← Back to Patent Explorer
US4998761A Expired / Lapsed US ⏱️ 0.0 years remaining

Reinforced impact bar for a bumper assembly

Assignee: Motors Liquidation Co
•
Filing: 1990-04-02
•
Granted: 1991-03-12
•
Expires: 2010-04-02
📄 Original PDF 🌐 Google Patents 🔄 Sync Now

Abstract

Abstract A bumper assembly for a vehicle includes an elongated impact bar mounted on the vehicle having inner and outer surfaces. A rib, integrally formed at a central portion of the impact bar, projects outwardly from the outer surface and extends a substantial portion of the length of the impact bar. A reinforcing member is mounted on the outer surface of the impact bar and covers a substantial portion of the length of the rib. An energy-absorbing medium is mounted on the outer surface of the impact bar and covers a substantial portion of the lengths of the reinforcing member and the ribs. A fascia is attached to the vehicle and covers the energy-absorbing medium.

Inventors

  • 👤 Dean M. Bayer
  • 👤 Curtis H. Harris
  • 👤 Bradley A. Jones

Bibliographic Details

Application Number —
Jurisdiction US
Data Source google_patents
Last Synchronized 2026-11-09 08:56
CPC Classifications
B; B60; B60R; B60R19/00; B60R19/02; B60R19/18; B60R2019/1806; B60R2019/1813; B60R2019/1833; B60R2019/1846

Claims Analysis

Total Claims: 7
Claim 1
Independent Claim 124 words
A bumper assembly for a vehicle, comprising: (a) an elongated impact bar having (i) an inner surface facing a vehicle, (ii) an outer surface facing opposite the vehicle, and (iii) a rib, integrally formed at a central portion of the impact bar, projecting outwardly from the outer surface and extending a substantial portion of the length of the impact bar; (b) a reinforcing member mounted on the outer surface of the impact bar and covering a substantial portion of the length of the rib; (c) energy-absorbing means mounted on the outer surface of the impact bar and covering a substantial portion of the lengths of the reinforcing member and the rib; and (d) fascia means attached to the vehicle and covering the energy-absorbing means.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim 124 words
A bumper assembly for a vehicle, comprising: (a) an elongated impact bar having (i) an inner surface facing a vehicle, (ii) an outer surface facing opposite the vehicle, and (iii) a rib, integrally formed at a central portion of the impact bar, projecting outwardly from the outer surface and extending a substantial portion of the length of the impact bar; (b) a reinforcing member mounted on the outer surface of the impact bar and covering a substantial portion of the length of the rib; (c) energy-absorbing means mounted on the outer surface of the impact bar and covering a substantial portion of the lengths of the reinforcing member and the rib; and (d) fascia means attached to the vehicle and covering the energy-absorbing means.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim 18 words
The vehicle bumper assembly as specified in claim 1 wherein the energy-absorbing means comprises a multi-sectioned cellular unit.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim 75 words
A bumper assembly comprising: (a) an elongated impact bar formed from an impact-resistant material having an inner surface and an outer surface; (b) rib means, integrally formed on the impact bar, projecting outwardly from the outer surface and extending a substantial portion of the length of the impact bar; and (c) impact-resistant reinforcing means mounted on the outer surface of the impact bar and covering a substantial portion of the length of the rib means.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim 75 words
A bumper assembly comprising: (a) an elongated impact bar formed from an impact-resistant material having an inner surface and an outer surface; (b) rib means, integrally formed on the impact bar, projecting outwardly from the outer surface and extending a substantial portion of the length of the impact bar; and (c) impact-resistant reinforcing means mounted on the outer surface of the impact bar and covering a substantial portion of the length of the rib means.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim 35 words
The bumper assembly as specified in claim 3 including energy-absorbing means mounted on the outer surface of the impact bar and covering a substantial portion of the lengths of the reinforcing means and rib means.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim 21 words
The bumper assembly as specified in claim 4 including fascia means attached to the impact bar and covering the energy-absorbing means.

References Cited (Backward Citations)

US3493257A Cited
US3891258A Cited
US3884516A Cited
US3938841A Cited
US4111478A Cited
US4106804A Cited
US4090728A Cited
US4328986A Cited
US4325574A Cited
US4275912A Cited
US4348042A Cited
US4457547A Cited
US4762352A Cited

USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows

Annuity Stage Window Opens Payment Deadline Surcharge Period Until Estimated Fee Status
3.5 Years (Year 4) 1994-03-11 1994-09-10 1995-03-12 $2000.00 Window Closed / Lapsed
7.5 Years (Year 8) 1998-03-11 1998-09-10 1999-03-12 $3760.00 Window Closed / Lapsed
11.5 Years (Year 12) 2002-03-11 2002-09-10 2003-03-12 $7700.00 Window Closed / Lapsed

Assigned Categories & Tags

No categories assigned to this patent yet.

Assign Category Tag