Appeal 2007-1714
Application 10/096,684
1. Nomura teaches a light weight motor vehicle front end that is obtained by
injection molding thermoplastic resin and glass fiber (Nomura, translated
abstract). The figures show that a front cross member (14) protrudes
forward from a radiator support (13) (Nomura, Figs. 1 and 2).
2. Nomura does not teach a lower impact absorbing member supported by a
protruding portion (Nomura, passim).
3. Renault teaches a combination bumper skin and under-engine fairing for
a vehicle, which includes an upper impact absorbing member 10 and a
lower impact absorbing member 32. The lower impact absorbing
member is shown and taught as attached to a section member 18 of an
under-engine fairing that creates a low point of contact to meet disclosed
constraints for pedestrian safety. It is stated as an important advantage of
the Renault solution that it does not load the side rails of the vehicle.
(Renault, col. 1, ll. 49-64). Renualt also teaches that the transverse
section member 18 extends substantially vertically below the bumper
beam 4, as does the bottom absorber below the top absorber (Renault col.
3, ll. 52-55).
4. Renault does not teach supporting the lower impact absorbing member
with the protruding portion of a molded one-piece front end module
(Renault, passim).
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Last modified: September 9, 2013