Releasable Bumper Fastening Assembly for Low-Speed Impact Protection
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing fastening arrangements for vehicle bumpers to side panels or fenders cause undesirable deformation during collisions, leading to high repair costs, even at low speeds, as kinetic energy is directly transmitted to these components.
Innovation Solution
A fastening arrangement using a first and second supporting strip connected by a releasable holder, such as a clip, that allows the bumper to separate from the side panel or fender during accidents, preventing plastic deformation and reducing repair costs.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Strength
If screws are used to fix the bumper to the side panel and/or fender, then the holding strength during normal driving is improved, but the side panel and/or fender are plastically deformed during collision
Solution Approach 1:
The holder is designed as a resilient element that can dynamically change its state between holding and releasing. During normal driving, the holder maintains a holding state that secures the bumper to the side panel and/or fender with sufficient strength. During collision, the holder automatically transitions to a releasing state, allowing the bumper to separate and preventing plastic deformation of the side panel and/or fender. This dynamic adaptability resolves the contradiction between maintaining strong holding and avoiding harmful deformation.
Solution Approach 2:
The holder's mechanical properties are designed to change based on applied force parameters. Under normal driving conditions, the holder maintains its structural integrity and holding capability. When subjected to collision forces exceeding a predetermined threshold, the holder's resilient characteristics cause it to deform and release, changing its mechanical state from holding to releasing. This parameter-based state change enables the system to provide strong holding during normal operation while automatically preventing damage during collision.
2Ease of operation
If the holder is designed to be resilient and releasable, then the release during accident is improved, but the connection strength during normal driving may be reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The holder is pre-designed with resilient characteristics that create an automatic anti-action against excessive collision forces. The holder's material properties and structural design incorporate a predetermined release mechanism that activates when collision forces exceed the holding threshold. This preliminary design ensures that during accident, the holder automatically releases to prevent damage, while during normal driving, the same resilient design maintains sufficient connection strength through its elastic deformation capacity within safe force ranges.
Data Source
AI summary
A fastening arrangement is provided in order to reduce damage to a bumper and a side panel and/or a fender of a motor vehicle connected by way of a supporting element in a low speed range. The supporting element has a first supporting strip that can be fastened to the side panel and/or the fender and a second supporting strip that can be fastened to the bumper. At least one holder is provided, which releasably connects the first supporting strip and the second supporting strip to each other.