fig. 1 and Fig. 2, Fig. 4: in a perspective view a second embodiment of the bumper cross member, Fig. 5: a vertical section through the fitting section of the bumper cross member from Fig. 4, Fig. 6: in a perspective view a third embodiment of the bumper cross member and Fig. 7: in a horizontal section the bumper cross member from Fig. 6.

[0021] Fig. 1 shows a section of a bumper cross member 1, specifically in its end section pointing to the left in the direction of travel. In the illustrated embodiment, the bumper cross member 1 comprises a U-shaped profiled support profile 2, a widening element 3, also U-shaped, and a profiled extension element 4 connected to the widening element 3. A crash box 5 is connected to the rear of the support profile 2 at a distance from its end. The crash box 5 carries a mounting plate 6 at its vehicle-side connection end for connecting it to the vehicle. A locking plate 7, which represents the outer end of the support profile 2, serves to close the front of the support profile.The other end section of the bumper cross member 1 not shown in the figure is designed in the same way as the one shown, so that the following explanations apply equally to the other end of the bumper cross member 1.

[0022] The support profile 2 has a hat-shaped cross-section across its entire longitudinal extent, including its end sections, so that, in addition to its previously mentioned U-shaped profile, it has flanges projecting from the legs in the z-direction. The locking plate 7 is connected to these flanges. The U-shaped profile of the support profile 2 comprises two legs 9, 9.1 and a profile base 10 connecting the two legs 9, 9.1. The widening element 3 is inserted into the end section 8 of the support profile 2 with a connecting section 11 and engaged therewith.

[0023] The connecting section 11 of the widening element 3 comprises a contact section 12 and a fitting section 13 adjoining the contact section 12. An extension section 14 adjoins the connecting section 11. While the connecting section 11 with its contact section 12 and the fitting section 13 are arranged to overlap the end section 8 of the support profile 2, the extension section 14 protrudes in the longitudinal direction (y-direction) of the support profile 2 beyond the free end of the end section 8 of the support profile 2. The extension section 14 extends the longitudinal extent of the support profile 2, thus widening the bumper cross member 1.

[0024] The widening element 3 is essentially U-shaped in cross-section and has two legs 16, 16.1 and a profile base 15 connecting the two legs 16, 16.1. In the area of ​​the contact section 12, the widening element 3 is narrower in the vertical direction (z-direction) than the fitting section 13 and the extension section 14. In the area of ​​the extension section 14, the widening element 3 has a hat-shaped profile, with flanges molded onto the free ends 24 of the legs 16, 16.1 in the z-direction. The front side of these flanges is aligned with the flanges of the hat-shaped profile of the support profile 2.

[0025] The span of the legs 9, 9.1 of the widening element 3 in the area of ​​its contact section 12 is smaller than in the adjacent fitting section 13. The transition between the two leg widths is provided by a transition section 20 designed as a crank. The representation of the Fig. 1 illustrates that, to compensate for tolerances, the widening element 3 can be adjusted with regard to the depth of its penetration into the profile of the support profile 2 (in the y-direction), since the fitting section 13 merges into the extension section 14 without a change in the span of the legs 16, 16.1. In this regard, reference is also made to the illustration of the Fig. 2. The view of the section is towards support profile 2.

[0026] The profile base 15 of the contact section 12 and the fitting section 13 rests with its outer side 21 against the inner side 22 of the profile base 10 of the support profile 2. In the area of ​​the contact section 12, the profile bases 10, 15 are welded together (not shown). Also welded (indicated by weld seams 29) is the crash box 5 to the support profile 2, which has a recess corresponding to the U-shaped profile on its end face facing the support profile 2.

[0027] Further is from Fig. 2 that the free ends 23 of the flanges of the support profile 2, which are bent from the legs 9, 9.1, are connected to the strike plate 7 by a weld. In the illustrated embodiment, the free ends 24 of the legs 16, 16.1 do not extend as far as the strike plate 7 in the area of ​​the connecting section 11.

[0028] The widening element 3 of the illustrated embodiment has material recesses 31, introduced into the legs 16, 16.1 at opposite positions in the area of ​​its extension section 14 (see Fig. 1). The two opposing material recesses 31, which are aligned with each other in the z-direction, form a bending axis (not shown) extending in the vertical direction (z-direction). If a force acting on the outside of the bumper cross member 1 in the area of ​​the material recesses 31 exceeds the provided holding torque, the widening element 3 with the extension element 4 bends around the bending axis formed by the material recesses 31 in the direction of the crash box 5. The material recesses 31 are in the longitudinal section of the section of the bumper cross member 1 shown in the Fig. 3. This illustration shows the bumper cross member 1 in a horizontal section. It is clearly visible that in this exemplary embodiment, the contact section 12 of the widening element 3 extends in the longitudinal direction (y-direction) up to the front side 25 of the crash box 5 and overlaps it. The contact section 12 does not completely overlap the front side 25, but in the exemplary embodiment shown, only by approximately 30% of the extent of the crash box 5 in the y-direction.

[0029] In the area of ​​the extension section 14, the widening element 3 is hat-shaped in cross section - as already explained above (see Fig. 2), so that the free ends 24 of the legs 16, 16.1 in the area of ​​the extension section 14 are present as flanges extending in the z-direction, to which the strike plate 7 is welded. As in Fig. 3, the striker plate 7 is not in contact with the free ends 24 of the legs 16, 16.1 of the widening element 3 in the area of ​​the contact section 12 and the fitting section 13, but only at the free ends 24 of the legs 16, 16.1 in the area of ​​the extension section 14. The striker plate 7 carries a tab 26 at its free end pointing in the y-direction, which overlaps with the extension element 4. This overlapping area of ​​the extension element 4 is slightly set back from its end extending towards the free end of the bumper cross member 1, namely by the material thickness of the striker plate 7, so that the outer side of the striker plate 7 is aligned with the front side of the extension element 4 (see Fig. 3).

[0030] Fig. 4 shows a second embodiment of a bumper cross member 1.1. This, as well as the Fig. 5 and Fig. 6 corresponds in its design largely to the embodiment of the bumper cross member 1 of Fig. 1 to 3 and differs from this in the design of the extension section 14.1 of the widening element 3.1. The extension section 14.1 has in the embodiment of the Fig. 4 does not have a hat-shaped profile in cross-section and therefore no flange-like free ends on the legs. Instead, projections 27, 27.1 are arranged at the free ends of legs 16.2, 16.3, which extend the height of legs 16.2, 16.3. These projections 27, 27.1 serve to fix the strike plate 7.1, which has an opening 32 at the corresponding location for this purpose.

[0031] This facilitates the assembly of the striker plate 7.1 by its precise positioning through the engagement of the projections 27 in the openings 32. The striker plate 7.1 is welded to the projections 27, 27.1 extending through the openings 32 from the front side of the bumper cross member 1. Fig. 5 shows a cross section through the bumper cross member 1.1 in its installation section, looking towards the extension section 14.1.

[0032] Fig. 6 shows a third embodiment of a bumper cross member 1.2. This corresponds in its basic structural design to the embodiments of Fig. 4 and Fig. 5. This bumper cross member 1.2 differs from the bumper cross member 1.1 in the design of the extension section 14.2 of its widening element 3.2. No additional extension element is provided for the bumper cross member 1.2. An additional extension is provided by two support arms 28, 28.1 that continue the legs 16.4, 16.5. These support arms 28, 28.1 extend the legs 16.4, 16.5 in the y-direction. In the area of ​​the support arms 28, 28.1, the widening element 3.2 has no profile base. In addition to the leg-extending projections 27.2, 27.3 of the extension section 14.2, projections 27.4, 27.5 that also extend the height of the support arms 28, 28.1 are formed on them. The striker plate 7.2 has a tab 26.1 that is extended relative to the tab 26 of the bumper cross member 1.1. The width of the tab 26.1, which extends vertically (z-direction) in the installed position, corresponds to the distance between the projections 27.2, 27.3 or 27.4, 27.5 from each other in the z-direction. By engaging the tab 26.1 between these projections 27.2, 27.3 or 27.4, 27.5, the strike plate 7.2 is fixed between them in the z-direction. The root of the tab 26.1 abuts the end of the projections 27.2, 27.3 facing the support profile 2.2.

[0033] Fig. 7 shows the embodiment from Fig. 6 in a horizontal section.

[0034] In all embodiments, the connection between the support profile 2, 2.1, 2.2 and the respective widening element 3, 3.1, 3.2 is established, on the one hand, via the respective fitting section 13, in which the legs 16, 16.1, 16.2, 16.3 of the widening element 3, 3.1, 3.2 abut against the legs 9, 9.1 of the support profile 2, 2.1, 2.2 in the area of ​​the fitting section 13. This abutment can be achieved with a certain preload, so that the fitting section 13 is clamped into the profile of the support profile 2, 2.1, 2.2. Preferably, in this area, the end of the profile base 10, 10.1 of the support profile 2, 2.1, 2.2 is welded to the profile base 15, 15.1 of the widening element 3, 3.1, 3.2. This forms a first connection point between the respective widening element 3, 3.1, 3.2 and the support profile 2, 2.1, 2.2.

[0035] The second connection point between the support profile 2, 2.1, 2.2 and the widening element 3, 3.1, 3.2 is located in all exemplary embodiments between the respective contact section 12 and the profile base 15, 15.1 of the support profile 2, 2.1, 2.2. The connections are designed as welded joints in all exemplary embodiments. In addition, all exemplary embodiments have a slot-like recess 30 in the area of ​​the contact section 12 of the widening element 3, 3.1, 3.2 (see Fig. 1). In all embodiments, the welding between the contact section 12 and the profile base 10, 10.1 of the support profile 2, 2.1, 2.2 takes place in the area of ​​the recess 30 and at the end face of the profile base 15 of the connecting section 11.

[0036] In an embodiment not shown in the figures, the profile base of the connecting section is beveled at the end facing the support profile toward the profile base of the support profile, and this beveled projection engages in a prepared recess in the profile base of the support profile. This measure fixes the widening element relative to the support profile. This configuration can be used when no tolerances in the y-direction need to be compensated. List of reference symbols 1, 1.1, 1.2 bumper cross member 2, 2.1, 2.2 Carrier profile 3, 3.1, 3.2 Widening element 4 extension element 5 Crashbox 6 Mounting plate 7, 7.1, 7.2 Strike plate 8 end area 9, 9.1 Leg 10, 10.1 Profile reason 11 connecting section 12 Plant section 13 Pass section 14, 14.1, 14.2 Extension section 15, 15.1 Profile base 16, 16.1, 16.2, 16.3, 16.4, 16.5 legs 17 Outer side leg widening element 18 Inside leg support profile 19 Distance 20 Transition section 21 Outside profile base connecting element 22 Inside profile base support profile 23 free ends support profile 24 free end leg 25 Front side crash box 26, 26.1 Latch strike plate 27, 27.1, 27.2, 27.3, 27.4, 27.5 lead 28, 28.1 Support arm 29 Weld seam 30 recess 31 Material recess 32 Breakthrough

Claims

[1] Bumper cross member with - a profiled support profile (2, 2.1, 2.2) extending with its longitudinal direction in the vehicle transverse direction (y-direction) with sections profiled in a U-shape in the z-direction at least at the end by two legs (9, 9.1) and a profile base (10) connecting the two legs (9, 9.1) and - a widening element (3, 3.1, 3.2) profiled in the z-direction, connected to each end of the support profile (2, 2.1, 2.2), by which the support profile (2, 2.1, 2.2) is extended in the longitudinal direction (y-direction), - wherein each widening element (3, 3.1, 3.2) has a U-shaped profiled connecting section (11) with a contact section (12), - wherein the connecting section (11) has a profile base (15, 15.1) connecting two legs (16, 16.1-16.5) of the U-shaped profile and is engaged with one of the two U-shaped sections of the support profile (2, 2.1, 2.2) and is arranged overlapping therewith in the y-direction, - wherein the connecting section (11) is connected to the profile base (10, 10.1) of the support profile (2, 2.1, 2.2) at least in the region of its contact section (12), characterized by , that - each widening element (3, 3.1, 3.2) has a fitting section (13) adjoining the contact section (12) and providing a fit for connection to the support profile (2, 2.1, 2.2) and an extension section (14, 14.1, 14.2) adjoining the fitting section (13), - wherein the connecting section (11) in the region of its fitting section (13) with its legs (16, 16.1-16.5) at least partially contacts the legs (9, 9.1) of the support profile (2, 2.1, 2.2) and - wherein the contact section (12) is connected to the support profile (2, 2.1, 2.2), namely to its profile base (10, 10.1), only by its profile base (15, 15.1). [2] Bumper cross member according to claim 1, characterized bythat the legs (16, 16.1-16.5) of the connecting section (11) in the region of its fitting section (13) are each in contact with their outer side (17) pointing away from the legs (16, 16.1-16.5) with the inner side (18) of the legs (9, 9.1) of the support profile (2, 2.1, 2.2) pointing between the legs (9, 9.1) and that the outer side (21) of the profile base (15, 15.1) of the connecting section (11) pointing towards the profile base (10, 10.1) of the support profile (2, 2.1, 2.2) is connected with its contact section (12) to the profile base (10, 10.1) of the support profile (2, 2.1, 2.2). [3] Bumper cross member according to claim 2, characterized by that the connecting section (11) in the area of ​​its fitting section (13) with its profile base (15,15.1) is also connected to the profile base (10, 10.1) of the support profile (2, 2.1, 2.2). [4] Bumper cross member according to claim 2 or 3, characterized bythat the legs (16, 16.1-16.5) of the contact section (12) of the connecting section (11) engaging in the U-shaped profiling of the support profile (2, 2.1, 2.2) are spaced apart from the legs (9, 9.1) of the support profile (2, 2.1, 2.2) at least adjacent to a transition area to the profile base (15, 15.1). [5] Bumper cross member according to one of the preceding claims, characterized by that the connecting section (11) has, in the region of its contact section (12), a slot-like recess (30) following its longitudinal extension (y-direction). [6] Bumper cross member according to claim 5, characterized by that the contact section (12) is welded in its recess (30) to the profile base (10, 10.1) of the support profile (2, 2.1, 2.2). [7] Bumper cross member according to one of the preceding claims, characterized bythat the contact section (12) is welded with its free end face to the profile base (10, 10.1) of the support profile (2, 2.1, 2.2). [8] Bumper cross member according to one of the preceding claims, characterized by that the support profile (2) is designed as a hat profile, the legs (16) of the U-shaped profiled connecting section (11) of the widening element (3) extend up to the plane of the flanges projecting opposite the U-shaped profiled section of the support profile (2), and the support profile (2) is closed with a striking plate (7), wherein the striking plate (7) is joined to the flanges of the support profile (2) and at least in sections to the legs (16) of the widening element (3). [9] Bumper cross member according to one of the preceding claims, characterized bythat the widening element (3.1, 3.2) in its extension section (14.1, 14.2) with regard to the design of its U-shaped profiling has at least in one leg section a greater leg height than in its fitting section (13), wherein the height of the legs (16.2-16.5) in this leg section of the widening element (3.1, 3.2) is aligned with the end of the support profile (2.1, 2.2) on its open profile side. [10] Bumper cross member according to claim 9, characterized by that projections (27, 27.1-27.5) extending the height of the leg are formed on the leg sections which are aligned with the end of the support profile (2.1, 2.2) on its open profile side and which either reach laterally to a striking plate section located between them or engage in openings (32) in a striking plate (7.1, 7.2) which have a corresponding geometry. [11] Bumper cross member according to one of the preceding claims, characterized by that an additional extension element (4) is arranged on the widening element (3, 3.1) on its side facing away from the support profile (2, 2.1). [12] Bumper cross member according to one of claims 1 to 10, characterized by that the extension section (14.2) has two support arms (28, 28.1) arranged at a distance from one another in the vertical direction (z-direction) and extending in the longitudinal direction from the legs (16.4, 16.5) and away from the support profile (2.2). [13] Bumper cross member according to one of the preceding claims, characterized by that two crash boxes (5) spaced apart from one another in the y-direction are connected to the support profile (2, 2.1, 2.2) and the contact section (12) of each widening element (3, 3.1, 3.2) is arranged at least in sections overlapping the end face (25) of a crash box (5). [14] Bumper cross member according to one of the preceding claims, characterized bythat the widening element (3) has a predetermined bending point in the region of the extension section (14) which, when a predetermined holding force is exceeded, enables a bending movement of the outer part in the y-direction relative to the inner part about a bending axis oriented in the vertical direction (z-direction). [15] Vehicle with at least one bumper cross member (1) according to one of claims 1 to 14.

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