Impact resistent flexible grille arrangement

An arrangement for attaching a impact resistent flexible grille having a generally vertical centerline in an impact zone at a front end of an automobile having a grille support structure at the front end and an energy absorbing bumper at the front end that collapses rearwardly and then returns to its original position with respect to the grille support structure in response to front end impacts up to a predetermined limit, the arrangement comprising:

• a first rigid attachment fastening an upper end of the flexible grille to the grille support structure at a generally vertical centerline of the grille, and
• a second rigid attachment fastening a lower end of the flexible grille to the bumper at the generally vertical centerline so that the flexible grille flexes and side wing portions of the flexible grille deflect away from the grille support structure to avoid damage when the front bumper collapses rearwardly, and
• elastomeric tethers connecting each upper corner of the flexible grille to the grille support structure which are stretched elastically when the side wing portions of the flexible grille deflect away from the grille support structure so as to guide and return the side wing portions of the flexible grille back to their original position with respect to the grille support structure when the bumper returns to its original position.

An arrangement for attaching a impact resistent flexible grille having a generally vertical centerline and a generally horizontal centerline in an impact zone at a front end of an automobile having a grille support structure at the front end and an energy absorbing bumper at the front end that collapses rearwardly and then returns to its original position with respect to the grille support structure in response to front end impacts up to a predetermined limit, the arrangement comprising:

• a first rigid attachment located on the generally horizontal centerline of the flexible grille fastening the flexible grille to the grille support structure, and
• a second rigid attachment fastening a lower end of the flexible grille to the bumper so that an upper portion of the flexible grille deflects and/or moves away from the grille support structure to avoid damage when the front bumper collapses rearwardly, and
• a plurality of elastomeric tethers connecting the upper end of the flexible grille to the grille support structure which are stretched elastically when the upper portion of the flexible grille deflects and/or moves away from the grille support structure so as to guide and return the upper end of the flexible grille back to its original position with respect to the grille support structure when the bumper returns to its original position.