Motor vehicle pneumatic bumper

• US 20070001470A1
• Filed: 03/16/2005
• Published: 01/04/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 09/16/2002
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Bruce Schwalm
• Original Assignee: Bruce Schwalm
• Inventors: Schwalm, Bruce
• Application Number:
  US11/082,235
• Publication Number:
  US 20070001470A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 293/107
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 19/20 containing mainly gas or liquid, e.g. inflatable connection of valves to inflatable elastic bodies B60C29/00

Abstract

A vehicle bumper comprising a pneumatic cushion comprising a gas inlet, a gas outlet, a rear support portion and an impact portion, the rear support portion being thicker than the impact portion. The bumper also includes an inflation means configured for a gas to enter the pneumatic cushion through the gas inlet wherein the inflation means comprises a gas inlet valve and a deflation means configured for the gas to exit the pneumatic cushion through the gas outlet, the deflation means comprising a pressure relieve valve.

Claims

1. A vehicle bumper comprising:

a pneumatic cushion comprising a gas inlet, a gas outlet, a rear support portion and an impact portion, the rear support portion being thicker than the impact portion;

an inflation means configured for a gas to enter the pneumatic cushion through the gas inlet;

the inflation means comprising a gas inlet valve; and

a deflation means configured for the gas to exit the pneumatic cushion through the gas outlet;

the deflation means comprising a pressure relieve valve.

2. The vehicle bumper of claim 1 wherein the deflation means is preset to manage motor vehicle impact forces at a predetermined vehicle speed.

3. The vehicle bumper of claim 1 wherein the pneumatic cushion comprises a thermoplastic.

4. The vehicle bumper of claim 1 wherein the pneumatic cushion is formed by blow molding.

5. The vehicle bumper of claim 1 wherein the pneumatic cushion can be divided into sections with said sections having a gas inlet valve and a gas outlet valve wherein each section can be inflated to a different pressure than an adjacent section.

6. The vehicle bumper of claim 1 wherein outer impact portion is thinner in cross-section than the rear support portion.

7. The vehicle bumper of claim 1 wherein the outlet valve is calibrated to open above a predetermined minimum vehicle speed.

8. The vehicle bumper of claim 1 wherein the gas pressure within said pneumatic cushion is increased as a function of the speed of the vehicle.

9. A reinflatable vehicle bumper comprising:

a pneumatic cushion comprising a gas inlet, a gas outlet a rear support portion and an impact portion, the rear support portion being thicker than the impact portion;

an inflation means configured for a gas to enter the pneumatic cushion through the gas inlet, the inflation means comprising a gas inlet valve; and

a deflation means configured for the gas to exit the pneumatic cushion through the gas outlet, the deflation means comprising a pressure relieve valve, wherein said pneumatic cushion can be reinflated after being impacted and deflated.