Pedestrian Safety Structure for a Motor Vehicle Body

摘要

The present invention relates to a pedestrian safety structure (1) for a motor vehicle body having a soft-nose outer skin panel (2) and a bonnet providing an overlying structure for a grille opening reinforcing front cross member (3). The grille opening reinforcing front cross member (3) carries a plurality of brackets (4). The brackets (4) are designed to support loads distributed thereupon by the overlying structure, vertical (Z) loads in the range of 1.0 - 1.5 kN and longitudinal (X) loads in the range of 0.4 - 0.6 kN. The brackets (4) are further designed for energy absorbing deformation when subjected to longitudinal (X) loads distributed thereupon by the overlying structure above 0.6 kN, such that the plurality of brackets (4) provide an energy absorbing upper leg (5) impact zone for the protection of pedestrians in the event of a collision with the motor vehicle.