Rear Bumper Support Ramp to Protect Vehicle Rear Panels

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Solution Overview

Problem

The rear panel of a motor vehicle is vulnerable to deterioration during a rear shock, particularly due to longitudinal reliefs on the bumper that can impact the rear panel.

Innovation Solution

A guidance ramp is integrated into the bumper support, which redirects any longitudinal reliefs on the bumper away from the rear panel during a shock, ensuring they do not impact the panel.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of manufacture

If the bumper includes longitudinal reliefs extending towards the rear panel, then the bumper structure is simplified and manufacturing is easier, but the rear panel is vulnerable to damage during rear impact

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvebumper manufacturingVSAvoidrear panel damage risk
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of manufactureVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

A guide ramp is introduced as an intermediary element between the bumper relief and the rear panel. The ramp redirects the relief's movement path during impact, guiding it away from the rear panel to prevent damage while maintaining the original bumper structure with reliefs

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The guide ramp adds a new spatial dimension to the impact management system. By creating an inclined surface at an angle to the original impact direction, it redirects the relief's force vector away from the rear panel, effectively using dimensional redirection to resolve the contradiction

Inventive Principle:
Principle #17Another dimension (Dimensionality change)

2Object-affected harmful factors

If reinforcement means are added to the rear panel in areas attached to the bumper assembly, then the rear panel protection is improved, but the device complexity and manufacturing cost increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improverear panel protectionVSAvoidprotection device complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Object-affected harmful factorsVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The bumper relief itself serves a dual function: it maintains its original structural role in the bumper assembly while simultaneously acting as a guided element that protects the rear panel during impact. The relief's own movement, when redirected by the guide ramp, becomes the protection mechanism rather than requiring separate reinforcement components

Inventive Principle:
Principle #25Self-service

Solution Approach 2:

The harmful impact function is extracted from the relief and redirected away from the rear panel. Instead of trying to strengthen the rear panel to resist impact, the solution extracts the impact force and redirects it through the guide ramp to a safe path, eliminating the need for additional reinforcement means

Inventive Principle:
Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Data Source

PatentEP4172006B1Device for protecting a motor vehicle rear panel, in the event of rear impact received by the vehicle
Publication Date: 2025.05.07 STELLANTIS AUTO SAS
  • EP4172006B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP4172006B1 patent drawingFigure 2(a)~2(c)

AI summary

The invention relates to a device for protecting a rear panel (2) that comprises a motor vehicle bodywork subassembly, further comprising a bumper (1) and a support (6) for supporting the bumper (1), which extends longitudinally between a wing (7) of the rear panel (2) and a wall (8) of the bumper (1). The bumper (1) comprises at least one protrusion (11) which projects longitudinally towards the rear panel (2). The support (6) is provided with a ramp (12) against which the protrusion (11) is able to bear and to be guided offset from the rear panel (2) under the effect of an impact received by the bumper (1).