Small overlap frontal impact counter-measure

Abstract

An automotive vehicle support structure assembly includes a bumper extending across the front of the vehicle, a longitudinal side member extending rearwardly from the bumper, and a link member extending between the end of the bumper and the side member. The link member is mounted to the side member and bumper via a pair of hinged connections. In the event of a small overlap collision, the link member is configured to contact a colliding barrier and pivot rearwardly in response while maintaining contact with the barrier to transfer the force of the collision inwardly toward the side member.

1 . A support structure assembly for an automotive vehicle, the support structure assembly comprising:
 a pair of side member extending in a generally longitudinal direction and having a forward end;   a link member having a generally fixed shape and having outer and inner mounting portions, the inner mounting portion being mounted to the side member via an inner hinged connection;   a bumper extending between and being attached to the side members and extending generally transverse and lateral to the longitudinal direction of the side members, wherein a first end portion of the bumper is mounted to the outer mounting portion of the link member via an outer connection and the first end portion deflects upon impact.   
     
     
         2 . The support structure assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the bumper comprises a main bumper member and a bumper extension member extending laterally from the main bumper member, and the bumper extension member includes the first end portion of the bumper member. 
     
     
         3 . A support structure assembly for an automotive vehicle, the support structure assembly comprising:
 a pair of side member extending in a generally longitudinal direction and having a forward end.   a link member having a generally fixed shape and having outer and inner mounting portions, the inner mounting portion being mounted to the side member via an inner hinged connection;   a bumper extending between the side members and generally transverse and lateral to the longitudinal direction of the side members, the bumper having a first end portion that is mounted to the outer mounting portion of the link member via an outer connection;   wherein the link member has first, second, and third major side surfaces extending between the inner and outer mounting portions of the link member, the first major side surface facing the bumper, the second major side surface facing the side member, and the third major side surface facing away from the bumper.   
     
     
         4 . The support structure assembly of  claim 3 , wherein the first major side surface is substantially flat. 
     
     
         5 . The support structure assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the side members each comprise a front portion, a rear portion, and an intermediate portion therebetween. 
     
     
         6 . The support structure assembly of  claim 5 , wherein the front portions of the side members are mounted to the bumper. 
     
     
         7 . The support structure assembly of  claim 5 , wherein the inner mounting portion of the link member is mounted to the intermediate portion via the inner hinged connection. 
     
     
         8 . The support structure assembly of  claim 7  wherein the link member includes a hole extending through the inner mounting portion, and the inner hinged connection comprises a hinge pin extending through the hole. 
     
     
         9 . The support structure assembly of  claim 7  wherein the outer connection comprises a flange of the first end portion being connected to the outer mounting portion of the link wherein the flange deflects upon impact. 
     
     
         10 - 11 . (canceled) 
     
     
         12 . The support structure of  claim 1  wherein the side member includes an upper wall portion, lower wall portion, inner wall portion, and outer wall portion, each wall portion at least partially defining a cavity within the side member, and further comprising an opening in the outer wall portion, and a bulkhead mounted at the opening and received within the side member cavity. 
     
     
         13 . The support structure assembly of  claim 12  wherein the inner mounting portion of the link member at least partially extends through the opening. 
     
     
         14 . The support structure assembly of claim  11 , wherein the side member inner wall portion and outer wall portion each include indentations configured to allow the side member to become compressed in response to a force acting rearwardly thereon. 
     
     
         15 . The support structure assembly of  claim 12 , wherein the side member includes a tapered portion for allowing the side member to buckle inward in response to a force acting inwardly on the side member. 
     
     
         16 . The support structure assembly of  claim 2 , wherein the bumper extension includes forward and rearward wall portions each having outboard ends, the rearward wall portion is mounted between the side member front end and the main bumper member, and the outer hinged connection comprises the outboard ends fixedly mounted to the outer portion of the link member. 
     
     
         17 . The support structure assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the link member is configured to pivot about the inner hinged connection from a first position to a second position, where the outer mounting portion is disposed further forward in the first position than in the second position. 
     
     
         18 . The support structure assembly of  claim 17 , wherein the link member inner mounting portion is disposed further inward and rearward in the second position than in the first position. 
     
     
         19 . The support structure assembly of  claim 17 , further comprising a third position, wherein the outer mounting portion is further rearward and inward in the third position than in the second position, and the link member is configured to pivot from the first position to the second position and thereafter to the third position. 
     
     
         20 . An automotive vehicle comprising:
 a bumper member at the front of the vehicle extending across a centerline of the vehicle, the bumper member having first and second ends;   a first side member extending rearwardly from the bumper member;   a second side member extending rearwardly from the bumper member;   a first bumper extension extending from the first end of the bumper member in an outward direction from the centerline;   a second bumper extension extending from the second end of the bumper member in an outward direction from the centerline;   a first link member having outer and inner mounting portions, the outer mounting portion mounted to the first bumper extension, and the inner mounting portion mounted to the first side member via a first hinged connection, the first link member further having a major side surface extending between the inner and outer mounting portions, the major side surface of the first link member being oriented obliquely relative to an axis drawn between the inner mounting portion and the outer mounting portion of the first link member;   a second link member having outer and inner mounting portions, the outer mounting portion mounted to the second bumper extension, and the inner mounting portion mounted to the second side member via a second hinged connection, the second link member further having a major side surface extending between the inner and outer mounting portions, the major side surface of the second link member being oriented obliquely relative to an axis drawn between the inner mounting portion and the outer mounting portion of the second link member; and   wherein the first and second link members have a generally fixed shape.   
     
     
         21 . The support structure assembly of  claim 3 , wherein the first and second major side surfaces are immediately adjacent. 
     
     
         22 . The support structure assembly of  claim 3 , wherein the first major side surface generally faces forward toward the bumper and inward toward the side member.