Dynamic load increasing automobile bumper

Claim 2

In an automobile of the type including a body having a cockpit and having a forward portion which slopes downwardly from the cockpit to a low front end, wheel means for supporting the body, and engine means mounted on the body for propelling the automobile, the improvement comprising: a front bumper comprising the extreme forwardmost structural element of the automobile; and means extending generally vertically upwardly from the body for supporting the front bumper above the low front end thereof and with an open space extending between the body and the front bumper; said front bumper functioning as airfoil means for forcing the front end downwardly in response to air flow over the bumper during forward motion of the automobile.

Claim 3

The improvement according to claim 1 wherein the front bumper has a thin cross section so that it does not impede vision from the cockpit.

Claim 4

The automobile according to claim 1 further including headlights mounted in the bumper supporting means.

Claim 5

The automobile according to claim 1 further including a rear bumper comprising the extreme rearwardmost structural element of the automobile and means supporting the rear bumper on the body at the same height as the front bumper.

Claim 6

An automobile comprising: body means including a cockpit, a forward portion which slopes downwardly to a low front end, and a rearward portion which extends to a rear end; wheel means located between the front and rear ends for supporting the body on a surface; an engine mounted on the body and operatively connected to the wheel means for propelling the automobile over the surface; front bumper means comprising an airfoil oriented to impose a downwardly directed force on the front portion of the body in response to air flowing rearwardly relative to the body; and means for supporting the front bumper means at a predetermined height above the surface and spaced a predetermined distance above the low front end of the body.

Claim 7

An automobile comprising: body means including a cockpit, a forward portion which slopes downwardly to a low front end, and a rearward portion which extends to a rear end; wheel means located between the front and rear ends for supporting the body on a surface; an engine mounted on the body and operatively connected to the wheel means for propelling the automobile over the surface; front bumper means comprising an airfoil oriented to impose a downwardly directed force on the front portion of the body in response to air flowing rearwardly relative to the body; and means for supporting the front bumper means at a predetermined height above the surface and spaced a predetermined distance above the low front end of the body.

Claim 8

The automobile according to claim 5 wherein the front bumper is thin so as not to interfere with vision from the cockpit of the body.

Claim 9

The automobile according to claim 5 further comprising at least one structural member for supporting the bumper on the body and at least one headlight mounted in the structural member.

Claim 10

The automobile according to claim 5 wherein the engine is mounted in the rearward portion of the body and wherein the rearward portion of the body includes a member supported for pivotal movement from a normal position to a position wherein it performs an aerodynamic function and provides access to the engine.

Claim 11

An automobile comprising: body means including a centrally disposed cockpit, a forward portion which slopes downwardly from the cockpit to a low front end, and a rearward portion which extends from the cockpit to a rear end; means including a plurality of wheels located between the front and rear ends for supporting the body on a surface; engine means mounted on the body for propelling the automobile over the surface; at least one structural member extending generally vertically upwardly from the low front end of the body; and front bumper means supported by said structural member in a spaced-apart relationship above the low front end of the body and functioning as an airfoil means having a thin, wide cross section and oriented to force the body downwardly in response to air flow over the bumper during forward movement of the automobile along the surface under the action of the engine.

Claim 12

An automobile comprising: body means including a centrally disposed cockpit, a forward portion which slopes downwardly from the cockpit to a low front end, and a rearward portion which extends from the cockpit to a rear end; means including a plurality of wheels located between the front and rear ends for supporting the body on a surface; engine means mounted on the body for propelling the automobile over the surface; at least one structural member extending generally vertically upwardly from the low front end of the body; and front bumper means supported by said structural member in a spaced-apart relationship above the low front end of the body and functioning as an airfoil means having a thin, wide cross section and oriented to force the body downwardly in response to air flow over the bumper during forward movement of the automobile along the surface under the action of the engine.

Claim 13

The automobile according to claim 9 further including at least one headlight mounted in the structural member and directed forwardly of the automobile and a rear bumper supported on the body at the same predetermined height above the surface as the front bumper.

Claim 14

An automobile comprising: chassis means; body means mounted on the chassis means and including a low front end portion; wheel means supporting thE chassis means and the body means mounted thereon for movement over a surface; engine means mounted on the chassis means and operatively connected to the wheel means for propelling the automobile; bumper support means extending vertically from the front portion of the chassis means; and front bumper means supported by the bumper support means above the low front end of the body means to define a predetermined space therebetween and comprising airfoil means for forcing the front end of the body means downwardly in response to air flow over the bumper means during forward movement of the automobile along the surface under the action of the engine means.

Claim 15

An automobile comprising: chassis means; body means mounted on the chassis means and including a low front end portion; wheel means supporting thE chassis means and the body means mounted thereon for movement over a surface; engine means mounted on the chassis means and operatively connected to the wheel means for propelling the automobile; bumper support means extending vertically from the front portion of the chassis means; and front bumper means supported by the bumper support means above the low front end of the body means to define a predetermined space therebetween and comprising airfoil means for forcing the front end of the body means downwardly in response to air flow over the bumper means during forward movement of the automobile along the surface under the action of the engine means.