FABRICATION THEREOF

FIELD

[0001] The present description relates to the field of automobile bumpers.

BACKGROUND ART

[0002] Figures 1 & 2 show a known bumper in exploded and lateral cross- sectional views, respectively. A bumper assembly 7' is provided to cover an absorber 6', and a spacer 1' is provided between the absorber 6' and the vehicle body 900' to which it is attached.

SUMMARY

[0003] The inventors have recognized that an automobile bumper configured in this way is unnecessarily complex and allows for warping of one or more components of the bumper assembly.

[0004] According to embodiments of the present disclosure, a bridge component for an automobile bumper assembly may be provided. The bridge component may comprise a connecting portion for connecting to a bumper cover of the bumper assembly. The bridge component may comprise a reinforced section. The bridge component may comprise a non-reinforced section located between the reinforced section and the connecting portion.

[0005] According to embodiments of the present disclosure, the bridge component may comprise attachment means for attaching one or more bumper accessories thereto.

[0006] According to embodiments of the present disclosure, the attachment means may comprise at least one wire harness clamp, and/or at least one hose clip.

[0007] According to embodiments of the present disclosure, the reinforced section may be arranged along a longitudinal axis of the bridge component. The reinforced section may comprise at least one reinforcing rib. The at least one reinforcing rib may be oriented obliquely to a top-bottom axis of the reinforced section. [0008] According to embodiments of the present disclosure, the reinforcing section may contain at least two reinforcing ribs arranged obliquely or perpendicularly to each other.

[0009] According to embodiments of the present disclosure, a bumper assembly may be provided. The bumper assembly may comprise a bridge component connected to a bumper cover. The bridge component may be a bridge component as described earlier herein.

[0010] According to embodiments of the present disclosure, a longitudinal axis of the bridge component may be oriented obliquely or perpendicularly to a front- rear axis of the bumper assembly.

[0011] According to embodiments of the present disclosure, an absorber may be arranged between a vehicle body and the reinforced section of the bridge component. The absorber may be arranged to contact the vehicle body. A bumper assembly as described earlier herein may comprise the absorber.

[0012] According to embodiments of the present disclosure, the absorber may be connected directly to the vehicle body.

[0013] According to embodiments of the present disclosure, the bridge component may comprise a flat surface arranged substantially perpendicularly to the front-rear axis of the bumper assembly. The flat surface may be arranged to contact a corresponding surface of the absorber.

[0014] According to embodiments of the present disclosure, the bridge component may be connected directly to the absorber.

[0015] According to embodiments of the present disclosure, at least one reinforcing rib of the reinforced section of the bridge component may be oriented obliquely to a top-bottom axis of the bumper assembly.

[0016] A bumper assembly, such as the bumper assembly as described earlier herein, for example, may be fabricated according to a method comprising a molding step and/or an attaching step. A bumper cover of the bumper assembly may be molded during the molding step. A bumper cover of the bumper assembly may be attached to a bridge component of the bumper assembly during the attaching step. [0017] According to embodiments of the present disclosure, at least a portion of the bumper cover may be molded on at least a portion of the bridge component during the attaching step.

[0018] According to embodiments of the present disclosure, the molding step may comprise injection molding of at least a portion of the bumper cover.

[0019] Compared to the known bumper, a bumper comprising the bridge component according to embodiments of the disclosure may present numerous advantages. During collisions, the bridge component may offer protection to fragile equipment located between the bumper cover and the vehicle body, and the bridge component may also offer improved protection to pedestrians. During assembly of the bumper, the bridge component may reduce the likelihood and/or magnitude of deformation of the bumper cover in the interval between fabrication of the bumper cover and attachment of the bumper cover to the vehicle.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0020] The disclosure may be more completely understood in consideration of the following detailed description of embodiments of the disclosure in connection with the accompanying drawings, in which:

[0021] Figure 1 shows a known bumper in an exploded view;

[0022] Figure 2 shows the known bumper in a sectional view;

[0023] Figure 3 shows an oblique view of a bridge component according to embodiments of the disclosure;

[0024] Figures 4A-4B show a bridge component according to embodiments of the disclosure in relation to a bumper cover;

[0025] Figure 5 shows a bridge component according to embodiments of the disclosure in relation to a bumper assembly;

[0026] Figure 6 shows a bridge component according to embodiments of the disclosure in relation to a vehicle in an exploded view;

[0027] Figure 7 shows a bridge component according to embodiments of the disclosure in relation to a vehicle in a sectional view.

[0028] While embodiments of the disclosure are amenable to various modifications and alternative forms, specifics thereof have been shown by way of example in the drawings and will be described in detail. It should be understood, however, that the intention is not to limit embodiments of the disclosure to the particular embodiment(s) described. On the contrary, the intention of this disclosure is to cover all modifications, equivalents, and alternatives falling within the scope of the disclosure.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0029] As used in this disclosure and the appended claims, the singular forms "a", "an", and "the" include plural referents unless the content clearly dictates otherwise. As used in this disclosure and the appended claims, the term "or" is generally employed in its sense including "and/or" unless the content clearly dictates otherwise.

[0030] The following detailed description should be read with reference to the drawings. The detailed description and the drawings, which are not necessarily to scale, depict illustrative embodiments and are not intended to limit the scope of the disclosure. The illustrative embodiments depicted are intended only as exemplary.

[0031] As can be seen in Figure 2, a bumper may house equipment, referred to for the purposes of the present disclosure as "bumper accessories," between a portion of the bumper assembly 7' and the vehicle body, represented a bumper reinforcement 900'.

[0032] In Figure 2, these bumper accessories may be fragile, and/or can become damaged during a low-speed impact of an object in the vehicle's environment with the bumper. As a non-limiting example, a low-speed impact may occur at an impact speed of 1.5 mph (2.4 km/h) or 2.5 mph (4.02 km/h) or less. Moreover, some low-speed impacts are capable of damaging these bumper accessories even though the superficial elements of the bumper are only resiliently deformed without sustaining any permanent damage from the impact, and even though the vehicle as a whole remains operational (damaged bumper accessories notwithstanding) during and after the impact.

[0033] As can be seen in Figure 2, in order to reduce or avoid damage to the vehicle body and/or to the impacting/impacted object during a low-speed and/or pedestrian impact, an absorber 6' may be provided between the bumper assembly 7' and the vehicle body, or the bumper reinforcement 900' thereof. A pedestrian impact may include an impact in which the impacting/impacted object is at least a part of a human body. The absorber 6' is designed to limit or avoid damage to the vehicle body and/or to the impacting/impacted object, notably when that impacting/impacted object is part of a human body, such as the leg or even lower leg. The absorber 6' may be made of an easily compressible material, such as a foam.

[0034] As compression of the absorber 6' increases, the ability of the absorber 6' to shield items, such as bumper accessories, arranged between the absorber 6' and the bumper reinforcement 900' may decrease. For example, as the absorber 6' is locally compressed to approximately 50% of its original size or less in the front-rear direction of the vehicle, it may transmit forces which may be sufficient to damage bumper accessories. Thus, a spacer is provided in Figure 2, between the absorber 6' and the bumper reinforcement 900', and the bumper accessories may be arranged between the spacer 1' and the bumper reinforcement 900'. The spacer 1' may be more rigid than the absorber 6', which may allow it to contribute to absorption of impact energy while deforming less than the absorber 6' under a given load. For example, the spacer G may remain substantially undeformed during the low-speed impact, and thereby prevent the impacting object from contacting the bumper accessories. The arrangement of the spacer 1' between the absorber 6' and the bumper reinforcement 900' may cause forces transmitted from the impacting/impacted object to the bumper reinforcement 900' to pass through the absorber 6' before being transmitted to the spacer 1'. Deformation of the absorber 6' typically occurs primarily in a region corresponding to a region of the superficial bumper element(s) that is deformed by the impacting body.

[0035] In Figure 7, a bumper is shown in which a bridge component 2 is arranged between superficial bumper elements and an absorber 6. During an impact, forces transmitted from the impacting/impacted object to the bumper reinforcement 900 may pass through the bridge component 2 before being transmitted to the absorber 6. Displacement of the bridge component 2 towards the bumper reinforcement 900 during impact may cause the bridge component 2 to compress the absorber 6. The bridge component 2 may be more rigid than the absorber 6. [0036] The interaction between the bridge component 2 and the absorber 6 may allow forces to be transmitted to the bridge component 2 over an area of contact therebetween. Because this area of contact may generally be larger than the region of the superficial bumper element(s) deformed by the impacting body, the bridge component 2 may allow for the absorber 6 to absorb energy over a greater area, while undergoing less deformation towards the vehicle body, or bumper reinforcement 900 thereof.

[0037] In Figure 3, a bridge component 2 in shown. The bridge component 2 may be comprised by a bumper assembly, such as the bumper assembly 7 visible in Figure 4A. The bridge component 2 may be arranged in a bumper between a superficial bumper element and an absorber 6 (see Figure 7).

[0038] According to some embodiments, the bridge component 2 may comprise a connection portion 100. As seen in Figure 4B, the connection portion 100 may allow the bridge component 2 to connect to a bumper cover 8. Returning to Figure 3, it can be seen that two connection portions 100 may be provided at extremities of the bridge component 2. As seen in Figure 4A, this may allow for the bridge component 2 to be connected at each extremity to the bumper cover 8 of the bumper assembly 7.

[0039] As seen in Figure 3, the bridge component 2 may comprise a reinforced section 300. The reinforced section 300 may allow the bridge component 2 to serve as a substantially rigid barrier, suitable for protecting bumper accessories during a low-speed impact, and/or suitable for distributing impact forces during a pedestrian impact.

[0040] For example, in the bumper shown in Figure 7, presence of a reinforced section 300 may prevent superficial bumper elements from contacting the bumper accessories. Moreover, the presence of the reinforced section 300 may offer protection to the bumper accessories by providing at least localized resistance to deformation during a low-speed impact. Additionally or alternatively, this behavior as a substantially rigid body may facilitate distribution of impact forces (from a pedestrian, for example) in a direction parallel to the longitudinal axis "L" of the bridge component 2.

[0041] According to some embodiments, the reinforced section 300 may have a top-bottom axis "H" which may be parallel to the top-bottom axis of the bridge component 2. The top-bottom axis of the bridge component 2 may be perpendicular to the longitudinal axis "L".

[0042] As seen in Figure 3, the reinforced section 300 may be larger in a direction parallel to the top-bottom axis 'Ή" than an adjoining portion of the bridge component 2. As such, contact forces between the bridge component 2 and surrounding structures in the bumper may be distributed over a larger area when transmitted by the reinforced section 300.

[0043] According to some embodiments, the bridge component 2 may comprise a non-reinforced section 200. The non-reinforced section 200 may be less rigid than the reinforced section 300. During a low-speed and/or pedestrian impact, the non-reinforced section 200 may bend or otherwise deform in response to impact forces, causing the reinforced section 300 to be displaced towards the absorber 6. In this way, it may be possible to prevent rigidity enhancements conferred by the reinforced portion 300 from undermining efforts to limit or reduce damage caused to an impacting/impacted object (such as a pedestrian, for example).

[0044] The non-reinforced section 200 may be located between the reinforced section 300 and the connecting portion 100. For example, the connecting portion, the non-reinforced section 200 and the reinforced section 300 may be arranged sequentially in a direction substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis

[0045] According to some embodiments, the reinforced section 300 may extend beyond the non-reinforced section 200 in a direction parallel to the top-bottom axis "H". For example, the reinforced section 300 may extend below the non- reinforced section 200 in the direction parallel to the top-bottom axis "H", it may extend above the non-reinforced section 200, as seen in Figure 3, or it may extend both above and below the non-reinforced section 200 (symmetrically or asymmetrically).

[0046] According to some embodiments, the reinforced section 300 may be arranged along the longitudinal axis "L" of the bridge component 2. Because the bridge component 2 may generally be slender in form, arranging the reinforced section 300 along the longitudinal axis "L" may at least locally enhance resistance to bending and/or other deformation during a low-speed and/or pedestrian impact.

[0047] According to some embodiments, the reinforced section 300 may comprise at least one reinforcing rib 3. The reinforcing rib 3 may enhance the rigidity of the reinforced section 300.

[0048] The reinforcing rib 3 may be oriented obliquely to a top-bottom axis "H" of the reinforced section 300. As seen in Figure 7, the bridge component 2 may have a substantially U-shaped cross-section, comprising a web 2W bounded by a pair of flanges 2Fa, 2Fb. When the rib(s) 3 is/are arranged in this manner, it/they may oppose movements of the flanges 2Fa, 2Fb towards or away from each other and also increase the moment of inertia of the reinforced section 300 in the direction of the longitudinal axis "L".

[0049] As seen in Figure 3, the reinforcing section 300 may, according to some embodiments, contain at least two reinforcing ribs 3. The quantity of reinforcing ribs 3 provided in the reinforced section 300 may help determine the degree to which the reinforced section 300 may enhance localized rigidity of the bridge component 2. In Figure 3, for example, as many as 14 ribs are provided, though more or fewer ribs can be provided as needed.

[0050] Multiple reinforcing ribs 3 may be arranged obliquely or perpendicularly to each other. This arrangement may also resist possible movements of reinforcing ribs 3 towards and away from each other, for example. As a result, the rigidityenhancing effects of the reinforcing ribs 3 may be increased.

[0051] According to some embodiments, the reinforced section 300 may be connected the connecting portion 100 by way of a non-reinforced section 200, instead of directly. For example, as seen in Figure 3, in which the bridge component 2 comprises two connecting portions 100 and a reinforced section 300 in between, non-reinforced sections 200 separate the reinforced section 300 from the connecting portions 100. Such an arrangement may allow a low-speed and/or pedestrian impact to displace the reinforced section 300 as a substantially rigid body towards the absorber 6, regardless of the impact's position along the longitudinal axis "L" of the bridge component 2.

[0052] Because the non-reinforced section(s) 200 may be less rigid than the reinforced section 300, a rigidity of the overall bridge component 2 may be adjusted by adjusting a ratio between the dimensions of the non-reinforced 200 and reinforced 300 sections along the longitudinal axis "L". For example, a bridge component 2 with a reinforced section 300 provided along one third of its length may be less rigid than a bridge component 2 with a reinforced section 300 provided along half of its length. Thus, it may be possible to satisfy the need to limit or reduce damage done to the impacting/impacted object during a low- speed and/or pedestrian impact, even though the presence of the bridge component 2, and especially when a reinforced region 300 is provided therein, may lead to a localized or overall increase in the rigidity of the bumper assembly 7 that is brought to bear on the absorber 6.

[0053] The non-reinforced section 200 may be smaller, in a direction parallel to the top-bottom axis of the bridge component 2, than the reinforced section 300.

[0054] The bridge component 2 may comprise attachment means for attaching one or more bumper accessories thereto. The attachment means may allow a wire harness and/or a hose to be routed in through the bumper, possibly in a width direction of the vehicle.

[0055] The attachment means may comprise at least one wire harness clamp 4, and/or at least one hose clip 5. The wire harness may be connected to one or more additional bumper accessories, such as a lamp, sensor, or actuator, for example, which may desirably be comprised by the bumper assembly (which will be described later).

[0056] The hose may be connected to one or more additional bumper accessories, such as an actuator for cleaning a lamp. Non-limiting examples of lamps include a head lamp, a tail lamp, a fog lamp, a parking lamp, a brake lamp, a turn lamp, and the like. Non-limiting examples of sensors include a camera, a camera system, a proximity sensor, and the like. Non-limiting examples of proximity sensors include ranging systems such as Lidar, radar, sonar, and the like.

[0057] In Figure 4A, a bumper assembly 7 is shown. The bumper assembly 7 may be arranged on a vehicle on an opposite side of an absorber 6 from the vehicle's bumper reinforcement 900.

[0058] The bumper assembly 7 may comprise a bridge component 2 connected to a bumper cover 8. This may allow the bridge component 2 to reinforce the bumper cover 8 during an interval between fabrication of the bumper cover 8 and attachment of the bumper cover 8 to the vehicle.

[0059] The bumper cover 8 may comprise a sheet comprising a plastic material, and may consequently be at risk of deformation in an interval between fabrication and attachment to the vehicle. The bridge component 2, by being connected to the bumper cover 8, may thus increase the production quality of the bumper cover 8 by limiting, reducing, or avoiding deformations of the bumper cover 8 prior to attachment to the vehicle.

[0060] The bridge component 2 may be a bridge component 2 according to embodiments described herein.

[0061] Use of this bumper assembly 7 may allow for a vehicle to be provided with a bumper that lacks a spacer (shown as 1' in Figures 1-2), thus leading to reduced complexity and/or mass.

[0062] The lack of a spacer may also or alternatively allow for reduced overhang distance - that is, the distance by which the vehicle extends along a length axis "V" thereof beyond one of its wheels - because the bumper may project a shorter distance from the bumper reinforcement 900, 900'. For example, comparison of Figures 2 & 7 reveals how provision of the bridge component 2 allows the bumper assembly 7 of Figure 7 to project a smaller distance leftward of bumper reinforcement 900 than known bumper assembly T projects leftward of bumper reinforcement 900'.

[0063] The lack of a spacer may also or alternatively make it possible to adopt new geometric forms in a bumper region of the vehicle, leading to possible improvements in aerodynamics and/or styling of the vehicle. For example, comparison of Figures 2 & 7 reveals how provision of the bridge component 2 allows bumper assembly 7 of Figure 7 to accommodate a larger grille 9 than the known bumper assembly 7' in Figure 2.

[0064] As seen in Figure 4A, the longitudinal axis "L" of the bridge component 2 may be oriented obliquely or perpendicularly to a front-rear axis "F" of the bumper assembly 7. Because the bridge component 2 may be larger in the direction of its longitudinal axis "L" than the directions of its front-rear or top- bottom axes, each of which is perpendicular to its longitudinal axis "L", this orientation may allow the bridge component 2 to be aligned with the absorber 6 in a way that maximizes their ability to contact one another during an impact.

[0065] As seen in Figures 6 & 7, the absorber 6 may be arranged between a vehicle body and the reinforced section 300 of the bridge component 2. More specifically, the absorber 6 may be arranged between the bumper reinforcement 900 and the reinforced section 300 of the bridge component 2. During an impact, the reinforced section 300 may be translated towards the bumper reinforcement 900 and thereby be brought to bear on the absorber 6.

[0066] The absorber 6 may be arranged to contact the vehicle body. More specifically, the absorber 6 may be arranged to contact the bumper reinforcement 900 directly. During an impact, the absorber 6 may be pressed against the bumper reinforcement 900 by the bridge component 2.

[0067] A bumper assembly 7 as according to embodiments of the description may comprise the absorber 6.

[0068] The absorber 6 may be tuned in terms of its compressibility as a function of the stiffness of the bridge component 2 and/or the bumper assembly 7. In this way, the increased stiffness conferred to the vehicle's bumper by the bumper assembly 7 and/or the bridge component 2 may not cause the bumper as a whole to become non-compliant with performance requirements relating to low- speed impacts and/or pedestrian impacts, etc.

[0069] As seen in Figure 6, the absorber 6 may comprise a recess for receiving the reinforced section 300 of the bridge component 2.

[0070] As seen in Figures 6 & 7, the absorber 6 may be connected directly to the vehicle body. More specifically, the absorber 6 may be connected directly to the bumper reinforcement 900. This may allow the absorber 6 to be positioned with respect to the bumper reinforcement 900 without the use of a spacer.

[0071] As seen in Figure 7, the bridge component 2 may comprise a flat surface arranged substantially perpendicularly to the front-rear axis "F" of the bumper assembly 7. An impact force delivered to the bumper of a vehicle may have a significant component directed along the front-rear axis "V" of the vehicle, and therefore along the front-rear axis of the bumper, and therefore along the front- rear axis "F" of the bumper assembly 7. During the impact, at least a portion of the bridge component 2 may thus be caused to translate, with a component of this translation occurring along the front-rear axis "F" of the bumper assembly 7, and this surface could be brought to bear on other structures within the bumper, over a larger area than if the surface were not flat and/or were not arranged perpendicularly to the axis.

[0072] The flat surface may be arranged to contact a corresponding surface of the absorber 6. This arrangement may enhance distribution of forces transmitted between the bridge component 2 and the absorber 6 during contact therebetween. As a result, the absorber 6 may undergo less deformation in the direction of the front-rear axis "F" of the bumper assembly 7 or the front-rear axis of the vehicle "V" than the absorber 6' of the known bumper.

[0073] According to embodiments of the present disclosure, the bridge component 2 may be connected directly to the absorber 6. As such, if the bridge component 2 translates during impact with a component parallel to the top- bottom axis of the bridge component 2, such a translation may not cause the bridge component 2 to become misaligned in this direction with respect to the absorber 6.

[0074] As seen in Figures 5 & 6, at least one reinforcing rib 3 of the reinforced section 300 of the bridge component 2 may be oriented obliquely to a top- bottom axis "T" of the bumper assembly 7. Because the top-bottom axis "T" of the bumper assembly 7 may be parallel to the top-bottom axis of the vehicle when the bumper assembly 7 is installed on the vehicle, this orientation may cause the rib(s) 3 to be oriented obliquely to the top-bottom axis of the vehicle. This arrangement may allow the rib(s) 3 to resist bending and/or other deformation of the bridge component 2 about the top-bottom axis of the vehicle, and also around an axis oriented perpendicular to the top-bottom axis of the vehicle.

[0075] The rib(s) 3 may also be oriented parallel to the front-rear axis "F" of the bumper assembly 7 (and thus the front-rear axis "V" of the vehicle as well). This may allow the rib(s) 3 to resist bending and/or other deformation of the bridge component 2 about the front-rear axis of the vehicle, as well as about the top- bottom axis of the vehicle. Moreover, this arrangement may present an edge of the rib 3 (or edges of the ribs 3 when multiple are present), which may be borne upon in an impact by a structure such as a superficial bumper element. [0076] For example, returning now to Figure 7, as the impacting/impacted object bears on the bumper cover 8, protrusions of the impacting/impacted object may cause localized increases in the deformation of the bumper cover 8, which could potentially damage bumper accessories. It may therefore be desirable to allow the bumper cover 8 to bear on the rib(s) 3. For example, the rib(s) 3 in the reinforced section 300 may extend a similar distance normal to the web 2W as the flanges 2 Fa, 2Fb.

[0077] As seen in Figure 5, the bumper assembly 7 may comprise additional superficial bumper elements, such as a grille 9. The grille 9 may be arranged in the bumper assembly 7 such that the bridge component 2 is situated at an intermediate position in a direction parallel to the front-rear axis "F" of the bumper assembly 7 and/or parallel to the front-rear axis "V" of the vehicle between the grille 9 and the bumper reinforcement 900 when the bumper assembly 7 is attached to the vehicle.

[0078] Although the bridge component 2, may allow for the vehicle to be provided with a bumper that lacks a spacer, the bridge component 2 and/or the bumper assembly 7 may optionally be used in a bumper that does comprise a spacer.

[0079] A bumper assembly, such as the bumper assembly 7 as described earlier herein, for example, may be fabricated according to a method comprising a molding step and/or an attaching step. These steps may be performed concurrently or non-concurrently.

[0080] As non-limiting examples, the molding step may include casting, injection molding, compression molding, rotational molding, transfer molding, and the like. The molding step may yield a part of the bridge component 2 and/or a part of the bumper cover 8, and/or the entire bridge component 2 and/or bumper cover 8. When the molding step yields both the bumper cover 8 (or part thereof) and the bridge component 2 (or part thereof), these may be molded unitarily in a single shot or in multiple shots, which may be provided simultaneously or sequentially, for example, an overmolding process.

[0081] As a non-limiting example, the bumper cover 8 and the bridge component 2 may be injection molded in a single cavity. The cavity may be tillable by multiple injection gates. When the cavity is tillable by multiple injection gates, injection may occur via one gate at a time, or via multiple gates concurrently. Moreover, injection via multiple gates concurrently may be preceded or followed by injection via a third gate, when three or more gates are present.

[0082] The bumper cover 8 and/or the bridge component 2 may comprise a material that includes a resin, for example a plastic. The resin-containing material of the bumper cover 8 may even be the same as the resin-containing material of the bridge component 2.

[0083] During attaching step, at least a part of the bumper cover 8 may be attached to at least a part of the bridge component 2. For example, the connecting portion 100 of the bridge component 2 may be attached to a part of the bumper cover 8.

[0084] As a non-limiting example, at least a portion of the bumper cover 8 may be molded on at least a portion of the bridge component 2 during the attaching step. For example, the entire bumper cover 8 may be molded concurrently and unitarily with the entire bridge component 2. Thus, the molding step may occur concurrently with the attaching step. For example, when the molding step yields at least a part of the bumper cover 8 which is molded on at least a portion of the bridge component 2 (such as the connecting portion 100, for example), then this portion of the bumper cover 8 has also been molded on the bridge component 2 during the attaching step.

[0085] The term "molded on" and variants may be understood to encompass both overmolding, in which a first piece is molded and allowed to solidify before a second piece is molded thereon, as well as molding the two pieces such that they solidify together on one another.

[0086] Attaching the bumper cover 8 to the bridge component 2 may allow the bridge component 2 to limit or reduce deformation of the bumper cover 8 following fabrication of the bumper assembly. As such, it may be desirable for molding and attaching steps to occur concurrently, so as to minimize or even eliminate opportunities for deformation of the bumper cover 8 prior to attachment of the bridge component 2.

[0087] Compared to the known bumper, a bumper comprising the bridge component 2 may present numerous advantages. [0088] During collisions, the bridge component 2 may offer protection to bumper accessories located between the bumper cover 8 (or grille 9, or other superficial bumper element(s) and the vehicle body (or more specifically the bridge reinforcement 900) because the relative rigidity of the bumper cover 2 serves to limit transmission of impact forces to the bumper accessories.

[0089] Moreover, during the interval between fabrication of a superficial bumper element (such as bumper cover 8, for example) and attachment of a bumper containing the superficial bumper element to a vehicle, the relative rigidity of the bridge component 2 may reduce the likelihood and/or magnitude of deformation of a bumper cover 8 connected thereto. As a result, a bumper assembly 7 containing the bridge component 2 may have higher production quality than if the bridge component were absent from the bumper assembly.

[0090] For example, a molded bumper cover 8 may be subjected to additional handling prior to being ready for assembly to a vehicle or to superficial bumper elements such as a grille 9. For example, the bumper cover 8 may need to be painted, which may also necessitate transportation from the mold (in this case) to a painting device. During these additional handling steps, the bumper cover 8 may be deformed. Provision of the bridge component 2, however, may reduce or prevent such deformations, because the bridge component 2 may lend increased rigidity to the bumper assembly 7.

[0091] Within the context of the bumper assembly 7, the bridge component 2 may also offer protection to pedestrians. Provision of the bridge component 2 between the superficial bumper element(s) (such as the bumper cover 8 and/or the grille 9) and the absorber 6 may cause impact forces transmitted from the superficial bumper element(s) to the absorber 6 to be at least partially transmitted via the bridge component 2.

[0092] Because the bridge component provides a surface for contacting the absorber 6, across which impact forces transmitted to the absorber 6 are distributed during an impact, the bumper assembly 7 may be able to absorb energy more efficiently than if a bridge component were omitted.

[0093] Although the described embodiments were provided as different exemplary embodiments, it is envisioned that these embodiments are combinable or, when not conflicting, the features recited in the described embodiments may be interchangeable.

[0094] Throughout the description, including the claims, the term "comprising a" should be understood as being synonymous with "comprising at least one" unless otherwise stated. In addition, any range set forth in the description, including the claims should be understood as including its end value(s) unless otherwise stated. Specific values for described elements should be understood to be within accepted manufacturing or industry tolerances known to one of skill in the art, and any use of the terms "substantially" and/or "approximately" and/or "generally" should be understood to mean falling within such accepted tolerances.

[0095] Although the present disclosure herein has been described with reference to particular embodiments, it is to be understood that these embodiments are merely illustrative of the principles and applications of the present disclosure.

[0096] It is intended that the specification and examples be considered as exemplary only, with a true scope of the disclosure being indicated by the following claims.