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US 4,422,680 AGranted
Energy absorbing curved sections
AssigneeRegie Nationale des Usines Renault
InventorMarcel Goupy
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
Disclosed is an energy absorbing bumper formed of curved sections manufactured by pultrusion. The sections have perpendicular borders whose raised edges are connected by closure plates in areas of high stress. The face of the section can be formed with ripples so as to insure that reinforcing wires remain in areas subjected to high stresses.
Claims9
A method of forming a composite vehicle bumper comprising:
- forming an elongated section which is curved along the elongate axis thereof, said section defining a frontal face as well as upper and lower borders extending perpendicular to said frontal face, providing said upper and lower borders with a first edge formed unitary with an edge of said frontal face which is transverse to said axis and a free edge which is opposite said first edge and which includes a raised portion, wherein said section is formed by pultrusion molding of glass strands impregnated with hardening synthetic resin, including the drawing of said impregnated strands through a draw plate having a constant curve radius;
- and
- providing at least one closure plate having edges shaped to matingly engage said free edge by connecting each said closure plate between said free edges at an axial portion of said section which is subject to maximum stress during use.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.