Energy absorbing shield and system for small urban vehicles

1. A product comprising a shield, an actuator system including an actuator connected to the shield; a control system for selectively actuating or deploying the actuator wherein the shield may be moved from a first position to a second position in which the shield is extended a distance away from the first position and the shield may be moved from the second position to the first position, wherein the control system comprises a controller or electronic control module constructed and arranged to provide an output signal to the actuator.

2. A product as set forth in claim 1 wherein the shield may be a vehicle bumper.

3. A product as set forth in claim 1 wherein the shield may be a body panel.

4. A product as set forth in claim 1 wherein the actuator controller are constructed and arranged to move the shield back to the first position.

5. A product as set forth in claim 1 wherein the actuator is constructed and arranged to deploy the shield at less than 5 meters per second.

6. A product as set forth in claim 1 wherein the actuator is constructed and arranged to deploy the shield at less than 3 meters per second.

7. A product as set forth in claim 1 wherein the actuator is constructed and arranged to deploy the shield at less than 2 meters per second.

8. A product comprising a shield, an actuator system including an actuator connected to the shield; a control system for selectively actuating or deploying the actuator wherein the shield may be moved from a first position to a second position in which the shield is extended a distance away from the first position and the shield may be moved from the second position to the first position, and further comprising a gas source connected to the actuator to deliver a flow of gas to actuate the actuator and move the shield from the first position to the second position.

9. A product as set forth in claim 8 further comprising a gas source connected to the actuator to deliver a flow of gas to retract the actuator and move the shield back from the second position to the first position.

10. A product as set forth in claim 8 further comprising a gas source for activating the actuator, and wherein the gas source comprises a dry gas.

11. A product as set forth in claim 10 wherein the dry gas comprises dry nitrogen.

12. A product comprising a shield, an actuator system including an actuator connected to the shield; a control system for selectively actuating or deploying the actuator wherein the shield may be moved from a first position to a second position in which the shield is extended a distance away from the first position and the shield may be moved from the second position to the first position, and wherein the actuator includes a piston received in a piston housing, the piston housing having a first gas chamber for receiving a flow of gas therein applying a force against the piston to move the shield from the first position to the second position.

13. A product as set forth in claim 12 wherein the piston housing further includes a second gas chamber for receiving a flow of gas therein applying a force against the piston to move the shield back from the second position to the first position.

14. A product as set forth in claim 1 wherein the actuator comprises a piston connected to a motor.

15. A product as set forth in claim 14 further comprising a lock for locking the actuator in the second position.

16. A product as set forth in claim 14 further comprising a guide bar or rod having a helical groove formed therein and wherein the motor rides on the bar or rod to move the actuator from the first position to the second position, and from the second position to the first position.

17. A product as set forth in claim 1 wherein the shield is a first body panel, the product including other body panels, and wherein the first body panel is flush with the other body panel in the first position and wherein the first body panel is spaced a distance from the other body panels in the second position.

18. A method comprising providing a first vehicle having an actuator connected to one or a bumper, runner or body panel, and a controller operative connected to the actuator to actuate the same, a sensor connected to the controller for sensing distance another vehicle is from the first vehicle and providing input to the controller, the controller being constructed and arranged to calculate a likelihood of a collision with another vehicle based on input from the sensor, the controller being constructed and arranged to actuate the actuator upon calculation of a high likelihood of a collision, actuating the actuator upon calculation of a high likelihood of a collision, and retracting the actuator if a collision does not occur.