Vehicles may be equipped with bumper systems and crash protection structures that plastically deform to absorb energy in the event of an impact. When an object impacts a vehicle at a position that is offset from the centerline of the vehicle such that the object overlaps a portion of the bumper, the ability of all of the energy absorbing structures of the vehicle to absorb energy associated with the impact may be reduced. In some impact configurations, the energy absorbing structures of the vehicle may not be activated or may be only partially activated because the object does not come into contact or only partially comes into contact with associated bumper or vehicle structures. Therefore, the bumper and the energy absorbing structures of the vehicle may have a reduced effect on the dissipation of the energy of the impact. Instead, the energy from the impact may be directed into various vehicle structures.
In one example, a substantial portion of energy from an impact with a small front bumper overlap may be directed into an upper side member that is positioned forward of the vehicle A-pillar. As energy is directed into the upper side member, the upper side member may rotate inboard, deflecting away from the location of the impact. When the upper side member deflects away from the location of the impact, the upper side member may absorb less energy of the impact than when the upper side member does not deflect away from the location of the impact.
Accordingly, a need exists for alternative structures for transferring energy and absorbing energy from a small front bumper overlap impact.