Bumper with energy absorber forming useful features

Abstract

A bumper system for a vehicle comprises a beam having a face and having mounts adapted for mounting to a vehicle frame, and an energy absorber engaging the face and having end sections located outboard of ends of the beam, the energy absorber being made of a structural engineering polymeric material and the end sections having flat top surfaces for forming steps outboard of the ends of the beam.

1 . A bumper system for a vehicle, comprising: 
 a tubular bumper beam includes a center section, end sections, and bent interconnecting sections that interconnect each end section with an end of the center section, the center section being at least 25% of a length of the bumper beam and defining a longitudinal primary centerline, and the end sections being at least 15% of the length and each defining a secondary centerline that extends parallel the primary centerline;    an energy absorber with at least one rear recess shaped to receive a portion of the tubular bumper beam; and    mounts adapted for attachment to a vehicle and that are attached to the end sections, the secondary centerline being spaced horizontally from the primary centerline when in a vehicle-mounted position.    
   
   
       2 . The bumper system defined in  claim 1 , wherein the center section is located partially between the mounts and farther from the passenger compartment than the end sections.  
   
   
       3 . A bumper system for a vehicle comprising: 
 a beam having a face and having mounts adapted for mounting to a vehicle frame; and    an energy absorber engaging the face and having end sections located outboard of ends of the beam, the energy absorber being made of a structural engineering polymeric material and the end sections having flat top surfaces for forming steps outboard of the ends of the beam.    
   
   
       4 . The bumper system defined in  claim 3 , wherein the beam comprises a tubular beam.  
   
   
       5 . A bumper system for a vehicle comprising: 
 a beam having a face and having mounting structures adapted for mounting to a vehicle frame; and    an energy absorber engaging the face and made of a structural engineering polymeric material, the energy absorber including a honeycomb structure for absorbing energy upon a vehicle impact, and further including accessory-mounting structures for mounting and supporting accessories on the energy absorber.    
   
   
       6 . The bumper system defined in  claim 5 , wherein the accessory-mounting structures include an integrally-formed molded-in structure shaped and adapted to house and retain an electrical accessory.  
   
   
       7 . The bumper system defined in  claim 6 , including an electrical connector attached to the molded-in structure.  
   
   
       8 . The bumper system defined in  claim 7 , including a bracket attached to and supported by the beam and forming a step.  
   
   
       9 . The bumper system defined in  claim 5 , wherein the energy absorber includes end sections that extend outboard of ends of the beam, the end sections having a flat top surface and being structural such that the end sections form steps located outboard of the ends of the beam.  
   
   
       10 . A bumper system for a vehicle comprising: 
 an elongated reinforcement beam having a face and having opposing end sections adapted for attachment to mounts on a vehicle frame to support the bumper system; and    an energy absorber made of a structural engineering polymeric material for absorbing impact forces against the beam during a collision, the energy absorber including corner-forming sections extending outwardly from the end sections of the beam in cantilever, the corner-forming sections including top surfaces forming steps at opposite corners of the vehicle for supporting a person while being stepped upon by the person.    
   
   
       11 . The bumper system defined in  claim 10 , including a hitch support structure mounted to the beam in a central location for supporting a trailer hitch; and the energy absorber including a center section constructed to provide access to the hitch support structure.  
   
   
       12 . The bumper system defined in  claim 11 , wherein the hitch support structure includes a hitch-supporting bracket shaped to downwardly engage the beam.  
   
   
       13 . The bumper system defined in  claim 12 , wherein the hitch support structure includes a hitch support tube supported by the hitch-supporting bracket.  
   
   
       14 . The bumper system defined in  claim 10 , wherein the top surfaces of the corner-forming sections are relatively flat and define a horizontal plane.  
   
   
       15 . A bumper system comprising: 
 a tubular bumper beam;    a hitch-supporting bracket having an inverted section shaped to fit downwardly onto the tubular bumper beam, and further having a laterally-extending second section; and    a hitch support tube secured to the laterally-extending second section, the second section being shaped and adapted to telescopingly receive a hitch bar for hauling a trailer.    
   
   
       16 . The bumper system defined in  claim 15 , including vertically-extending parallel support brackets attached to the beam, the hitch-supporting bracket, and the hitch support tube to strengthen support of the hitch support tube.