Bumper arrangement of a vehicle,especially at a motor vehicle

Claim 2

An arrangement of a bumper means at a vehicle, which is elastically supported at a support structure of the vehicle, characterized in that two shock absorber means are arranged laterally of the support structure which extend approximately in the vehicle longitudinal direction and are secured at the support structure as well as at the bumper by way of joint means having substantially vertical axes, characterized in that the bumper means is inherently rigid, and characterized in that two doubleacting shock absorber means are pivotally secured forwardly substantially in the center of the support structure, said double-acting shock absorber means extending forwardly at an inclination and being secured together with the shock absorber means extending approximately in the vehicle longitudinal direction at the bumper means in common joint means.

Claim 3

An arrangement according to claim 1, characterized in that the bumper means has a substantially U-shaped profile.

Claim 4

An arrangement according to claim 1, characterized in that the two inclined shock absorber means subtend in the normal rest position thereof an angle of about 150*.

Claim 5

An arrangement according to claim 3, characterized in that the shock absorber means include spring means retaining the same in the normal rest position.

Claim 6

An arrangement for supporting a bumper means at a relatively fixed support structure of a vehicle; said arrangement comprising: a shock absorber means extending approximately in the longitudinal direction of said fixed support structure, first joint means for connecting said shock absorber means to said bumper means such that said shock absorber means is pivotable only about a first joint vertical axis with respect to said bumper means, second joint means for connecting said shock absOrber means to said support structure such that said shock absorber means is pivotable only about a second joint vertical axis with respect to said support structure, said first and second joint means being spaced from one another in the longitudinal direction, and transverse support means including resilient means arranged between said shock absorber means and said support structure for resiliently supporting said shock absorber means and bumper means in a predetermined rest position with respect to said support structure, said transverse support means being in direct engagement with one of said shock absorber means, said first joint means and said second joint means.

Claim 7

An arrangement for supporting a bumper means at a relatively fixed support structure of a vehicle; said arrangement comprising: a shock absorber means extending approximately in the longitudinal direction of said fixed support structure, first joint means for connecting said shock absorber means to said bumper means such that said shock absorber means is pivotable only about a first joint vertical axis with respect to said bumper means, second joint means for connecting said shock absOrber means to said support structure such that said shock absorber means is pivotable only about a second joint vertical axis with respect to said support structure, said first and second joint means being spaced from one another in the longitudinal direction, and transverse support means including resilient means arranged between said shock absorber means and said support structure for resiliently supporting said shock absorber means and bumper means in a predetermined rest position with respect to said support structure, said transverse support means being in direct engagement with one of said shock absorber means, said first joint means and said second joint means.

Claim 8

An arrangement according to claim 5, wherein said shock absorber means includes a pair of lateral shock absorber means positioned at respective opposite lateral sides of the vehicle, characterized in that the lateral shock absorber means include cylinder means pivotally secured in the rear area thereof at the support structure and within the area of the forward ends supported at the support structure in a cross direction by spring means, the lateral shock absorber means extending forwardly slightly obliquely in the normal rest position thereof.

Claim 9

An arrangement according to claim 6, characterized in that additional spring means are mounted between the bumper means and the support structure.

Claim 10

An arrangement according to claim 7, characterized in that said additional spring means are prestressed.

Claim 11

An arrangement of a bumper means at a vehicle, which is elastically supported at a support structure of the vehicle, characterized in that two shock absorber means are arranged laterally of the support structure which extend approximately in the vehicle longitudinal direction and are secured at the support structure as well as at the bumper by way of joint means having substantially vertical axes, characterized in that the bumper means is inherently rigid, and characterized in that a cylinder means of the lateral shock absorber means are pivotally connected at the support structure within the area of the forward ends thereof.

Claim 12

An arrangement of a bumper means at a vehicle, which is elastically supported at a support structure of the vehicle, characterized in that two shock absorber means are arranged laterally of the support structure which extend approximately in the vehicle longitudinal direction and are secured at the support structure as well as at the bumper by way of joint means having substantially vertical axes, characterized in that the bumper means is inherently rigid, and characterized in that a cylinder means of the lateral shock absorber means are pivotally connected at the support structure within the area of the forward ends thereof.

Claim 13

An arrangement according to claim 9, characterized in that the pivot axes are disposed at a distance to lateral parts of the support structure.

Claim 14

An arrangement according to claim 5, wherein said shock absorber means includes a pair of lateral shock absorber means positioned at respective opposite lateral sides of the vehicle, characterized in that elastic bearing means are provided between the lateral shock absorber means and the support structure.

Claim 15

An arrangement according to claim 11, characterized in that said elastic bearing means are rubber bearing means

Claim 16

An arrangement according to claim 12, characterized in that at least one of the joint means includes elastic return elements.

Claim 17

An arrangement according to claim 12, characterized in that the joint means which connect the lateral shock absorber means with the support structure include elastic return elements.

Claim 18

An arrangement according to claim 14, characterized in that cylinders of the lateral shock absorber means include at the top and bottom diametrically oppositely disposed pins which have a polygonal cross section and engage in elastic members which are surrounded externally by polygonal mounting means secured at the support structure.

Claim 19

An arrangement according to claim 15, characterized in that said elastic members are rubber elastic bodies.

Claim 20

An arrangement according to claim 15, characterized in that th8 polygonal cross section is of rectangular shape.

Claim 21

An arrangement according to claim 15, characterized in that additional spring means are mounted between the bumper means and the support structure.

Claim 22

An arrangement according to claim 18, characterized in that said additional spring means are prestressed.

Claim 23

An arrangement according to claim 5, characterized in that rubber bearing means are provided between the shock absorber means and the suppoRt structure.

Claim 24

An arrangement according to claim 5, wherein said shock absorber means includes a pair of lateral shock absorber means positioned at respective opposite lateral sides of the vehicle, characterized in that the joint means which connect the lateral shock absorber means with the support structure include elastic return elements.

Claim 25

An arrangement according to claim 5, wherein said shock absorber means includes a pair of lateral shock absorber means positioned at respective opposite lateral sides of the vehicle, characterized in that the cylinders of the lateral shock absorber means include at the top and bottom diametrically oppositely disposed pins which have a polygonal cross section and engage in elastic members which are surrounded externally by polygonal mounting means secured at the support structure.

Claim 26

An arrangement according to claim 5, wherein said shock absorber means includes a pair of lateral shock absorber means positioned at respective opposite lateral sides of the vehicle, characterized in that additional spring means are mounted between the bumper means and the support structure.

Claim 27

An arrangement according to claim 23, characterized in that said additional spring means are prestressed.

Claim 28

An arrangement according to claim 25, wherein said shock absorber means are constructed such that the respective portions thereof between the first and second joint menas are movable with respect to one another along the line connecting said joint means.

Claim 29

An arrangement according to claim 25, further comprising a second shock absorber means spaced laterally from said first mentioned shock absorber means and connected between said bumper means and said support structure in a similar manner as is said first mentioned shock absorber means.

Claim 30

An arrangement according to claim 26, wherein said bumper means is inherently substantially rigid along the width thereof between said first and second shock absorber means.

Claim 31

An arrangement according to claim 27, wherein said transverse support means include third and fourth shock absorber means pivotally connected for movement only about vertical axes at said support structure and at the respective joint means between said bumper means and said first and second shock absorber means.

Claim 32

An arrangement according to claim 27, wherein both said third and fourth shock absorber means are pivotally connected at the center of said support structure and extend laterally outwardly to the pivotal connections thereof at the respective joint means between said bumper means and said first and second shock absorber means, and wherein said third and fourth shock absorber means subtend an angle of approximately 150* when said bumper means is in said predetermined rest position.

Claim 33

An arrangement according to claim 27, wherein said second joint means is formed by cylindrical pin portions protruding from a cylinder of said first shock absorber means and vertically aligned and spaced recess means at said support structure for accommodating said pin portions.

Claim 34

An arrangement according to claim 27, wherein said bumper means has a substantially U-shaped profile which opens in the direction facing the support structure, and wherein said first joint means includes a vertically extending pivot pin supported inside of said U-shaped profile.

Claim 35

An arrangement according to claim 25, wherein said transverse support means includes a further shock absorber means having one end pivotally connected at said first joint means for pivotal movement only about said first joint vertical axis and the other end pivotally connected at a further joint means on said support structure for pivotal movement only about a further vertical axis of said further joint means.

Claim 36

An arrangement according to claim 32, wherein said further shock absorber means is a double acting shock absorber means.

Claim 37

An arrangement according to claim 25, wherein said transverse support means includes spring means engageabLe at said support means and at a position on said shock absorber means intermediate said first and second joint means.

Claim 38

An arrangement according to claim 34, wherein said shock absorber means includes relatively movable piston and cylinder means, and wherein said cylinder means includes outward protrusions which abuttingly engage said spring means.

Claim 39

An arrangement according to claim 25, wherein said transverse support means includes an elastomeric material bearing means interposed between said support structure and a support bracket for said shock absorber for said second joint means.

Claim 40

An arrangement according to claim 25, wherein said transverse support means includes elastic return elements forming said second joint means.

Claim 41

An arrangement according to claim 37, wherein said elastic return means includes elastomeric material means arranged symmetrically about said second joint vertical axis.