Spring mounted molding for a vehicle

Patent · Tue Dec 16 04:00:00 EST 1986

OSTI ID:6974165

Zimlich, W C; Fraeyman, J P; Johnson, R C

A spring mounted molding is described for a vehicle having a body and a bumper mounted on one of the forward and rearward ends thereof, energy absorbing structure mounting the bumper to the vehicle. The energy absorbing structure biases the bumper to a normal position but permits movement of the bumper towards the vehicle upon impact, the bumper having 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 on the underside of the molding, the spring means being connected between the molding and the 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 having 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; the spring means being fixedly anchored to one of the vehicle and molding and slidably anchored to the other of the vehicle and molding, the spring means comprising a pair of spring mechanisms. One of the spring mechanisms is positioned remotely from the bumper end portion and being fixedly anchored to both the vehicle and molding, the other of the spring mechanisms being positioned between the one spring mechanism and the bumper end portion. The other of the spring mechanisms is fixedly anchored to one of the vehicle and molding and slidably anchored to the other of the vehicle and molding.

• Assignee: Chrysler Corp., Highland Park, MI
• Patent Number(s): US 4629232
• OSTI ID: 6974165
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

33 ADVANCED PROPULSION SYSTEMS
330601* -- Vehicle Design Factors-- Body & Chassis
ALIGNMENT
CONTRACTION
DESIGN
FASTENERS
IMPACT SHOCK
MACHINE PARTS
SHOCK ABSORBERS
SPRINGS
VEHICLES