Energy absorbing bumper guard

Claim 2

An energy absorbing device for a vehicle bumper comprising telescopically associated inner and outer members, said inner member having an end disposed in said outer member and said members being relatively reciprocable between extended and collapsed dispositions in which said end of said inner member is disposed respectively in first and second positions relative to said outer member, and compressible cellular material in said outer member in the area between said first and second positions, at least a portion of said end of said inner member and a portion of the inner surface of said outer member being relatively dimensioned transversely of the direction of reciprocation so that said end and inner surface portions are radially spaced for a portion of said cellular material to exude therebetween during movement of said end from said first toward second position, and lining means between said inner surface and cellular material to prevent adherence of said cellular material to said inner surface.

Claim 3

An energy absorbing device for a vehicle bumper comprising telescopically associated inner and outer members, said inner member having an end disposed in said outer member and said members being relatively reciprocable between extended and collapsed dispositions in which said end of said inner member is disposed respectively in first and second positions relative to said outer member, and compressible cellular material in said outer member in the area between said first and second positions, at least a portion of said end of said inner member and a portion of the inner surface of said outer member being relatively dimensioned transversely of the direction of reciprocation so that said end and inner surface portions are radially spaced for a portion of said cellular material to exude therebetween during movement of said end from said first toward second position, and lining means between said inner surface and cellular material to prevent adherence of said cellular material to said inner surface.

Claim 4

An energy absorbing device for a vehicle bumper comprising telescopically associated inner and outer members, said inner member having an end disposed in said outer member and said members being relatively reciprocable between extended and collapsed dispositions in which said end of said inner member is disposed respectively in first and second positions relative to said outer member, and compressible cellular material in said outer member in the area between said first and second positions, at least a portion of said end of said inner member and a portion of the inner surface of said outer member being relatively dimensioned transversely of the direction of reciprocation so that said end and inner surface portions are radially spaced for a portion of said cellular material to exude therebetween during movement of said end from said first toward second position, and lining means between said inner surface and cellular material to prevent adherence of said cellular material to said inner surface.

Claim 5

The energy absorbing device of claim 1, wherein another portion of said end of said inner member and another portion of said inner surface of said outer member are relatively dimensioned in a second direction transverse to the direction of reciprocation for said another portions to be in sliding engagement during movement of said end between said first and second positions.

Claim 6

An energy absorbing device for a vehicle bumper comprising telescopically associated inner and outer members, said inner member having an end disposed in said outer member and said members being relatively reciprocable between extended and collapsed dispositions in which said end of said inner member is disposed respectively in first and second positions relative to said outer member, compressible cellular material in said outer member in the area between said first and second positions, at least a portion of said end of said inner member and a portion of the inner surface of said outer member being relatively dimensioned transversely of the direction of reciprocation so that said end and inner surface portions are radially spaced for a portion of said cellular material to exude therebetween during movement of said end from said first toward second position, said outer member having an inner end contoured to mate with the contour of a vehicle bumper, means for mounting said outer member on a bumper, and stop means between said inner and outer members to limit relative movement therebetween in the direction toward the extended disposition thereof.

Claim 7

An energy absorbing device for a vehicle bumper comprising telescopically associated inner and outer members, said inner member having an end disposed in said outer member and said members being relatively reciprocable between extended and collapsed dispositions in which said end of said inner member is disposed respectively in first and second positions relative to said outer member, compressible cellular material in said outer member in the area between said first and second positions, at least a portion of said end of said inner member and a portion of the inner surface of said outer member being relatively dimensioned transversely of the direction of reciprocation so that said end and inner surface portions are radially spaced for a portion of said cellular material to exude therebetween during movement of said end from said first toward second position, said outer member having an inner end contoured to mate with the contour of a vehicle bumper, means for mounting said outer member on a bumper, and stop means between said inner and outer members to limit relative movement therebetween in the direction toward the extended disposition thereof.

Claim 8

The energy absorbing device of claim 3, wherein said inner member is cup-shaped and includes an end wall spaced outwardly from said end thereof, said inner member, outer member and vehicle bumper cooperatively defining a chamber, and said cellular material substantially completely filling said chamber.

Claim 9

The energy absorbing device of claim 4, wherein said stop means includes flange means extending radially inwardly of said inner surface of said outer member and cooperable flange means extending radially outwardly from said inner member.

Claim 10

The energy absorbing device of claim 5, wherein said inwardly extending flange means is integral with said outer member at said outer end thereof and said outwardly extending flange means is integral with said inner member at said end thereof.

Claim 11

The energy absorbing device of claim 4, and means between the inner surface of said outer member and said compressible cellular material to prevent adherance of said material to said inner surface.

Claim 12

The energy absorbing device of claim 4, wherein the portion of said chamber defined by said outer member progressively increases in transverse cross sectional area from said outer end of the outer member toward said inner end thereof.

Claim 13

The energy absorbing device of claim 8 and means lining the inner surface of said outer member to prevent adherence of said cellular material thereinto.

Claim 14

An energy absorbing device for a vehicle bumper comprising telescopically associated inner and outer members, said inner member having an end disposed in said outer member and said members being relatively reciprocable between extended and collapsed dispositions in which said end of said inner member is disposed respectively in first and second positions relative to said outer member, compressible cellular material in said outer member in the area between said first and second positions, at least a portion of said end of said inner member and a portion of the inner surface of said outer member being relatively dimensioned transversely of the direction of reciprocation so that said end and inner surface portions are radially spaced for a portion of said cellular material to exude therebetween during movement of said end from said first toward second position, said outer member having an inner end conToured to mate with the outer surface contour of a vehicle bumper, said inner member being cup-shaped and including an end wall spaced outwardly from said end thereof, said inner member, outer member and bumper surface cooperatively defining a chamber, said cellular material substantially filling said chamber, and means including strap means for mounting said outer member on a bumper, said strap means having ends connected to said outer member at substantially opposed positions about the periphery thereof and portions spaced from said ends for connection to the bumper.

Claim 15

An energy absorbing device for a vehicle bumper comprising telescopically associated inner and outer members, said inner member having an end disposed in said outer member and said members being relatively reciprocable between extended and collapsed dispositions in which said end of said inner member is disposed respectively in first and second positions relative to said outer member, compressible cellular material in said outer member in the area between said first and second positions, at least a portion of said end of said inner member and a portion of the inner surface of said outer member being relatively dimensioned transversely of the direction of reciprocation so that said end and inner surface portions are radially spaced for a portion of said cellular material to exude therebetween during movement of said end from said first toward second position, said outer member having an inner end conToured to mate with the outer surface contour of a vehicle bumper, said inner member being cup-shaped and including an end wall spaced outwardly from said end thereof, said inner member, outer member and bumper surface cooperatively defining a chamber, said cellular material substantially filling said chamber, and means including strap means for mounting said outer member on a bumper, said strap means having ends connected to said outer member at substantially opposed positions about the periphery thereof and portions spaced from said ends for connection to the bumper.

Claim 16

The energy absorbing device of claim 10, wherein said strap means includes at least one strap extending across said outer member between said opposed positions.

Claim 17

An energy absorbing device for a vehicle bumper comprising a tubular member having wall means and an open inner end contoured to mate with the outer surface contour of a vehicle bumper, an impact receiving member telescopically associated with said tubular member and having a wall generally transverse to the axis of said tubular member, said impact receiving member being axially reciprocable relative to said tubular member between a first position in which said wall is spaced from said bumper and a second position in which said wall is spaced from said first position in the direction toward said bumper, compressible cellular material filling the space between said wall and bumper surface and being generally uncompressed when said wall is in said first position and being compressed when said wall is in said second position, and means for mounting said tubular member on a vehicle bumper and restraining radially outward displacement of said wall means of the tubular member when said cellular material is compressed.

Claim 18

An energy absorbing device for a vehicle bumper comprising a tubular member having wall means and an open inner end contoured to mate with the outer surface contour of a vehicle bumper, an impact receiving member telescopically associated with said tubular member and having a wall generally transverse to the axis of said tubular member, said impact receiving member being axially reciprocable relative to said tubular member between a first position in which said wall is spaced from said bumper and a second position in which said wall is spaced from said first position in the direction toward said bumper, compressible cellular material filling the space between said wall and bumper surface and being generally uncompressed when said wall is in said first position and being compressed when said wall is in said second position, and means for mounting said tubular member on a vehicle bumper and restraining radially outward displacement of said wall means of the tubular member when said cellular material is compressed.

Claim 19

The energy absorbing device of claim 12, wherein said mounting and restraining means includes strap means having ends connected to said wall means at generally opposed locations and portions spaced from said ends for connection with the bumper.

Claim 20

The energy absorbing device of claim 13, wherein said strap means includes at least one strap member extending across said open inner end of said tubular member.

Claim 21

An energy absorbing device for a vehicle bumper comprising, a tubular shell mountable on a vehicle bumper and having an open outer end spaced from said bumper, a cup-shaped member having outer end wall means and side wall means extending from said end wall means and into said shell through said open outer end thereof, said member being displaceable relative to said shell toward and away from said bumper, said shell and said member having cooperable radially overlapping stop means thereon to limit movement of said member away from said bumper, and energy absorbing means between said bumper and said outer end wall means of said member to cushion movement of said member toward said bumper and bias said member away from said bumper.

Claim 22

An energy absorbing device for a vehicle bumper comprising, a tubular shell mountable on a vehicle bumper and having an open outer end spaced from said bumper, a cup-shaped member having outer end wall means and side wall means extending from said end wall means and into said shell through said open outer end thereof, said member being displaceable relative to said shell toward and away from said bumper, said shell and said member having cooperable radially overlapping stop means thereon to limit movement of said member away from said bumper, and energy absorbing means between said bumper and said outer end wall means of said member to cushion movement of said member toward said bumper and bias said member away from said bumper.

Claim 23

The energy absorbing device of claim 15, wherein said cup-shaped member, shell and bumper cooperatively define a chamber and said energy absorbing means is resilient compressible cellular material filling said chamber.

Claim 24

An energy absorbing device for a vehicle bumper comprising, a tubular shell mountable on a vehicle bumper and having an open outer end spaced from said bumper, a cup-shaped member having outer end wall means and side wall means extending from said end wall means and into said shell through said open outer end thereof, said member being displaceable relative to said shell toward and away from said bumper, said shell and said member having cooperable stop means to limit movement of said member away from said bumper, and energy absorbing means between said bumper and said outer end wall means of said member to cushion movement of said member toward said bumper and bias said member away from said bumper, said cooperable stop means including radially inwardly extending flange means at said open outer end of said shell and flange means extending radially outwardly from sAid side wall means of said member.

Claim 25

An energy absorbing device for a vehicle bumper comprising, a tubular shell mountable on a vehicle bumper and having an open outer end spaced from said bumper, a cup-shaped member having outer end wall means and side wall means extending from said end wall means and into said shell through said open outer end thereof, said member being displaceable relative to said shell toward and away from said bumper, said shell and said member having cooperable stop means to limit movement of said member away from said bumper, and energy absorbing means between said bumper and said outer end wall means of said member to cushion movement of said member toward said bumper and bias said member away from said bumper, said cooperable stop means including radially inwardly extending flange means at said open outer end of said shell and flange means extending radially outwardly from sAid side wall means of said member.

Claim 26

The energy absorbing device of claim 17, wherein said radially inwardly extending flange means is a peripherally continuous flange integral with said shell at the outer end thereof and said radially outwardly extending flange means is integral with said side wall means.

Claim 27

An energy absorbing device for a vehicle bumper comprising, a tubular shell mountable on a vehicle bumper and having an open outer end spaced from said bumper, a cup-shaped member having outer end wall means and side wall means extending from said end wall means and into said shell through said open outer end thereof, said member being displaceable relative to said shell toward and away from said bumper, said shell and said member having cooperable stop means to limit movement of said member away from said bumper, and energy absorbing means between said bumper and said outer end wall means of said member to cushion movement of said member toward said bumper and bias said member away from said bumper, said cup-shaped member, shell and bumper cooperatively defining a chamber, said energy absorbing means being resilient compressible cellular material filling said chamber, said cooperable stop means including radially inwardly, extending flange means at said open outer end of said shell and radially outwardly extending flange means on said side wall means of said member, said radially outwardly extending flange means being disposed in said shell for abutting engagement with said radially inwardly extending flange means when said member is biased away from said bumper.

Claim 28

An energy absorbing device for a vehicle bumper comprising, a tubular shell mountable on a vehicle bumper and having an open outer end spaced from said bumper, a cup-shaped member having outer end wall means and side wall means extending from said end wall means and into said shell through said open outer end thereof, said member being displaceable relative to said shell toward and away from said bumper, said shell and said member having cooperable stop means to limit movement of said member away from said bumper, and energy absorbing means between said bumper and said outer end wall means of said member to cushion movement of said member toward said bumper and bias said member away from said bumper, said cup-shaped member, shell and bumper cooperatively defining a chamber, said energy absorbing means being resilient compressible cellular material filling said chamber, said cooperable stop means including radially inwardly, extending flange means at said open outer end of said shell and radially outwardly extending flange means on said side wall means of said member, said radially outwardly extending flange means being disposed in said shell for abutting engagement with said radially inwardly extending flange means when said member is biased away from said bumper.

Claim 29

The energy absorbing device of claim 19, wherein said radially outwardly extending flange means of said member has a dimension transverse to the direction of movement of the metal member toward said bumper less than a transverse dimension of the shell at a location therealong spaced inwardly from said radially inwardly extending flange means thereof, whereby a portion of said compressible cellular material in said chamber is exuded between said shell and outwardly extending flange means of said member when said member is disposed in said location.