FR2758779A1 - ASSEMBLY FORMING BUMPER FOR VEHICLE - Google Patents

Abstract

The present invention relates to an assembly (1) forming a vehicle bumper, and a vehicle comprising such an assembly, having an upper part (5) having a front impact face (7) and a lower part (6) having a stopper (8). The parts (5, 6) can be mutually moved horizontally and are connected by a pivoting link (9), so that in response to the impact of a body on the face (7) moving the upper part (5) towards rear, the lower part (6) moves forward so that the stopper (8) is in front of the face (7). Then, there is a guide line (20) of the impacted body in an upward and rearward throwing movement on the hood (4) of the vehicle. Alternatively, the bumper parts (5, 6) form a unified structure. Use on vehicles to minimize injury to pedestrians in the event of a collision.

Description

The present invention relates to a

  vehicle bumper, and a vehicle that involves

  such a set. The present invention relates principally to

  motor vehicles of the automotive type

  seems to form bumper is arranged at the front of the vehicle

  or is intended to be arranged at the front of the vehicle.

  Bumper assemblies are mainly

  intended to prevent deterioration of the body

  series of the vehicle in response to an impact and as

  such equip generally the front part of the vehicle.

  Consequently, in the event of a collision between the

  and a pedestrian, it is usually the pedestrian's leg or the lower part of the pedestrian's body that is first struck by the vehicle's bumper, and even with the modern bumper

  relatively elastic and low-viscosity plastic

  the pedestrian can suffer a serious injury, resulting in

  so often because the pedestrian is projected on the ground below the bumper assembly of the vehicle moving. It is an object of the present invention to create a vehicle bumper assembly and a

  vehicle with such an assembly, allowing the

  the probability of injury to a pedestrian

  the bumper assembly of the vehicle in motion.

is lying.

  According to the present invention, it is created a

  seems to form a vehicle bumper with a

  bumper upper section having an impact face di-

  forward and a lower bumper portion having a bumper directed forwardly, said bumper portions being movably mounted so that in response to a rearward impact applied by a body on said forward facing face causing said upper bumper portion to be moved rearward, said lower portion of

  bumper is consequently moved in a direction

  forward towards an impact position in which the bumper is disposed towards the front of said

  impact face so that the impact face and the di-

  place said body upwards and

  top of the bumper assembly.

  The present invention also consists of a

  hicle which comprises a bumper assembly such

  as indicated in the immediately preceding paragraph.

  It can not be avoided that when a vehicle with

  moving a car collides with a pedestrian, a personal injury may result. The majority of vehicle and pedestrian collisions occur at the front of the vehicle and the purpose of the bumper assembly according to the present invention is that the impact of the pedestrian on the assembly results in the overall adopts a state in which he pushes the pedestrian

  upwards and backwards over himself

  the relative movement between the vehicle and the pedestrian.

  The usual cars have a hood or bonnet

  pedestrians can be projected after a

  pact with the vehicle. It is considered that a pedestrian

  thrown on the bonnet or bonnet of a vehicle as a result of a collision with that vehicle is likely to suffer less serious injury than a pedestrian on which the vehicle passes after the collision. The bumper assembly of the present invention increases the likelihood for a pedestrian to be projected onto the hood

  or engine bonnet, thereby reducing the likelihood

  that the pedestrian suffers serious injuries.

  Preferably, the buffer of the lower part

  bumper is placed rearward of the impact face of the bumper upper part in the normal state of the bumper assembly (ie the front state). an impact). This ensures that during a collision between the bumper assembly and a pedestrian, the pedestrian will first strike the face.

  impact of the upper bumper.

  The lower part of the bumper can be mounted so that it can move relative to the upper part of the bumper, the bumper parts being connected to one another by displacement means. The displacement means is provided to react in response to the impact on the bumper upper portion to consecutively cause movement of the lower bumper portion in a forward direction relative to the top portion of the bumper shocks for positioning the buffer towards the front of the impact face. The displacement means preferably comprise a mechanical connection such as pivoting levers extending between the bumper parts. The

  means of travel may also include provisions

  hydraulic or pneumatic or electrical systems or

  such as bags or hydraulic cylinders reacting between the two bumper parts or

  electromagnets causing the displacement of the

  bumper in response to detectors detecting

  both an impact on the upper part of bumper.

  When the upper and lower bumper parts can be moved relative to one another

  the other (and possibly in relation to the chassis of the

  hitch), preventing means can be arranged between these parts to prevent relative movement

  mentioned above until a pre-force of impact

  determined on the forward impact face is

  exceeded. The means of prevention are provided by

  Conveniently by points or points of point or spot welds or other forms of attachment or pins or shear pins between the upper and lower portions of the bumper, means which are intended to be sheared or broken when the

  predetermined force mentioned above is exceeded.

  As an alternative to the upper and lower bumper portions that are movable relative to each other, these bumper portions may constitute a unified structure that is pivotally mounted

  or able to move differently on the vehicle

  so that a displacement of the unified structure (for example by rotation of this structure around a

  pivoting assembly) in response to the impact on the face of im-

  pact causes the displacement of the upper part of

  bumper in a backward direction and the displacement

  Required cementation of the lower part of the bumper in the forward direction. When the upper parts

  and lower bumper have a unique structure

  If the bumper assembly is located at the front of a vehicle, it may be advantageous for the headlights existing at the front of the vehicle to be supported by the unified structure. Such headlights can then be moved with the unified structure in response to an impact to ensure that they are not likely to interfere with the movement of a pedestrian up and back over the assembly forming a barrier. and on the bonnet or bonnet the vehicle is

provided.

  Embodiments of a vehicle bumper assembly and a vehicle having such an assembly will now be described, by way of example

  only, with reference to the accompanying drawings, on the

what:

  FIG. 1 is a perspective view

  sensing part of the front end of an automobile on which the bumper assembly is arranged, - Figure 2 is a side end view of the bumper assembly of the vehicle of Figure 1,

  FIG. 3 is a view similar to that

  shown in FIG. 2 and schematically represents a first embodiment of the bumper assembly before an impact, FIG. 4 shows the bumper assembly of FIG. 3 after an impact,

  FIG. 5 is a view from above of the assembly

  shown in FIG. 4, FIG. 6 represents a modification of FIG.

  the whole of FIG. 3, in which means of

  are designed to prevent the relocation of

  between the top and bottom bumper parts

top of the set,

  - Figure 7 schematically represents a se-

  cond embodiment of assembly forming bumper,

  in a lateral view similar to that shown in the

  gure 3 (including a front part of the vehicle) and before an impact,

  FIG. 8 is a similar view of the assembly

  shown in Figure 7 and represents schematic

  movement of the bumper assembly in response to an impact, and - Figure 9 shows a modification of

  the arrangement shown in FIG. 8.

  The vehicle to which the assembly 1 forming

  bumper is suitable and the front end of which is

  shown in Figure 1 is a usual automobile having headlights 2, wheels 3 in contact with the

ground and a bonnet or hood 4.

  The assembly 1 forming the front bumper is of the type known as "wrapping" in that it extends across the front of the vehicle and partly in

  away from the front side wings of the vehicle

  and has a bumper upper portion 5

  and a lower part of the bumper 6. The upper part

  bumper 5 has an impact face 7 directed towards the front and the lower part of the bumper 6 has a bu-

toir 8 directed forward.

  In the embodiment shown in Figures 3 to 5, the upper and lower bumper parts 5 and 6 are separate components which are

  capable of being moved horizontally and in a

  towards the front / rear of the vehicle, relative to each other, and with respect to a frame or frame

  of the vehicle. The bumper parts 5 and 6 are

  connected by an articulated mechanical link

  comprising a lever 10 which is pivotally mounted

  aunt on a bar of the chassis 11 of the vehicle to extend between the upper bumper portion 5 and the lower bumper portion 6 to which it is

  pivotally connected via articu-

  sections 12 and 13, respectively. The

  top bumper 5 is supported on the chassis

  sis of the vehicle by sliding fingers indicated at the reference numeral 15 (see Figure 3) which allow the upper part of the bumper 5 to be moved horizontally relative to the frame and the frame bar 11 while the lower part of bumper 6 is supported by the upper part of

bumper 5.

  When an impact is applied in the direction of the arrow 16 (see Figure 3) against the impact face 7

  directed forward, with sufficient force to

  the bumper upper part 5 to be moved rearwardly and horizontally relative to the chassis and to the bar 11 of the vehicle (by sliding on the

  sliding axes 15), the lever 10 is pivoted

  around the chassis bar 11 in the direction of the

  guilles of a watch as shown in Figure 3. In

  Consequently, the lower part of the bumper 6 is de-

  placed towards the front of the vehicle while sliding

  zontal with respect to the upper part of

bumper 5.

  It can be seen in FIG. 3 that initially (in its normal state) the assembly 1 forming the bumper has its stopper 8 situated slightly towards the rear of its face.

  of impact 7 so that the impact face 7 is susceptible

  first to meet a pedestrian or other body

  which is struck by the vehicle's bumper assembly

  when moving forward. However, after

  the displacement of the bumper parts 5 and 6 as a result of

  of an impact, the bumper 8 was moved to be po-

  positioned forward of the impact face 7 as shown

  4. The relative displacement that is caused between the upper and lower bumper parts 5 and 6 is determined by the mechanical advantage.

  offered by the lever system 9 while the articula-

  12 and 13 pivoting movements allow parallel disposition to be maintained during relative horizontal movement between upper and lower bumper portions 5 and 6. Typically, the lower bumper portion 6 moves on rails. or tracks (not shown) of the upper part during a relative horizontal displacement between these

  parts and these rails and sliders serve in a com-

  mode to support and retain the lower bumper portion below the upper bumper. In FIG. 4, it can be seen that when the lower part of the bumper 6 moves towards the front of the vehicle after the impact of a body on the face 7, it is possible for the bumper 8 to come into contact with the

  body (such as a pedestrian) that struck the whole 1

  bumper mantle. As a consequence of the impact of the body, the

  bumper 8 is moved to be in front of the face of im-

  pact 7 so as to impose on the body a force directed upwards and backwards which causes it to move

  in the direction indicated generally by the

  20 (see Figure 4) and up to the hood or

  pot-motor 4 of the vehicle. In fact, therefore, a guide is provided by the bumper assembly along the line 20 to direct a pedestrian, which has been struck by the bumper assembly, upwardly onto the hood of the bumper assembly. vehicle moving forward

  o, it is considered, the pedestrian is likely to suffer

  frizz less wounds than when projected towards

down and go under the vehicle.

  Although in Figure 4 the upper parts

  and lower bumper can move from

  sliding relative to each other and

  to the chassis portion 11 of the vehicle, it is preferred that this movement be cushioned or prevented so that it is triggered only when the load 16 exceeds a force

  predetermined. This impediment is provided in a com-

  mode by pins or shear pins or very light spot welds, indicated at numeral 21 in Figure 6, which extend between the upper and lower bumper parts and 6. These pins or welds are intended to break to allow the required movement of the parts

  of bumpers in response to a predetermined impact force

born on the face 7.

  Conveniently, the upper and lower bumper portions 5 and 6 are molded plastics. In the second embodiment shown in Fig. 7, the bumper assembly has a shape similar to that shown in Fig. 3 and has upper and lower portions of

  bumper 5 and 6, but in this second embodiment

  the bumper parts are unified, conveniently formed into a mold

  unique plastic material to present the face of im-

  pact 7 and the stopper 8 which is located below this impact face and substantially in vertical alignment therewith. The one-piece bumper having both

  parts of the bumper is mounted on the chassis of the vehicle

  to move along an arcuate track indicated at numeral 30 in Fig. 7, in response to an impact on impact face 7 in advance. When an impact is applied on the face

  7 and during a displacement of the unified structure

  5 and 6 along the track, this unified structure effectively rotates to the position shown in FIG. 8 on which the impact face is moved towards the rear of the vehicle moving towards the 'before, so the bumper 8 gets

  forward of the impact face 7. As a result,

  the bumper assembly provides guidance along the line 20 (see FIG. 8) again for the pedestrian (or other body) that has been struck so that the

  pedestrian moves up and down to-

  top of the assembly 1 forming bumper up to the

bonnet 4.

  In the vehicle design shown on

  1, the headlights 2 are located adjacent to the

  seems i forming bumper and above it.

  In the embodiments previously described and variants, the headlights 2 are separate components of the bumper assembly so that the parts of

  bumpers move relative to the headlights 2. Cepen-

  In the second embodiment shown in FIG. 7, the headlamps 2 may be supported by the bumper upper portion 5 to be included in the one-piece structure of the bumper assembly. This is particularly convenient in that it allows the unified structure of the bumper assembly to rotate about a pivot 31 on the chassis (see FIGS. 7 and 9) rather than sliding along the track 30 When the impact face 7 strikes a pedestrian, the unified structure of the forming assembly

  bumper (including the headlights 2) runs around the

  31 as shown in Figure 9 to a position in which it has a guide along the line

  so that the pedestrian is directed upwards and

  on top of the bumper assembly on the chassis

  pot 4. The bumper assembly being in its

  rotated post-impact position as shown in the figure

  9, we can see that the headlights 2 move in

  out of their seats in the body structure of the vehicle to be sure that these headlights do not hinder the movement of the body struck along the line 20 to

on the hood of the vehicle.

Claims (14)

  1. Vehicle bumper assembly assembly,   characterized by the fact that it contains a su-   upper bumper (5) having a forwardly facing impact face (7) and a lower bumper portion (6) having a forward bumper (8), and said bumper portions (6) -bugs are mounted so that they can move so that in response to a rearward impact applied by a body to said   face (7) directed towards the front, bringing said upper part   bumper to be moved to the rear, the-   said lower part of bumper is accordingly   moved in a forward direction towards a posi-   wherein the bumper (8) is disposed forwardly of said impact face (7) so that the impact face and the bumper direct said body upwardly and rearwardly above of the bumper assembly.   2. Bumper assembly according to the invention   1, characterized in that the bumper (8) of the   lower part of the bumper (6) is arranged in   of the impact face (7) before said impact.   3. Bumper assembly according to the invention   1 or 2, characterized in that the lower part   bumper (6) is mounted so that it can move relative to the upper part of the   bumper (5), said bumper parts being   connected by means of displacement (9) which   react in response to said impact to cause a   consecutive placement of the lower part of   bumper in the forward direction relative to the upper bumper.   4. Bumper assembly according to the invention   3, characterized in that the moving means   (9) are at least one of a mechanical link   or a pneumatic device or hydraulic system than or electric.   5. Bumper assembly according to the invention   3 or 4, characterized in that means for preventing   (21) are arranged between the relatively movable bumper portions to prevent displacement of the lower bumper portion relative to the upper bumper portion until a force predetermined impact applied to the face   forward impact, is exceeded.   6. Bumper assembly according to the invention   5, characterized in that the means for preventing   (21) include spot welds, collars   or shear pins, arranged between the   parts of the bumper, which are intended to be   protruding or broken when said predetermined force is exceeded. 7. Bumper assembly according to one   any of claims 3 to 6, characterized in that   that during said relative movement between the   bumper (6) and the bumper upper part (5), said parts are held in a   virtually parallel layout.   8. Bumper assembly according to the invention   7, characterized in that the lower part of   bumper (6) is supported below the upper part   bumper (5) with rails and sliders   who cooperate between these parties and allow the relative importance required.   Bumper assembly according to claim 1   or 2, characterized in that the upper and lower parts   bumper (5, 6) constitute a structure   unified, which structure is mounted in a   cable so that its displacement in response to the impact on the impact face (7) causes a displacement of the upper part of bumpers in a direction towards   the rear to position the bumper (8) of the part ln-   front bumper to the front of the impact face.   10. Bumper assembly according to the invention   9, characterized in that the unified structure   (5, 6) is pivotally mounted so that   This structure around its pivot causes the upper and lower parts of the bumper to move. 11. Vehicle, characterized in that it comprises a bumper assembly according to any one of preceding claims.   Vehicle according to claim 11, characterized   characterized in that the bumper assembly is located   at the front end of the vehicle.   Vehicle according to claim 12,   both a hood or bonnet (4), characterized in that in said impact position the body is directed by the assembly (1) forming bumpers upwards and backwards above the assembly forming bumper and   to the hood or engine hood.   14. Vehicle according to claim 12 or 13 taken in combination with claim 9, characterized in that it comprises headlights (2) supported by   the unified structure (5, 6) consisting of the upper parts   upper and lower bumpers so that   res can be moved with this structure in response to the impact.