Patent ID: 6536818
Filing Date: 2003-03-25
Classification: B60R

Abstract:
A bumper for a motor vehicle, wherein the motor vehicle has a frame, said bumper comprising:a) a frame; b) a covering; and c) at least one set of self contained gas springs; wherein said frame is for attaching to the frame of the motor vehicle; wherein said covering covers said frame; and wherein said at least one set of self contained gas springs are for attaching to the frame of the motor vehicle; wherein said at least one set of self contained gas springs supporting said frame allows transition of acceleration to be smoothed, both upon initial contact of said bumper until its maximum compression, and between maximum compression of said bumper and end-deformation of the motor vehicle, while lowering deformation to the motor vehicle and shock to its passengers and lowering overall compression distance in said bumper to save the motor vehicle from further damage; and wherein said at least one set of self contained gas springs raises deceleration of impact during compression of said bumper, but lowers deceleration during deformation of the motor vehicle, wherein only one cylinder of each set of said at least one sest of self contained gas springs is attached to the bumper frame of the motor vehicle during pre-impact, wherein the other cylinders of each set of said at least one set of self contained gas spreings are progressively shorter than said only one cylinder of each set of said at least one set of self contained gas springs so upon impact said only one cylinder of each set of said at least one set of self contained gas springs compression first, followed by an adjacent cylinder of each set of said at least one set of self contained gas springs, and so on, so as to form a transitory stiffening of said bumper frame during compression, instead of a spike in stiffness as in a conventional system.