GB1562254A - Bumpers for motor vehicles - Google Patents

Abstract

The bumper consists of the assembly of a rigid plate (2) and a profiled section (3) made of elastomer material, which are joined together by vulcanisation. The profiled section made of elastomer material has at any section normal to its development a plurality of ribs, some of which are normal (6A) and some of which are inclined (8A, 8B) relative to the surface of joining of the profiled section with the plate, these ribs being intersected with one another. This bumper withstands higher impact loads than those which only have ribs which are perpendicular to the surface of joining between the profiled section and plate. <IMAGE>

Description

(54) BUMPERS FOR MOTOR VEHICLES (71) We, INDUSTRIE PIRELLI SPA, an Italian Company of Centro Pirelli, Piazza Duca d'Aosta No. 3, 20100 Milan, Italy, do hereby declare the invention, for which we pray that a patent may be granted to us, and the method by which it is to be performed, to be particularly described in and by the following statement:- This invention relates to a bumper for motor vehicles which comprises a rigid plate to which an elongate, non-solid element of an elastomeric material is bonded by vulcanization.

Bumpers are known in which the elongate, non-solid element has, in a section perpendicular to its greater dimension, a plurality of ribs which extend perpendicular to the abutting surfaces of the said element and the rigid plate.

Although these known bumpers are light in weight their resistance to impact is inadequate to protect the vehicles to which they are attached from damage, even at the relatively low speeds associated with parking of the vehicles.

The object of the present invention is to provide a bumper for motor vehicles, of the type comprising a rigid plate and an elongate, non-solid element of elastomeric material, which has the lightness in weight of the known bumpers and the advantage of being able to withstand impact to a high degree.

Thus, the present invention provides a bumper for motor vehicles, the bumper comprising a rigidplate to which an elongate, non-solid element of an elastomeric material is bonded by vulcanization, m which the interior of the element, when viewed in any section taken perpendicular to its greater dimension, has a plurality of intersecting ribs extending over that section, some of the ribs being perpendicular to, and the remainder of the ribs being inclined at an angle to, the abutting surfaces of the said element and the said rigid plate.

Preferably, the ribs are continuous and extend over the whole of the greater dimension of the element.

Preferably, the rigid plate is made of a metal, e.g. steel, and may be provided with means for attaching the bumper to a motor vehicle.

The present invention will be described hereinbelow merely by way of example and with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure 1 is a perspective view of a bumper according to the present invention attached to a motor vehicle; Figure 2 is a section on line II--II of Figure 1.

The bumper 1 comprises a rigid plate 2 (made, for example, of steel), and an elongate, non-solid element 3 of an elastomeric material, the plate and the element being bonded together by vulcanization.

The plate 2 is provided with means (not shown) for the attachment of the bumper to a motor vehicle 4.

As shown In Figure 2, the element 3 has a honeycomb structure comprising a plurality of continuous cavities 5 extending parallel to the greater dimension of the element and being defined by a plurality of ribs. Some of the ribs (6A, 6B, 6C) extend perpendicular to the abutting surface 7 of the element 3 and the plate 2 and the remainder of the ribs (8A, 8B, 8C, 9A, 9B, 9C) are inclined at an angle to the surface 7.

The intersecting ribs are continuous and extend over the whole of the greater dimension of the element.

The elongate, non-solid element of a bumper according to the present invention may be made by extrusion and the rigid plate subsequently attached thereto.

Alternatively, the extrusion may comprise the elongate, non-solid element and a metallic insert, the material of the elongate element being subsequently vulcanised.

We have found that a bumper according to the present invention is as light as known bumpers of a similar type. Moreover, the arrangement of the ribs, and the fact that they intersect, allows the bumper to withstand high impact loads, irrespective of the directon of the impact.

Since all the ribs intersect, the flexible length of each rib is small. Thus, individual ribs are able to withstand very high bending stresses and consequently the bumper is able to absorb high impacts.

WHAT WE CLAIM IS: 1. A bumper for motor vehicles, the bumper comprising a rigid plate to which an elongate, non-solid element of an elastomeric material is bonded by vulcanization, in which the interior of the element, when viewed in any section taken perpendicular to its greater dimension, has a plurality of intersecting ribs extending over that section, some of the ribs being perpendicular to, and the remainder of the ribs being inclined at an angle to, the abutting surfaces of the said element and the said rigid plate.

2. A bumper according to claim 1, in which the ribs are continuous and extend over the whole of the greater dimension of the elongate, non-solid element.

3. A bumper according to claim 1 or 2, in which the rigid plate is made of a metal.

4. A bumper according to claim 3, in which the rigid plate is made of steel.

5. A bumper according to any one of the preceding claims, in which the rigid plate is provided with means for attaching the bumper to a motor vehicle.

6. A bumper for motor vehicles, substantially as hereinbefore described, with reference to and as illustrated in the accompanying drawings.

**WARNING** end of DESC field may overlap start of CLMS **.

Claims (6)

**WARNING** start of CLMS field may overlap end of DESC **. the directon of the impact. Since all the ribs intersect, the flexible length of each rib is small. Thus, individual ribs are able to withstand very high bending stresses and consequently the bumper is able to absorb high impacts. WHAT WE CLAIM IS:

1. A bumper for motor vehicles, the bumper comprising a rigid plate to which an elongate, non-solid element of an elastomeric material is bonded by vulcanization, in which the interior of the element, when viewed in any section taken perpendicular to its greater dimension, has a plurality of intersecting ribs extending over that section, some of the ribs being perpendicular to, and the remainder of the ribs being inclined at an angle to, the abutting surfaces of the said element and the said rigid plate.

2. A bumper according to claim 1, in which the ribs are continuous and extend over the whole of the greater dimension of the elongate, non-solid element.

3. A bumper according to claim 1 or 2, in which the rigid plate is made of a metal.

4. A bumper according to claim 3, in which the rigid plate is made of steel.

5. A bumper according to any one of the preceding claims, in which the rigid plate is provided with means for attaching the bumper to a motor vehicle.

6. A bumper for motor vehicles, substantially as hereinbefore described, with reference to and as illustrated in the accompanying drawings.