A BUMPER BRACKET Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to a bumper bracket which absorbs the vibrations occurring on the bumper, and enables the bumper to remain in the gap/profile tolerances with its surrounding components.

Background of the Invention

The front bumper is connected to the vehicle body from the top, sides and below via screws and tabs. The most suitable points to connect the front bumper in C profile form to the vehicle body are the lower and upper end parts, it is not possible to make connection from the middle part since the body, crash box, radiator and bumper tolerances are not suitable.

The weight of the front bumper increases since it has large surface area aesthetically, and it has components such as fog lamp, upper and lower grills, logo, ornament bars, lamp washing devices, and active grill shutter thereon. The weight center can be located very far from the connection areas depending on the front bumper style, and the connection cannot be made close to the weight center due to the abovementioned tolerance problems.

The front bumper can sag downwards in z axis in hub area due to the weight, it can cause gap profile problems with the adjacent parts such as engine hood, headlight. The front bumper is among the most important parts attracting the clients in terms of aesthetic perception. Different solutions are developed and applied in order to create best perception aesthetically during design of the front bumper. The gap and profile relation between the front bumper and the adjacent components is very important in terms of aesthetic concept. Furthermore, any crack/break is unwanted in life cycle depending on use on the front bumper.

As a result of the long use of the front bumper, due to long distances between the weight center and the connection points, the front bumper is excessively shaken with the effect of the vibrations occurring in vehicle's movement, it is observed that breaking problems are experienced in different areas of the front bumper with the effect of fatigue.

European Patent Document no EP2414199, an application known in the state of the art, discloses a bracket which enables the bumper to be placed in accurate position during assembly of the vehicle front bumper. The position of the bumper in z axis can be adjusted by means of the springs present in the said bracket system.

The Problems Solved with the Invention

The objective of the present invention is to provide a bumper bracket which forms a more durable bumper structure by avoiding breaking problems occurring due to vibration in the bumpers. Another objective of the present invention is to provide a bumper bracket which eliminates gap and profile problem occurring during mounting the bumper and the adjacent parts.

A further objective of the present invention is to provide a bumper bracket which prevents contractions and breaking problems that can occur due to body tolerances since mechanical connection is not made between the bumper and the body.

Detailed Description of the Invention

A bumper bracket realized to fulfill the objective of the present invention is illustrated in the accompanying figures, in which:

Figure 1 is the perspective view of connection between a bumper bracket and headlight.

Figure 2 is the perspective view of a bumper bracket.

Figure 3 is the perspective view of connection between a bumper bracket and headlight.

The components shown in the figures are each given reference numbers as follows:

I. Bumper bracket

2. Headlight hole

3. Headlight protrusion

31. Headlight protrusion hole

4. First bumper protrusion

41. First bumper protrusion hole

5. Second bumper protrusion

6. Body

7. Connection protrusion

8. Connection hole

9. Support protrusion

10. Support hole

II. Support opening F. Headlight

T. Front bumper A bumper bracket (1), which absorbs the vibrations occurring on the front bumper (T) and enables the front bumper (T) to remain in the gap/profile tolerance with adjacent parts, essentially comprises

at least one headlight hole (2) which is made on the lower part of the headlight

(F),

- at least one headlight protrusion (3) which extends downward from the lower surface of the headlight (F),

at least one headlight protrusion hole (31) which is made on the headlight protrusion (3),

at least one first bumper protrusion (4) which extends outwards above the front bumper (T),

at least one first bumper hole (41) which is made on the bumper protrusion (4),

at least one second bumper protrusion (5) which extends outwards above the front bumper (T),

- at least one body (6),

at least one connection protrusion (7) which extends outwards above the body

(6) such that it will contact the surface of the headlight protrusion (3), at least one connection hole (8) which is made on the connection protrusion

(7) and used for connecting the body (6) to the headlight protrusion (3), - at least one support protrusion (9) which extends outwards on the body (6), and which is positioned such that it will correspond to the first bumper protrusion (4),

at least one support hole (10) which is made on the support protrusion (9), at least one support opening (11) which is made on the body (6) and in which the second bumper protrusion (5) is placed. In the inventive bumper bracket (1), there is a headlight protrusion (3) extending downwards from the lower surface of the headlight (F), and a headlight protrusion hole (31) made on the headlight protrusion (3). Furthermore, there is a headlight hole (2) on the lower part of the headlight (F). A first bumper protrusion (4) extends outwards above the front bumper (T). A first bumper protrusion hole (41) is made on the first bumper protrusion (4). Furthermore, a second bumper protrusion (5) which has preferably a rectangle form extends outwards above the front bumper (T). The bumper bracket (1) essentially has a body (6) manufactured from plastic material, and it is manufactured via plastic injection method. There is a connection protrusion (7) extending outwards the body (6) such that it will correspond to the headlight hole (2). A connection hole (8) is made on the connection protrusion (7), and the connection hole (8) and the headlight hole (2) are placed concentrically. The connection hole (8) and the headlight hole (2) are connected to each other via the connecting member, and thus the headlight (F) and the body (6) are also connected to each other.

There is a support protrusion (9) extending outwards above the body (6). The support protrusion (9) is placed such that it will contact the surface of the first bumper protrusion (4) located on the front bumper (T). A support hole (10) is made on the support protrusion (9), and the support hole (10) is positioned such that the first bumper hole (41) on the first bumper protrusion (4) and the headlight protrusion hole (31) on the headlight protrusion will be concentric. The support hole (10), the bumper protrusion hole (41) and the headlight hole (31) are connected to each other via the connecting member, and thus the front bumper (T) and the body (6) are also connected to each other.

A support opening (11) in rectangle form is made on the body (6). A second bumper protrusion (5) having a rectangle shape is placed inside the support opening (11). By this means, the tolerance errors occurring during connection of the front bumper (T) are avoided since mechanism connection between the bumper bracket (1), front bumper (T) and the vehicle chassis is not performed. The headlight hole (2) on the headlight (F) and the connection hole (8) on the body (6) are connected to each other via connecting members. The second bumper protrusion (5) present on the front bumper (T) is placed inside the support hole (11) made on the bumper bracket (1) attached on the headlight (F). After the front bumper (T) is placed on the bumper bracket (1), the support hole (10) on the body (6) and the first bumper protrusion hole (41) on the front bumper (T) and the headlight protrusion hole (31) are connected to each other by means of the connecting members in order to fix the front bumper (T) to the bumper bracket (1). By means of this process, the bumper bracket (1) prevents the front bumper (T) from sagging down, and avoids the breaking problems occurring on the front bumpers (T) due to the vibrations. Furthermore, the bumper bracket (1) eliminates the gap and profile problem occurring during mounting the front bumper (T) and the adjacent parts.