Integral fasteners for an energy absorber of a vehicular bumper assembly

Claim 2

A vehicular bumper assembly comprising: (a) impact beam means having first and second horizontal walls joined by a front vertical wall, the vertical wall including an inwardly projecting channel having a depth substantially equal to a width of at least one of the first and second horizontal walls, the channel including at least one opening; and (b) energy absorber means having a latticework of intersecting vertical and horizontal walls forming a plurality of resilient cells adapted to buckle when impacted to dissipate energy and at least one mounting tower, integrally formed on the latticework, having a resilient tab received in the channel opening to removably attach the energy absorber means to the impact beam means.

Claim 3

The bumper assembly specified in claim 1 wherein an outline of the mounting tower is complementary to a cross section of the channel.

Claim 4

The bumper assembly specified in claim 1 wherein: (a) the channel is formed by first and second horizontal walls and a rear vertical wall, and the opening is provided in a horizontal wall; and (b) the mounting tower is formed by first and second horizontal walls and a vertical wall, and the tab is provided on a horizontal wall.

Claim 5

The bumper assembly specified in claim 1 including rearwardly projecting extensions integrally formed on the latticework adjacent the mounting tower.

Claim 6

The bumper assembly specified in claim 1 including a fascia fitted over the energy absorber means.

Claim 7

An automotive energy absorbing bumper assembly comprising: (a) an impact beam having first and second horizontal walls joined by a front vertical wall, and an inwardly projecting channel in the front vertical wall having a depth substantially equal to a width of at least one of the first and second horizontal walls, the channel formed by third and fourth horizontal walls and a rear vertical wall; (b) a plurality of openings in the third and fourth horizontal walls; (c) an energy absorber having a latticework of intersecting vertical and horizontal walls forming a plurality of resilient cells adapted to buckle when impacted to dissipate energy and a plurality of mounting towers, integrally formed on the latticework, projecting rearwardly and received in the channel; and (d) resilient tab means formed on the mounting towers complementary to and received in the openings of the third and fourth horizontal walls.

Claim 8

An automotive energy absorbing bumper assembly comprising: (a) an impact beam having first and second horizontal walls joined by a front vertical wall, and an inwardly projecting channel in the front vertical wall having a depth substantially equal to a width of at least one of the first and second horizontal walls, the channel formed by third and fourth horizontal walls and a rear vertical wall; (b) a plurality of openings in the third and fourth horizontal walls; (c) an energy absorber having a latticework of intersecting vertical and horizontal walls forming a plurality of resilient cells adapted to buckle when impacted to dissipate energy and a plurality of mounting towers, integrally formed on the latticework, projecting rearwardly and received in the channel; and (d) resilient tab means formed on the mounting towers complementary to and received in the openings of the third and fourth horizontal walls.

Claim 9

The bumper assembly specified in claim 6 including fascia fitted over the energy absorber.