A cleanup device having a first board having a first edge, a second board having a first edge, a first hinge attached to the first edge of the first board and the first edge of the second board, an aperture defined by a portion of the first edge of the first board and a portion of the first edge of the second board, a first plate slidably attached to the first board, wherein the first plate is movable from a first, open position where the aperture is open to a second, closed position where the first plate extends over at least a portion of the aperture, and wherein a top surface of the first board is movable towards a top surface of the second board to form a V-shaped surface for directing dirt or soil off of the first board and the second board.

A brake control system and method for motor vehicles is provided with an electronic control unit, by which, when the motor vehicle is stationary, a parking brake function can be activated manually or automatically. Its deactivation occurs upon reaching a predefined release condition. In the presence of a release condition the brake pressure, which was built up for the parking brake function, is released in a time offset manner at least in relation to the axles of the vehicle by way of the control unit.

A deployment guiding cloth is wound from an outside in the vehicle width direction, on an outer peripheral portion of a folded side airbag. This deployment guiding cloth extends toward a vehicle front side and is interposed between the side airbag that is partially deployed and a vehicle cabin side portion (a center pillar garnish and a door trim) before the side airbag is fully deployed.

A vehicle collision damage mitigation system includes: a vehicle having a crashable zone on a front side of a dash panel in a vehicle longitudinal direction; a body airbag device that inflates a body airbag that is provided on a front surface of the dash panel by a pressure of gas generated by a gas generating device; a detector that detects whether a mode of a frontal collision of the vehicle is a full-overlap collision or another collision; and a control unit that operates the gas generating device when detecting a collision other than the full-overlap collision on the basis of a detection result of the detector and that does not operate the gas generating device when detecting the full-overlap collision.

Blast absorbing structures and system for use in absorbing blast forces exerted on a floor of a personnel cabin of a vehicle, are disclosed. The blast absorbing flexing structure comprises a bottom section forming a floor of the cabin, a first side section and opposing second side section, each side section extending from the bottom section and including a plurality of steps along a length of the second side section. The steps flex in response to a blast force. In another embodiment, the blast absorbing expanding structure comprises a force abatement device forming a floor of the cabin, a cover plate having a plurality of slots arranged around a perimeter of the plate. The cover plate is movable between a neutral position and a blast force position to diminish the blast forces prior to the blast forces to reaching an occupant of the cabin.

A device for use in a vehicle steering system, said device comprising at least one actuator affixed to a wheel linkage of at least one wheel of said vehicle steering system. The actuator comprises a rotation assembly engagable with a first wheel linkage segment, an electric motor for actuating movement of the rotation assembly via a gear box and one or more sensors integrally contained in the actuator for sensing one or more parameters selected from the group consisting of force, speed, turns and rotation. Rotation of the rotation assembly actuates linear movement of said first wheel linkage segment into and out of said actuator to thereby adjust one or more wheel parameters of said at least one wheel, and wherein said one or more sensors provide real time data to an actuator control unit integral to said actuator to self-adjust rotational parameters of said rotation assembly.

A bicycle seatpost includes a first part and a second part. A curvature radius of the first part is r1, and an arc length of the first part is equal to or greater than πr1 and smaller than 2πr1, the first part is set toward a head of a bicycle. The second part is connected to the first part, wherein a curvature radius of the second part is greater than the curvature radius of the first part, the second part is set toward an end of the bicycle.

A foldable children's tricycle comprises a tricycle front, a link device and a positioning assembly. The tricycle can be folded by using the link device, which can save space and reduce transportation cost. In addition, an inserting rod of the positioning assembly can be engaged in first or second positioning grooves of the link device, so the tricycle can be fixed when expanding or folding, thus improving the structural strength of the tricycle.

An embodiment of the invention includes a three-component rear-wheel suspension system for interconnecting to a bicycle frame and a shock absorbing device. The three components are an upper stay pivotally attached to the frame, a lower stay having a rear wheel mount and pivotally connected to the upper stay at a location generally above the rear wheel mount, and a link pivotally connected to the frame at a location below where the upper stay is attached to the frame and pivotally coupled to the lower stay. The general arrangement of the linkages between the three components permit compression of the suspension system (i.e. relative upward movement of the rear wheel) with limited chainstay lengthening.

A foldable bicycle comprises a frame having a rear portion supporting a rear wheel about a rear axis of rotation, a front portion supporting a front wheel about a front axis of rotation and a hinge system. The hinge system comprises a first part arranged on the rear portion and provided with a first plane surface, and a second part arranged on the front portion and provided with a second plane surface. Inside the first and second parts an actuator mechanism is arranged for actuating a stud that locks or unlocks said parts. The first plane surface and the second plane surface are disposed in a plane that is slightly inclined relative to a horizontal plane, said inclined plane being configured to facilitate pivoting of the front portion relative to the rear portion towards a folded position, in which the rear and front axes of rotation are in alignment.

Interior panels having integrated airbag doors for motor vehicles and methods for making such interior panels are provided herein. In one example, an interior panel comprises a substrate having outer and inner surfaces and an opening extending therethrough. A multi-shot injection molded airbag chute-door assembly is mounted to the substrate and comprises a chute wall that at least partially surrounds an interior space. A door flap portion is pivotally connected to the chute wall and at least partially covers the opening. A perimeter flange extends from the chute wall and has a flange section that overlies the outer surface of the substrate. A molded-in lip feature extends from the flange section and contacts the outer surface to form a seal between the flange section and the substrate. A skin covering extends over the substrate and a foam is disposed between the skin covering and the substrate.

In an inflated and expanded state of a side airbag, a forwardly extending portion, provided at an upper portion of a rear side bag portion, extends from a side of a shoulder portion of a seated passenger toward a vehicle front side and is disposed above a front side bag portion. A dimension in a vehicle transverse direction of this forwardly extending portion is set to be smaller than that of the front side bag portion, and a vehicle transverse direction inner side surface at an upper end side of the front side bag portion is inclined or curved so as to rise-up while heading toward a vehicle transverse direction outer side. An upper arm portion is pushed-up due to sliding contact with this surface. Even when the seated passenger inertially toward an oblique front of a vehicle, the shoulder portion can be restrained by the forwardly extending portion.

Airbag inflator system includes an inflatable airbag, e.g., a side curtain airbag, a housing, a gas generating system arranged apart from the housing for generating gas, and a conduit leading from the gas generating system to the housing to provide gas to the housing, e.g., to a lateral end of the housing. A filter may be arranged between the gas generating system and the housing, possibly in the conduit. A nozzle may be arranged between the gas generating system and an interior of the airbag, which nozzle is varied as a function of temperature. The housing may be movably arranged relative to a fixed base and mounted to vary its relation to the base as a function of temperature, e.g., via elastic or deformable supports which support the housing on the base.

There is provided a behavior control device for the prevention of a jackknife phenomenon of a combination vehicle including a tractor and a trailer pivotably coupled with the tractor, taking into account that the relative pivoting action of the trailer and tractor varies according to the magnitudes of a vehicle speed or a deceleration. The inventive behavior control device comprises a braking-driving force control portion which controls a braking-driving force of the tractor or the trailer to reduce a difference between a yaw rate of the tractor and a yaw rate of the trailer and a judgment portion which judges whether or not a braking-driving force control of the tractor or the trailer by the braking-driving force control portion is necessary; wherein the judgment portion changes based on a vehicle speed or a deceleration of the vehicle the judgment of whether or not the braking-driving force control is necessary.

A deployment guiding cloth is wound from an outside in the vehicle width direction, on an outer peripheral portion of a folded side airbag. This deployment guiding cloth extends toward a vehicle front side and is interposed between the side airbag that is partially deployed and a vehicle cabin side portion (a center pillar garnish and a door trim) before the side airbag is fully deployed.

The present invention provides a blanking apparatus comprising a plurality of blankers configured to respectively blank a plurality of beams with respect to a target position on an object, and a driving device configured to drive the plurality of blankers, wherein the driving device includes a change device configured to change relation between a combination of beams of the plurality of beams, and a target dose.

In a pattern inspection of a semiconductor circuit, to specify a cause of a process defect, not only a distribution on and across wafer of the number of defects but also more detailed, that is, the fact that how many defects occurred where on the semiconductor pattern is needed to be specified in some cases. Accordingly, the present invention aims to provide an apparatus capable of easily specifying a cause of a process defect based upon a positional relationship of a distribution of defect occurrence frequency and a pattern. The apparatus includes: a charged particle beam optical system for detecting secondary charged particles by irradiating the charged particle beam to the sample; an image processing unit for, based upon a plurality of images to be inspected that are obtained by the secondary charged particles, obtaining an occurrence frequency of defect candidates for each of predetermined regions inside the detected image; and a display unit for displaying the distribution of the occurrence frequency of the defect candidates so that a positional relationship to the pattern is recognized.

An airflow-organization testing method for a clean room and a system using the same method are disclosed. The airflow-organization testing method for a clean room uses a thermal imaging device to detect a sample gas-flow formed by a sample gas in the clean room, and the sample gas has a temperature difference from ambient air. The airflow-organization testing system for a clean room includes a sample gas supplier and a thermal imaging device, and the thermal imaging device can continuously detect a spatial position of the sample gas and display it on a display, thereby improving detection precision and expanding detection range.

A system of investigating aberrations in a charged particle lens system, wherein a charged particle beam is directed from a multitude of directions through a pivot point on a sample stage. An image figure is recorded for each of multiple focus settings at each beam direction setting, creating a set of registered images. This set of images is compared to reference images to derive aberrations present in the lens system without the use of an amorphous sample present.

Apparatus for separating ash particles from a flue gas. The apparatus includes a screen that has a plurality of semi-elliptical cylinder surfaces. The semi-elliptical cylinder surfaces having holes through which said flue gas flows and through which the ash particles will not pass. The screen has a single layer for performing the separation in a manner such that the ash particles fall away from the screen and collect outside of the screen. A method of reducing velocity of a flue gas passing through screening apparatus for separating flue gas from ash particles. The method includes replacing a first screen of the screening apparatus with a second screen that has a plurality of semi-elliptical cylinder surfaces.

A layered compound-metal particle composite 3 is obtained by the addition, to an organically modified layered compound 1 formed by the intercalation of organic ions between layers of a layered compound, of both an aqueous colloidal metal solution 2 in which metal particles are dispersed as a metal colloid in water, and a nonaqueous solvent which is a poor solvent for the metal colloid and has an excellent ability to swell the organically modified layered compound 1.

An automatic circle forming apparatus adapted for automatically forming OPP (O-phenylphenol) plastic circles includes a lower equipment cabinet, a first base plate, a transmitting module, an automatic separating module, an automatic tearing film module, a sucking waste mechanism, a displacement module, an automatic forming module and an upper equipment cabinet. The upper equipment cabinet is positioned on the first base plate for installing the transmitting module, the automatic separating module, the automatic tearing film module, the sucking waste mechanism, the displacement module and the automatic forming module therein. The upper equipment cabinet is equipped with a man-machine control interface which connects with and controls the transmitting module, the automatic separating module, the automatic tearing film module, the sucking waste mechanism, the displacement module and the automatic forming module for automatically forming the OPP plastic circles so as to improve operation efficiency and save a human cost.

In a case where components such as side flaps and crotch portions are arranged on multiple webs which are being conveyed while being arranged side by side in the width direction of the webs, articles in various sizes can be handled easily by a web conveying step of conveying a front waistline web 11A and a back waistline web 11B the webs being arranged side by side in a width direction of the webs, a flap attaching step of attaching side flaps 30 onto the web 11 of the front waistline web 11A or the back waistline web, a web gap changing step of changing a gap between the front waistline web 11A and the back waistline web 11B by a web gap changing mechanism 500 and a crotch member attaching step of attaching a crotch member 20 between the front waistline web 11A and the back waistline web 11B, wherein the web gap changing step is performed between the flap attaching step and the crotch member attaching step.

A modulator generates a baseband digital signal from an information-bearing digital signal. The baseband signal has time-varying phase and amplitude defined by a sequence of complex data words, each having an in-phase (I) component and a quadrature (Q) component. A noise-shaping modulator generates a noise-shaped digital signal from the baseband digital signal such that quantization noise in the noise-shaping modulator is attenuated by a spectral null of its noise transfer function. The spectral null is selected by a noise-shaping parameter corresponding to a selected one of a plurality of output frequencies. A signal converter generates an analog signal conveying the information of the information-bearing digital signal on an analog carrier signal having the selected output frequency.

Methods and apparatus for translating duty cycle information in duty-cycle-modulated signals to higher frequencies or higher data rates. An exemplary duty cycle translator includes a duty cycle evaluator, a high-speed digital counter, and a comparator. The duty cycle evaluator generates a first digital number representing a duty cycle of a low-frequency input duty-cycle-modulated (DCM) signal. The comparator compares the first digital number to a second digital number generated by the high-speed digital counter, and generates, based on the comparison, an output DCM signal having a higher frequency or data rate than the frequency or data rate of the low-frequency input DCM signal but a duty cycle that is substantially the same as the duty cycle of the low-frequency input DCM signal.

An electronic component packaging sheet formed of a styrene resin composition includes: (A) 29-65 mass parts of a styrene-conjugated diene block copolymer; (B) 51-15 mass parts of a polystyrene resin; and (C) 20-9 mass parts of an impact resistant polystyrene resin. Components (A)-(C) each have a weight average molecular weight (Mw) within a specified range.

Protective mailer capable of being processed by postal processing equipment without causing damage to the article held by the mailer. The pocket holding the article inside the mailer is offset relative to one edge, when folded, by a distance sufficient to prevent damage when the mailer is oriented and processed. The mailer may include a resizing flap that, when unfolded and deployed, changes the dimensions of the mailer so that the mailer is processed by the postal processing equipment as a non-letter or flat mailpiece.

A container has a base and walls connected to the base to define an interior space. The walls have upper edges that terminate in a plane and define an opening for access to the interior space. Wetted donnable articles are stacked within the container, each article in a flat configuration at least partially perpendicular to the opening permitting withdrawal of any one of the donnable articles through the opening in a flat configuration. Walls on opposing sides of the base of the container diverge from each other with increasing distance from the base, such that the interior space widens gradually toward the opening. Walls on other opposing sides of the base have lower portions connected to the base and upper portions connected to the lower portions by steps that lengthen the interior space abruptly.

A foldable and unfoldable pop-up article with a tensioning member.

An interface between a receptacle body and an insert designed, in particular, as a tool or workpiece insert, comprises a receptacle body (2) having a cylindrical receiving bore (4), which is circumscribed by a first plane surface (6) extending at a right angle to the bore axis and in which a first cone surface (9) is arranged, said first cone surface being coaxial with the bore axis and being arranged so that its tapered end faces toward the plane surface. The insert (3) has a pin (15) that is disposed to be plugged into the receiving bore (4) and is circumscribed by a second plane surface (22). At an axial distance from the second plane surface (22), said pin has a second cone surface (22), the tapered end of said second cone surface being arranged so as to face toward the second plane surface. With the pin (15) inserted in the receiving bore (4), the two plane surfaces are in superimposed contact while the two cone surfaces (9, 22) can be biased relative to each other by limited twisting of the insert relative to the receptacle body.

A work vehicle includes an engine, an idling stop execution portion, a determination portion, a counting portion, and an idling stop time period adjustment portion. The engine can rotate in a first idling state and a second idling state in which the engine rotates at the number of rotations higher than a prescribed number of rotations. The idling stop execution portion performs an idling stop operation for stopping the engine. The determination portion determines whether or not stop has been made from the second idling state. The counting portion counts the number of times of stop of the engine from the second idling state. An idling stop time period adjustment portion makes a prescribed time period of the second idling state longer than a current time period, when the number of times of stop of the engine is equal to or greater than the prescribed number of times.

A brake actuating unit for actuating a motor vehicle braking system of the “brake-by-wire” type having a brake booster. In order to provide a brake actuating unit for actuating a motor vehicle braking system of the “brake-by-wire” type, which on the one hand fulfills the statutory requirements care and which on the other hand is inexpensive to produce, it is proposed according to aspects of the invention, that the brake booster be provided as a travel-controlled brake booster, so that when not in the “brake-by-wire” operating mode the brake pedal is decoupled from feedback forces of the brake actuating unit, and the return force is simulated by the pedal travel simulator even when not in the “brake-by-wire” operating mode.

A detachable bag (13) and shroud (12) which combine to form a stripping apparatus (11) for stripping and collecting fibrous cladding material (27) from a pipe (25). The shroud (12) is adapted to be detachably and sealingly secured to the pipe (25) and the bag (13) is likewise secured to the shroud (12). The bag (13) includes a fastening means (20) to attach an inner envelope (16) thereof to the bottom opening (19b) of the shroud and an outer cover (17) which can be sealingly attached to the outerside of the shroud (12) enclosing the envelope (16) and fastening means (20). The envelope (16) and shroud (12) are each provided with "Velcro" closure strips (21) along their respective inner faces adjacent the fastening means (20) to enable the envelope (16) and shroud (12) to be sealingly closed independently of the other either side of the fastening means (20) to prevent external exposure to the contents of either during attachment and detachment of the bag from the shroud.

A geared motor actuator having a simplified mechanical structure for driving a closing part, such as a vehicle window, moved as far as at least one end position by an electric motor (MO) via a gear (G), preferably a worm gear. Shortly before the end position is reached, switch-off of the electric motor (MO) is performed in accordance with a control device (ST). The gear (G) is drive-connected to an output driver of the closing part without any damping means. The worm wheel (4) of the worm gear, being a solid, integral component that is preferably injection-molded from plastic, is preferably designed to include the output driver as part of the integral component, and provided with a drive pinion (4.1).

A piston engine may include a heat pipe capable of transferring heat away from a portion of the piston engine such as a combustion section. The heat pipe may be included as part of a piston assembly, a cylinder, or both. The heat pipe may be filled with a suitable heat pipe fluid that may undergo a phase change such as, for example, water, ethanol, ammonia, sodium, other fluids or combinations thereof. Boiling and condensing of the fluid within the heat pipe may utilize the latent heat of the fluid during heat transfer. Multiple heat pipes may be used in some instances.

Provided is a vehicle front structure including a front bumper and a lower grille. The front bumper includes a front-bumper lower surface extending in a vehicle rear direction, the front-bumper lower surface having a pair of bottom surface portions at respective side portions and a recessed surface at a center portion, the recessed surface extending from the pair of bottom surface portions and being recessed in an upper direction. The lower grille includes an annular portion arranged at the lower side of a rear end of the recessed surface and forming an opening, a protruding portion protruding from a lower portion of the annular portion so as to protrude in a front direction and oppose to the recessed surface, and a reinforcing portion extending from an upper portion of the annular portion to a back surface of the recessed surface and reinforcing the front-bumper lower surface.

There is provided a vehicle body structure that can improve collision performance at the time of a rear collision. The vehicle body structure includes first and second crash boxes that are provided at rear ends of rear side members. Further, the second crash boxes are disposed at positions different from the positions of the first crash boxes in a vertical direction of the vehicle. The second crash boxes, which are disposed at the positions different from the positions of the first crash boxes, can absorb a load applied from bumper reinforcement of another vehicle. Since a load at the time of a rear collision is absorbed by the second crash boxes, it is possible to suppress the deformation of a trunk that is provided at the rear portion of a vehicle body.

Disclosed herein is a drying apparatus for a vehicle using vehicle induced wind. The drying apparatus is capable of drying a wet object using vehicle induced wind generated by the driving of the vehicle. The apparatus includes a storage cover that is rotatably coupled to a rear bumper cover via a hinge module, to form a storage space between the storage cover and the rear bumper cover. In addition the apparatus includes an inlet cover that is coupled to the rear bumper cover to form an inlet passage through which the vehicle induced wind flows into the storage space when the vehicle is being driven. A plurality of outlet holes are formed in the rear bumper cover, and are configured to operate as a passage to allow air to be discharged from the storage space to an exterior of the vehicle.

A structure for absorbing frontal collision energy of a vehicle absorbs frontal collision energy of a vehicle using both front side members configured to support a bumper beam disposed at a front side of a vehicle body, a shock absorber housing panel disposed outside the front side member, and a fender apron member disposed outside the shock absorber housing panel, and the structure includes: an enlarged member installed to be inclined between an outer surface of the front side member and a rear surface of the fender apron member so as to be spaced forward and apart from the outer surface of the front side member; and an enlarged frame engaged between a lower side of the fender apron member and a front mounting portion of a sub-frame.

A pedestrian-friendly forward structure of a motor vehicle includes a grill opening reinforcement (GOR), a front fascia located forward of and spaced from the GOR, and a support bracket extending transversely to the vehicle forward of the GOR and rearward of the front fascia. The support bracket has a transverse cross-bar and left and right legs extending rearward from a cross-bar adjacent opposite ends thereof. The legs are attached to respective outboard positions on the GOR, and the cross-bar has an upper flange underlying an upper rear panel of the front fascia. If a pedestrian strikes the forward structure, the fascia and support bracket yield rearward in an injury-reducing manner.

A vehicle bumper for use with police and other emergency vehicles for pushing another vehicle which is fabricated of a tubular loop defining a generally oval cross-section. The oval cross-section tubular loop is oriented such that the major axis of the oval cross-section extends front to back with respect to the host vehicle while the minor axis extends up and down. The vehicle bumper further supports a plurality of resilient pads to aid in controlling the pushed vehicle and to cushion impact transfer between the bumper and the pushed vehicle. The inventive vehicle bumper is substantially stronger and substantially lighter in weight while simultaneously providing a more attractive front view cross-section when mounted on a host vehicle. A plurality of attachments are secured to the tubular loop and are used in securing the vehicle bumper to a suitable portion of a host vehicle.

A bumper absorber (9) has a squared U-shaped cross section formed of: a vertical face (11) extending in a top-bottom direction and a vehicle width direction, and a top face (12) and a bottom face (13) respectively extending rearward from a top end and a bottom end of the vertical face (11). The bumper absorber (9) is configured such that the top face (12) and the bottom face (13) thereof are supported by the bumper reinforcement (10) via multiple attachment members (23 to 27), and an interval between the attachment members adjacent to each other in the vehicle width direction is set to decrease from end portions (9b) in the vehicle width direction toward a central portion (9a) in the vehicle width direction.

The invention relates to a vehicle bumper assembly (1) having a bumper cross-member (2) and at least two energy-absorption components (3), which are arranged at a distance from one another and which are connected to the rear side of the bumper cross-member (2) and supported thereon by means of a first end. The energy-absorption components have an x-direction absorption effective direction oriented perpendicular to the y-axes longitudinal extension of the bumper. The energy-absorption components (3) are designed to be supported on a chassis part (4) of a vehicle by means of the end of the energy-absorption components pointing away from the bumper cross-member, wherein the energy-absorption component (3) has a slanted end face (5) in the direction toward the bumper cross-member (2). According to the invention, the entire or substantially the entire end face (5) of the energy-absorption component (3) is supported on the rear side of the bumper cross-member (2), and the plane of the end face (5) of the energy-absorption component (3) facing the bumper, and thus the bumper cross-member (2), is oriented such that the front side thereof is arranged at an angle to the plane extending orthogonally to the force application direction of the AZT structure test.

A motor vehicle includes a first side member having first lower and upper darts. The motor vehicle also includes a second side member parallel with and spaced apart from the first side member, the second side member having second lower and upper darts. The upper darts are positioned between the lower darts and end portions of the respective first or second side members. The motor vehicle further includes first and second bumper brackets coupled to the end portion of the respective first or second side members, a bumper reinforcement member coupled to the first and second bumper brackets, and a counter rotation bracket coupled to the bumper reinforcement member and extending upwards from the bumper reinforcement member. The lower darts and the upper darts form a preferential buckling zone of the first and the second side members.

A vehicle bumper beam including: a resin beam having an elongate body extending along a vehicle-width direction, two tubular shock-absorbing portions disposed at the beam body's opposite longitudinal end portions extending in front-rear direction, the beam body and shock-absorbing portions being formed with each other; a metal beam disposed outside the resin beam in the front-rear direction, fixedly fitted to the resin beam. Further, flat attachment portions, formed with inner end portions of the shock-absorbing portions in front-rear direction; bent portions bent in a crank extending from attachment portions outward in front-rear direction, the beam body being to attachment portions via bent portions, the metal beam fixedly fitted to an outer surface of the beam body's intermediate portion; metal beam's opposite end portions extending beyond bent portions covering the right and left sides, fixedly fitted to distal end portions; each space defined by shock-absorbing portion, metal beam and bent portion.

A body on frame vehicle includes a vehicle frame having a small offset impact load management system including upper and lower rear blocker structures and a reinforcement blocker structure for managing impact loads applied to the wheel and tire of the vehicle from being directed further toward the body. The reinforcement blocker structure includes a base member welded to openings in the frame side rail and extending angularly outwardly and located rearward and distal the wheel and tire and proximal a longitudinal cross frame member for transferring the small offset impact loads transferred by the wheel and tire in a cross vehicle direction.

A material handling vehicle includes a laminated bumper that provides both durability and reduced energy transmissibility. The laminated bumper includes at least a first bumper layer and a second bumper layer, such that at least one of the first bumper layer and second bumper layer of the laminate bumper are allowed to translate upon bumper contact with an object.

A panel member having a U-shaped cross section includes step portions at an upper face portion and a lower face portion, and a distance, in a vehicle longitudinal direction, of the step potions from a panel member formed substantially in a flat-plate shape, is configured such that the distance at a central portion, in the vehicle width direction, of a bumper reinforcement is the maximum and the distance decreases gradually toward an outward direction of the vehicle. Accordingly, the vehicle-body structure which can properly ensure the bending strength and also attain the light weight of the bumper reinforcement, improving the load transmission from the bumper reinforcement to crash cans, can be provided.

A system for protecting a pedestrian during impact with a vehicle, the system having a bumper adapted for attachment to an end of the vehicle, wherein the bumper is comprised of a plurality of air sacs, wherein the bumper has a horizontal thickness extends from the end of the vehicle, wherein at least some of the plurality of air sacs stretch and then burst during impact between the bumper and a pedestrian causing deceleration along the horizontal width of the bumper during the impact, wherein the bumper undergoes plastic deformation during impact with the pedestrian as the at least some of the air sacs burst during impact, and wherein the bursting of some of the plurality of air sacs reduces spring back of the bumper on the pedestrian.

A front-end assembly including a deflector and a catcher bracket. The V-shaped deflector is attached to a bumper of a vehicle, a rear leg of the deflector has a distal end disposed adjacent to the frame rail. In a collision, the distal end of the rear leg engages the catcher bracket to reduce intrusion into the passenger compartment of the vehicle.