Molded one-piece bumper
AssigneeConcept Analysis Corporation
InventorPatrick M. Glance
Life of this patent
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Abstract
An automobile bumper is adapted to be molded in one piece from thermoplastic material. The frontal portion is "C"-shaped in cross-section, and has spaced vertical web strips interconnecting the upper and lower rear edges. Certain of these strips have off-sets permitting vertical elongation under impact to control the pattern of deflection of the frontal portion to preserve impact resistance. A die structure having movable core components is provided for producing the bumper.
Claims4
An elongated normally horizontal bumper injection molded in one piece from a moldable plastic material, and having a generally C-shaped frontal shell with upper and lower rear edges and a hollow interior, wherein the improvement comprises:
- relatively narrow isolated vertical strips integrally molded in the bumper and interconnecting the upper and lower rear edges of said frontal shell, certain of said strips forming mounting surfaces for attachment to support members, and at least one other of said strips being interposed between said certain strips said other strip having an accordion-like off-set portion that provides for vertical elongation of the other strip under tension as said other strip is pulled toward a straight-line configuration on rearward deflection of said frontal shell.
An elongated normally horizontal bumper injection molded in one piece from a moldable plastic material, and having a generally C-shaped frontal shell with upper and lower rear edges and a hollow interior, wherein the improvement comprises:
- relatively narrow isolated vertical strips integrally molded in the bumper and interconnecting the upper and lower rear edges of said frontal shell, certain of said strips forming mounting surfaces for attachment to support members, and at least one other of said strips being interposed between said certain strips, said other strip extending in a non-linear path between the upper and lower rear edges of the frontal shell, such that said other strip can elongate under tension to permit limited vertical separation of the upper and lower rear edges of the frontal shell upon rearward deflection of the frontal shell.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.