Bumper energy absorber with foam and non-foam pieces
AssigneeShape Corp.
InventorsMark Weissenborn, Robert Weykamp, David Powell
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A bumper system includes a bumper beam having a face and ends, and an energy absorber mounted on the face. The energy absorber has a foam piece engaging the face and an injection-molded end piece securely attached to each end of the foam piece and also engaging the face. By this arrangement, the energy absorber is a single unit that can be handled and attached to the bumper beam, and also can include different end pieces while still using the same foam piece. In one form, the energy absorber also includes a center injection-molded piece and, in another form, includes a long injection-molded piece having foam sections molded onto it.
Claims16
A bumper system comprising:
- a bumper beam having a face and ends;
- and
- an energy absorber mounted on the face, the energy absorber having a foam piece engaging the face and an injection-molded end piece securely attached to an end of the foam piece and also engaging the face.
A bumper system comprising:
- a bumper beam having a face and ends;
- and
- an energy absorber mounted on the face, the energy absorber having at least one foam piece engaging the face and at least one non-foam plastic piece securely attached to an end of the foam piece and also engaging the face, the foam piece and the non-foam piece forming a single member that can be handled and attached as a unit to the bumper beam.
A bumper system comprising:
- a bumper beam having a face surface;
- and
- an energy absorber engaging the face surface, the energy absorber having an elongated non-foam component with at least three longitudinally-spaced enlarged sections and a plurality of foam sections attached to the non-foam component between the enlarged sections, at least one of the enlarged sections including a front wall with marginal material forming an opening therein.
A bumper system comprising:
- a bumper beam having a face surface;
- and
- an energy absorber engaging the face surface, the energy absorber having an elongated non-foam injection-molded component with at least three longitudinally-spaced enlarged sections and a plurality of foam sections attached to the molded component between the enlarged sections;
- wherein the enlarged sections are each box-shaped and have a hollow interior space, and further wherein the enlarged sections each include a front wall with marginal material forming an opening therein.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.