US4397490A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Low profile bumper
Assignee: Ford Motor Co
•
Filing: 1981-05-04
•
Granted: 1983-08-09
•
Expires: 2001-05-04
Abstract
Abstract A vehicle bumper that incorporates a "C" section face bar attached to a truss-formed backplate to achieve a box section construction. The face bar, although a conventional "C" section, has more nearly horizontal upper and lower shelves combined with a reduced frontal face height to offer, when further combined with the backplate, a nearly square box beam. Functional height is extended beyond the beam section with a plurality of strategically located underride stops drawn from the lower shelf. These stops provide low pendulum impact performance at minimal weight while facilitating forming of the bumper beam ends. The stops preferably are concealed with a flexible shield which provides conventional appearance in addition to opportunities of cost, weight, airflow and model appearance differentiation when replacing separate air deflectors and sight shields. The bumper assembly configuration provides a highly weight efficient section modulus, improved torsional stiffness and improved dent resistance. Additional dent resistance preferably is provided in the center area with an internal reinforcing doubler plate.
Inventors
- 👤 William J. Evans
- 👤 Charles Haddad
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-09 08:39
CPC Classifications
B; B60; B60R; B60R19/00; B60R19/02
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 11
Claim 1
Independent Claim
97 words
A vehicle bumper having a "C" section face bar attached to a truss-formed backplate; the face bar having substantially horizontal upper and lower shelves of a width slightly in excess of the frontal face height of the face bar and of the backplate to form a substantially square box beam; wherein the improvement comprises: a plurality of underride stops drawn from the lower shelf and extending substantially along the entire width thereof to vertically extend the impact functional height of the box beam; the stops providing low pendulum impact performance at minimal weight addition to the bumper.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
97 words
A vehicle bumper having a "C" section face bar attached to a truss-formed backplate; the face bar having substantially horizontal upper and lower shelves of a width slightly in excess of the frontal face height of the face bar and of the backplate to form a substantially square box beam; wherein the improvement comprises: a plurality of underride stops drawn from the lower shelf and extending substantially along the entire width thereof to vertically extend the impact functional height of the box beam; the stops providing low pendulum impact performance at minimal weight addition to the bumper.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
26 words
A vehicle bumper according to claim 1, in which: an internal reinforcing doubler plate provides high dent resistance in the center frontal area of the bumper.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
149 words
A vehicle bumper adapted to be supported on support struts mounted on a vehicle, comprising: an elongated face bar of generally C-shaped cross-section having a substantially vertical face panel and substantially horizontal upper and lower shelves; a backplate on which the face bar is mounted; the face panel, the upper and lower shelves and the backplate forming a substantially square box beam; the backplate having longitudinally spaced support strut attachment pads thereon; a plurality of longitudinally spaced underride stops depending from the lower shelf to increase the functional height of the bumper; an internal reinforcing doubler plate located within the bumper longitudinally between the attachment pads in abutting relation to the interior side of the face panel, extending essentially entirely between the upper and lower shelves of the face bar; and an elongated flexible shield fastened to and extending the length of the face bar concealing the underride stops.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
149 words
A vehicle bumper adapted to be supported on support struts mounted on a vehicle, comprising: an elongated face bar of generally C-shaped cross-section having a substantially vertical face panel and substantially horizontal upper and lower shelves; a backplate on which the face bar is mounted; the face panel, the upper and lower shelves and the backplate forming a substantially square box beam; the backplate having longitudinally spaced support strut attachment pads thereon; a plurality of longitudinally spaced underride stops depending from the lower shelf to increase the functional height of the bumper; an internal reinforcing doubler plate located within the bumper longitudinally between the attachment pads in abutting relation to the interior side of the face panel, extending essentially entirely between the upper and lower shelves of the face bar; and an elongated flexible shield fastened to and extending the length of the face bar concealing the underride stops.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
49 words
A vehicle bumper according to claim 3, in which: the doubler plate is C-shaped and complementarily fits within the C-shaped face bar at the center area of the latter between the support strut attachment pads; and the doubler plate is fastened to the face bar upper and lower shelves.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
30 words
A vehicle bumper according to claim 3 or 4, in which: the backplate comprises an elongated truss providing increased beam strength and torsional stiffness to the bumper structure box beam.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
45 words
A vehicle bumper according to claim 5, in which: spacer means of limited deformability mounted within the box beam on the reverse side of the support strut attachments extend into abutting relation to the inner surface of the vertical face panel of the face bar.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
47 words
A vehicle bumper according to claim 3 or 4 in which: spacer means of limited deformability mounted within the box beam on the reverse side of the support strut attachments extend into abutting relation to the inner surface of the vertical face panel of the face bar.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
66 words
A vehicle bumper according to claim 3, in which: a minimum of four underride stops with two being equally spaced outwardly of the center of the bumper and another two being located one at each corner extremity of the bumper prevent underride of the federal test pendulum in any position of the same within the permitted horizontal displacement of the pendulum relative to the bumper center.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
31 words
A vehicle bumper according to claim 8, in which: the corner underride stops are constructed and arranged to accommodate a test pendulum impact angle of 30° to the vehicle center line.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US2329874A
Cited
US3655231A
Cited
US3856344A
Cited
US3827740A
Cited
DE2255277A1
Cited
US3883168A
Cited
US3884516A
Cited
US4029350A
Cited
US4045075A
Cited
US4186915A
Cited
US4252355A
Cited
US4348042A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1986-08-08 | 1987-02-07 | 1987-08-09 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1990-08-08 | 1991-02-07 | 1991-08-09 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1994-08-08 | 1995-02-07 | 1995-08-09 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |