Energy absorbing vehicle bumper
AssigneeTranspec, Inc.
InventorDonald L. Manning
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
The bumper system of the present invention is of a modular design wherein two substantially identical, laterally extending members are secured at their laterally innermost ends to define an integrated bumper device and wherein each module includes an energy absorbing hollow core element formed of a relatively rigid, though deflectable, high strength plastic material mounted in front of and upon a relatively stiff transverse support beam member which is, in turn, adapted to be secured to a vehicle frame through a suitable rearwardly extending bracket structure and which energy absorbing element and support beam are encapsulated in an elastomeric outer skin layer.
Claims8
An energy absorbing vehicle bumper system of the type including a pair of identical beam members (16) adapted to be joined by a common plate member (54) at their horizontally inner ends to provide a bumper support structure for spanning the front end of a vehicle, bracket means (24) for mounting said beams to the vehicle, and energy absorbing means (41) supported upon said beam on the side thereof opposite from the bracket means, said energy absorbing means including a deflectable member (44) enclosed by an elastomeric outer cover means (42), the improvement comprising:
- A. each beam (16) having a generally U-shaped cross-section with a vertical wall portion (18) and a pair of horizontal leg portions (20 and 22) projecting rearwardly from the upper and lower edges of the vertical wall portion and away from said energy absorbing means;
- B. the energy absorbing means (41) comprising a hollow, rigidified and deflectable structural member (44) having
- (1) a rear wall secured to the front face of the vertical wall portion (18) of said beam member;
- (2) a front wall (64) spaced forwardly of said rear wall;
- (3) top and bottom walls (66 and 68) joining said front and rear walls;
- (4) a plurality of horizontally spaced cavities (74) formed in said rear wall and extending toward said front wall (64);
- C. fastening means (34-40) for securing said beam members to said bracket means;
- and
- D. said elastomeric cover means (42) being molded about and enclosing the energy absorbing means and at least a portion of the cooperating beam member.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.