US Patent:
20130088042, Apr 11, 2013
Inventors:
Mark A. Voss - Richmond MI, US
Anil A. Masih - Royal Oak MI, US
Carl B. Corman - Farmington Hills MI, US
William C. Bliss - Troy MI, US
Assignee:
GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS LLC - DETROIT MI
International Classification:
B60K 28/14
Abstract:
A vehicle structure comprising a body including a wheel house, a fender and an energy absorption member. The fender has an exposed A-side surface and an opposed B-side surface, with the fender including a laterally inner edge extending fore-and-aft that defines a portion of a hood opening, and the B-side surface adjacent to the laterally inner edge spaced from the wheel house in a vertical direction to define a crush gap. The energy absorption member is located in the crush gap between the wheel house and the fender, with the energy absorption member having a fender attachment flange secured to the B-side surface of the fender adjacent to the laterally inner edge, a body attachment flange secured to the wheel house, and an energy absorbing portion extending between the fender attachment flange and the body attachment flange, with the energy absorbing portion being curved in the vertical direction.