Spring mounted molding for a vehicle

A spring mounted molding is provided for a vehicle on the body adjacent to a wrap-around end portion of the bumper. The molding and end portion of the bumper have mating cam surfaces. When the bumper moves towards the vehicle upon impact, the mating camming surfaces interact causing the molding to be deflected outwardly and the end portion of the bumper to slide therebeneath thus avoiding damage to the parts. Upon retraction of the bumper to its normal position, the spring mounting causes the molding to return to its normal position lying against the body of the vehicle.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
Government regulations have mandated that front and rear bumpers of 
vehicles be so constructed and mounted as not to be damaged as a 
consequence of low speed impact with other vehicles or fixed structures. 
The prevailing method for accomplishing this has been to mount the bumper 
onto the vehicle by means of an energy absorbing device, such as a shock 
absorbing structure. When the bumper is impacted at low speeds, the energy 
absorbing device collapses, absorbing the energy of impact. This collapse 
takes with it the bumper which moves towards the vehicle. After being 
impacted, the energy absorbing devices bias the bumper back to its normal 
position. 
One problem which has been encountered in connection with such structures 
is the maintenance of the integrity of moldings typically provided on the 
fenders of vehicles adjacent to and in-line with wrap-around end portions 
of the bumpers which extend around the sides of the vehicles. As the 
bumper is moved toward the vehicle, the wrap-around end portions also, of 
course, move. These end portions will impact moldings which are mounted on 
the fenders closely adjacent thereto. If the moldings are rigid pieces, 
and rigidly mounted, they will be damaged upon impact with the end 
portions of the bumper. 
One solution to this problem has been the use of flexible moldings. When 
such moldings are impacted, they deform without damage. Upon retraction of 
the bumper after impact, such moldings may be straightened out by hand or 
may return to normal positions as a consequence of inherent resiliency. 
It has been desired to use a molding fabricated of rigid material. Such a 
molding will not, of course, flex upon being impacted by an end portion of 
a bumper. It is necessary that such a rigid molding not be damaged by the 
bumper upon impact. In accordance with these needs, spring mounting means 
are provided for a molding in accordance with the present invention to 
permit outward deflection of the molding upon bumper movement, with the 
end portions of the bumper sliding beneath the molding thereby avoiding 
damage. 
A similar construction is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 4,629,232. The present 
invention constitutes an improvement thereover in providing a simplified 
structure which is less costly and easier to assemble. 
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
A spring mounted molding for a vehicle having a body and a bumper mounted 
on one of the forward and rearward ends thereof is provided. Energy 
absorbing structure is provided to mount the bumper to the vehicle. The 
energy absorbing structure biases the bumper to a normal position but 
permits movement of the bumper toward the vehicle upon impact. The bumper 
has an end portion extending around a side of the vehicle body. The spring 
mounted molding comprises a relatively rigid element having an underside 
and an exterior side. Spring means are provided on the underside of the 
molding. The spring means are connected between the molding and vehicle 
with the molding lying on the exterior of the vehicle body in alignment 
with, and adjacent to, the bumper end portion. The spring means biases the 
molding closely adjacent to the vehicle body. The molding has a camming 
surface adjacent to the bumper end portion. The bumper end portion has a 
mating camming surface adapted to contact the molding camming surface and 
move to the underside of the molding when the bumper is moved towards the 
vehicle upon impact, with the molding moving away from the vehicle body 
against the action of the spring means. The spring means is effective to 
bias the molding back to its original position upon retraction of the 
bumper end portion.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
Referring to FIG. 1, it will be noted that spring mounted vehicle moldings 
10, 12 in accordance with the present invention are mounted on the sides 
of the front and rear right fenders of an automobile 14. Mirror image 
moldings are mounted on the opposite or left-hand side of the automobile 
14. The front molding 10 and rear molding 12 have substantially the same 
construction and therefore only the front molding 10 will be described in 
detail. It will be noted that each molding is mounted in line with and 
adjacent to the end portions 17, 19 of front bumper element 16 and rear 
bumper element 18. These portions extend around the side of the vehicle. 
The bumper elements are mounted on the automobile 14 for movement relative 
to the automobile body upon impact. As is conventional, energy absorbing 
devices 21 (shown diagrammatically), such as shock absorbers, are provided 
to mount and bias the bumper elements in a normal position such, for 
example, as illustrated in U.S. Pat. Nos. 3,937,508 and 4,059,301. The 
specific type of energy absorbing device is not germane to the present 
invention, the present invention functioning with various styles of such 
devices. The energy absorbing devices permit movement of the bumper a 
short distance towards the vehicle on which they are mounted after a low 
speed impact with another vehicle or stationary structure without 
appreciable damage to the bumper structure. After the impacting force is 
dissipated, the bumper structure is returned to its original position by 
the energy absorbing devices. Such bumper mounting constructions are 
common in the automotive industry at this time. 
The spring mounted moldings of the present invention are designed to 
accommodate limited bumper motion without damage to the molding. As shown 
in FIG. 2, the portion of the molding 10 adjacent to the front bumper 
element end portion 17 is mounted to body structure 20 by means of a 
spring mechanism 22. The portion of the molding 10 which is remote from 
the bumper end portion 17 is mounted to automobile body structure 24 by 
means of spring mechanism 26. 
The molding 10 is a relatively rigid trim piece designed to stylistically 
merge with the front bumper element 16. The molding 10 includes a 
rectangular opening 28 which surrounds a lens 30, usually amber in color, 
which is mounted on the automobile body structure. A rubber-like isolation 
molding 29 is adhered to the molding 10 around the opening 28. A lamp is 
normally provided behind the lens to illuminate the lens when the vehicle 
lights are energized. Such lamps are commonly referred to as "fender 
marker lamps" and the molding 10 as a "marker surround". 
The molding 10 may be fabricated as, for example, an injection molded 
plastic element. The molding 10 is elongated in the direction of the 
length of the automobile 14. It includes an exterior side comprising an 
outer wall portion 32 from the sides of which depend side wall portions 
34, 36 which space the outer wall portion 32 from the automobile body 
structure. The side wall portions 34, 36 terminate in flange portions 38, 
40 which may be seen in FIGS. 7 and 8. As will be noted, an isolation 
molding strip 41 is provided along the flange portions 38, 40 of the 
molding 10 on the underside thereof to isolate it from the surface of the 
automobile body. The strip 41 may be fabricated of, for example, PVC. 
The end of the molding 10 adjacent to the bumper end portion 17 is provided 
with an end section 42. The end of the molding 10 remote from the bumper 
element 16 is closed by means of portion 44. The end section 42 extends at 
an angle outwardly and towards the bumper end portion 17. The bumper end 
portion 17 has a similar wall 46 which is reversely angled. In operation, 
the faces of portions 42, 46 function as mating camming surfaces at such 
times as bumper element 16 is moved towards the molding 10 upon impact of 
the bumper. The camming action which results causes the molding 10 to be 
pivoted out of the way of the bumper end portion 17 as will be later 
described. As will be noted in FIG. 2, a space is provided between the 
wall portions 42, 46. This space accounts for a portion of the bumper 
stroke. Typically, the space may be about 0.750 inch. 
The spring mechanisms 22 and 24 will next be described. Each spring 
mechanism includes a spring clip 50, 52 which may be fabricated of spring 
steel. Each spring clip includes spring arm structure which may be 
characterized as flat spring means. 
The spring mechanism 22 includes the spring clip 50 which is secured to 
fixed body structure 20. The spring clip 50 includes a mounting portion 
56. Openings 62, 64 are provided in body structure 20. Threaded studs 66, 
67 are secured to portion 56. The studs extend through the openings 62, 
64. Washers 70 and nuts 72 are received on the studs and tightened to hold 
the clip 50 in place. 
The spring clip 50 is constructed of two pairs of spaced apart spring arms 
74, 75 and 76, 77 formed together by webs 78, 79 to define a substantially 
U-shaped flat spring member. Spring arms 74, 75 extend from portion 56 
forwardly of the molding 10. Spring arms 74, 75 are connected to spring 
arms 76, 77 by the webs 78, 79. Spring arms 76, 77 extend from the webs 
78, 79 rearwardly of the molding 10 and are connected at their outer ends 
by spring section 81. 
A first spring mounting structure 80 is molded integrally with the molding 
10 on the underside at the forward or bumper end portion thereof and 
extends transversely of the molding. The structure 80 is L-shaped and 
includes one wall 82 which extends from the outer wall portion 32 at 
substantially right angles thereto. A second wall 84 extends at right 
angles from the outer edge of the first wall 82 towards the bumper end 
portion 17. A transverse slot 86 is provided in the first wall 82. Spring 
arm section 81 extends through the slot 86. A pair of tangs 88, 89 are 
provided along the side edges of the spring arm section 81 adjacent to the 
outer end edge 92. The tangs 88, 89 are angled outwardly from the spring 
arm section 81 towards the webs 78, 79. Consequently, while the tangs will 
deflect to permit insertion of spring arm section 81 into slot 86, the 
tangs will thereafter spring back and prevent withdrawal of spring arm 
section 81 inasmuch as they will impinge against the wall 82. The portions 
of the spring arms 76, 77 between the tangs and the web are free to slide 
in the slot 86. This is important with respect to operation of the device 
which will be described hereinafter. 
As will be noted in FIG. 6, the spring arms 74, 75 are out of contact with 
the wall 84. It is desirable to provide spring contact with the wall 84 in 
order to stabilize the molding 10 against vibratory movement and to 
inhibit sliding. Therefore, a spring section 94 is provided extending from 
portion 56 from a point beneath the arms 74, 75 forwardly of the molding 
10. The spring section 94 contacts the wall 84 to result in the desired 
spring contact. 
The other spring mechanism 26 is constructed similarly to the spring 
structure 22. The spring clip 52 is constructed of a spring arm 96 joined 
to a pair of spaced apart spring arms 98, 100 by webs 102, 104 to define a 
substantially U-shaped flat spring member. The spring arms 98, 100 are 
joined together at their outer ends by spring arm section 101. A pair of 
threaded studs 106, 108 extend from spring arm 96 through openings 110, 
112 in body structure 24. A gasket 114 is provided between spring arm 96 
and body structure 24. Washer and nut structures 116, 117 are received on 
studs 106, 108 to thereby secure the spring clip 52 to body structure 24. 
The location of the studs is such that the spring arm can't flex. 
A second spring mounting structure 118 is molded integrally with the 
molding 10 on the underside thereof at the rearward end remote from the 
bumper end portion. The structure 118 extends transversely of the molding 
10. The structure 118 is L-shaped and includes one wall 120 which extends 
from the outer wall portion 32 at substantially right angles thereto. A 
second wall 122 extends at right angles from the outer edge of the first 
wall 120 away from the bumper end portion 17. A transverse slot 124 is 
provided in the first wall 120. Spring arm section 101 extends through the 
slot 124. A pair of oppositely disposed spaced apart tangs 126, 128 and 
130, 132 are provided along the side edges of spring arms 98, 100 and the 
spring arm section 101 adjacent to the outer end edge 134. The tangs 126, 
128 and 130, 132 are angled outwardly from the spring structure towards 
each other. The tangs 126, 130 will deflect to permit insertion of spring 
arm section 101 into slot 124. These tangs will thereafter spring back and 
will impinge against the wall 120. The other tangs 128, 132 impinge 
against the other side of wall 120. The spring arms 98, 100 thus cannot 
slide in slot 124. 
In operation, the molding 10 lies against body structures 24 and 134 in its 
normal at-rest position as shown in FIG. 2. When bumper element 16 is 
moved in the direction of arrow 90, contact with end portion 17 will cause 
molding 10 to deflect outwardly thereby permitting passage of the bumper 
end portion 17 therebeneath without damage to the molding or damage to the 
automobile body. As the molding 10 is deflected, the portion nearest the 
bumper end portion 17 will swing in a fairly wide arc as shown in FIG. 6 
Deflection of molding 10 is accompanied by deflection of the spring arms 
of spring clip 50. The spring arms 76, 77 slide in the slot 86 thus 
permitting the molding 10 to deflect as shown in FIGS. 3 and 6. Spring 
mechanism 26 serves to permit lesser pivoting of the end of molding 10 
remote from the bumper element 16. The remote end point 136 (FIG. 2) of 
the molding 10 acts as a pivot center. As will be noted in FIG. 5, the 
wall 120 moves in what is essentially a straight line and thus it is not 
required that the remote end point 136 be longitudinally movable. The fact 
that the spring arm 96 can't flex aids in defining this path. It is not 
desired that the end point 136 of molding 10 be longitudinally movable, 
otherwise the molding would slide along the surface of the body structure 
and cause damage. When the bumper element 16 is retracted to its normal 
position, molding 10 is also returned to the normal position shown in FIG. 
2 as a result of the spring bias.