Motor vehicle bumper arrangement.

p0001The invention relates to a bumper assembly of a motor vehicle according to the preamble of claim 1.

p0002Newer versions bumper for motor vehicles made from an aluminum extruded profile as a bumper beam that is connected to the outer side regions via supports on the body. This bumper beam is covered with a bumper cover made of solid plastic thereof facing away from, the body side and top. In these embodiments results in a number of technical problems:

p0003The attachment of the bumper sheathing covering the bumper beam must be performed permanently and tight so does not fall under a load of the bumper of the bumper cover. On the other hand the bumper beam made of aluminum and the bumper cover plastic widely different coefficients of thermal expansion, so that the bumper cover is not flat, can be adhesively bonded to the bumper beam, for example. For solid, distributed over the length of the bumper compounds the bumper cover would throw unsightly and forgiven at a temperature expansion. therefore relatively complex solutions are known in the prior art to connect the bumper beam and bumper cover using screw with sliding pieces into slots with the possibility of mutual displacement.

p0004A common problem with the bumper assembly is to make between body and bumper clearance available, which is sufficiently large to allow its displacement without damaging the body at a load of the bumper.

p0005Here, the bumper is to insert as possible a smooth surface in the body contour in order both to maintain a streamlined body and secondly to enable good-looking, closed body styles. This is according to the prior art achieved by cover strips with the most elaborate brackets that cover slots and space for the displacement of the bumper.

p0006Based on the above problems known bumper assemblies are usually complex and expensive set up with a bumper beam and a bumper cover with a plurality of parts, which also lead to a large assembly effort.

p0007The object of the invention is in contrast to provide a simple, functional and easy to install mounting a bumper with a bumper assembly.

p0008This object is achieved in a generic bumper assembly with the characterizing features of claim 1.

p0009according to claim 1, the bumper made of a bumper beam that is connected by supports to the vehicle body and a bumper cover made of resistant plastic, with which the bumper support is coated. According to the invention is in addition a skirt, also preferably made of plastic, is provided which is connected to the body. This skirt is formed with a body to the outside opened receiving mouth. In the apron and into the receiving mouth of the bumper is used. The Mouth depth corresponds to at least the at a load of the bumper it ford variable space, into which the bumper can move due to its elastic deflection and possibly shift when using impact dampers without damaging the bodywork.

p0010The bumper cover is formed in Qerschnitt U-shaped and placed as seen from the body outer side of the bumper beam. For holding are retaining noses which engage in the vertical direction and form a clip connection due to the elasticity of the bumper coating. This clip connection can hold the bumper cover on bumper beam so that both parts can be assembled into one unit. The clip connection but would per se are not sufficient to ensure a firm bond between bumper beam and bumper cover with a load of the bumper.

p0011It is therefore also proposed so closely execute the mouth width of the receiving mouth in the skirt that possible slots between the edges of the receiving mouth and the bumper cover are narrower than the height of the retaining lugs. Thus, the clip connection is secured against loosening, since the apron edges prevent the clip connections after inserting the preassembled bumper in the receiving mouth from lifting and rising.

p0012Thus the required firm connection between bumper beam and bumper cover is made. In correspondingly shaped recesses or projections for retaining lugs mutual displacement in the longitudinal direction to compensate for a difference in thermal expansion is also possible. In the apron of the space required for the bumper is provided at the load and at the same time produced a smooth-surfaced connecting to the body, so that separate cover strips can be dispensed with.

p0013Therefore, the bumper assembly according to the invention consists of few parts, which are montier bar easily and with little expenditure of time, so that the arrangement is a total cost executable.

p0014In a first embodiment of the skirt according to claim 2, the receiving mouth is designed as a receiving slot, whereby there on the two outer ends of the apron vertical connection portions, so that the apron is made in one piece. For reasons of stability and better guidance for the bumper when dipping into the receiving mouth it is expedient to provide upper and lower horizontally extending wall portions, the back of the insertion mouth to the body may be open.

p0015In another embodiment according to claim 3, the back of the insertion mouth is closed by a rear wall, so that there is a pocket-like configuration. Through web configurations also partially closed and open areas can be realized.

p0016according to claim 4, the upper edge region of the skirt is formed as a cover strip for the bumper or as a transition and connection portion to the body towards expedient.

p0017The skirt may be additionally formed in the lower region as a spoiler according to claim 5, whereby the skirt assumes a further function as a unitary component.

p0018An advantageous embodiment is obtained with the features of claim 6 in that the retaining lugs are integrally formed on the bumper cover. The location of the retaining lugs is at the open end of the U-shaped profile, wherein the retaining tabs comprise the bumper beam from below and above. In principle, it would also be possible to provide holding noses or nose longitudinal areas on the bumper beam, which protrude in the vertical direction and engage in recesses of the bumper coating. However, this is less suitable because then required recesses in the bumper cover.

p0019The attachment features presented so far bear essentially helping to hold the bumper cover and permanently bonded to the bumper beam. As mentioned above, but will be displaceable because of the different temperature expansions of the bumper beam and the bumper coating this connection. In order to fix but seen in the horizontal direction the bumper cover, it is proposed with claim 7, use the bumper cover with an integrally formed at its central portion tongue into a corresponding recess in the bumper beam. This ensures that the central part of the bumper coating is firmly and immovably connected to the bumper beam. The lateral portions of the bumper coating can hand move largely freely according to their thermal expansion, for which the side also have in the clip connections, the retaining lugs relocation options to the bumper beams. The bumper cover therefore does not warp.

p0020according to claim 8 is proposed for the bumper support a per se known extruded aluminum provide.

p0021Next is to take place according to claim 9, the support of the bumper beam to the body by known per se impact absorber assemblies.

p0022Reference to an embodiment the invention is illustrated with further details, features and advantages.

p0023The only Fig. Shows a cross section in the vehicle longitudinal direction in the middle portion of a bumper assembly of a motor vehicle.

p0024In Fig. 1 a bumper assembly 1 is shown with a bumper 2, which consists of an extruded aluminum section as bumper beam and a bumper cover 3 from 4-resistant plastic.

p0025The bumper beam 3 is a box-shaped profile with a transverse wall 5 to which are integrally formed to the body through an upper support rim and lower support rim 6 7th

p0026The bumper cover 4 has in cross section a U-shaped profile. In the end region of the U-limbs are retaining noses 8 and 9 are formed, which can be designed as a longitudinally extending retaining strips. These retaining lugs 8, 9 engage over the ends of Abstützränder 6 and 7. Due to the elasticity of the rigid plastic material used for the bumper cover 4 act the two U-legs as a staple, so that with the aid of the retaining lugs 8 and 9, a clip connection between the bumper beam 3 and the bumper cover 4 is created and both parts together.

p0027In the central region (as seen over the length) of the bumper coating 4 is a tongue 10 is formed, which is inserted in a corresponding recess 11 in the bumper beam 3 from the front. When attaching the U-shaped profile of the bumper coating 4 on the bumper beam 3 thus also the tongue 10 is inserted into the recess eleventh Thus, the bumper cover is fixed in the middle of the bumper beam, the two side portions with respect to the bumper support can move a bit at a temperature expansion yet.

p0028Dashed lines an identification carrier 12 is indicated, which can be connected to the bumper cover. 4

p0029The history of the body panels is indicated by the dashed lines. 13 Here, a cross member 14 is seen through the minimum distance 20 is defined between the bumper 2 or 3 and the bumper beam body.

p0030The body is fixed to a skirt 15, the upper edge region 16 is shown and lower edge region 17th At the bottom portion 17 is further a spoiler 18 is formed. The skirt 15 is an integral part (not shown) connections in the side regions. Characterized a slit-shaped receiving opening 19 is provided in the straight of the bumper 3 with the outer dimensions of the bumper coating 4 fits. In the illustrated, for the bumper 2 unstressed arrangement, the upper edge region 16 and bottom edge portion 17 of the skirt 15 to the outer end portions of the U-profile of the bumper coating 4 is applied. Characterized the retaining lugs 8 and 9 are held to the bumper inner side, so that the clip connection is secured since the U-profile can not be widened.

p0031The bumper arrangement shown has the following function:

p0032During assembly of the bumper cover 4 is first placed on the bumper beam 3, whereby these two parts are pre-assembled as a unit. After the apron 15 is mounted on the vehicle body, the pre-assembled bumper 2 is inserted into the receiving mouth 19 and at the (Not t shown) impact dampers mounted.

p0033The skirt 15 secures the clip compounds having the holding noses 8 and 9. The upper edge portion 16 of the skirt 15 of the connection to the car body is manufactured. In the horizontal direction of the bumper cover is 4 determined by the tongue 10, wherein the side portions can expand independently of the bumper beam itself.

p0034At a load of the bumper 2 this is pushed in the direction of the body, where it can be moved over the entire distance 20 without damaging the bodywork.

p0035In the illustrated embodiment, the apron holding jaw 19 is open to the back to the body. However, it may be provided with a back wall or with webs in accordance with the dashed line 21 and a pocket-like design.

p0036In summary, it is found that the invention provides a functional, consisting of few parts, low cost and easy to assemble bumper assembly is provided.