001] The present subject matter described herein, relates to vehicle front bumper structure, and, in particularly, to a breakable mounting structure for front fascia of the vehicle front bumper structure.
BACKGROUND AND PRIOR ART:
[002] Generally, vehicle front bumper structures are coming with separate impact energy absorbers to absorb impact. Further, the impact energy absorbers are provided at vacant space, specifically apart from the mounting points. During the frontal impact of the vehicle, the mounting structures transfers impact energy to the engine compartment. The energy absorbers can be provided inside the mountings to absorb impact energy. The mounting structures with energy absorbers leads to high cost and complex manufacturing process. Therefore, these solutions are not feasible
[003] Figure 1 and 2 illustrate vehicle front bumper structure as known in the art. The vehicle front bumper structure 100 has front bumper facia 101 which extend across width of the vehicle and mounted at front end of the vehicle on longitudinal members, i.e., upper cross member and lower cross member at width ends 102. The vehicle front bumper structure 100 is made of plastic material and has a plurality of holes and cavities according to design of the front end of the vehicle. The front facia 101 includes a center upper mounting member 103 provided at center upper portion of the front bumper fascia 101 to mount on radiator support beam. Further, the front bumper fascia 101 has middle mounting structure 104 provided at substantially middle of the front bumper fascia 101 to mount on the center bumper beam 106. The lower portion of the front bumper fascia 101 is mounted on lower cross member 107 of front end of the vehicle. The middle mounting member 104 mounts on the center bumper beam via fasteners 106a. The center bumper beam 106 can be a longitudinal beam or a transverse beam close to

engine room components, such as radiator component or condenser component of the vehicle.
[004] Referring to figure 3 which illustrates mounting of the middle mounting structure 104 with the center beam 106 of the vehicle, upon frontal impact in direction A on the front bumper fascia 101, the front bumper fascia 101 moves toward the engine room 105 due to impact force. Along with movement of the front bumper fascia 101, the middle mounting member 104 moves and pushes the center beam 106 toward the engine room in direction B. The center beam 106 hits the adjacent radiator member or condenser member of the engine room.
[005] In order to prevent damage of engine room components, the center beam 106 and other body panels are made stronger with high thickness and weight which leads to increase in cost and weight of the vehicle.
[006] In view of the above, it is beneficial to have a mounting structure which can absorb the impact energy and transfers zero or less impact energy to the engine room. Therefore, there is a need in the art to provide a structure in the front bumper fascia that is more simple and inexpensive to eliminate the existing above mentioned problems.
OBJECTS OF THE INVENTION:
[007] The principal object of the present invention is to provide a vehicle front bumper structure with breakable mounting structure.
[008] Another object of the present invention is to provide a vehicle front bumper structure which can absorb impact energy during low speed impact.
[009] Yet another object of the present invention is to provide a vehicle front bumper structure which efficiently absorb impact energy and avoid damage of engine room components upon low speed frontal impact event.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION:
[0010] The subject matter disclosed herein relates to a vehicle front bumper structure with a breakable mounting structure to absorb impact energy during low

speed frontal impact. The vehicle front bumper structure includes a front bumper fascia extending across width of vehicle and mounted at front end of the vehicle on longitudinal members at width ends. The front bumper fascia comprises a center upper mounting structure is provided at center upper portion of the front bumper fascia to mount on radiator support beam and a breakable mounting structure provided at substantially middle of the front bumper fascia to mount on center bumper beam. The breakable mounting structure projects towards engine room. The breakable mounting structure comprises a base structure which is configured to mount on the center bumper beam of the vehicle. The breakable mounting structure further comprises atleast two straight structures extending perpendicularly upto first edges from the base structure towards rear surface of the front bumper fascia and atleast two straight structures extending upto a second edge from the rear surface of the front bumper fascia towards the engine room. The first edges and the second edges being connected through a connecting structure. Further, a distance (d) between the first edges is less than a distance (D) between the second edges.
[0011] In another embodiment of the present subject matter, a breakable mounting structure includes a base structure, atleast two straight structures extending perpendicularly upto first edges from the base structure and connecting structure which extend outwardly upto edges from the first edges. Further, atleast two straight structures which extend perpendicularly in forward direction (F) from the edges of the connecting structures. In the breakable mounting structure, a distance (d) between the atleast two straight structures is less than a distance (D) between the atleast two straight structures.
[0012] In order to further understand the characteristics and technical contents of the present subject matter, a description relating thereto will be made with reference to the accompanying drawings. However, the drawings are illustrative only but not used to limit scope of the present subject matter.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0013] It is to be noted, however, that the appended drawings illustrate only typical embodiments of the present subject matter and are therefore not to be considered for limiting of its scope, for the invention may admit to other equally effective embodiments. The detailed description is described with reference to the accompanying figures. In the figures, the left-most digit(s) of a reference number identifies the figure in which the reference number first appears. The same numbers are used throughout the figures to reference like features and components. Some embodiments of system or methods in accordance with embodiments of the present subject matter are now described, by way of example, and with reference to the accompanying figures, in which:
[0014] Fig. 1 and 2 illustrate vehicle front bumper structure as known in the art;
[0015] Fig. 3 illustrates cross section view of the middle mounting structure with center beam of the figure 2;
[0016] Fig. 4 and 5 illustrate cross section view of breakable mounting structure of the vehicle front bumper structure, in accordance with an embodiment of the present subject matter;
[0017] Fig. 6 illustrates breaking and movement of the breakable mounting structure during frontal impact, in accordance with an embodiment of the present subject matter; and
[0018] Fig. 7 illustrates cross section view of breakable mounting structure, in accordance with an embodiment of the present subject matter.
[0019] The figures depict embodiments of the present subject matter for the purposes of illustration only. A person skilled in the art will easily recognize from the following description that alternative embodiments of the structures and methods illustrated herein may be employed without departing from the principles of the disclosure described herein.
DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS:
[0020] The subject matter disclosed herein relates to a vehicle front bumper structure with a breakable mounting member to absorb impact energy during

frontal impact. The vehicle front bumper structure includes a front bumper fascia extending across width of vehicle and mounted at front end of the vehicle on longitudinal members at width ends. The front bumper fascia comprises a center upper mounting structure is provided at center upper portion of the front bumper 5 fascia to mount on radiator support beam and a breakable mounting structure provided at substantially middle of the front bumper fascia to mount on center bumper beam. The breakable mounting structure projects towards engine room. The breakable mounting structure comprises a base structure which is configured to mount on the center bumper beam of the vehicle. The breakable mounting
10 structure further comprises atleast two straight structures extending perpendicularly upto first edges from the base structure towards rear surface of the front bumper fascia and atleast two straight structures extending upto a second edge from the rear surface of the front bumper fascia towards the engine room. The first edges and the second edges being connected through a connecting
15 structure. Further, a distance (d) between the first edges is less than a distance (D) between the second edges.
[0021] In another embodiment of the present subject matter, a breakable mounting structure includes a base structure, atleast two straight structures extending perpendicularly upto first edges from the base structure and connecting structures 20 which extend outwardly upto edges from the first edges. Further, atleast two straight structures which extend perpendicularly in forward direction (F) from the edges of the connecting structures. In the breakable mounting structure, a distance (d) between the atleast two straight structures is less than a distance (D) between the atleast two straight structures.
25 [0022] It should be noted that the description and figures merely illustrate the principles of the present subject matter. It should be appreciated by those skilled in the art that conception and specific embodiment disclosed may be readily utilized as a basis for modifying or designing other structures for carrying out the same purposes of the present subject matter. It should also be appreciated by those
30 skilled in the art that by devising various arrangements that, although not
6

explicitly described or shown herein, embody the principles of the present subject matter and are included within its spirit and scope. Furthermore, all examples recited herein are principally intended expressly to be for pedagogical purposes to aid the reader in understanding the principles of the present subject matter and the 5 concepts contributed by the inventor(s) to furthering the art, and are to be construed as being without limitation to such specifically recited examples and conditions. The novel features which are believed to be characteristic of the present subject matter, both as to its organization and method of operation, together with further objects and advantages will be better understood from the 10 following description when considered in connection with the accompanying figures.
[0023] These and other advantages of the present subject matter would be described in greater detail with reference to the following figures. It should be noted that the description merely illustrates the principles of the present subject 15 matter. It will thus be appreciated that those skilled in the art will be able to devise various arrangements that, although not explicitly described herein, embody the principles of the present subject matter and are included within its scope.
[0024] Referring to figure 1, the vehicle front bumper structure 100 comprises a front bumper fascia 101 which extend across width of vehicle and mounted at
20 front end of the vehicle on longitudinal members at width ends 102. The front bumper fascia 101 comprises a center upper mounting structure 103 provided at center upper portion of the front bumper fascia 101 to mount on radiator support beam. Referring to figure 4, the front bumper fascia 101 further comprises a breakable mounting structure 400 provided at substantially middle of the front
25 bumper fascia 101 to mount on center bumper beam 106. The breakable mounting structure 400 projects backwardly towards engine room 105. The front bumper fascia 100 has a front surface or outer surface 101b and inner surface 101a. The outer surface 101b receives impact from front end in direction A of the vehicle whereas the inner surface 101a faces the engine room 105.
7

[0025] Referring to figure 4, the breakable mounting structure 400 comprises a base structure 401 which is configured to mount on the center bumper beam 106 of the vehicle body. Further, the breakable mounting structure 400 has atleast two straight structures 402 extending perpendicularly upto first edges 402a from the 5 base structure 401 towards the rear surface 101a of the front bumper fascia 101. From the rear surface 101a of the front bumper fascia 101, atleast two straight structures 403 extend upto second edges 403a, 403b towards the engine room 105. The first edges 402a and the second edges 403a, 403b being connected through connecting structures 404 to define the breakable mounting structure 400.
10 [0026] Referring to figure 5, the base structure 401 and the atleast two straight structures 402 combinedly define a fix portion (X) which remains in fix position with the center bumper beam 106 in an event of the frontal impact. The atleast two straight structures 403 define a movable portion (Y) which is in contact with the rear surface 101a of the front bumper fascia 101. As shown in the figure 5, a
15 distance (d) is defined in between the first edges 402a of the atleast two straight structures 402 and distance D is defined in between the second edges 403a, 403b of the atleast two straight structures 403. The distance d isless than the distance D between the second edge (403a, 403b). Referring to figure 5, the width ‘w’ of the connecting structure 404 is less than width ‘W’ of the atleast two straight
20 structures 402, 403. The connecting member 404 defines an angular step in between the atleast two straight structures 402 and the atleast two straight structures 403. Further, width ‘w’ of the connecting structure 404 along with angular position make the connection between the atleast two straight structures 402 and the atleast two straight structures 403 as a weak zone which is subject to
25 break upon application of force in direction A. The connecting structure 404 configured to collapse under an impact in frontal direction (A).
[0027] Referring to figure 6, upon impact in direction A, the movable portion (Y)
moves in direction (A) and covers the fix portion (X) and covers a distance ‘X’ in
direction ‘A’ to absorb impact energy. In the present structure, the front bumper
30 fascia 101 gets extra space ‘X’ to absorb impact energy. The fix portion (X)
8

being connected with respect to the movable portion (Y) of the breakable mounting structure 400 such that inward movement of outer surface 101b of the front bumper facia 101 during the frontal impact in direction (A) results in the movable portion (Y) moving laterally inward in the fix portion (X) to absorb 5 impact energy and restrict transfer of the impact energy towards the engine room 105.
[0028] In another embodiment of the present subject matter, the breakable mounting structure 400 can be a box type structure extending toward the engine room 105 from the rear surface of the front bumper fascia 101. Further the box 10 type structure has a step substantially at middle of length which acts as a breakable point during application of impact force in direction A. The step width is less than the width of sides of the box type structure. The step width and angle makes the step as weak zone which can be easily broken during application of impact force.
15 [0029] Referring to figure 7, the breakable mounting structure 400 has a base structure 401 and atleast two straight structures 402 extending perpendicularly upto first edges 402a from the base structure 401. Further, a connecting structure 404 extend outwardly upto edges 404a from the first edges 402a and atleast two straight structures 403 extending perpendicularly in forward direction (F) from the
20 edges 404a of the connecting structures 404. The breakable mounting structure 400 has a distance (d) between the atleast two straight structures 402 which is less than a distance (D) between the atleast two straight structures 403.
[0030] The present vehicle front bumper structure with breakable mounting structure is made of plastic material. The breakable mounting structure provides
25 the impact absorbing capabilities to the mounting structure to prevent damages to the engine components during low speed impacts. Further, the present breakable mounting structure absorb impact energy during pedestrian impact and save pedestrian from serious injuries by direct hitting with hard mounting member. Therefore, the present vehicle front bumper structure with breakable mounting
30 structure is simple to manufacture by simple milling or molding process without
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high tooling cost. There is no modification in any other part of the vehicle front bumper structure even the mounting with the bumper beam remain same.
[0031] The term “vehicle” or “Automobile” as used throughout this detailed description and in the claims refers to any moving vehicle that is capable of 5 carrying one or more human occupants or Goods and is powered by any form of energy. The term “vehicle” is a motor vehicle which includes, but is not limited to: cars, trucks, vans, minivans, hatchback, sedan, MUVs, and SUVs.
[0032] It will be understood by those within the art that, in general, terms used herein, and especially in the appended claims (e.g., bodies of the appended
10 claims) are generally intended as “open” terms (e.g., the term “including” should be interpreted as “including but not limited to,” the term “having” should be interpreted as “having at least,” the term “includes” should be interpreted as “includes but is not limited to,” etc.). It will be further understood by those within the art that if a specific number of an introduced claim recitation is intended, such
15 an intent will be explicitly recited in the claim, and in the absence of such recitation no such intent is present. For example, as an aid to understanding, the following appended claims may contain usage of the introductory phrases “at least one” and “one or more” to introduce claim recitations. However, the use of such phrases should not be construed to imply that the introduction of a claim recitation
20 by the indefinite articles “a” or “an” limits any particular claim containing such introduced claim recitation to inventions containing only one such recitation, even when the same claim includes the introductory phrases “one or more” or “at least one” and indefinite articles such as “a” or “an” (e.g., “a” and/or “an” should typically be interpreted to mean “at least one” or “one or more”); the same holds
25 true for the use of definite articles used to introduce claim recitations. In addition, even if a specific number of an introduced claim recitation is explicitly recited, those skilled in the art will recognize that such recitation should typically be interpreted to mean at least the recited number (e.g., the bare recitation of “two recitations,” without other modifiers, typically means at least two recitations, or
30 two or more recitations). Furthermore, in those instances where a convention
10

analogous to “at least one of A, B, and C, etc.” is used, in general such a construction is intended in the sense one having skill in the art would understand the convention (e.g., “a system having at least one of A, B, and C” would include but not be limited to systems that have A alone, B alone, C alone, A and B 5 together, A and C together, B and C together, and/or A, B, and C together, etc.). In those instances where a convention analogous to “at least one of A, B, or C, etc.” is used, in general such a construction is intended in the sense one having skill in the art would understand the convention (e.g., “a system having at least one of A, B, or C” would include but not be limited to systems that have A alone,
10 B alone, C alone, A and B together, A and C together, B and C together, and/or A, B, and C together, etc.). It will be further understood by those within the art that virtually any disjunctive word and/or phrase presenting two or more alternative terms, whether in the description, claims, or drawings, should be understood to contemplate the possibilities of including one of the terms, either of the terms, or
15 both terms. For example, the phrase “A or B” will be understood to include the possibilities of “A” or “B” or “A and B.”
[0033] It will be further appreciated that functions or structures of a plurality of components or steps may be combined into a single component or step, or the functions or structures of one-step or component may be split among plural steps
20 or components. The present invention contemplates all of these combinations. Unless stated otherwise, dimensions and geometries of the various structures depicted herein are not intended to be restrictive of the invention, and other dimensions or geometries are possible. In addition, while a feature of the present invention may have been described in the context of only one of the illustrated
25 embodiments, such feature may be combined with one or more other features of other embodiments, for any given application. It will also be appreciated from the above that the fabrication of the unique structures herein and the operation thereof also constitute methods in accordance with the present invention. The present invention also encompasses intermediate and end products resulting from the
30 practice of the methods herein. The use of “comprising” or “including” also
11

contemplates embodiments that "consist essentially of or "consist of the recited feature.
[0034] Although embodiments for the present subject matter have been described in language specific to structural features, it is to be understood that the present subject matter is not necessarily limited to the specific features described. Rather, the specific features and methods are disclosed as embodiments for the present subject matter. Numerous modifications and adaptations of the system/component of the present invention will be apparent to those skilled in the art, and thus it is intended by the appended claims to cover all such modifications and adaptations which fall within the scope of the present subject matter.

We claim:

A vehicle front bumper structure (100) comprises:
a front bumper fascia (101) extending across width of vehicle and mounted at front end of the vehicle on longitudinal members at width ends (102), the front bumper fascia (101) comprises:
a center upper mounting structure (103) provided at center upper portion of the front bumper fascia (101) to mount on radiator support beam; and
characterized in that
a breakable mounting structure (400) provided at substantially middle of the front bumper fascia (101) to mount on center bumper beam (106),
wherein the breakable mounting structure (400) projected towards engine room (105). The vehicle front bumper structure (100) as claimed in claim 1, wherein the breakable mounting structure (400) comprises:
a base structure (401) configured to mount on the center bumper beam (106);
atleast two straight structures (402) extending perpendicularly upto a first edges (402a) from the base structure (401) towards rear surface (101a) of the front bumper fascia (101), the base structure (401) and the atleast two straight structures (402) combinedly define a fix portion (X);
atleast two straight structures (403) extending upto a second edge (403a, 403b) from the rear surface (101a) of the bumper fascia (101) towards the engine room (105), the atleast two straight structures (403) define a movable portion (Y);
wherein a distance (d) between the first edges (402a) is less than a distance (D) between the second edge (403a, 403b), the first edges (402a) and the second edges (403a, 403b) being connected through a connecting structure (404).

3. The vehicle front bumper structure (100) as claimed in claim 2, wherein the connecting structure (404) configured to collapse under an impact in frontal direction (A).
4. The vehicle front bumper structure (100) as claimed in claim 2, wherein width (w) of the connecting structure (404) is less than width (W) of the atleast two straight structures (402, 403).
5. The vehicle front bumper structure (100) as claimed in claim 2, wherein upon collapsing of the connecting structure (404), the movable portion (Y) moves in direction (A) and covers the fix portion (X).
6. The vehicle front bumper structure (100) as claimed in claim 2, wherein the fix portion (X) being connected with respect to the movable portion (Y) of the breakable mounting structure (400) such that inward movement of outer surface (101b) of the front bumper facia (101) during the frontal impact in direction (A) results in the movable portion (Y) moving laterally inward in the fix portion (X) to absorb impact energy and restrict transfer of the impact energy towards the engine room (105).
7. The vehicle front bumper structure (100) as claimed in claim 2, wherein the breakable mounting structure (400) is box type structure extending toward the engine room (105) having a step substantially at middle of length.
8. The vehicle front bumper structure (100) as claimed in claim 6, wherein
the step width is less than the width of sides of the box type structure.
9. A breakable mounting structure (400) comprises:
a base structure (401);
atleast two straight structures (402) extending perpendicularly upto a first edges (402a) from the base structure (401);

a connecting structure (404) extend outwardly upto edges (404a) from the first edges (402a); and
atleast two straight structures (403) extending perpendicularly in forward direction (F) from the edges (404a) of the connecting structures (404),
wherein a distance (d) between the atleast two straight structures (402) is less than a distance (D) between the atleast two straight structures (403).
We claim:
A vehicle front bumper structure (100) comprises:
a front bumper fascia (101) extending across width of vehicle and mounted at front end of the vehicle on longitudinal members at width ends (102), the front bumper fascia (101) comprises:
a center upper mounting structure (103) provided at center upper portion of the front bumper fascia (101) to mount on radiator support beam; and
characterized in that
a breakable mounting structure (400) provided at substantially middle of the front bumper fascia (101) to mount on center bumper beam (106),
wherein the breakable mounting structure (400) projected towards engine room (105). The vehicle front bumper structure (100) as claimed in claim 1, wherein the breakable mounting structure (400) comprises:
a base structure (401) configured to mount on the center bumper beam (106);
atleast two straight structures (402) extending perpendicularly upto a first edges (402a) from the base structure (401) towards rear surface (101a) of the front bumper fascia (101), the base structure (401) and the atleast two straight structures (402) combinedly define a fix portion (X);
atleast two straight structures (403) extending upto a second edge (403a, 403b) from the rear surface (101a) of the bumper fascia (101) towards the engine room (105), the atleast two straight structures (403) define a movable portion (Y);
wherein a distance (d) between the first edges (402a) is less than a distance (D) between the second edge (403a, 403b), the first edges (402a) and the second edges (403a, 403b) being connected through a connecting structure (404).

3. The vehicle front bumper structure (100) as claimed in claim 2, wherein the connecting structure (404) configured to collapse under an impact in frontal direction (A).
4. The vehicle front bumper structure (100) as claimed in claim 2, wherein width (w) of the connecting structure (404) is less than width (W) of the atleast two straight structures (402, 403).
5. The vehicle front bumper structure (100) as claimed in claim 2, wherein upon collapsing of the connecting structure (404), the movable portion (Y) moves in direction (A) and covers the fix portion (X).
6. The vehicle front bumper structure (100) as claimed in claim 2, wherein the fix portion (X) being connected with respect to the movable portion (Y) of the breakable mounting structure (400) such that inward movement of outer surface (101b) of the front bumper facia (101) during the frontal impact in direction (A) results in the movable portion (Y) moving laterally inward in the fix portion (X) to absorb impact energy and restrict transfer of the impact energy towards the engine room (105).
7. The vehicle front bumper structure (100) as claimed in claim 2, wherein the breakable mounting structure (400) is box type structure extending toward the engine room (105) having a step substantially at middle of length.
8. The vehicle front bumper structure (100) as claimed in claim 6, wherein
the step width is less than the width of sides of the box type structure.
9. A breakable mounting structure (400) comprises:
a base structure (401);
atleast two straight structures (402) extending perpendicularly upto a first edges (402a) from the base structure (401);

a connecting structure (404) extend outwardly upto edges (404a) from the first edges (402a); and
atleast two straight structures (403) extending perpendicularly in forward direction (F) from the edges (404a) of the connecting structures (404),
wherein a distance (d) between the atleast two straight structures (402) is less than a distance (D) between the atleast two straight structures (403).