Energy absorber system and energy absorber thereof

1. An energy absorber system for a vehicle, the energy absorber system comprising:

a brace assembly defining a front wheelhouse and having a front end spaced apart from the front wheelhouse; and

an energy absorber attachable to the brace assembly and including:

an inner wedge attachable to the front end and defining a cavity therein, wherein the inner wedge has:

a primary side;

a secondary side spaced apart from the primary side;

a proximal side interconnecting the primary side and the secondary side; and

a distal side interconnecting the primary side and the secondary side and spaced apart from the proximal side; and

an outer wedge attachable to the inner wedge to thereby cover the cavity, wherein the outer wedge has:

a first side configured for contacting and covering the primary side;

a second side spaced apart from the first side and configured for contacting and covering the secondary side;

a third side interconnecting the first side and the second side and configured for contacting and covering the proximal side;

a fourth side extending from the third side at an angle of less than or equal to 90 degrees, and having a deflection surface and an interior surface spaced opposite the deflection surface; and

a plurality of bulkheads projecting from the interior surface.

2. The energy absorber system of claim 1 , wherein the fourth side further includes a distal edge extending along the deflection surface and the interior surface, and further wherein the outer wedge has:

a first bulkhead extending along the interior surface from the third side to the distal edge;

a second bulkhead spaced apart from and substantially parallel to the first bulkhead, and extending along the interior surface from the third side to the distal edge;

a third bulkhead disposed between and substantially parallel to the first bulkhead and the second bulkhead, and extending along the interior surface from the third side to the distal edge; and

a fourth bulkhead interconnecting and substantially perpendicular to the first bulkhead and the third bulkhead.

3. The energy absorber system of claim 1 , wherein the outer wedge overlaps and contacts the primary side, the secondary side, and the proximal side.

4. The energy absorber system of claim 1 , wherein the primary side defines a first bore therethrough, the secondary side defines a second bore therethrough, and the proximal side defines a third bore therethrough spaced apart from the primary side by a first distance, and spaced apart from the secondary side by a second distance that is greater than the first distance.

5. The energy absorber system of claim 4 , wherein the distal side has:

a first portion defining a fourth bore therethrough and a fifth bore therethrough spaced apart from the fourth bore, wherein the first portion is spaced apart from the proximal side by a first length;

a second portion spaced apart from the proximal side by a second length that is less than the first length; and

a shelf portion interconnecting the first portion and the second portion, wherein the shelf portion is substantially parallel to the primary side and the secondary side.

6. The energy absorber system of claim 5 , further including a plurality of fasteners, wherein a respective one of the plurality of fasteners extends through each of the fourth bore and the fifth bore to thereby attach the inner wedge to the brace assembly.

7. The energy absorber system of claim 5 , wherein the first side defines a sixth bore therethrough, the second side defines a seventh bore therethrough, and the third side defines an eighth bore therethrough.

8. The energy absorber system of claim 7 , wherein the fourth side has:

a primary flap configured for overlapping and abutting the first side; and

a secondary flap configured for overlapping and abutting the second side.

9. The energy absorber system of claim 8 , further including a plurality of bolts each configured for attaching the outer wedge to the inner wedge.

10. The energy absorber system of claim 9 , wherein the first bore is coaxial with the sixth bore and receives one of the plurality of bolts so that the primary flap overlaps and abuts the first side.

11. The energy absorber system of claim 9 , wherein the second bore is coaxial with the seventh bore and receives one of the plurality of bolts so that the secondary flap overlaps and abuts the second side.

12. The energy absorber system of claim 9 , wherein the third bore is coaxial with the eighth bore and receives one of the plurality of bolts so that the third side overlaps and abuts the proximal side.

13. The energy absorber system of claim 8 , wherein the fourth side further includes a distal edge extending along the deflection surface and the interior surface, and further wherein the first side, the third side, the fourth side, and the primary flap together define a first void spaced apart from the distal edge.

14. The energy absorber system of claim 13 , wherein the second side, the third side, and the secondary flap together define a second void spaced apart from the first void and the distal edge.

15. An energy absorber system for a vehicle, the energy absorber system comprising:

a brace assembly defining a front wheelhouse and having a front end spaced apart from the front wheelhouse; and

an energy absorber attachable to the brace assembly and including:

an inner wedge attachable to the front end and defining a cavity therein, wherein the inner wedge has:

a primary side;

a secondary side spaced apart from the primary side;

a proximal side interconnecting the primary side and the secondary side; and

a distal side interconnecting the primary side and the secondary side and spaced apart from the proximal side; and

an outer wedge attachable to the inner wedge to thereby cover the cavity, wherein the outer wedge has:

a first side configured for contacting and covering the primary side;

a second side spaced apart from the first side and configured for contacting and covering the secondary side;

a third side interconnecting the first side and the second side and configured for contacting and covering the proximal side;

a fourth side extending from the third side at an angle of less than or equal to 90 degrees and having:

a deflection surface;

an interior surface spaced opposite the deflection surface;

a distal edge extending along the deflection surface and the interior surface;

a primary flap configured for covering and abutting the first side; and

a secondary flap configured for covering and abutting the second side;

a first bulkhead projecting from and extending along the interior surface from the third side to the distal edge;

a second bulkhead spaced apart from and substantially parallel to the first bulkhead, wherein the second bulkhead projects from and extends along the interior surface from the third side to the distal edge;

a third bulkhead disposed between and substantially parallel to the first bulkhead and the second bulkhead, wherein the third bulkhead projects from and extends along the interior surface from the third side to the distal edge; and

a fourth bulkhead projecting from the interior surface, and interconnecting and substantially perpendicular to the first bulkhead and the third bulkhead.

16. The energy absorber system of claim 15 , wherein:

the distal side has a first portion spaced apart from the proximal side by a first length, a second portion spaced apart from the proximal side by a second length that is less than the first length, and a shelf portion interconnecting the first portion and the second portion; and further wherein:

the primary side defines a first bore therethrough;

the secondary side defines a second bore therethrough;

the proximal side defines a third bore therethrough spaced apart from the primary side by a first distance, and spaced apart from the secondary side by a second distance that is greater than the first distance; and

the first portion defines a fourth bore therethrough and a fifth bore therethrough spaced apart from the fourth bore.

17. The energy absorber system of claim 16 , further including a plurality of bolts each configured for attaching the outer wedge to the inner wedge;

wherein the first bore is coaxial with the sixth bore and receives one of the plurality of bolts so that the primary flap overlaps and abuts the first side;

wherein the second bore is coaxial with the seventh bore and receives one of the plurality of bolts so that the secondary flap overlaps and abuts the second side;

wherein the third bore is coaxial with the eighth bore and receives one of the plurality of bolts so that the third side overlaps and abuts the proximal side.

18. The energy absorber system of claim 16 , further including a plurality of fasteners, wherein a respective one of the plurality of fasteners extends through each of the fourth bore and the fifth bore to thereby attach the inner wedge to the brace assembly.

19. An energy absorber for a vehicle, the energy absorber comprising:

an inner wedge attachable to the vehicle and defining a cavity therein, wherein the inner wedge has:

a primary side;

a secondary side spaced apart from the primary side;

a proximal side interconnecting the primary side and the secondary side; and

a distal side interconnecting the primary side and the secondary side and spaced apart from the proximal side; and

an outer wedge attachable to the inner wedge to thereby cover the cavity, wherein the outer wedge has:

a first side configured for contacting and covering the primary side;

a second side spaced apart from the first side and configured for contacting and covering the secondary side;

a third side interconnecting the first side and the second side and configured for contacting and covering the proximal side;

a fourth side extending from the third side at an angle of less than or equal to 90 degrees and having a deflection surface and an interior surface spaced opposite the deflection surface; and

a plurality of bulkheads projecting from the interior surface.

20. The energy absorber of claim 19 , wherein the fourth side further includes a distal edge extending along the deflection surface and the interior surface, and further wherein the outer wedge has:

a first bulkhead extending along the interior surface from the third side to the distal edge;

a second bulkhead spaced apart from and substantially parallel to the first bulkhead, and extending along the interior surface from the third side to the distal edge;

a third bulkhead disposed between and substantially parallel to the first bulkhead and the second bulkhead, and extending along the interior surface from the third side to the distal edge; and

a fourth bulkhead interconnecting and substantially perpendicular to the first bulkhead and the third bulkhead.