Bumper with an embossment

Abstract

A bumper having at least one embossment being formed extending counter to the vehicle traveling direction and the embossment having a base surface, a rear face, an internal inner face, and an external inner face. The base surface is formed as a step and the rear face has at least one first vent hole. The first vent hole is connected to a vent passage and the vent passage comprises a vent passage longitudinal axis that forms an acute angle with the vehicle traveling direction.

Claims

1. A bumper comprising: at least one embossment, the embossment being formed extending counter to the vehicle traveling direction and the embossment comprising a base surface, a rear face, an internal inner face, and an external inner face, wherein the base surface is constructed as a step; and at least one first vent hole formed in the rear face, the first vent hole being connected to a vent passage, the vent passage having a vent passage longitudinal axis that forms an acute angle with a vehicle traveling direction.

2. The bumper according to claim 1, wherein the vent hole is a vent passage extending counter to the vehicle traveling direction.

3. The bumper according to claim 1, wherein the vent passage is shaped widened in cross-section.

4. The bumper according to claim 1, wherein the vent passage is constructed as a separate component.

5. The bumper according to claim 1, wherein the vent passage has a C-profile.

6. The bumper according to claim 1, wherein the external inner face of the embossment is configured to merge in a wall of the vent passage.

7. The bumper according to claim 1, wherein the bumper has plug sockets.

8. The bumper according to claim 1, wherein the bumper has at least one cover.

9. The bumper according to claim 8, wherein the cover has at least one passage.

10. The bumper according to claim 9, wherein the passage facilitates vent stream to pass into the vent passage.

11. The bumper according to claim 8, wherein the cover is detachably and/or movably connected or is connectable to the bumper.

12. The bumper according to claim 1, wherein the cover is detachably and/or movably connected or is connectable to the base surface, the rear face, the internal inner face or the external inner face of the embossment.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

(1) The present invention will become more fully understood from the detailed description given hereinbelow and the accompanying drawings which are given by way of illustration only, and thus, are not limitive of the present invention, and wherein:

(2) FIG. 1 is a bumper in a plan view;

(3) FIG. 2 is an inventive vent passage in an enlargement;

(4) FIG. 3 show profiles of vent passages (in cross-section);

(5) FIG. 4 is a bumper with a cover in a plan view; and

(6) FIG. 5 is another embodiment of a bumper.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

(7) FIG. 1 shows the vehicle left outer side of a bumper 10 in a plan view. The bumper 10 extends transversely to the vehicle longitudinal axis 14; it caps off a vehicle towards the front in its direction of travel 12 (in the direction x).

(8) The bumper 10 has embossments 20 at its two outer sides (in FIG. 1, only the vehicle-left outer side is shown). Steps in a surface are called embossments 20. The step thereby has a certain shape. The embossment 20 is a step in the bumper 10.

(9) The embossment 20 corresponds to an indentation that is arched into the bumper 10, counter to the vehicle travel direction 12 (i.e. in the direction +x). Looking into the embossment 20, i.e. in the direction +x, which in the drawing plane of FIG. 1 is from left to right, the embossment 20 includes an internal inner face 24 at its left side. Straight ahead (in the direction of +x), the viewer looks at the rear face 28 of the embossment 20. On the right, the embossment 20 has an external inner face 26.

(10) The embossment 20, i.e. the step, has a base surface 22. The base surface 22 of the embossment 20 is located in the x-y plane between the internal inner face 24 and the external inner face 26. That is the drawing plane of FIG. 1.

(11) In the present embodiment, the base surface 22 is the step surface of a step. A person (not shown) can step on it with a foot or both feet.

(12) Alternatively, the embossment 20 can be divided into further steps.

(13) In the present embodiment, the rear face 28 of the embossment 20 is provided with a vent hole 30. This vent hole 30 is a passage that allows air flow to pass along the external inner face 26 through the rear face 28 during forward travel of the vehicle. The size of the vent hole 30 can be configured in different ways, from being a small hole to covering the entire rear face 28.

(14) In a further embodiment, the vent hole 30 may also have a plurality of smaller vent holes 30.

(15) In another embodiment, the vent holes 30 form holes or slots or passageways of different cross-sections (see FIG. 3).

(16) A vent passage 40 adjoins the vent hole 30 downstream.

(17) In the preferred embodiment, the vent passage 40 is conical. It has a vent passage axis 42 which passes through it centrally. The course of the vent passage axis 42 is shown in detail A. It can be seen that the vehicle longitudinal axis 14 and the vent passage axis 42 are at an acute angle 16 to one another. An acute angle denotes an angle between 0 and 90 degrees between the vehicle longitudinal axis 14 and the vent passage axis 42 (counter to the vehicle traveling direction 12). The 0-degree position is enclosed just like the 90-degree position of the two to one another. FIG. 1 shows that vent stream 60 is conducted past the left front tire 61 by the arrangement and position of the vent passage 40 at a certain acute angle 16. Thus, the vent stream 60 is not jammed, resulting in a reduction of the C.sub.w-value of the vehicle. The C.sub.w-value is a variable for specifying the drag of a vehicle. The drag of a vehicle is calculated from the product of dynamic pressure, C.sub.w-value and end face of the vehicle: F=q.Math.c.sub.w.Math.A. The lower the C.sub.w-value, the less its drag. Allowing said vent stream 60 to pass through, discharges air and thus reduces the drag of the vehicle.

(18) The angle of attack of the vent passage 40 has a large impact on the aerodynamics of the vehicle (not shown). Because the flow on the outside of the bumper breaks off as a function of the angle of attack. Therefore, the angle is advantageously chosen such, that the flow breaks off late or ideally only at the trailing edge of the bumper and the vent passage.

(19) FIG. 2 shows a vent passage 40 according to the invention in an enlarged representation.

(20) Shown is a bumper 10 to which a vent passage 40 is mounted as a separate component 48. In a preferred embodiment, the vent passage 40 is clipped as a separate component 48 by means of a hook 483 in a socket 101 of the bumper 10.

(21) In alternate embodiments, the vent passage 40 is fixed on one side with the bumper 10 with a screw fitting 481, on its other side, with a weld 482.

(22) The vent passage 40 has a peripheral wall 44. It is strong enough to not be deformed by the vent stream 60. Therefore, it has a few millimeters of plastic. However, also other materials such as steel, aluminum, magnesium or fiber composites withstand deformation with suitable dimensioning.

(23) The cross-section 46 of the vent passage 40 widens counter to the vehicle traveling direction 12, i.e. in the direction +x in the direction of the left front tire 61 and toward the end of the vehicle (not shown). The vent stream 60 is expanded through this funnel opening so that it does not generate any increased drag on the rear face of the front wheel housing (not shown).

(24) FIG. 3 shows various cross-sectional profiles of vent passages 40.

(25) In a preferred embodiment, the profile of a vent passage 40 is C-shaped in cross-section, i.e. formed as a C-profile 491. This means that it is open on one side. The vent passage 40 in the C-profile 491 is mounted with its open side on an elongated outer bumper side so that it closes off the open side of the C-profile 491 toward a vent passage 40 (not shown).

(26) In alternative embodiments, the profile of the vent passage 40 is a polygonal profile 492 or a round profile 493.

(27) FIG. 4 shows a bumper 10 with a cover 50 in a plan view. The cover 50 is clipped in plug sockets 102 with cover hooks 54 and can in this way be attached releasably and without tools to the internal inner face 24 of the embossment 20.

(28) A passage 52 is embedded in the cover 50. The passage 52 guides the vent stream 60 directly into the vent passage 40.

(29) The cover 50 closes the embossment 20 so that the drag is decreased. Due to the lid 50, the angle of attack for the incoming air is optimized. The cover 50 is made of the same material as the bumper 10.

(30) If the cover 50 is attached on the bumper 10 by means of the clip connection 54, 102, it largely blocks access to the base surface 22 of the embossment 20 so that it cannot be used as a step. During travel, the already described aerodynamic advantages result. When the vehicle is stationary, the cover 50 can easily be temporarily removed by loosening the clip connection 54, 102, so that the base surface 22 of the embossment 20 can be used as a step surface. After this use, the cover 50 can again be mounted in front of the embossment 20 in the bumper 10.

(31) Finally, FIG. 5 shows an embodiment in which the cover 50 forms the passage 52 with the external inner face 26.

(32) The invention being thus described, it will be obvious that the same may be varied in many ways. Such variations are not to be regarded as a departure from the spirit and scope of the invention, and all such modifications as would be obvious to one skilled in the art are to be included within the scope of the following claims.