Background Art Generally, bumpers of a vehicle are provided for the body front and back of the vehicle respectively, and function to buffer the shock generated from the collision of the vehicle and an object, so as to suppress the damage of a vehicle body, and to protect passengers as a buffer. When the bumper is bent upon collision and enters the inside of the vehicle, it absorbs the exterior shock and functions to protect the vehicle.

The bumper is molded with a highly elastic urethane material, and is adapted to absorb a first shock by its resilient property, and secondly absorb a shock transferred through the material by foam resin, in order to protect the vehicle. Recently, a new structure has been developed and introduced with a buffer member interposed between the vehicle and the bumper, to firstly protect walkers, which can be referred to as "pedestrian-friendly bumper", "bumper for protecting walker".

For example, a bumper for protecting walker which has been filed for Patent by the

applicant of the present invention (Registration No. 20-232207) is composed of a receiving space 111 inside a vehicle body, a bumper 110 having engaging portions 112 on the outer both sides of the opening of the receiving space, an air bag 120 inserted into the receiving space 111 and expanding/shrinking by an air pressure, and a vehicle body 130 having engaging plates 131 on front sides of the body, corresponding to the engaging portions 112.

Therefore, with the engaging portion 112 of the bumper 110 inserted into the engaging plate 131 of the vehicle body 130, if air is injected into the air bag 120 through an air inlet 121, the air bag 120 expands by the air pressure, and during the operation, the engaging portion 112 and the engaging plate 131 are caught with each other so that the bumpers 110 are fixed to the front and back of the vehicle.

However, the bumper 110 has an advantage of easily absorbing the impact load with a walker or an exterior object since it is molded with rubber, but has a problem that the connection with the vehicle body 130 has a low hardness or strength, for example, while compressing the bumper with the vehicle body 130 by air or bolt, it is difficult to maintain the shape of the bumper.

As such, since the connection of the bumper 110 is compressed by fastening means, the exterior surface of the bumper 110 may be distorted with roughness. Furthermore, since the engaging portion 112 is formed in thick to maintain the strength in order to prevent the distortion of the bumper 110, the weight of the bumper and the manufacturing cost are increased.

The bumper 110 is fixed to the vehicle body and maintained by the air pressure of the air bag 120 or the engaging force of the engaging portion 121 and the engaging plate

131. If there occurs an incidental problem, for example, in the case that the air bag 120 is damaged by shock or the engaging portion 112 is separated from the engaging plate 131, the function of the bumper may be lost.

The air bag 120 is shaped in such a manner that a plurality of air bags are connected by a plurality of joint portions to be bent corresponding to a predetermined curvature of the vehicle body 130. If an exterior force is applied to the air bag 120, the air bag 120 pushes the bumper 110 outwardly due to its repulsive force. As a result, the outer surface of the bumper 110 may be distorted into a rough and irregularly bumpy shape.

The joint portion of the air bag 120 has an outer diameter significantly smaller than that of the air tube. Accordingly, the outer surface of the bumper 110 positioned at the joint portion may be retracted toward the joint portions to cause distortion. In addition, when the external impact load is applied to the bumper 110, the bumper may be more easily damaged due to empty spaces of the joint portions.

Further, the outer surface of the bumper 110, which contacts the engaging plate 131 of the vehicle body 130 adjacent to the engaging portion 112 of the bumper 110, may be compressed and distorted into a rough shape so that the exterior shape is deteriorated. In addition, if the air bag 120 is separated due to the external impact load, the function of the bumper itself may be lost.

Disclosure of the Invention Therefore, an object of the present invention is to solve the problems involved in the prior art, and to provide a dual bumper for protecting walker by molding the front of the

bumper for protecting walker with a soft material to protect a walker, and by embedding a shock absorbing material in the bumper to protect a vehicle or a walker.

The present invention may include walker protecting means for doubly absorbing a shock with a walker, and having engaging portions fixed to a vehicle body, and a front portion contacting a walker, and a buffer member embedded in a space portion, in which the front portion is made by molding with a material more flexible and softer than that of the engaging portions; external shock buffer means for absorbing a shock from an external object, the external shock buffer means mounted to a locking ring provided to the vehicle body by an inserting protrusion such that an air bag is disposed between an receiving space of the vehicle body and the buffer member, and contacts the buffer member; and bumper fixing means for fixing the bumper to front of the vehicle body by a fixing device vertically expending upper and lower engaging portions of the bumper, and compressing and positioning the engaging portions to upper and lower locking portions of the vehicle body.

Brief Description of the Drawings The above objects, other features and advantages of the present invention will become more apparent by describing the preferred embodiment thereof with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Fig. 1 is a sectional view to illustrate a state that a conventional bumper for protecting walker is installed.

Fig. 2 is an exploded perspective view of a bumper for protecting walker according to the present invention.

Figs. 3A and 3B are sectional views to respectively illustrate an installation state and a disassembling state of the bumper for protecting walker according to the present invention.

Fig. 4 is a perspective view to illustrate an installation state of fixing elements of the bumper for protecting walker according to the present invention.

Figs. SA and 5B are sectional views to respectively illustrate the states before and after the operation of the fixing elements of the bumper for protecting walker according to the present invention.

Best Mode for Carrying Out the Invention Reference will now be made in detail to preferred embodiments of the present invention, examples of which are illustrated in the accompanying drawings.

Fig. 2 is an exploded perspective view of a bumper for protecting walker according to the present invention, Figs. 3A and 3B are sectional views to respectively illustrate an installation state and a disassembling state of the bumper for protecting walker according to the present invention, Fig. 4 is a perspective view to illustrate an installation state of fixing elements of the bumper for protecting walker according to the present invention, and Figs.

5A and 5B are sectional views to respectively illustrate the states before and after the operation of the fixing elements of the bumper for protecting walker according to the present invention. A bumper 40 includes engaging portions 42 and 43 fixed to a vehicle body 10, and a front portion 44 contacting a walker. The front portion 44 is made by molding with a material more flexible and softer than that of the engaging portions 42 and

43. The bumper 40 includes walker-protecting means having a buffer member 30 embedded in a space portion 41 for absorbing the shock from a walker; external shock buffer means for absorbing a shock from an external object, the external shock buffer means mounted to a locking ring 14 provided to the vehicle body 10 by an inserting protrusion 22 such that an air bag is disposed between an receiving space 11 of the vehicle body 10 and the buffer member 30; and bumper fixing means for fixing the bumper 40 by a fixing device 50 vertically expending the engaging portions 42 and 43 of the bumper and positioning the engaging portions 42 and 43 to upper and lower locking portions 12 and 13 of the vehicle body 10.

Among the component elements of the bumper of the present invention, the vehicle body 10, the air bag 20 and the bumper 40 have the same functions as those of the prior art, of which a detailed explanation is not explained herein. The bumper 40 of the present invention serves to protect a walker, as well as protect the vehicle with the air bag 20 interposed between the bumper and the vehicle body.

The vehicle body 10 is a member provided to the front or back of the vehicle, and the bumper 40 is mounted to a proper position of the vehicle body 10. The vehicle body is provided on the front thereof with a receiving space 11 having a predetermined curvature in the longitudinal direction of the vehicle body. Also, at least one locking ring 14 is installed on both ends of the receiving space 11, respectively.

Also, the vehicle body 10 is provided with a pair of through holes 17 at a portion facing the receiving space 11, through which an upper expanding member 54 and a lower expanding member 55 of the fixing device 50 penetrate, which will be described in detail

hereinafter.

A buffer space 14a is formed on the inner wall defining the receiving space 11 adjacent to the locking ring 14 to absorb an impact load generated when the air bag 20, the buffer member 30, and the bumper 40 are compressed and provide a rebound force.

Also, the vehicle body 10 is provided on the rear side thereof with a hinge shaft 16 for hingedly engaging the fixing device 50, which is described hereinafter, and a transverse engaging portion 15 for receiving and fixing the fixing device 50.

The air bag 20 is interposed between the vehicle body 10 and the buffer member 30 to absorb the shock at impact with an external object, and includes a plurality of air tubes 23 having openings on both ends thereof, and a plurality of joint portions 21, interposed between the air tubes 23, for connecting the air tubes along a curvature of the receiving space 11.

Further, the air bag 20 has inserting protrusions 22 at its both ends. The protrusions are integrally formed with the air bag 20, and are respectively inserted into the locking ring 14 on each end of the vehicle body. The air bag 20 also has, on the inner periphery of the air tube 23, an auxiliary tube 24 for preventing air leakage and reinforcing the air tube 23.

The buffer member 30 is located in a cavity 41 of the bumper 40 to protect walker.

The buffer has on the front thereof a plurality of support protrusions 31 for enclosing and supporting the peripheral surface of the joint portion 21. The buffer member 30 functions to absorb the repulsive force of the air bag 20 and rebound the bumper 40.

The buffer member 30 is preferably made of an elastic material enough to absorb

the external force applied from the bumper 40.

The bumper 40 is mounted on a receiving space 11 of the vehicle body 10, and directly contacts a walker or an external object. The bumper has upper and lower engaging portions 42 and 43 corresponding to the upper and lower locking portions 12 and 13 of the vehicle body 10, a front portion 44 connecting the upper and lower engaging portions 42 and 43 and contacting the walker, and a receiving portion 41 for receiving the buffer member 30.

Further, the bumper 40 may be made integrally with the engaging portions 42 and 43 and the front portion 44 through a dual injection molding, or may be made by molding separately the upper and lower engaging portions 42 and 43 from the front portion 44 through a molding and bonding them by an adhesive.

At a molding process of the bumper 40, the upper and lower engaging portions 42 and 43 are preferably made of a material having high hardness and strength so as to prevent the bumper from being detached from the upper and lower locking portions 12 and 13.

Also, at the molding process, the front portion 44 is preferably made of a material having relatively low hardness and strength so as to minimize the damage at impact with a walker.

In addition, the bumper 40 has an auxiliary bumper 60 provided on the lower portion of the bumper by a connecting member 61, so as to protect a lower body of a walker.

The auxiliary bumper 60 is preferably made of the same material as the bumper 40.

Further, a pressure sensor 70 is installed between the bumper 40 and the buffer member 30. When the external shock applied to the bumper 40 exceeds a predetermined value, the air bag (not shown) operates so as to protect a head of walker colliding with the

bumper 40 and hitting a bonnet and a wind window.

Specifically, since the front portion 44 of the bumper 40 is formed of a flexible and soft material, the pressure sensor 70 quickly operates so as to protect the walker even when it slightly collides against the walker.

The fixing device 50 is mounted to the inside of the vehicle body 10, that is, on a portion adjacent to the locking ring 14, for preventing the separation of the bumper 40.

The fixing device 50 includes a column member 51 vertically mounted to the rear side of the vehicle body 10 and pivoted around a rotating point, a lift member 53 mounted to a side of the column member 51, biased by a spring 52 and having swing portions 53a formed at both sides thereof and fixed to a horizontal portion 15 of the vehicle body 10, an upper expanding member 54 mounted to the front surface of the column member 51 and expanding the upper engaging portion 42 to adjoin the upper engaging portion to the upper locking portion 12, and a lower expanding member 55 hingedly mounted to the front surface of the column member 51 and expanding the lower engaging portion 43 to adjoin the lower engaging portion to the lower locking portion 13.

Now, an embodiment of the present invention will be in detail explained in reference to the accompanying drawings.

First, when the bumper 40 is mounted on the front or back of the vehicle 1, the air bag 20 is inserted into the receiving space 11 of the vehicle body 10, and the inserting protrusion 22 of the air bag 20 is caught with the locking ring 14.

Then, in the state that the buffer member 30 is installed to the space portion 41 of the bumper 40, the upper and lower engaging portions 42 and 43 of the bumper 40 are

engaged with the upper and lower locking portions 12 and 13 of the vehicle body 10. The air bag 20 is supplied with air.

At this time, since the air tubes 23 of the air bag 20 are gradually expanded by air pressure, the space portion 41 of the bumper 40 is widened, and the upper and lower engaging portions 42 and 43 of the bumper 40 are engaged with the upper and lower locking portions 12 and 13 of the vehicle body 10.

At the same time, each of the support protrusions 31 provided on the front of the buffer member 30 encloses and protects the peripheral surface of the joint portions 21 of the air bag. Therefore, the receiving space 11 of the vehicle body 10 can have walker protecting means and external shock absorbing means together.

Then, the column member 51 of the fixing device 50 is pivoted in a clockwise direction. The wing portion 53a of the lift member 53 is secured to the transverse engaging portion 15 of the vehicle body 10. After that, the upper and lower expanding members 54 and 55 of the fixing device 50 are moved upward and downward, respectively, to expand the upper and lower engaging portions 42 and 43 to adjoin the engaging portions to the upper and lower locking portions 12 and 13.

Since the fixing device 50 is resiliently maintained in a vertical state by the spring 52 provided around the column member 51, the expanding force acting on the upper expanding member 54 and the lower expanding member 55 can be constantly maintained, so as to prevent the separation of the bumper 40.

When the vehicle collides with a walker while driving, a waist or legs of the walker may firstly run against the front portion 44 and the auxiliary bumper 60 of the bumper 40.

Since the front portion 44 and the buffer member 30 are made of a flexible and soft material, the injury of the walker due to the collision with the bumper can be minimized.

Here, since the front portion 44 of the bumper 40 is molded with the soft material, the front portion 44 is not cracked or damaged even with the collision with hard objects.

In addition, the bumper can be restored to its original state by the buffer member 30.

Further, in the case that the buffer member 30 absorbing the impact load from the bumper 40 imparts the rebounding force in a direction opposite to the initial collision direction, the air bag 20 absorbs the rebounding force of the buffer member 30. Therefore, the rebounding force acting on the vehicle can be minimized, thereby protecting the walker and minimizing the damages of the vehicle.

In addition, the bumper 40 is made of a flexible and soft material. Therefore, since the pressure sensor 70 senses the impact load quickly, the sensor detects relatively light pressure from slight collision with a walker, to develop the air bag.

Further, since the bumper of the present invention can be directly fixed to the vehicle via a fixing device, with a bumper frame of heavy weight being removed from the vehicle body, the weight of the vehicle can be reduced and the structure of the vehicle can be simplified. Also, the bumper is compressed, thereby avoiding the dropping of the bumper.

Industrial Applicability As described above, according to the dual bumper for protecting walker of the present invention, the front of the bumper for protecting walker is molded with a soft material to protect a walker, and a shock absorbing material is interposed between the

vehicle body and the bumper to absorb impact load with an exterior object, so that the absorbance of the impact load applied to the walker and the vehicle is maximized, and the damages of human body and property are minimized, thereby protecting the walker and the vehicle.

Further, since the fastening portions of the bumper with the vehicle are more enhanced in its hardness and strength, the vehicle shape can be maintained good and the exterior appearance of the vehicle can be improved. Since the bumper is directly fixed to the front of the vehicle body via fixing means, the weight of the vehicle is minimized, and the manufacturing cost is reduced. Also, the dropping of the bumper is prevented.

Further, since the front of the bumper for protecting walker is made of a soft material, the sensing ability of the pressure sensor is enhanced. Therefore, even with a slight collision against a walker, the operation of the air bag is improved, and the human and property damages are minimized. Also, since the contact portion of the bumper with the vehicle body is made of a hard material, the distortion of the bumper is prevented.

While the present invention has been described and illustrated herein with reference to the preferred embodiments thereof, it will be apparent to those skilled in the art that various modifications and variations can be made therein without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. Thus, it is intended that the present invention covers the modifications and variations of this invention that come within the scope of the appended claims and their equivalents.