Vehicle bumper installation

Claim 2

Collision bumper apparatus for vehicles comprising a collision bumper member adapted to extend transversely across an end of a vehicle, a yieldable bumper mounting assembly including a band of resiliently deformable material joined at its ends to define a closed figure in plan view taking a predetermined generally elliptical shape in unstressed condition including generally semicircular end portions merging with generally flat front and back portions, an irreversible tension strut adjustably extending across the major axis of said elliptical band and adapted for attachment at its opposite ends thereto, the length of said tension strut being shorter than the major axis of said elliptical band, means attaching the opposite ends of said tension strut to said elliptical band causing the latter to be prestressed into an elliptical shape including generally semicircular end portions merging with generally flat front and back portions and having its major and minor dimensions shorter and longer respectively than that of said unstressed elliptical shape, said assembly further including means on said elliptical band located generally at the minor axis thereof attaching the full length of said front flat portion of said band to said bumper member, and means on said elliptical band opposite the last mentioned attaching means for attaching the full length of said back flat portion of said elliptical band to a vehicle whereby impact forces applied to said bumper are distributed evenly through said band semi-circular end portions.

Claim 3

Collision bumper apparatus for vehicles comprising a collision bumper member adapted to extend transversely across an end of a vehicle, a yieldable bumper mounting assembly including a band of resiliently deformable material joined at its ends to define a closed figure in plan view taking a predetermined generally elliptical shape in unstressed condition including generally semicircular end portions merging with generally flat front and back portions, a tension strut extending across the major axis of said elliptical band and adapted for attachment at its opposite ends thereto, the length of said tension strut being shorter than the major axis of said elliptical band and said tension strut including irreversibly deformable means for imparting a controlled resistance to lengthening of said strut under application thereto of tension loads above a predetermined value, means adjustably attaching the opposite ends of said tension strut to said elliptical band causing the latter to be prestressed, by tension in said strut below said predetermined value, into an elliptical shape including generally semicircular end portions merging with generally flat front and back portions and having its major and minor dimensions shorter and longer respectively than that of said unstressed elliptical shape, said adjustable attaching means being capable of adjustment compensating for a limited amount of deformation of said strut deformable means and reestablishing the desired preStress in said band after receipt of an impact force, said assembly further including a flat portion on said elliptical band located generally at the minor axis dimension thereof attaching the full length of the flat portion of said band to said bumper member and a flat portion on said elliptical band opposite the last mentioned attaching means for attaching the full length of the flat portion of said elliptical band to a vehicle whereby impact forces applied to said bumper are evenly distributed through said band semicircular end portions. 3. In a vehicle, collision bumper apparatus comprising, a vehicle structural frame member extending generally transversely of the vehicle at one end thereof and providing transversely spaced generally flat bumper mounting faces, a collision bumper member adapted to extend transversely of said end of the vehicle in spaced relation to said frame member, said bumper member providing flat mounting faces respective to and disposed oppositely of one of said mounting faces of said frame member, and at least a pair of elastically yieldable bumper mounting assemblies each located adjacent one end of said bumper member, each said assembly including a lamination unit of a plurality of resiliently deformable bands attached together and formed to define a generally elliptical unstressed shape in horizontal section, a tension strut extending across the major axis of said elliptical lamination unit and being shorter than the unstressed dimension thereof thereacross, means attaching the opposite ends of said strut to said unit causing the latter to take a prestressed elliptical shape having major and minor axis dimensions shorter and longer respectively than that of said unstressed shape, said stressed shape including opposite generally semicircular end portions merging with generally flat front and back portions, one of said front and back portions being attached to a flat mounting face of said bumper member while the other thereof is attached to a flat mounting face of said frame member, said elliptical band being elastically yieldable under forces applied to said bumper toward said frame member and while so deflecting having successive portions of said end portions thereof engageable on said flat faces to take the flat conformation thereof while the end portions take successively smaller diameter generally semicircular shape, said tension strut including telescopically related rod and sleeve members operative under tension in said strut above a predetermined value to cause irreversible deformation therein during lengthening thereof, and stabilizing linkage connecting said bumper member and said frame member to control displacement therebetween to occur strictly in longitudinal planes of the vehicle.

Claim 4

Collision bumper apparatus for vehicles comprising a collision bumper member adapted to extend transversely across an end of a vehicle, a yieldable bumper mounting assembly including a band of resiliently deformable material joined at its ends to define a closed figure in plan view taking a predetermined generally elliptical shape in unstressed condition including generally semicircular end portions merging with generally flat front and back portions, a tension strut extending across the major axis of said elliptical band and adapted for attachment at its opposite ends thereto, the length of said tension strut being shorter than the major axis of said elliptical band and said tension strut including irreversibly deformable means for imparting a controlled resistance to lengthening of said strut under application thereto of tension loads above a predetermined value, means adjustably attaching the opposite ends of said tension strut to said elliptical band causing the latter to be prestressed, by tension in said strut below said predetermined value, into an elliptical shape including generally semicircular end portions merging with generally flat front and back portions and having its major and minor dimensions shorter and longer respectively than that of said unstressed elliptical shape, said adjustable attaching means being capable of adjustment compensating for a limited amount of deformation of said strut deformable means and reestablishing the desired preStress in said band after receipt of an impact force, said assembly further including a flat portion on said elliptical band located generally at the minor axis dimension thereof attaching the full length of the flat portion of said band to said bumper member and a flat portion on said elliptical band opposite the last mentioned attaching means for attaching the full length of the flat portion of said elliptical band to a vehicle whereby impact forces applied to said bumper are evenly distributed through said band semicircular end portions. 3. In a vehicle, collision bumper apparatus comprising, a vehicle structural frame member extending generally transversely of the vehicle at one end thereof and providing transversely spaced generally flat bumper mounting faces, a collision bumper member adapted to extend transversely of said end of the vehicle in spaced relation to said frame member, said bumper member providing flat mounting faces respective to and disposed oppositely of one of said mounting faces of said frame member, and at least a pair of elastically yieldable bumper mounting assemblies each located adjacent one end of said bumper member, each said assembly including a lamination unit of a plurality of resiliently deformable bands attached together and formed to define a generally elliptical unstressed shape in horizontal section, a tension strut extending across the major axis of said elliptical lamination unit and being shorter than the unstressed dimension thereof thereacross, means attaching the opposite ends of said strut to said unit causing the latter to take a prestressed elliptical shape having major and minor axis dimensions shorter and longer respectively than that of said unstressed shape, said stressed shape including opposite generally semicircular end portions merging with generally flat front and back portions, one of said front and back portions being attached to a flat mounting face of said bumper member while the other thereof is attached to a flat mounting face of said frame member, said elliptical band being elastically yieldable under forces applied to said bumper toward said frame member and while so deflecting having successive portions of said end portions thereof engageable on said flat faces to take the flat conformation thereof while the end portions take successively smaller diameter generally semicircular shape, said tension strut including telescopically related rod and sleeve members operative under tension in said strut above a predetermined value to cause irreversible deformation therein during lengthening thereof, and stabilizing linkage connecting said bumper member and said frame member to control displacement therebetween to occur strictly in longitudinal planes of the vehicle.