Claims
- 1. An elongated energy-absorbing bumper assembly comprising; energy-absorbing elastomeric material extending between a rear mounting surface and a front impact surface, said material defining a hollow recess extending thereinto from said rear mounting surface and positioned between the ends of said assembly with said material extending to said rear mounting surface at both ends of said hollow recess to define block-like end portions of said elastomeric material, a structural member extending forwardly of said recess between said block-like end portions with the ends of said member being completely embedded in and completely encapsulated by said block-like end portions of said elastomeric material so that said block-like end portions of said elastomeric material are the sole support and means of positioning said member relative to said elastomeric material so that said member is allowed unguided movement with said elastomeric material in multiple directions upon impact.
- 2. An assembly as set forth in claim 1 wherein said elastomeric material extends over said front face of said member between the ends thereof.
- 3. An assembly as set forth in claim 1 wherein said hollow recess extends from said rear mounting surface to said member whereby said member defines the bottom of said hollow recess.
- 4. An assembly as set forth in claim 1 wherein said member is flexible so as to bend between the ends thereof in response to impact to thereby absorb a portion of the impact energy.
- 5. An assembly as set forth in claim 1 wherein said member includes a front plate with at least one horizontally extending flange extending rearwardly from said front plate.
- 6. An assembly as set forth in claim 5 wherein said member includes structure integral with said front plate and said flange to define at least one longitudinally extending enclosed cell as viewed in cross section.
Parent Case Info
The subject application is a continuation-in-part of application Ser. No. 894,593 filed Apr. 7, 1978 and now abandoned.
US Referenced Citations (13)
Continuation in Parts (1)
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Number |
Date |
Country |
Parent |
894593 |
Apr 1978 |
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