Vehicle bumper beam and process of manufacturing the bumper beam

摘要

An elongated vehicle bumper beam (30; 50) which is formed of a metal sheet and which is to be attached at its longitudinally opposite end portions (32; 52) to respective side members (12R, 12L) of a vehicle. The bumper beam includes: (a) a pair of protruding portions (34; 54) elongated in a longitudinal direction of the bumper beam, and spaced apart from each other in a width direction of the bumper beam; and (b) a connecting portion (36; 56) connecting the protruding portions, such that the connecting portion cooperates with the protruding portions to define a M-shaped configuration in a cross section of the bumper beam that is perpendicular to the longitudinal direction. Each of the protruding portions protrudes to have a height (H1, H2; H) that is gradually reduced as viewed in a direction away from a longitudinally central portion of the bumper beam toward each of the longitudinally opposite end portions. Also disclosed is a process of manufacturing the bumper beam.