U-Shaped Car Bumper Structure for Side Impact Damage Limitation

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing car bumpers are ineffective in limiting damage to components like headlights, hood, and fender during side impacts, failing to comply with regulatory standards in major markets.

Innovation Solution

A U-shaped bumper with side spoilers and rear buffers, where the spoilers have thinner front shells and thicker rear buffers, designed to absorb impact energy and prevent further damage by locking obstacles, using fastening screws for connection.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If a traditional head-on bumper structure is used, then the bumper provides basic protection, but it cannot limit damage to side spoilers and other components during side impacts

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvedamage limitation capabilityVSAvoidimpact damage to components

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The bumper is divided into functionally independent segments: side spoilers for aesthetic and aerodynamic functions, and rear buffers for impact absorption. Each segment is positioned to handle specific impact scenarios, allowing the side spoilers to be protected independently from the main bumper structure.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

Rear buffers are introduced as intermediary elements positioned between the side spoilers and the main bumper structure. These buffers act as mediators that absorb impact energy first, preventing direct transmission of force to the side spoilers and other vulnerable components.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Reliability

If the bumper structure is designed to absorb more impact energy, then protection improves, but the device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveimpact protectionVSAvoidbumper structure complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

Rear buffers are pre-positioned behind the side spoilers to provide cushioning before impact forces reach critical components. This beforehand cushioning arrangement simplifies the overall structure compared to more complex active protection systems while maintaining effective impact absorption.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #11Beforehand cushioning (Prior cushioning)

Applied Scientific Principles

This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.

Function Achieved in This Case

The design effectively minimizes damage to car components during side impacts, ensuring compliance with regulatory standards by absorbing impact energy and preventing secondary damage.

Implementation Method 1

designed to absorb impact energy and prevent further damage by locking obstacles

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectImpact Force: Impact Force

Implementation Method 2

The buffer and the brackets are connected to one another through at least one fastening screw

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectMechanical Fastener: Mechanical Fastener

Data Source

PatentUS20250206248A1Car with bumper provided with buffers

Publication Date: 2025.06.26 FERRARI SPA

AI summary

A car has a support frame defining at least part of a lower floor of the car, a passenger compartment projecting upwards from the lower floor, and a head-on bumper, which is coupled to the support frame, and has at least one spoiler, a rear buffer mounted behind the spoiler, and a front closing shell mounted in front of the spoiler; the closing shell having a thickness, which is smaller than a thickness of the spoiler and smaller than a thickness of the rear buffer.