Rigidly attached resilient buckling column bumper support systems

Claim 2

In an energy storing bumper system including a bumper and resilient buckling column bars for mounting the bumper on and deflectably relative to a supporting structure, the improvement comprising: means for attaching inner end portions of the bars fixedly to the supporting structure; means rigidly attaching outer end portions of the bars to the bumper so that pressure applied against the bumper toward the supporting structure will be stored by resilient buckling of said bars; said bumper being elongated horizontally; and said bars being arranged in splayed pairs attached in balanced relation along the inner side of said bumper; aligned flange means on the inner end portions of said pairs of bars for attachment to the supporting structure; clamping plate means arranged to clamp the flange means against the supporting structure; said clamping plate means having turned edges opposing body portions of the bars.

Claim 3

A system according to claim 1, wherein each of said flange means and said clamping plate means have a plurality of bolt holes spaced apart transversely relative to the bars, with the bolt holes of the plate means matching the bolt holes of the flange means.

Claim 4

An energy storing/absorbing system supporting horizontal bumper means on and normally spaced outwardly from relatively rigid structure at the end of an automotive vehicle, comprising: a plurality of strongly resilient energy storing buckling column metal bars extending in balanced bumper-supporting relation between said vehicle and structure; means rigidly attaching outer end portions of the bars to the bumper means and inner end portions to the rigid vehicle end structure; said bars having a wide dimension disposed vertically and a thinner dimension disposed horizontally so that the bars will substantially withstand vertical loads but will enable limited range of inboard displacement of the bumper transmitting endwise compressive forces to the bars accompanied by energy storing/absorbing buckling of the columns in horizontal direction and resilient loading of the bars attaining a high resistance level initially and maintaining that resistance relatively constant throughout said range of displacement, and developing a return bias for the bumper means when released from the force of the impact; terminal attachment flanges on end portions of the bars to effect said rigid attachment to the bumper means and to the supporting structure of the vehicle, said flanges having vertically spaced bolt holes; bolts extending through said bolt holes and securing the flanges to respectively the bumper means and the vehicle end support structure; and rigid clamping plates engaging said flanges and secured by said bolts in clamping engagement with the flanges and retaining the flanges against displacement during buckling movements of the buckling column bars; said plates having turned end portions opposing body portions of the bars adjacent to said flanges to control buckling movements of the bars adjacent to the flanges.

Claim 5

An energy storing/absorbing system supporting horizontal bumper means on and normally spaced outwardly from relatively rigid structure at the end of an automotive vehicle, comprising: a plurality of strongly resilient energy storing buckling column metal bars extending in balanced bumper-supporting relation between said vehicle and structure; means rigidly attaching outer end portions of the bars to the bumper means and inner end portions to the rigid vehicle end structure; said bars having a wide dimension disposed vertically and a thinner dimension disposed horizontally so that the bars will substantially withstand vertical loads but will enable limited range of inboard displacement of the bumper transmitting endwise compressive forces to the bars accompanied by energy storing/absorbing buckling of the columns in horizontal direction and resilient loading of the bars attaining a high resistance level initially and maintaining that resistance relatively constant throughout said range of displacement, and developing a return bias for the bumper means when released from the force of the impact; terminal attachment flanges on end portions of the bars to effect said rigid attachment to the bumper means and to the supporting structure of the vehicle, said flanges having vertically spaced bolt holes; bolts extending through said bolt holes and securing the flanges to respectively the bumper means and the vehicle end support structure; and rigid clamping plates engaging said flanges and secured by said bolts in clamping engagement with the flanges and retaining the flanges against displacement during buckling movements of the buckling column bars; said plates having turned end portions opposing body portions of the bars adjacent to said flanges to control buckling movements of the bars adjacent to the flanges.

Claim 6

An energy storing/absorbing system supporting horizontal bumper means on and normally spaced outwardly from relatively rigid structure at the end of an automotive vehicle, comprising: a plurality of strongly resilient energy storing buckling column metal bars extending in balanced bumper-supporting relation between said vehicle and structure; means rigidly attaching outer end portions of the bars to the bumper means and inner end portions to the rigid vehicle end structure; said bars having a wide dimension disposed vertically and a thinner dimension disposed horizontally so that the bars will substantially withstand vertical loads but will enable limited range of inboard displacement of the bumper transmitting endwise compressive forces to the bars accompanied by energy storing/absorbing buckling of the columns in horizontal direction and resilient loading of the bars attaining a high resistance level initially and maintaining that resistance relatively constant throughout said range of displacement, and developing a return bias for the bumper means when released from the force of the impact; said buckling column bars being arranged in splayed pairs and having terminal attachment flanges; bolts comprising said attaching means securing said flanges; certain of said flanges being disposed in endwise contiguity; clamping plate means extending onto and between the contiguous flange and secured rigidly thereto by said bolts; said clamping plate means having turned edges opposing body portions of the bars adjacent to said flanges.

Claim 7

An energy storing/absorbing system supporting horizontal bumper means on and normally spaced outwardly from relatively rigid structure at the end of an automotive vehicle, comprising: a plurality of strongly resilient energy storing buckling column metal bars extending in balanced bumper-supporting relation between said vehicle and structure; means rigidly attaching outer end portions of the bars to the bumper means and inner end portions to the rigid vehicle end structure; said bars having a wide dimension disposed vertically and a thinner dimension disposed horizontally so that the bars will substantially withstand vertical loads but will enable limited range of inboard displacement of the bumper transmitting endwise compressive forces to the bars accompanied by energy storing/absorbing buckling of the columns in horizontal direction and resilient loading of the bars attaining a high resistance level initially and maintaining that resistance relatively constant throughout said range of displacement, and developing a return bias for the bumper means when released from the force of the impact; said buckling column bars being arranged in splayed pairs and having terminal attachment flanges; bolts comprising said attaching means securing said flanges; certain of said flanges being disposed in endwise contiguity; clamping plate means extending onto and between the contiguous flange and secured rigidly thereto by said bolts; said clamping plate means having turned edges opposing body portions of the bars adjacent to said flanges.

Claim 8

An energy storing/absorbing system supporting horizontal bumper means on and normally spaced outwardly from relatively rigid structure at the end of an automotive vehicle, comprising: a plurality of strongly resilient energy storing buckling column metal bars extending in balanced bumper-supporting relation between said vehicle and structure; means rigidly attaching outer end portions of the bars to the bumper means and inner end portions to the rigid vehicle end structure; said bars having a wide dimension disposed vertically and a thinner dimension disposed horizontally so that the bars will substantially withstand vertical loads but will enable limited range of inboard displacement of the bumper transmitting endwise compressive forces to the bars accompanied by energy storing/absorbing buckling of the columns in horizontal direction and resilient loading of the bars attaining a high resistance level initially and maintaining that resistance relatively constant throughout said range of displacement, and developing a return bias for the bumper means when released from the force of the impact; said means rigidly attaching including attachment flanges on the bars to effect said rigid attachment; said flanges having a plurality of vertically spaced bolt holes and a plurality of horizontally spaced bolt holes; securing bolts extending through said bolt holes and securing the flanges rigidly against displacement in all directions but permitting said buckling resilient loading of the bars relAtive to the bumper means and the vehicle end supporting structure; rigid clamping plates engaging said flanges and having vertically and horizontally spaced bolt holes matching said flange bolt holes, said plates being secured by said bolts in clamping engagement with the flanges and assisting in retaining the flanges against displacement during buckling movements of the buckling column bars; and said plates having turned end portions opposing body portions of the bars adjacent to said flanges to control buckling movements of the bars adjacent to the flanges.

Claim 9

An energy storing/absorbing system supporting horizontal bumper means on and normally spaced outwardly from relatively rigid structure at the end of an automotive vehicle, comprising: a plurality of strongly resilient energy storing buckling column metal bars extending in balanced bumper-supporting relation between said vehicle and structure; means rigidly attaching outer end portions of the bars to the bumper means and inner end portions to the rigid vehicle end structure; said bars having a wide dimension disposed vertically and a thinner dimension disposed horizontally so that the bars will substantially withstand vertical loads but will enable limited range of inboard displacement of the bumper transmitting endwise compressive forces to the bars accompanied by energy storing/absorbing buckling of the columns in horizontal direction and resilient loading of the bars attaining a high resistance level initially and maintaining that resistance relatively constant throughout said range of displacement, and developing a return bias for the bumper means when released from the force of the impact; said means rigidly attaching including attachment flanges on the bars to effect said rigid attachment; said flanges having a plurality of vertically spaced bolt holes and a plurality of horizontally spaced bolt holes; securing bolts extending through said bolt holes and securing the flanges rigidly against displacement in all directions but permitting said buckling resilient loading of the bars relAtive to the bumper means and the vehicle end supporting structure; rigid clamping plates engaging said flanges and having vertically and horizontally spaced bolt holes matching said flange bolt holes, said plates being secured by said bolts in clamping engagement with the flanges and assisting in retaining the flanges against displacement during buckling movements of the buckling column bars; and said plates having turned end portions opposing body portions of the bars adjacent to said flanges to control buckling movements of the bars adjacent to the flanges.

Claim 10

An energy storing/absorbing system supporting horizontal bumper means on and normally spaced outwardly from relatively rigid structure at the end of an automotive vehicle, comprising: a plurality of strongly resilient energy storing buckling column metal bars extending in balanced bumper-supporting relation between said vehicle and structure; means rigidly attaching outer end portions of the bars in place to the bumper means and inner end portions to the rigid vehicle end structure; said bars having a wide dimension disposed vertically and a thinner dimension disposed horizontally so that the bars will substantially withstand vertical loads but will enable limited range of inboard displacement of the bumper transmitting endwise compressive forces to the bars accompanied by energy storing/absorbing buckling of the columns in horizontal direction and resilient loading of the bars attaining a high resistance level initially and maintaining that resistance relatively constant throughout said range of displacement, and developing a return bias for the bumper means when released from the force of the impact; said buckling column bars being arranged in splayed pairs and said end portions of the bars being terminal attachment flanges; certain of said flanges extending toward one another in alignment and being disposed in end-to-end abutment; said attaching means securing said certain flanges in said alignment and abutment; and clamping plate means extending onto and between said certain flanges and over the abutting ends thereof and secured rigidly thereto by said attaching means; and said clamping plate means have turned edges opposing body portions of the bars adjacent to said flanges.

Claim 11

An energy storing/absorbing system supporting horizontal bumper means on and normally spaced outwardly from relatively rigid structure at the end of an automotive vehicle, comprising: a plurality of strongly resilient energy storing buckling column metal bars extending in balanced bumper-supporting relation between said vehicle and structure; means rigidly attaching outer end portions of the bars in place to the bumper means and inner end portions to the rigid vehicle end structure; said bars having a wide dimension disposed vertically and a thinner dimension disposed horizontally so that the bars will substantially withstand vertical loads but will enable limited range of inboard displacement of the bumper transmitting endwise compressive forces to the bars accompanied by energy storing/absorbing buckling of the columns in horizontal direction and resilient loading of the bars attaining a high resistance level initially and maintaining that resistance relatively constant throughout said range of displacement, and developing a return bias for the bumper means when released from the force of the impact; said buckling column bars being arranged in splayed pairs and said end portions of the bars being terminal attachment flanges; certain of said flanges extending toward one another in alignment and being disposed in end-to-end abutment; said attaching means securing said certain flanges in said alignment and abutment; and clamping plate means extending onto and between said certain flanges and over the abutting ends thereof and secured rigidly thereto by said attaching means; and said clamping plate means have turned edges opposing body portions of the bars adjacent to said flanges.