GB2560546A - Breakaway apparatus for a vehicle component - Google Patents

Breakaway apparatus for a vehicle component Download PDF

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Publication number
GB2560546A
GB2560546A GB1704097.3A GB201704097A GB2560546A GB 2560546 A GB2560546 A GB 2560546A GB 201704097 A GB201704097 A GB 201704097A GB 2560546 A GB2560546 A GB 2560546A
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GB
United Kingdom
Prior art keywords
vehicle
support member
moveable support
fixed mounting
mounting member
Prior art date
Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
Granted
Application number
GB1704097.3A
Other versions
GB201704097D0 (en
GB2560546B (en
Inventor
Mcquade Dean
Current Assignee (The listed assignees may be inaccurate. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy of the list.)
Jaguar Land Rover Ltd
Original Assignee
Jaguar Land Rover Ltd
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by Jaguar Land Rover Ltd filed Critical Jaguar Land Rover Ltd
Priority to GB1704097.3A priority Critical patent/GB2560546B/en
Publication of GB201704097D0 publication Critical patent/GB201704097D0/en
Publication of GB2560546A publication Critical patent/GB2560546A/en
Application granted granted Critical
Publication of GB2560546B publication Critical patent/GB2560546B/en
Active legal-status Critical Current
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Classifications

    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B60—VEHICLES IN GENERAL
    • B60R—VEHICLES, VEHICLE FITTINGS, OR VEHICLE PARTS, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
    • B60R21/00—Arrangements or fittings on vehicles for protecting or preventing injuries to occupants or pedestrians in case of accidents or other traffic risks
    • B60R21/34—Protecting non-occupants of a vehicle, e.g. pedestrians
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B60—VEHICLES IN GENERAL
    • B60L—PROPULSION OF ELECTRICALLY-PROPELLED VEHICLES; SUPPLYING ELECTRIC POWER FOR AUXILIARY EQUIPMENT OF ELECTRICALLY-PROPELLED VEHICLES; ELECTRODYNAMIC BRAKE SYSTEMS FOR VEHICLES IN GENERAL; MAGNETIC SUSPENSION OR LEVITATION FOR VEHICLES; MONITORING OPERATING VARIABLES OF ELECTRICALLY-PROPELLED VEHICLES; ELECTRIC SAFETY DEVICES FOR ELECTRICALLY-PROPELLED VEHICLES
    • B60L53/00—Methods of charging batteries, specially adapted for electric vehicles; Charging stations or on-board charging equipment therefor; Exchange of energy storage elements in electric vehicles
    • B60L53/10—Methods of charging batteries, specially adapted for electric vehicles; Charging stations or on-board charging equipment therefor; Exchange of energy storage elements in electric vehicles characterised by the energy transfer between the charging station and the vehicle
    • B60L53/14—Conductive energy transfer
    • B60L53/16—Connectors, e.g. plugs or sockets, specially adapted for charging electric vehicles
    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H01—ELECTRIC ELEMENTS
    • H01R—ELECTRICALLY-CONDUCTIVE CONNECTIONS; STRUCTURAL ASSOCIATIONS OF A PLURALITY OF MUTUALLY-INSULATED ELECTRICAL CONNECTING ELEMENTS; COUPLING DEVICES; CURRENT COLLECTORS
    • H01R13/00—Details of coupling devices of the kinds covered by groups H01R12/70 or H01R24/00 - H01R33/00
    • H01R13/73—Means for mounting coupling parts to apparatus or structures, e.g. to a wall
    • H01R13/74—Means for mounting coupling parts in openings of a panel
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B60—VEHICLES IN GENERAL
    • B60R—VEHICLES, VEHICLE FITTINGS, OR VEHICLE PARTS, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
    • B60R21/00—Arrangements or fittings on vehicles for protecting or preventing injuries to occupants or pedestrians in case of accidents or other traffic risks
    • B60R21/34—Protecting non-occupants of a vehicle, e.g. pedestrians
    • B60R2021/343—Protecting non-occupants of a vehicle, e.g. pedestrians using deformable body panel, bodywork or components
    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H01—ELECTRIC ELEMENTS
    • H01R—ELECTRICALLY-CONDUCTIVE CONNECTIONS; STRUCTURAL ASSOCIATIONS OF A PLURALITY OF MUTUALLY-INSULATED ELECTRICAL CONNECTING ELEMENTS; COUPLING DEVICES; CURRENT COLLECTORS
    • H01R13/00—Details of coupling devices of the kinds covered by groups H01R12/70 or H01R24/00 - H01R33/00
    • H01R13/62—Means for facilitating engagement or disengagement of coupling parts or for holding them in engagement
    • H01R13/6205—Two-part coupling devices held in engagement by a magnet
    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H01—ELECTRIC ELEMENTS
    • H01R—ELECTRICALLY-CONDUCTIVE CONNECTIONS; STRUCTURAL ASSOCIATIONS OF A PLURALITY OF MUTUALLY-INSULATED ELECTRICAL CONNECTING ELEMENTS; COUPLING DEVICES; CURRENT COLLECTORS
    • H01R2201/00—Connectors or connections adapted for particular applications
    • H01R2201/26—Connectors or connections adapted for particular applications for vehicles
    • Y—GENERAL TAGGING OF NEW TECHNOLOGICAL DEVELOPMENTS; GENERAL TAGGING OF CROSS-SECTIONAL TECHNOLOGIES SPANNING OVER SEVERAL SECTIONS OF THE IPC; TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC CROSS-REFERENCE ART COLLECTIONS [XRACs] AND DIGESTS
    • Y02—TECHNOLOGIES OR APPLICATIONS FOR MITIGATION OR ADAPTATION AGAINST CLIMATE CHANGE
    • Y02T—CLIMATE CHANGE MITIGATION TECHNOLOGIES RELATED TO TRANSPORTATION
    • Y02T10/00—Road transport of goods or passengers
    • Y02T10/60—Other road transportation technologies with climate change mitigation effect
    • Y02T10/70—Energy storage systems for electromobility, e.g. batteries
    • Y—GENERAL TAGGING OF NEW TECHNOLOGICAL DEVELOPMENTS; GENERAL TAGGING OF CROSS-SECTIONAL TECHNOLOGIES SPANNING OVER SEVERAL SECTIONS OF THE IPC; TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC CROSS-REFERENCE ART COLLECTIONS [XRACs] AND DIGESTS
    • Y02—TECHNOLOGIES OR APPLICATIONS FOR MITIGATION OR ADAPTATION AGAINST CLIMATE CHANGE
    • Y02T—CLIMATE CHANGE MITIGATION TECHNOLOGIES RELATED TO TRANSPORTATION
    • Y02T10/00—Road transport of goods or passengers
    • Y02T10/60—Other road transportation technologies with climate change mitigation effect
    • Y02T10/7072—Electromobility specific charging systems or methods for batteries, ultracapacitors, supercapacitors or double-layer capacitors
    • Y—GENERAL TAGGING OF NEW TECHNOLOGICAL DEVELOPMENTS; GENERAL TAGGING OF CROSS-SECTIONAL TECHNOLOGIES SPANNING OVER SEVERAL SECTIONS OF THE IPC; TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC CROSS-REFERENCE ART COLLECTIONS [XRACs] AND DIGESTS
    • Y02—TECHNOLOGIES OR APPLICATIONS FOR MITIGATION OR ADAPTATION AGAINST CLIMATE CHANGE
    • Y02T—CLIMATE CHANGE MITIGATION TECHNOLOGIES RELATED TO TRANSPORTATION
    • Y02T90/00—Enabling technologies or technologies with a potential or indirect contribution to GHG emissions mitigation
    • Y02T90/10—Technologies relating to charging of electric vehicles
    • Y02T90/14—Plug-in electric vehicles

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  • Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Mechanical Engineering (AREA)
  • Power Engineering (AREA)
  • Transportation (AREA)
  • Arrangement Or Mounting Of Propulsion Units For Vehicles (AREA)

Abstract

A breakaway apparatus 20 comprises a fixed mounting member 32, a moveable support member 34, a biasing member 36 coupled between the fixed mounting member 32 and the moveable support member 34. The fixed mounting member 32 is configured to attach to a support structure of a vehicle to assume a mounted position and the moveable support member 34 is configured to support and carry a vehicle component. The biasing member 34 biases the moveable support member 34 into a first position relative to the fixed mounting member 32. The moveable support member 34 is configured to locate the vehicle component within an impact zone of the vehicle 10 and is moveable relative to the fixed mounting member from the first position to a second position inboard of the vehicle (1, Fig. 1) in response to an impact at the impact zone of the vehicle 10.

Description

(54) Title of the Invention: Breakaway apparatus for a vehicle component Abstract Title: Breakaway apparatus for impact zone on vehicle (57) A breakaway apparatus 20 comprises a fixed mounting member 32, a moveable support member 34, a biasing member 36 coupled between the fixed mounting member 32 and the moveable support member 34. The fixed mounting member 32 is configured to attach to a support structure of a vehicle to assume a mounted position and the moveable support member 34 is configured to support and carry a vehicle component. The biasing member 34 biases the moveable support member 34 into a first position relative to the fixed mounting member 32. The moveable support member 34 is configured to locate the vehicle component within an impact zone of the vehicle 10 and is moveable relative to the fixed mounting member from the first position to a second position inboard of the vehicle (1, Fig. 1) in response to an impact at the impact zone of the vehicle 10.
Figure GB2560546A_D0001
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Figure GB2560546A_D0002
FIG. 1
Figure GB2560546A_D0003
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FIG. 3
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Figure GB2560546A_D0005
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Figure GB2560546A_D0006
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FIG. 8
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FIG. 9
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FIG. 10
FIG. 11
BREAKAWAY APPARATUS FOR A VEHICLE COMPONENT
TECHNICAL FIELD
The present disclosure relates to a breakaway apparatus for a vehicle component, and more particularly, but not exclusively, to an apparatus that allows a vehicle component located adjacent an exterior surface of a vehicle within an impact zone of the vehicle to move inboard of the vehicle in response to an impact at the impact zone so as to mitigate injury to an external object or to the vehicle. Aspects of the invention relate to an apparatus and a vehicle.
BACKGROUND
Vehicles such as automobiles are typically equipped with features that absorb and dissipate kinetic energy during an impact or collision so as to mitigate damages to the vehicle, passengers, and/or pedestrians. Such energy absorbing features are oftentimes included in a front end of a vehicle, such as the bumper, grill, bonnet (or hood), and/or fender, to mitigate damage in the event of an impact between a pedestrian and the front end of the vehicle.
For example, some vehicles are equipped with an active bonnet (or hood) that deploy to an elevated position away from rigid components under the hood, such as the engine, in the event of an impact with a pedestrian. Lifting the bonnet in this way increases the available space into which the bonnet may deform in the event the pedestrian contacts the bonnet, which increases the amount of energy that can be absorbed by the bonnet and decreases the likelihood of the pedestrian coming into contact with the rigid components in the engine bay under the bonnet. As another example, many vehicles include an energy absorbing bumper at a front end of the vehicle to mitigate damages during low impact front end collisions. These bumpers deflect or move substantially inboard of the vehicle in response to front end impacts up to a predetermined displacement and then recover when the front end impact load is removed.
In some situations, it may be desirable to mount certain vehicle components in the vicinity of the front end or rear end of the vehicle in close proximity to an exterior surface of the vehicle. For example, vehicle headlamps and tail lamps must necessarily be located at or near the front end and rear end of the vehicle. In addition, it may be desirable to locate certain vehicle electrical components as close as possible to the exterior surface of the vehicle to allow, for example, for ease of access to the components. However, in such situations, it may not be feasible to position an energy absorbing feature between the vehicle component and the exterior surface of the vehicle.
Accordingly, one aim of the present invention is to address the issues identified above, as well as to address other possible issues that may arise.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
Aspects and embodiments of the invention provide a breakaway apparatus and a vehicle comprising a breakaway apparatus as set forth in the appended claims.
According to an aspect of the invention, there is provided a breakaway apparatus for a vehicle, the breakaway apparatus comprising: a fixed mounting member configured to attach to a support structure of the vehicle to assume a mounted position; a moveable support member configured to support and carry a vehicle component; and a biasing member arranged to bias the moveable support member into a first position relative to the fixed mounting member, wherein the moveable support member is configured to locate the vehicle component within an impact zone of the vehicle when the fixed mounting member is in the mounted position and the moveable support member is in the first position and, in response to an impact at the impact zone of the vehicle, the moveable support member is moveable relative to the fixed mounting member to move away from the impact from the first position to a second position.
In response to an impact by an external object at the impact zone of the vehicle, the breakaway apparatus may carry or relocate the vehicle component inboard of the exterior surface of the vehicle and out of the impact zone of the vehicle, which may help mitigate or prevent damage to the vehicle component and/or to the external object as a result of the impact. In one embodiment, the breakaway apparatus may relocate the vehicle component inboard of the exterior surface of the vehicle in response to an impact by a pedestrian at a pedestrian impact zone of the vehicle, which may help mitigate or prevent injury to the vehicle component and the pedestrian as a result of the impact.
According to another aspect of the invention, there is provided a breakaway apparatus comprising a fixed mounting member, a moveable support member, and a biasing member coupled between the fixed mounting member and the moveable support member that biases the moveable support member into a first position relative to the fixed mounting member. The fixed mounting member may be configured to attach to a support structure of a vehicle to assume a mounted position and the moveable support member may be configured to support and carry a vehicle component. The moveable support member also may be configured to locate the vehicle component within an impact zone of the vehicle when the fixed mounting member is in the mounted position and the moveable support member is positioned relative to the fixed mounting member in the first position. When the fixed mounting member is in the mounted position, the moveable support member may move relative to the fixed mounting member from the first position to a second position inboard of the vehicle in response to an impact at the impact zone of the vehicle. In the first position, the moveable support member may locate the vehicle component adjacent an exterior surface of the vehicle within the impact zone of the vehicle. In the second position, the moveable support member may relocate the vehicle component inboard of the exterior surface of the vehicle and out of the impact zone of the vehicle. The biasing member may help return the vehicle component to its original location adjacent the exterior surface of the vehicle by exerting a biasing force on the moveable support member to return the moveable support member toward the first position.
According to one or more embodiments of the invention, the moveable support member may be pivotally connected to the fixed mounting member such that the moveable support member pivots inboard of the vehicle about a pivot axis in response to an impact at the impact zone of the vehicle. In one embodiment, the pivot axis may be located inboard of the support structure of the vehicle. In another embodiment, the biasing member may comprise a spring located at or adjacent the pivot axis of the moveable support member and may be interconnected to the fixed mounting member and the moveable support member.
According to one or more embodiments of the invention, the breakaway apparatus may be configured to relocate the vehicle component inboard of the exterior surface of the vehicle and out of the impact zone of the vehicle in response to an impact load equal to or greater than a predetermined amount at the impact zone of the vehicle. In one embodiment, the vehicle component may be retained at a location adjacent the exterior surface of the vehicle by a latch, and the latch may be configured to release the vehicle component from such location in response to an impact load equal to or greater than a predetermined amount at the impact zone of the vehicle.
According to an embodiment of the invention, movement of the vehicle component inboard of the exterior surface of the vehicle and out of the impact zone of the vehicle may be limited by a stop. The stop may limit movement of the vehicle component by preventing the moveable support member from moving beyond a designated position further inboard of the vehicle.
According to one or more embodiments of the invention, the vehicle component may comprise a vehicle electrical component. In one embodiment, the vehicle component may comprise an electric vehicle charging port.
According to another aspect of the invention, there is provided a vehicle comprising the breakaway apparatus described above.
According to a further aspect of the invention, there is provided vehicle comprising: a support structure; a breakaway apparatus mounted to the support structure; a vehicle component located within an impact zone of the vehicle, wherein the breakaway apparatus comprises: a fixed mounting member attached to the support structure; a moveable support member that locates the vehicle component within the impact zone of the vehicle; and a biasing member arranged to bias the moveable support member into a first position relative to the fixed mounting member, wherein, in response to an impact at the impact zone of said vehicle, the moveable support member is moveable relative to the fixed mounting member to move away from the impact to a second position inboard of the vehicle.
According to one or more embodiments of the invention, the moveable support member may be configured to locate the vehicle component adjacent an exterior surface of the vehicle within the impact zone of the vehicle and also may be configured to relocate the vehicle component inboard of the exterior surface of the vehicle and out of the impact zone of the vehicle, for example, in response to an impact by an external object at the impact zone of the vehicle, which may help mitigate or prevent damage to the vehicle component and/or to the external object as a result of the impact. In one embodiment, the impact zone of the vehicle may comprise a pedestrian impact zone and the moveable support member may be configured to relocate the vehicle component inboard of the exterior surface of the vehicle and out of the pedestrian impact zone of the vehicle in response to an impact by a pedestrian at the pedestrian impact zone of the vehicle, which may help mitigate or prevent injury to the vehicle component and/or to the pedestrian as a result of the impact.
According to one or more embodiments of the invention, the exterior surface of the vehicle may comprise an exterior surface of a bumper, bonnet, boot, wing, quarter panel, door, hood, or grill of the vehicle.
In one embodiment, the support structure of the vehicle may comprise a front bumper beam.
According to one or more embodiments of the invention, the vehicle component may comprise a vehicle electrical component.
In one embodiment, the vehicle component may comprise an electric vehicle charging port and the vehicle may include a grill having an opening for receipt of an electric plug. In such case, the moveable support member may be configured to locate the electric vehicle charging port adjacent an exterior surface of the grill and in alignment with the opening in the grill. In one embodiment, the vehicle may comprise a vehicle emblem that covers the opening in the grill.
According to yet another aspect of the invention, there is provided a breakaway apparatus adapted for use in combination with a vehicle component suitably positioned adjacent an exterior surface of a vehicle and within a designated “impact zone” of the vehicle. During normal vehicle operation, the breakaway apparatus may help locate and support the vehicle component adjacent the exterior surface of the vehicle, within the impact zone of the vehicle.
Within the scope of this application it is expressly intended that the various aspects, embodiments, examples, and alternatives set out in the preceding paragraphs, in the claims, and/or in the following description or drawings, and in particular the individual features thereof, may be taken independently or in any combination. That is, all embodiments and/or features of any embodiment can be combined in any way and/or combination, unless such features are incompatible. The applicant reserves the right to change any originally filed claim to depend from and/or incorporate any feature of any other claim although not originally claimed in that manner.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
One or more embodiments of the invention will now be described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings, wherein like designations denote like elements, and in which:
FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an example of a vehicle according to an aspect of the invention;
FIG. 2 is an exploded view of a front end of a vehicle including an electric vehicle charging port and an example of a breakaway apparatus according to an aspect of the invention, wherein the breakaway apparatus is arranged for securing the charging port to a front bumper beam of the vehicle;
FIG. 3 is an assembled rear perspective view of the breakaway apparatus of FIG. 2;
FIG. 4 is a perspective view of an example of a breakaway apparatus according to another aspect of the invention including a fixed mounting member and a moveable support member, wherein the moveable support member is positioned relative to the fixed mounting member in a first position;
FIG. 5 is a perspective view of the breakaway apparatus of FIG. 4, wherein the moveable support member is positioned relative to the fixed mounting member in a second position;
FIG. 6 is a side view of the breakaway apparatus of FIG. 4;
FIG. 7 is a side view of the breakaway apparatus of FIG. 5:
FIG. 8 is a side view of an example of a breakaway apparatus according to yet another aspect of the invention including a fixed mounting member and a moveable support member, wherein the moveable support member is positioned relative to the fixed mounting member in a first position;
FIG. 9 is a side view of the breakaway apparatus of FIG. 8, wherein the moveable support member is positioned relative to the fixed mounting member in a second position;
FIG. 10 is a simplified side view of the breakaway apparatus of FIG. 4 depicting certain dimensions of the moveable support member and the electric vehicle charging port; and
FIG. 11 is a simplified side view of the breakaway apparatus of FIG. 5 depicting certain dimensions and displacements of the moveable support member and the electric vehicle charging port when moving between the first and second positions.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
FIG. 1 illustrates a vehicle 1 including a front bumper 2, a rear bumper 3, a hood or bonnet 4, a boot (trunk) 5, left and right wings (fenders) 6, left and right quarter panels 7, doors 8, and a roof 9. A vehicle component (not shown) may be positioned adjacent an exterior surface of the vehicle 1 within an impact zone of the vehicle 1, for example, by being positioned adjacent an exterior surface of the front bumper 2, the rear bumper 3, the bonnet 4, the boot 5, the left or right wing 6, the left or right quarter panel 7, one of the doors 8, or the roof 9 of the vehicle 1. In particular, the vehicle component may be positioned adjacent the exterior surface of the vehicle 1 by a breakaway apparatus (not shown) attached to a support structure (not shown) within the vehicle 1. The breakaway apparatus may allow the vehicle component to move or be relocated inboard relative to the exterior surface of the vehicle 1 in response to an impact at the impact zone of the vehicle 1, which may help mitigate damage or injury as a result of the impact. In the illustrated arrangement, the vehicle 1 is a motor vehicle having a saloon (sedan) configuration, but the breakaway apparatus described herein can be employed in other motor vehicle configurations.
FIGS. 2 and 3 illustrate a front end of another vehicle 10 including a support structure in the form of a front bumper beam 12, a fascia or grill 14, a vehicle emblem 16, an electric vehicle charging port 18, and a breakaway apparatus 20. It will be appreciated that, in the case of a battery electric vehicle or BEV, the electric powertrain may not have the same requirement for cooling as a more traditional vehicle powered by an internal combustion engine and as such, the traditional grill 14, arranged to allow cooling airflow to a radiator (not shown), may be replaced by a fascia, arranged to provide a decorative and/or structural surface between the front bumper 2 and the bonnet 4.
The charging port 18 provides an electrical connection between an external power supply (not shown) and a vehicle battery (not shown) and includes a housing 22, a faceplate 24, and a plurality of electrical terminals 26 coupled to lead wires 28. It will be appreciated that the lead wires 28 shown in the figures are purely illustrative, and may be located and orientated relative to the charging port 18 in a variety of different ways to suit performance and packaging constraints. Thus, the arrangement and orientation of the lead wires 28 shown in the figures should not be considered as definitive.
The breakaway apparatus 20 supports the charging port 18 within the vehicle 10 and positions the charging port 18 behind the grill 14 and in alignment with an opening 30 in the grill 14. The vehicle emblem 16 covers the opening 30 and is removable therefrom to allow receipt of an electric plug 31 for charging the vehicle battery. In the embodiments illustrated in FIGS. 2 and 3, the breakaway apparatus 20 is mounted to the front bumper beam 12 of the vehicle 10. In other embodiments, the breakaway apparatus 20 may be mounted to another support structure of the vehicle 10, such as a cross beam or side rail of a frame or subframe member, a bonnet support panel or “slam-panel”, radiator support panel or any other bumper element arranged to support such an apparatus. It will be appreciated that, in this example, the vehicle emblem 16 is being used to act as a cover for the charging port 18 when access to the charging port 18 is not required. However, this cover function may equally be performed by a dedicated hinged flap or removable cover that does not bear an emblem, as may be desired depending on the particular application.
It may be desirable to position the charging port 18 at or adjacent an exterior surface of the vehicle 10 to allow for ease of access to the charging port 18 by a user during normal vehicle operation. For example, in the embodiments illustrated in FIGS. 2 and 3, the charging port is suitably positioned in an easily accessible location adjacent an exterior surface of the grill 14. In other embodiments, it may be desirable to position the charging port 18 at or adjacent an exterior surface of a vehicle body panel, e.g., a bumper, bonnet, boot, wing, quarter panel, door, or hood of the vehicle 10. Such positions may fall within one or more zones of the vehicle 10 that may be considered somewhat more likely to be impacted in the event of a collision between the vehicle 10 and an external object, e.g., a pedestrian, as compared to other regions of the vehicle 10. As such, these zones may be designated or referred to as “impact zones” of the vehicle. Regions of the vehicle 10 that may be considered relatively likely to be impacted in the event of a collision between the vehicle 10 and a pedestrian, as compared to other regions of the vehicle 10, may be designated or referred to as “pedestrian impact zones” of the vehicle 10 and may include regions near the front end and/or rear end of the vehicle 10.
The breakaway apparatus 20 can support and locate the electric vehicle charging port 18 adjacent the exterior surface of the grill 14 within an impact zone of the vehicle 10 and can help mitigate or prevent damage to the electric vehicle charging port 18 in the event of an impact by an external object at the impact zone of the vehicle 10. In particular, in response to an impact by an external object at the impact zone of the vehicle 10, the breakaway apparatus 20 can move or relocate the electric vehicle charging port 18 inboard of the exterior surface of the vehicle 10 (e.g., inboard of the exterior surface of the grill 14) and away from the impact zone of the vehicle 10. Moving the charging port 18 away from the exterior surface of the vehicle 10 and out of the impact zone of the vehicle may help mitigate or prevent damage to the charging port 18 and/or to the external object, for example, by reducing the impact load imparted to the charging port 18 and/or to the external object. In situations where the charging port 18 is located in a pedestrian impact zone of the vehicle 10, the breakaway apparatus 20 can move or relocate the electric vehicle charging port 18 inboard of the exterior surface of the vehicle 10 and away from the pedestrian impact zone of the vehicle 10 in response to an impact by a pedestrian at the pedestrian impact zone of the vehicle 10, which may help mitigate or prevent injury to the charging port 18 and to the pedestrian.
In some embodiments, inboard movement of the charging port 18 by the breakaway apparatus 20 may occur in direct response to a force F exerted on the charging port 18. In other embodiments, the vehicle 10 may include a sensor (not shown) that detects and signals when an impact occurs within the impact zone of the vehicle 10, and an actuator (not shown) may trigger inboard movement of the charging port 18 by the breakaway apparatus 20 in response to a signal received from the sensor. Not all impacts within the impact zone of the vehicle 10 may trigger inboard movement of the charging port 18 by the breakaway apparatus 20. For example, movement of the charging port 18 may only be initiated in response to an impact load equal to or greater than a predetermined value at the impact zone of the vehicle 10.
Referring now also to FIGS. 4, 5, 6, and 7, the breakaway apparatus 20 supports and carries the charging port 18 and includes a fixed mounting member 32, a moveable support member 34, and a biasing member 36. The biasing member 36 is coupled between the fixed mounting member 32 and the moveable support member 34. The moveable support member 34 is moveable relative to the fixed mounting member 32 between a first position and a second position inboard of the first position, but is biased into the first position by the biasing member 36. FIGS. 4 and 6 illustrate states in which the moveable support member 34 is positioned relative to the fixed mounting member 32 in the first position, and FIGS. 5 and 7 illustrate states in which the moveable support member 34 is positioned relative to the fixed mounting member 32 in the second position.
When the moveable support member 34 is in the first position, the charging port 18 is located at or adjacent to an exterior surface of the vehicle 10 within an impact zone of the vehicle 10, such as a pedestrian impact zone of the vehicle 10. In response to an impact load at the impact zone of the vehicle 10, the moveable support member 34 moves relative to the fixed mounting member 32 from the first position toward the second position inboard of the vehicle 10. When the moveable support member 32 reaches the second position, the charging port 18 carried by the moveable support member 32 is relocated to a position inboard of the exterior surface of the vehicle 10, away from the object impacting the vehicle 10 (or the object that has been impacted by the vehicle 10). The breakaway apparatus 20 may include a tether, a backstop, or other suitable arresting device (not shown) that prevents the moveable support member 34 from moving further inboard of the vehicle 10 beyond the second position, for example, to prevent the moveable support member 34 and/or the charging port 18 from potentially impacting other internal vehicle components. In some embodiments, the breakaway apparatus 20 may include a device that prevents inboard movement of the moveable support member 34 under certain conditions, for example, when the vehicle 10 is parked. After impact, the biasing member 36 may exert a sufficient force upon the moveable support member 34 to return the moveable support member 34 to the first position and to return the charging port 18 to its original location within the vehicle 10. In other embodiments, the moveable support member 34 may need to be manually returned to the first position.
In the embodiments illustrated in FIGS. 2-7, the biasing member 36 comprises a pair of torsion springs. Each of the torsion springs includes a coil having a first end extending away from the coil and coupled to the fixed mounting member 32 and a second end extending away from the coil and coupled to the moveable support member 34. The coils of the torsion springs have central openings which define a pivot axis A of the moveable support member 34. The torsion springs allow the moveable support member 34 to pivot relative to the fixed mounting member 32 about the pivot axis A in response to an impact at the impact zone of the vehicle 10. However, in other embodiments, the biasing member 36 may comprise one or more other types of springs, e.g., leaf springs, or one or more other components or mechanisms that urge the moveable support member 34 toward the first position. In such case, the moveable support member 34 may be constructed to move relative to the fixed mounting member 32 by rotation, translation, or by some combination of rotation and translation. For example, the moveable support member 34 may be constructed to move linearly relative to the fixed mounting member 32 from the first position toward a second position directly behind, that is to say, further inboard, or directly below the first position, away from the object that has impacted the vehicle 10 or that has been impacted by the vehicle 10 as the case may be.
The fixed mounting member 32 secures the breakaway apparatus 20 to the front bumper beam 12 and may include a shelf 38, a flange 40, and a pair of legs 42 extending to a pair of knuckles 44. The shelf 38 of the fixed mounting member 32 may be attached to the front bumper beam 12, for example, by welding, riveting, or bolting the shelf 38 thereto by means of threaded fasteners (not shown), so as to provide suitable means for attachment. The shelf 38 illustrated in FIGS. 2-7 is generally flat and extends in a generally perpendicular direction away from legs 42. In other embodiments, the shape of the shelf 38 may be different and may be based upon the shape and/or configuration of the support structure of the vehicle 10 to which it is attached. The flange 40 of the fixed mounting member 32 may extend in a generally upward and slightly forward direction from a front edge 46 of the shelf 38. The flange 40 has a forward-facing surface and a rearward facing surface, with the rearward facing surface including one or more features configured to interact with corresponding features on the moveable support member 34 to latch the members 32, 34 together, as will be further discussed below. The legs 42 of the fixed mounting member 32 are positioned behind the front bumper beam 12, and may extend in a generally downward direction from an opposite back edge 48 of the shelf 38. The knuckles 44 of the fixed mounting member 32 may have openings 50 which are substantially coaxial with the pivot axis A of the moveable support member 34.
The moveable support member 34 carries the charging port 18 and may include a base 52, a bracket 54, and a backplate 56 extending to a knuckle 58. The base 52 may be positioned above the top mounting surface of the front bumper beam 12 and may overlap the shelf 38 of the fixed mounting member 32 when the moveable support member 34 is in the first position. The charging port 18 is supported by the bracket 54 of the moveable support member 34, which is attached to the base 52. In other embodiments, the charging port 18 may be directly attached to the base 52 or to an intermediate structure disposed between the charging port 18 and the base 52. The charging port 18 may be slidably received within the bracket 54 as illustrated in FIG. 2. In such case, the bracket 54 of the moveable support member 34 may include a pair of lateral sidewalls 60 projecting forward from opposite sides of the base 52. As shown in FIG. 2, each sidewall 60 of the bracket 54 may have a flange 62 that extends toward the other sidewall 60 that helps to retain the charging port 18 within the bracket 54. The charging port 18 may be physically attached to the bracket 54 via the flanges 62, for example, using screws of bolts 64. The backplate 56 of the moveable support member 34 is positioned behind the front bumper beam 12 and may extend in a generally downward direction from a back edge 66 of the base 52. The knuckle 58 of the moveable support member 34 may have an opening 68 that is substantially in coaxial alignment with the openings 50 in the knuckles 44 of the fixed mounting member 32. In such case, the fixed mounting member 32 and the moveable support member 34 may be pivotally attached to each other via a pivot pin 70 that extends through the openings 50, 68 in the knuckles 44, 58 along the pivot axis A of the moveable support member 34.
A pair of lateral tabs or ears 72 may project from the lateral sidewalls 60 of the bracket. The ears 72 may interact with corresponding features on the fixed mounting member 32 to latch the members 32, 34 together. In particular, a pair of magnets 74 may be positioned on opposite sides of the rearward facing surface of the flange 40 of the fixed mounting member 32, and the magnets 74 may engage forward facing surfaces of the ears 72 to retain the moveable support member 34 in the first position relative to the fixed mounting member 32. At the same time, the magnets 74 may be configured to release the moveable support member 34 from the first position in response to an impact load or force F equal to or greater than a predetermined amount at the impact zone of the vehicle 10. For example, the magnets 74 or other retaining means between the members 32, 34 may be configured to retain the moveable support member 34 in the first position, and to release the moveable support member 34 from the first position in response to an impact load equal to or greater than 500N at the impact zone of the vehicle 10 where the impact zone is a pedestrian impact zone. Also, the rearward facing surface of the flange 40 of the fixed mounting member 32 and the ears 72 of the moveable support member 28 may come together to create a positive stop that prevents the moveable support member 28 from moving too far forward, past the first position during its return from the second position to the first position.
FIGS. 8 and 9 illustrate another embodiment of a breakaway apparatus 120 that may be used to support and locate an electric vehicle charging port 118 or other vehicle component adjacent an exterior surface of a vehicle within an impact zone of the vehicle and also may help mitigate or prevent damage to the electric vehicle charging port 118 and adjacent components in the event of an impact by an external object at the impact zone of the vehicle. This embodiment is similar in many respects to the embodiment illustrated FIGS. 2-7 and like numerals between the embodiments generally designate like or corresponding elements. The descriptions of the embodiments are incorporated into one another and description of like or corresponding elements may not be repeated here.
Like the breakaway apparatus 20 illustrated in FIGS. 2-7, the breakaway apparatus 120 includes a fixed mounting member 132, a moveable support member 134, and a biasing member 136 coupled between the fixed mounting member 132 and the moveable support member 134. When the breakaway apparatus 120 is mounted to a support structure of a vehicle, the moveable support member 134 is moveable relative to the fixed mounting member 132 between a first position and a second position inboard of the vehicle. In FIG. 8, the charging port 118 is carried by the moveable support member 134 and the moveable support member 134 is positioned relative to the fixed mounting member 132 in the first position such that a portion of the charging port 118 is located within a designated impact zone Zi of the vehicle. In FIG. 9, the moveable support member 134 has been displaced or relocated to the second position in response to an impact force F exerted on the charging port 118 or the moveable support member 134 such that the entire charging port 118 has been relocated within a safe zone Zs of the vehicle, out of the designated impact zone Zi.
The electric vehicle charging port 118 carried by the breakaway apparatus 120 includes a housing 122, a faceplate 124, and a plurality of electrical terminals (not shown) coupled to lead wires 128. The fixed mounting member 132 includes a shelf 138 and a pair of legs 142 extending to a pair of knuckles 144. The breakaway apparatus 120 may be mounted to a support structure of a vehicle, for example, by attaching the shelf 138 of the fixed mounting member 132 thereto. The moveable support member 134 carries the charging port 118 and includes a base 152, a bracket 154, and a backplate 156 extending to a knuckle (not shown). The fixed mounting member 132 and the moveable support member 134 may be pivotally attached to each other by a pivot pin (not shown) that extends through an opening in the knuckles 144 of the fixed mounting member 132 and the knuckle of the moveable support member 134. The fixed mounting member 132 and the moveable support member
134 may be attached to each other such that, when the moveable support member 134 is in the first position, the base 152 of the moveable support member 134 overlies the shelf 138 of the fixed mounting member 132. In response to an impact force F exerted on the charging port 118 by an external object, the charging port 118 and the moveable support member 134 may pivot inboard of the exterior surface of the vehicle and out of the designated impact zone Zi of the vehicle, as shown in FIG. 9.
A tether 176 or other suitable arresting device may be attached to the fixed mounting member 132 and to the moveable support member 134 to prevent the moveable support member 134 from moving further inboard of the vehicle beyond the second position in response to a force F exerted on the charging port 118 or the moveable support member 134 itself. For example, the tether 176 may prevent the moveable support member 134 and/or the charging port 118 from overshooting a target inboard moving distance and impacting other vehicle components. In other embodiments, inboard movement of the moveable support member 134 and/or the charging port 118 may be limited to a finite distance by a discrete structure of the vehicle positioned inboard of or behind the breakaway apparatus 120.
The moveable support member 134 is biased into the first position by the biasing member 136. Thus, after the moveable support member 134 is displaced inboard of the vehicle and away from the first position by the impact force F, the biasing member 136 may exert a sufficient force on the moveable support member 134 to return the moveable support member 134 to the first position and to return the charging port 118 to its initial location within the vehicle. In other embodiments, the moveable support member 134 may need to be manually returned to the first position.
The moveable support member 134 may be prevented from moving beyond the first position, outboard of the vehicle by a catch 178, which may include a brace 180 attached to the moveable support member 134 and a striker plate 182 mounted to a support structure of the vehicle. In one form, the brace 180 may be integral with the moveable support member 134. Confronting surface portions of the brace 180 and the striker plate 182 are configured to come together and engage one another when the moveable support member 134 is located in the first position relative to the fixed mounting member 132. In one embodiment, a magnet 184 or other retaining device may be attached to the confronting surface portion of the brace 180 or the confronting surface portion of the striker plate 182 to help retain the moveable support member 134 in the first position. A bumper 186 may be disposed between the fixed mounting member 132 and the moveable support member 134, for example, to help control or cushion the return of the moveable support member 134 to the first position.
The dimensions of the various components of the breakaway apparatus 20, 120 may vary depending on its specific application of use. For example, the dimensions of the shelf 38, 138 and legs 42, 142 of the fixed mounting member 32, 132 and the dimensions of the base 52, 152 and backplate 56, 156 of the moveable support member 34, 134 may vary depending on the dimensions of the associated vehicle component, the desired location of the vehicle component within the vehicle, the distance between the desired location of the vehicle component and a suitable support structure within the vehicle, the amount of clearance behind the vehicle component, and the target distance the vehicle component needs to move to be entirely relocated out of the impact zone of the vehicle. The target moving distance of the associated vehicle component may depend upon individual, internal company, or industry standards and/or on government regulations, which may be dynamic. Skilled artisans will readily understand how to modify or adjust the dimensions of the various components of the breakaway apparatus 20, 120 to accommodate various vehicle components, vehicle environments, and performance requirements.
In this regard, FIGS. 10 and 11 depict various dimensional attributes of the breakaway apparatus 20, 120 that may be taken into consideration when incorporating the breakaway apparatus 20, 120 into an existing vehicle and/or when modifying the breakaway apparatus 20, 120 to accommodate vehicle components other than the electric vehicle charging port 18, 118 described above and illustrated in the drawings. For example, the dimensional attributes of the breakaway apparatus 20, 120 shown in FIGS. 10 and 11 may be used to determine whether the special constraints of a vehicle will allow for sufficient inboard movement of the moveable support member 34, 134 between its first and second positions.
In FIG. 10, the moveable support member 34, 134 is positioned relative to the fixed mounting member 32, 132 in its first position such that a portion of the charging port 18, 118 is located within a designated impact zone Zi of the vehicle. In this position, the front edge of the charging port 18, 118 is positioned at a point Pi, which is located at a horizontal distance b from the pivot point P2 of the moveable support member 34 134 and at a vertical distance c from the point P2. In this arrangement, the front edge of the charging port 18, 118 (point Pi) will pivot about an arc having a radius r and forming an angle Θ with the backplate 56, 156 of the moveable support member 34, 134.
In FIG. 11, the moveable support member 34, 134 has been moved or relocated to its second position in response to an impact force F exerted on the charging port 18, 118 such that the entire charging port 18, 118 has been relocated within a safe zone Zs of the vehicle, out of the designated impact zone Zi. In particular, the moveable support member 34, 134 has rotated through an arc of a degrees and the front edge of the charging port 18, 118 has moved inboard of the vehicle from point ΡΊ to point P3, and has moved a horizontal distance d and a vertical distance h. Those skilled in the art will appreciate that a mathematical relationship exists between these dimensions and displacements, such that, if a number of these parameters are known, the remaining parameters may be calculated based upon their known mathematical relationships. In addition, skilled artisans will appreciate that these dimensions and displacements may be manipulated as desired or needed for a particular application and that trade-offs may be made to account for the amount of available space in the vehicle and the amount of total horizontal, vertical, and/or angular displacement of the vehicle component.
The breakaway apparatus 20, 120 illustrated in the accompanying drawings is used in combination with the electric vehicle charging port 18, 118. However, it will be appreciated that the breakaway apparatus 20, 120 may suitably be used in combination with any of a number of other vehicle components that advantageously or desirably are positioned adjacent an exterior surface of a vehicle and within a designated “impact zone” of the vehicle. For example, in one form, the breakaway apparatus 20, 120 may be used in combination with an exterior light cluster such as a headlamp, tail lamp, camera, radar sensor, and/or other sensor located within an impact zone of the vehicle 10.
It will be understood that the embodiments described above are given by way of example only and are not intended to limit the invention, the scope of which is defined in the appended claims. The invention is not limited to the particular embodiment(s) disclosed herein, but rather is defined solely by the claims below. Furthermore, the statements contained in the foregoing description relate to particular embodiments and are not to be construed as limitations on the scope of the invention or on the definition of terms used in the claims, except where a term or phrase is expressly defined above. Various other embodiments and various changes and modifications to the disclosed embodiment(s) will become apparent to those skilled in the art. For example, the specific combination and order of steps is just one possibility, as the present method may include a combination of steps that has fewer, greater or different steps than that shown here. All such other embodiments, changes, and modifications are intended to come within the scope of the appended claims. Additionally, features, characteristics, or aspects described in conjunction with one embodiment are to be understood to be applicable to any other embodiment described herein unless incompatible therewith.
As used in this specification and claims, the terms “for example,” “e.g.,” “for instance,” “such as,” and “like,” and the verbs “comprising,” “having,” “including,” and their other verb forms, when used in conjunction with a listing of one or more components or other items, are each to be construed as open-ended, meaning that that the listing is not to be considered as excluding other, additional components or items. Further, the terms “comprise” and “contain” and variations thereof, for example “comprising” and “comprises”, mean “including but not limited to”, and are not intended to (and do not) exclude other possibilities not expressly provided for herein. Moreover the singular encompasses the plural unless the context otherwise requires: in particular, where the indefinite article is used, the specification is to be understood as contemplating plurality as well as singularity, unless the context requires otherwise. Other terms are to be construed using their broadest reasonable meaning unless they are used in a context that requires a different interpretation.

Claims (28)

1. A breakaway apparatus for a vehicle, the breakaway apparatus comprising:
a fixed mounting member configured to attach to a support structure of the vehicle to assume a mounted position;
a moveable support member configured to support and carry a vehicle component; and a biasing member arranged to bias the moveable support member into a first position relative to the fixed mounting member, wherein the moveable support member is configured to locate the vehicle component within an impact zone of the vehicle when the fixed mounting member is in the mounted position and the moveable support member is in the first position and, in response to an impact at the impact zone of the vehicle, the moveable support member is moveable relative to the fixed mounting member to move away from the impact from the first position to a second position.
2. The breakaway apparatus of claim 1 wherein the moveable support member is configured such that, when the fixed mounting member is in the mounted position and the moveable support member is in the first position, the moveable support member locates the vehicle component adjacent an exterior surface of the vehicle within the impact zone of the vehicle.
3. The breakaway apparatus of claim 2 wherein the moveable support member is configured such that, when the fixed mounting member is in the mounted position and the moveable support member is in the second position, the moveable support member relocates the vehicle component inboard of the exterior surface of the vehicle and out of the impact zone of the vehicle.
4. The breakaway apparatus of any one of the preceding claims, wherein the biasing member exerts a biasing force on the moveable support member to return the moveable support member from the second position towards the first position.
5. The breakaway apparatus of any one of the preceding claims, wherein the moveable support member is pivotally connected to the fixed mounting member.
6. The breakaway apparatus of claim 5 wherein, when the fixed mounting member is in the mounted position, the moveable support member pivots inboard of the vehicle about a pivot axis in response to an impact at the impact zone of the vehicle.
7. The breakaway apparatus of claim 6 wherein, when the fixed mounting member is in the mounted position, the pivot axis is located inboard of the support structure of the vehicle.
8. The breakaway apparatus of claim 6 wherein said biasing member comprises a spring located at or adjacent said pivot axis and interconnected to the fixed mounting member and the moveable support member.
9. The breakaway apparatus of any one of the preceding claims, wherein, when the fixed mounting member is in the mounted position, the moveable support member is moveable relative to the fixed mounting member in response to an impact load equal to or greater than a predetermined amount at the impact zone of the vehicle.
10. The breakaway apparatus of any one of the preceding claims, comprising a latch operable to retain the moveable support member in the first position relative to the fixed mounting member.
11. The breakaway apparatus of claim 10 wherein the latch is configured such that, when the fixed mounting member is in the mounted position, the latch releases the moveable support member from the first position in response to an impact load equal to or greater than a predetermined amount at the impact zone of the vehicle.
12. The breakaway apparatus of any one of the preceding claims, comprising a stop that limits movement of the moveable support member relative to the fixed mounting member.
13. The breakaway apparatus of claim 12 wherein, when the fixed mounting member is in the mounted position, the stop prevents the moveable support member from moving beyond the second position, further inboard of the vehicle.
14. The breakaway apparatus of any one of the preceding claims, wherein the moveable support member is configured to locate the vehicle component within a pedestrian impact zone of the vehicle.
15. The breakaway apparatus of any one of the preceding claims, wherein the moveable support member is configured to locate a vehicle electrical component within the impact zone of the vehicle.
16. The breakaway apparatus of any one of the preceding claims, wherein the moveable support member is configured to locate an electric vehicle charging port within the impact zone of the vehicle.
1Ί. A vehicle comprising the breakaway apparatus of any one of the preceding claims.
18. A vehicle comprising: a support structure;
a breakaway apparatus mounted to the support structure; a vehicle component located within an impact zone of the vehicle, wherein the breakaway apparatus comprises:
a fixed mounting member attached to the support structure; a moveable support member that locates the vehicle component within the impact zone of the vehicle; and a biasing member arranged to bias the moveable support member into a first position relative to the fixed mounting member, wherein, in response to an impact at the impact zone of said vehicle, the moveable support member is moveable relative to the fixed mounting member to move away from the impact to a second position inboard of the vehicle.
19. The vehicle of claim 18 wherein the moveable support member is configured such that, when the moveable support member is positioned relative to the fixed mounting member in the first position, the moveable support member locates the vehicle component adjacent an exterior surface of the vehicle within the impact zone of the vehicle.
20. The vehicle of claim 18 wherein the moveable support member is configured such that, when the moveable support member is positioned relative to the fixed mounting member in the second position, the moveable support member relocates the vehicle component inboard of the exterior surface of the vehicle and out of the impact zone of the vehicle.
21. The vehicle of any one of claims 18 to 20 wherein the exterior surface of the vehicle comprises an exterior surface of a bumper, fascia, bonnet (hood), boot (trunk), wing (fender), tailgate, quarter panel, door, or grill of the vehicle.
22. The vehicle of any one of claims 18 to 21 wherein the support structure of the vehicle comprises a front bumper beam.
23. The vehicle of any one of claims 18 to 22 wherein the moveable support member locates the vehicle component within a pedestrian impact zone of the vehicle.
24. The vehicle of any one of claims 18 to 23 wherein the vehicle component comprises a vehicle electrical component.
25. The vehicle of claim 24 wherein the vehicle electrical component comprises an electric vehicle charging port.
26. The vehicle of claim 25 wherein the vehicle includes a grill or fascia having an opening for receipt of an electric plug.
5
27. The vehicle of claim 26 wherein, when the moveable support member is positioned relative to the fixed mounting member in the first position, the electric vehicle charging port is located adjacent an exterior surface of the grill or fascia and in alignment with the opening in the grill or fascia.
28. The vehicle of claim 26 or 27 comprising a vehicle emblem configured to cover the
10 opening in the grill.
Intellectual
Property
Office
Application No: GB 1704097.3 Examiner: Mr Tom Wilson
GB1704097.3A 2017-03-15 2017-03-15 Breakaway apparatus for a vehicle component Active GB2560546B (en)

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GB2560546A true GB2560546A (en) 2018-09-19
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Cited By (3)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
WO2022189714A1 (en) 2021-03-11 2022-09-15 Psa Automobiles Sa Electric or hybrid vehicle battery charging port housing
FR3122364A1 (en) 2021-04-28 2022-11-04 Psa Automobiles Sa ELECTRIC OR HYBRID VEHICLE BATTERY CHARGER BOX DEFORMABLE IN THE EVENT OF AN IMPACT
FR3138786A1 (en) * 2022-08-12 2024-02-16 Psa Automobiles Sa MOTOR VEHICLE WITH TRACTION BATTERY CHARGING SOCKET ON A PROTECTIVE PANEL

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Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
JPS5830874A (en) * 1981-08-17 1983-02-23 Nissan Motor Co Ltd Front construction of vehicle body
EP1203693A2 (en) * 2000-11-02 2002-05-08 Hyundai Motor Company Mounting structure of automobile headlamp
EP1702794A1 (en) * 2005-03-19 2006-09-20 GM Global Technology Operations, Inc. Vehicle body with a headlamp
US20140293638A1 (en) * 2013-03-29 2014-10-02 GM Global Technology Operations LLC Energy absorbing headlamp assembly and a resettable headlamp assembly

Patent Citations (4)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
JPS5830874A (en) * 1981-08-17 1983-02-23 Nissan Motor Co Ltd Front construction of vehicle body
EP1203693A2 (en) * 2000-11-02 2002-05-08 Hyundai Motor Company Mounting structure of automobile headlamp
EP1702794A1 (en) * 2005-03-19 2006-09-20 GM Global Technology Operations, Inc. Vehicle body with a headlamp
US20140293638A1 (en) * 2013-03-29 2014-10-02 GM Global Technology Operations LLC Energy absorbing headlamp assembly and a resettable headlamp assembly

Cited By (4)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
WO2022189714A1 (en) 2021-03-11 2022-09-15 Psa Automobiles Sa Electric or hybrid vehicle battery charging port housing
FR3120584A1 (en) 2021-03-11 2022-09-16 Psa Automobiles Sa ELECTRIC OR HYBRID VEHICLE BATTERY CHARGING BOX
FR3122364A1 (en) 2021-04-28 2022-11-04 Psa Automobiles Sa ELECTRIC OR HYBRID VEHICLE BATTERY CHARGER BOX DEFORMABLE IN THE EVENT OF AN IMPACT
FR3138786A1 (en) * 2022-08-12 2024-02-16 Psa Automobiles Sa MOTOR VEHICLE WITH TRACTION BATTERY CHARGING SOCKET ON A PROTECTIVE PANEL

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GB2560546B (en) 2020-02-12

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