US3764174A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Vehicle bumper
Assignee: Individual
•
Filing: 1972-01-10
•
Granted: 1973-10-09
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Expires: 1992-01-10
Abstract
Abstract A hollow vehicle bumper having a thin wall of crushable material enclosing a space, and valve means for introducing fluid under pressure into the space to restore the thin wall to substantially its original shape after it has been crushed.
Inventors
- 👤 D Taninecz
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-27 15:46
CPC Classifications
B; B60; B60R; B60R19/00; B60R19/02; B60R19/18; B60R19/20; B21; B21D; B21D3/00; B21D3/14; Y; Y10; Y10S; Y10S72/00; Y10S72/705; Y10T; Y10T29/00; Y10T29/49; Y10T29/49805
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 6
Claim 1
Independent Claim
195 words
A vehicle bumper comprising: a. a hollow member having a wall of an original shape enclosing a space for receiving fluid, b. said wall being thin relative to the cross-sectional dimensions of said hollow member, c. said thin wall being of crushable and relatively inelastic material adapted to be deformed upon impact of said thin wall against an external object, d. said deformed wall remaining deformed while subject only to the pressure, after impact, of the fluid within said space before impact, e. said thin, deformed wall being capable of being restored to substantially its original shape by the increase of pressure within said space to a pressure substantially greater than atmospheric, and substantially greater than said fluid pressure after impact, f. check valve means in said wall for the one-way passage of fluid under pressure through said valve means into said space, g. means attachable to said check valve means for forcing fluid under pressure substantially greater than atmospheric pressure and substantially greater than said fluid pressure after impact into said space, and against said wall, when deformed, to assume substantially its original shape, and h. means attaching said hollow member to a vehicle.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
195 words
A vehicle bumper comprising: a. a hollow member having a wall of an original shape enclosing a space for receiving fluid, b. said wall being thin relative to the cross-sectional dimensions of said hollow member, c. said thin wall being of crushable and relatively inelastic material adapted to be deformed upon impact of said thin wall against an external object, d. said deformed wall remaining deformed while subject only to the pressure, after impact, of the fluid within said space before impact, e. said thin, deformed wall being capable of being restored to substantially its original shape by the increase of pressure within said space to a pressure substantially greater than atmospheric, and substantially greater than said fluid pressure after impact, f. check valve means in said wall for the one-way passage of fluid under pressure through said valve means into said space, g. means attachable to said check valve means for forcing fluid under pressure substantially greater than atmospheric pressure and substantially greater than said fluid pressure after impact into said space, and against said wall, when deformed, to assume substantially its original shape, and h. means attaching said hollow member to a vehicle.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
19 words
The invention according to claim 1 in which the crushable, relatively inelastic, material of said thin wall is metal.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
12 words
The invention according to claim 2 in which said metal is steel.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
22 words
The invention according to claim 1 in which said fluid is air, and said valve means is a releasable air check valve.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
31 words
The invention according to claim 1 in which said hollow member is elongated and said attaching means fixes said hollow member to the exterior body of a vehicle subject to impact.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1976-10-08 | 1977-04-09 | 1977-10-09 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1980-10-08 | 1981-04-09 | 1981-10-09 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1984-10-08 | 1985-04-09 | 1985-10-09 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |