Title: Vehicle body and bumper assembly

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Claims: We claim:

1. A vehicle body and bumper assembly comprising:

a vehicle body having rigid side panels,

a bumper,

and energy absorbing means extending between the vehicle body and the bumper supporting the latter in spaced relationship to the vehicle body for movement longitudinally of the latter upon impact,

the bumper extending across the width of the body and having curved end portions terminating substantially in alignment with the side panels,

each bumper curved end portion having its end spaced from the adjacent end of a side panel,

bridging means bridging the space between each bumper curved end portion and the side panel aligned with the latter,

each bumper curved end portion being movable during energy absorbing movement of the bumper into engagement with and along the inner side of the bridging means,

the bridging means comprising a flexible elastomeric panel adapted to flex outwardly as the bumper curved end portion moves along the inner side thereof,

and a molding means supported externally of the body side panel and extending toward the bumper curved end portion,

the molding means being constructed and arranged to accommodate outward flexing movement of the flexible panel.

2. A vehicle body and bumper assembly, according to claim 1, in which:

the molding means comprises a base member having elongated rigid base sections longitudinally separated from each other,

a unitary elastomeric strip extending substantially the length of the rigid base sections and providing a hinge therebetween,

and fastening means securing the base section on one side of the hinge to the body side panel.

3. A vehicle body and bumper assembly according to claim 1, in which:

the molding means comprises an elongated rigid base member and an elastomeric strip extending the length of the latter,

and a spring-loaded fastening means securing the base member to the body side panel,

the fastening means permitting the base member to move angularly out of the plane of the body side panel upon outward flexure of the flexible panel.

4. A vehicle body and bumper assembly, according to claim 1, in which:

the molding means comprises a flexible molding strip that is either stamped, cold formed or vacuum formed from a bright flexible sheet,

the sheet being either aluminum foil co-extruded with cellulose acetate butyrate or co-extruded with surlyn;

or a vacuum metallized mylar sheet bonded to clear polycarbonate,

and fastening means securing at least a portion of the molding strip overlying the body side panel to the latter.

5. A vehicle body and bumper assembly according to claim 1 in which:

the molding means comprises an elongated flexible base member and an elastomeric strip extending the latter,

the flexible base member being adapted to bow outwardly from its point of attachment to the side panel upon outward flexure of the flexible panel,

and fastening means securing at least a portion of the base member overlying the body side panel to the latter.
Other info:

Inventors: Glance, Patrick M. (Plymouth, MI, US)
Moroney, James E. (Southfield, MI, US)
Ross, Jr., Peter M. (Livonia, MI, US)

Application Number: 536662
Filing Date: 1974-12-26
Publication_date: 1976-02-10
Assignee: Ford Motor Company (Dearborn, MI)
Primary Class(es): 293/121 293/126, 293/134
Other Classes:
US Patent Ref:

2062328	Dec, 1936	Morrison	293/88.
2187952	Jan, 1940	Rusche	293/62.
2691545	Dec, 1954	Lyon	293/62.
3817565	Jun, 1974	Geiger	293/62.
3820771	Jun, 1974	Kerr et al.	293/73.

Other Refs:
Primary Examiner: Love, John J.
Assistant Examiner: Kashnikow, Andres
Attorney: Roethel; John J., Zerschling; Keith L.