Interlocking bumper mounting system
AssigneeFreightliner Corporation
InventorsCarl Trabant, Justin Yee, Steve Griffiths
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
An exemplary interlocking bumper for mounting to frame rails of a vehicle is illustrated with a respective first bumper mounting receptacle coupled to each frame rail, such as by a frame rail mounting bracket. The interlocking bumper can further include a center bumper reinforcement that includes projections that are insertable into the first bumper mounting receptacles. Each projection of the center bumper reinforcement can define a second bumper mounting receptacle. Furthermore, the interlocking bumper can include first and second end cap bumper reinforcements each including a projection that is insertable into one of the second bumper mounting receptacles.
Claims24
An interlocking bumper for mounting to frame rails of a vehicle comprising:
- respective spaced apart first bumper mounting receptacles coupled to the frame rails;
- a center bumper reinforcement comprising spaced apart projections insertable into and nestably engageable with the first bumper mounting receptacles, wherein each projection defines a second bumper mounting receptacle;
- and
- an end cap bumper reinforcement comprising spaced apart projections insertable into and nestably engageable with the second bumper mounting receptacles.
A method of mounting an interlocking bumper to frame rails of a vehicle comprising:
- coupling respective first bumper mounting receptacles to the frame rails;
- inserting respective projections formed in a center bumper reinforcement into each of the first bumper mounting receptacles, wherein each projection defines a second bumper mounting receptacle;
- and
- inserting a projection formed in a first end cap bumper reinforcement and a projection formed in a second end cap bumper reinforcement into respective second bumper mounting receptacles.
A bumper for mounting to frame rails of a vehicle comprising:
- respective first bumper elements comprising a first nesting portion coupled to the frame rails, the first bumper elements being offset from the frame rails;
- and
- a second bumper element comprising respective second nesting portions configured to nestably engage the first nesting elements to couple the second bumper element to the frame rails.
A method of mounting a bumper to frame rails of a vehicle comprising:
- coupling respective first bumper elements comprising a first nesting portion to the frame rails, wherein the first bumper elements are offset from the frame rails;
- and
- nestably engaging second nesting portions of a second bumper element with the first nesting portions of the respective first bumper elements to couple the second bumper element to the frame rails.
A vehicle comprising:
- an elongate bumper comprising plural preassembled bumper components;
- first and second frame rails;
- a first set of bumper mounting couplers comprising a first receptacle and a first projection;
- a second set of bumper mounting couplers comprising a second receptacle and a second projection;
- one of the first receptacle and first projection being coupled to the bumper and the other of the first receptacle and first projection being coupled to the first frame rail;
- one of the second receptacle and second projection being coupled to the bumper at a location transversely spaced from the said one of the first receptacle and first projection, the other of the second receptacle and second projection being coupled to the second frame rail;
- and
- the first receptacle and first projection of the first set of bumper mounting couplers interfitting with one another and being secured together, and the second receptacle and second projection of the second set of bumper mounting couplers interfitting with one another and being secured together to couple the bumper to the first and second frame rails.
A bumper for mounting to frame rails of a vehicle comprising:
- plural preassembled bumper components;
- a first bumper mounting coupler comprising one of a first receptacle and a first projection coupled to the bumper components;
- and
- a second bumper mounting coupler comprising one of a second receptacle and a second projection, the second bumper mounting coupler being coupled to the bumper components at a location transversely spaced from the said one of the first receptacle and first projection;
- wherein one of the first receptacle and first projection of the first bumper mounting coupler and one of the second receptacle and second projection of the second bumper mounting coupler are configured to facilitate nestable coupling of the plural preassembled bumper components to the frame rails.
An interlocking bumper for mounting to frame rails of a vehicle comprising:
- a respective first bumper projection coupled to each frame rail mounting bracket;
- a center bumper reinforcement comprising projections, wherein each projection defines a first bumper mounting receptacle configured to receive one of the first bumper projections;
- and
- first and second end cap bumper reinforcements each comprising a second bumper mounting receptacle configured to receive the projections of the center bumper reinforcement.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.