Preloaded spring bumper for a vehicle
AssigneeTru-Form Metal Products, Inc.
InventorJoseph W. Straughn
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A bumper apparatus for a vehicle is provided. The bumper apparatus includes a bumper and a spring comprising a flexible ribbon of material. The spring has a first connector portion coupled to the bumper and a second connector portion adapted to couple to the vehicle. The spring also has a curvy portion coupled to the first and second connector portions. The bumper apparatus further includes a stop engaging the spring to hold the spring in a partially flexed state to preload the spring.
Claims45
A bumper apparatus for a vehicle, the bumper apparatus comprising
- a bumper,
- a spring comprising a flexible ribbon of material, the spring having a first connector portion coupled to the bumper and a second connector portion adapted to couple to the vehicle, the spring having a curvy portion coupled to the first and second connector portions,
- a stop engaging the spring to hold the spring in a partially flexed state, and
- a bracket, the spring being coupled to the bracket, and the stop being coupled to the bracket.
A bumper apparatus for a vehicle, the bumper apparatus comprising
- a bumper,
- a spring comprising a flexible ribbon of material, the spring having a first connector portion coupled to the bumper and a second connector portion adapted to couple to the vehicle, the spring having a curvy portion coupled to the first and second connector portions, and
- a stop engaging the spring to hold the spring in a partially flexed state, wherein the curvy portion of the spring comprises a substantially cylindrical portion that changes diameter in response to an impact to the bumper, wherein the curvy portion of the spring comprises a first undulation and a second undulation, the first undulation interconnects the first connector portion and the cylindrical portion, and the second undulation interconnects the second connector portion and the cylindrical portion.
A bumper apparatus for a vehicle, the bumper apparatus comprising
- a bumper,
- a spring comprising a flexible ribbon of material, the spring having a first connector portion coupled to the bumper and a second connector portion adapted to couple to the vehicle, the spring having a curvy portion coupled to the first and second connector portions, and
- a stop engaging the spring to hold the spring in a partially flexed state, wherein the first connector portion is substantially flat, the second connector portion is substantially flat, and the first connector portion is substantially perpendicular to the second connector portion when the spring is in the partially flexed state.
A bumper apparatus for a vehicle, the bumper apparatus comprising
- a bumper,
- a spring comprising a flexible ribbon of material, the spring having a first connector portion coupled to the bumper and a second connector portion adapted to couple to the vehicle, the spring having a curvy portion coupled to the first and second connector portions, and
- a stop engaging the spring to hold the spring in a partially flexed state, wherein the first connector portion is substantially flat, the second connector portion is substantially flat, and the first connector portion is substantially parallel with the second connector portion when the spring is in the partially flexed state.
A bumper apparatus for a vehicle, the bumper apparatus comprising
- A bumper apparatus for a vehicle, the bumper apparatus comprising
- a bumper,
- a spring comprising a flexible ribbon of material, the spring having a first connector portion coupled to the bumper and a second connector portion adapted to couple to the vehicle, the spring having a curvy portion coupled to the first and second connector portions,
- a stop engaging the spring to hold the spring in a partially flexed state, and
- a compression insert situated adjacent the curvy portion of the spring.
An apparatus for coupling a bumper to a vehicle, the apparatus comprising
- a bracket,
- a spring coupled to the bracket, and
- a stop coupled to the bracket and engaging the spring to hold the spring in a partially flexed state to preload the spring, wherein the bracket comprises a top plate and a bottom plate and at least a portion of the spring is situated between the top and bottom plates.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.