Safeguarding element made of synthetic material, especially for the front or rear of a motor vehicle.

p0001The present invention relates to composite protective elements of the bumper type, in particular for the front or rear of motor vehicles.

p0002composite structures are already known synthetic materials for absorbing the incident energy at the exposed areas of a vehicle.

p0003Such structures can for example result from the following combination: - A support profile, such as a prepreg blade glass fiber fabric and a thermoset epoxy or polyester, - Absorbers, located at ties from the previous slide the ends of the rails; they are cellular in structure and obtained by molding of thermosetting or thermoplastic elastomers, - An outer flexible skirt coating the foregoing, and with some devices such as reflectors, traffic light, fan blades, etc ... resulting from the processing of injectable thermoplastics.

p0004The above structure is disposed against the crosspiece of the vehicle which serves as support and whose presence is therefore required.

p0005The present invention aims to reduce the cost of this protection element composite, simplifying and increasing the speed of assembly.

p0006It will be described, by way of nonlimiting example, with regard to Figures 1 to 9 attached hereto, which represent, respectively:<ul><li>- Figure 1 is an exploded perspective view of a first embodiment of the protective element,</li><li>- Figure 2: a section along the axis of the body of the above item,</li><li>- Figure 3: a sectional view at the supports of said element,</li><li>- Figures 4 to 6 views similar to the preceding of a second embodiment of the invention,</li><li>- Figures 7 to 9: views similar to Figures 1 to 3 of a second embodiment of the invention.</li></ul>

p0007The energy absorption area of ​​the front part of a motor vehicle is shown schematically in exploded view in Figure 1; we see that it consists of a cross beam 1 by directly taking support protrusions 7 on the free ends of the beams 2 and thereby serving as a sleeper to the carrying structure of the vehicle; said beam 1 is covered with a front panel 3 which does not have any particular mechanical strength, but gives the assembly the aesthetic and aerodynamic properties sought; on the contrary the beam 1 is the only element that brings all the above characteristics of impact strength and energy absorption, resulting in volumes 8 it determines.

p0008It preferably consists of two separate sections 4-5, which may result from two different plastics, each contributing their own properties to the composite product of their assembly.

p0009For example, the front part 5 in the form of U is a polypropylene skin obtained by injection, fastened by any means known to the posterior portion 5 in a stampable material such as a prepreg of glass fabrics and epoxy resin , conformed by pressing in the form of a W; the latter acts as a crossbeam, of which the impact strength is further increased by the presence of wings rigidifications 6.

p0010It is seen that the obtained enclosed volume thus constitutes the beam 1, the deformation of which determines the ability of energy absorption, primarily due to its front part 5.

p0011Note that compared to similar structures in the prior art, lack of crosses and localized cell absorbers causes weight gain, parts and determines a mounting simplicity improving the final cost price.

p0012The variant of Figure 4 differs from the previous embodiment essentially by the replacement of the protrusions 7 of fastening the beam 1 on the ongerons 2 by inserts 20 secured by any means known to the posterior surface of the beam 21 and by the form of the latter.

p0013Indeed, the latter, as in the previous case, consists of two separate sections 22-23 embattled which, when assembled, determine multiple volumes 24 separated by visible bearing zones 25 in Figures 5 and 6.

p0014This solution is carried out preferably by the blowing technique particularly economical.

p0015Include the decorative frame 3 similar to the previous embodiment.

p0016According to the variant of Figure 7, the transverse beam comprises a beam 30 obtained by molding polypropylene in the form of a caisson.

p0017The latter, has cells 31 oriented along the longitudinal axis of the vehicle that give it good energy absorption capacity and rigidity and continues with subsequent projections 32 cooperating during assembly with the free ends of 2 rails.

p0018The beam component 30 passes through and energy absorber is coated with a front 3.