Patent ID: 6174008
Filing Date: 2001-01-16
Classification: B60R

Abstract:
Bumper arrangement for a motor vehicle comprisinga bumper which is mounted in such a way that it can be moved between a rest position and an operating position,a spring energy store which acts on the bumper and is prestressed in the rest position of the bumper,a locking device which holds the bumper in one of the rest and operating positions, andmeans for returning the bumper from the operating position to the rest position,the spring energy store being designed in such a way that, when the locking device is unlocked, it moves the bumper abruptly into an operating position, in which the bumper absorbs in a substantially elastic manner impact loads resulting from relative velocities of up to a predetermined value between the motor vehicle and an obstacle, characterized in that the means for returning the bumper have a shape-memory spring arrangement which can be converted by an activation unit to a special configuration, in which the shape-memory spring arrangement forces the bumper into its rest position.