Patent ID: 6959950

Claim:
A bumper system for attachment to an end of a vehicle, comprising: a first horizontally elongate beam positioned to extend transversely relative to a traveling direction of the vehicle; a second horizontally elongate beam positioned adjacent but inwardly of said first beam and extending transversely relative to said traveling direction; said first beam having an elongate center beam part which extends between a pair of first end portions as defined adjacent opposite ends of said first beam, said second beam having second end portions adjacent opposite free ends thereof, said second end portions being disposed adjacent said first end portions, respectively; a connecting structure joining each said first end portion to the adjacent second end portion, said connecting structures defining a pair of first energy-absorbing connections between said first and second beams adjacent opposite ends thereof; each of said first and second beams being of high strength steel and being substantially nonstressed when joined together by said connecting structures; said second beam being joined to mounting parts of said vehicle by a pair of sidewardly spaced connection structures which define a pair of second connections between said vehicle and said second beam, said second connections being spaced inwardly from said first connections so that said second beam includes an elongate center beam portion which extends between said second connections, and a pair of end beam portions which each extends from one of said second connections to the adjacent first connection; said first beam being preshaped so that said center beam part is bowed horizontally forwardly from said first end portions so as to be spaced forwardly from but generally horizontally aligned with the center beam portion of said second beam; one of said first and second beams having at least a horizontally oriented C-shaped cross section, the C-shaped cross section of said one beam opening toward the other of said first and second beams; whereby an external impact against said first beam transmits force to said pair of first connections to effect elastic deflection of said end beam portions and forward bowing of said center beam portion of said second beam.