Frangible shock absorbing bumper

• US 3,888,531 A
• Filed: 01/23/1974
• Issued: 06/10/1975
• Est. Priority Date: 03/21/1973
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Edward L. Parr, George T. Straza
• Original Assignee: Edward L. Parr, George T. Straza
• Inventors: Straza, George T., Parr, Edward L.
• Primary Examiner(s): Wood, Jr., M. Henson
• Assistant Examiner(s): Beltran, Howard
• Application Number:
  US05/424,442
• Time in Patent Office: 503 Days
• Field of Search: 188/1C 293/1,60,70,71R
• US Class Current: 293/120
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 19/18 characterised by the cross-section; Means within the bumper to absorb impact
• CPC Class Codes: F16F 7/121 the members having a cellular, e.g. honeycomb, structure
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 428/24149 Honeycomb-like
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 428/24157 Filled honeycomb cells [e.g., solid substance in cavities, etc.]

Abstract

A frangible shock absorbing and non-rebounding bumper that comprises positioning a metal honeycomb material between a forward impact bumper and a back plate, all being in the same plane. The cells in the honeycomb material extend throughout the thickness of the honeycomb material and in a direction normal to the plane, whereby major impacts against the forward impact bumper sandwiches the honeycomb material between the impact bumper and the back plate compressing and deforming the honeycomb material therebetween, and with the honeycomb material being selectively replaceable.

Claims

1. A shock absorbing bumper, comprising:

a forward impact bumper having upper and lower side plates forming a U-shaped cross section, a back plate for attachment to a vehicle in a plane parallel to said forward bumper, metal honeycomb material having a plurality of cells, with each cell extending through the entire thickness of said material in a direction substantially normal to said plane, said side plates abutting the upper and lower surfaces of said honeycomb material, said cells of said honeycomb material having wax like material therein, and means for securing said forward bumper to said back plate, sandwiching said honeycomb material between the forward bumper and back plate.

2. A shock absorbing bumper as claimed in claim 1 including, a wax like material, and said cells of said honeycomb material being substantially filled with said wax like material.

3. A shock absorbing bumper as claimed in claim 2 in which:

one of said side plates of said forward bumper being spaced from the adjacent side of said honeycomb material for providing a passage for extrusions of said wax like material.

4. A shock absorbing bumper, comprising:

a forward impact bumper, a back plate for attachment to a vehicle in a plane parallel to said forward bumper, metal honeycomb material having a plurality of cells, with each cell extending through the entire thickness of said material in a direction substantially normal to said plane, said metal honeycomb material comprising a plurality of corrugated metal strips, said strips being positioned in parallel spaced relationship with adjacent surfaces abutting and forming honeycomb spaces between respective strips, fastening means for holding said strips in given positions relative to each other, and means for securing said forward bumper to said back plate, sandwiching said honeycomb material between the forward bumper and back plate.

5. A shock absorbing bumper as claimed in claim 4 in which:

said fastening means comprising a snap-fastening interconnector.

6. A shock absorbing bumper as claimed in claim 4 in which:

said adjacent sides of said corrugations having mating channels with one of said channels being snap-fit into the other of said channels retaining said corrugated strips together.

7. A shock absorbing bumper as claimed in claim 4 in which:

said fastening means comprising a channel in each of said strips with one of said channels fitting into the other of said channels.

8. A shock absorbing bumper as claimed in claim 4 in which:

one side of each of said corrugated strips having a raised ridge on the parallel flat surfaces, and opposite ones of said channels having different sizes than said adjacent ones of said channels.

9. A shock absorbing bumper as claimed in claim 4 in which:

said corrugated strips having parallel wall portions, each of said wall portions having a ridge and an enclosEd channel on the same side of said strip, and alternating ones of said channels having a larger radius than the other one of said channels, whereby ridges in one of said strips fit into the corresponding channels of the adjacent strips.

10. A shock absorbing bumper as claimed in claim 9 in which:

each of said strips having the same structure.