Bumper for Vehicles, Particularly Motor Vehicles

The invention pertains to a bumper for vehicles, in particular automobiles, with a beam and dampers which are secured to the beam by means of retention devices, each retention device being secured, on the one hand, to a vertical wall section of the beam and, on the other, to a respective damper by means of a bolt.

This type of bumper arrangement is known and disclosed, for example, in DE-AS (German Examined Application) No. 21 24 427. A disadvantage of this type of arrangement is that the bolt to connect the damper with the retention device must be secured at both ends by auxiliary attachment devices such as washers, cotter pins, etc., in order to prevent axial displacement. In addition, the installation of the attachment devices takes a relatively long time.

Another disadvantage is that the retention device between the damper and the beam makes contact only with the vertical wall section of the retention device at a parallel wall section of the beam; thus, when the bumper is compressed eccentrically, proper direction of force into the retention device, damper and structure is impaired.

A principal object of the invention is, therefore, to create a bumper with a beam, retention device and damper, that is simple to install and that the forces which arise at the bumper are properly directed via the support and the retention device into the damper.

In accordance with a preferred embodiment, this object is achieved by having the retention device feature guide sections which cooperate with the insides of flanges of the beam. Another feature is having the bolts held in position solely by the flanges of the beam and/or a check wall of the retention device.

The guide sections are located at flanges of the retention devices which form a hollow inner space designed as a receiver for the damper. The guide sections and the receivers of the damper, in one embodiment, are formed by separate flanges. The check wall is formed by a blind bore in one of the flanges.

A principal advantage of the present invention is that, because of the cooperation of the guide sections of the retention device and the flanges of the support, the stresses which arise at the bumper are directed efficiently via the beam and the retention device into the damper. In addition, because of the shape of the retention device and the beam, there is no need for additional attachment devices such as washers, cotter pins, etc., for the bolt since the bolt is held in position by either the flanges of the beam or a check wall of the retention device. This ensures simple installation of the damper of the retention device and the beam.

These and further objects, features and advantages of the present invention will become more obvious from the following description when taken in connection with the accompanying drawings which show, for purposes of illustration only, several embodiments in accordance with the present invention.

FIG. 1 shows a top view of a schematic bumper arrangement without covering.

FIG. 2 shows a section along the Line II--II in FIG. 1 on an enlarged scale.

FIG. 3 shows a section corresponding to another embodiment.

FIG. 4 shows a section in accordance with still another embodiment.

FIGS. 1 and 2 show a bumper 1, which comprises a covering 2, consisting of an elastic foam, and a beam 3 which is dimensionally stable and has considerable flexural strength. The beam 3 extends transverse to the longitudinal direction of the vehicle A--A and is supported by two dampers 4 mounted outside of the middle longitudinal plane of the vehicle; these dampers are secured at the body 5. The beam 3 has a vertical wall section 7.

Between each damper 4 and beam 3 is a retention device 6 which is secured, on the one hand, at a vertical wall section 7 of the beam 3 by means of detachable attachment devices (bolt and nut fasteners illustrated) 8 and, on the other hand, is connected with a respective damper 4 by means of a bolt 9. Retention device 6 has a vertical wall section 12 which cooperates with the vertical wall section 7 of the beam 3. Retention device 6 is secured to beam 3 (viewed in the transverse direction of the vehicle B--B) inside the two damper center lines 10, 11 (thus, the fastening nut of devices 8 is accessible internally of retention devices 6). As shown in FIG. 1, the retention device 6 has two hollow inner spaces, the sides of which act as a receiver for the damper 4. In addition to the vertical wall section 12, retention device 6 features generally horizontal guide sections 13, 14 which work together with the insides 15, 16 of flanges 17, 18 of beam 3 in order to provide support; in this case, retention device 16 is designed to slide easily into beam 3. It is also possible to design flanges 17, 18, as well as the corresponding guide sections 13, 14, in the shape of a V. Guide sections 13, 14 of retention device 6 are located at flanges 19, 20 as shown in FIG. 2; the insides 21, 22 of these guide sections are designed to receive damper 4.

The embodiment of FIG. 3 differs from that of FIGS. 1 and 2 only in that separate flanges 23, 24, 25, 26 are utilized instead of the thicker, solid flanges 19, 20. This advantageous feature reduces the weight of retention device 6'.

The hole 27 to receive bolt 9 extends, as shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, both within damper 4 and over the entire height G of the corresponding flanges 19, 20 or 23, 24, 26, 26 of retention device 6'. In the case of both of these embodiments, the bolt, which is loosely inserted into hole 27 (so that it can slide), is kept in position solely by flanges 17 and 18 of beam 3, i.e., without additional attachment devices.

According to a further advantageous embodiment, a retention device 6", as shown in FIG. 4, is utilized. In this embodiment the bolt 9 is kept in position by a check wall 28 of a blind bore in flange 20 and, thus, cannot fall out (opposite the direction of introduction) during installation.

In accordance with all of the noted embodiments, the bumper is installed in the following manner. The retention devices, 6' or 6" are placed on dampers 4, which are secured at body 5, and are secured into position by bolts 9. Then, beam 3 is pushed forward onto retention devices, 6' or 6" and connected with them at the vertical wall section 7 of the beam 3 and the vertical wall section 12 of the retention device 6 by means of attachment devices 8. Finally, the covering 2 is secured to beam 3 by means of appropriate attachment devices such as clips, screws, etc.

While I have shown and described various embodiments in accordance with the present invention, it is understood that the same is not limited thereto, but is susceptible of numerous changes and modifications as known to those skilled in the art and I, therefore, do not wish to be limited to the details shown and described herein, but intend to cover all such changes and modifications as are encompassed by the scope of the appended claims.