Vehicle bumper and method of making same
AssigneeGeneral Motors Corporation
InventorsTommy E. White, Adrian B. Chernoff
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A vehicle bumper is formed using fluid pressure such that the bumper is characterized by a curvature. The bumper preferably includes an upper bumper bar portion and a lower bumper bar portion that are interconnected. The bumper is also preferably connectable to a pair of upper rails and a pair of lower rails so that an impact load is distributable between the upper rails and the lower rails. The bumper preferably includes an inner panel and an outer panel. A method of forming a bumper is also provided. The method includes subjecting a metal blank to fluid pressure to form a bumper having a shape characterized by a curvature.
Claims8
A vehicle comprising:
- a frame including at least one structural frame member;
- a body panel forming a first portion of the vehicle exterior surface;
- and
- a metal bumper mounted with respect to said at least one structural frame member for receiving a load in the event of an impact to a portion of the vehicle periphery, the metal bumper including a one-piece inner panel and a one-piece outer panel operatively connected to the one-piece inner panel, wherein the metal bumper forms a second portion of the vehicle exterior surface;
- wherein at least a portion of the bumper is characterized by a curvature;
- wherein the first portion and the second portion of the vehicle exterior surface are substantially contiguous;
- and
- wherein the inner panel and the outer panel define a cavity therebetween.
A vehicle comprising:
- two upper rails and two lower rails;
- and
- a metal bumper mounted with respect to the two upper rails and the two lower rails for recieving a load in the event of an impact to the periphery of the vehicle, the bumper having a one-piece outer panel and a one-piece inner panel operatively connected to the one-piece outer panel and at least partially corrugated;
- wherein the inner panel and the outer panel are characterized by a curvature that is the result of exposure to fluid pressure.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.