US1467386A - Resilient front buster - Google Patents

Description

Sept. 11,1923. 1,467,386

G. A. LYON RESILIENT FRONT BUFFER Original Filed Jan. 16, 1920 A TTORNE Y.

Patented Sept. 11, 1923.

.UNITED STATES GEORGE ALBERT LYON, OF PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA.

RESILIEN'I FRONT BUFFER.

Original application filed January 16, 1920, Serial No. 351,818. Divided and this application filed February 3, 1922. Serial No. 533,838.. I

To aZ-Z'whom 2'25 may concern:

Be it known that I, GEORGE ALBERT LYON,

a citizen of the United States, and resident of Philadelphia, county of Philadelphia, 5 State of Pennsylvania, have made a certain new and useful Invention Relating to Re silient Front Bulfers, of which the following is a specification, taken in connection with the accompanying drawing.

This application is a division of my copending application Serial No. 351,818 filed January 16. 1920, the subject matter being taken therefrom.

This inventionrelates especially to resilient buffers or buffer front members for automobiles or other vehicles 1 in which spring steel or other resilient strip is used for the buffer frontto secure'increased resilient yielding action under collision conditions. One or more strips of spring steel or other suitable material may be used to form the buffer front which may comprise end loops formed by bending the strip back upon itself in the same or opposite directions so that such strip ends may be clamped or otherwise connected adjacent the ends of the central impact receiving portion of the buffer front. The ends of the strips which form the loops may in some cases be bent 30 to form an inwardly turned loop adjacent each end of the central impact receiving por tion of the buffer front where all of the spring strips may be clamped together and in this case additional spring yielding action is secured when the attaching members of spring steel strip or other construction are clamped or secured to the end loops. Although the entire buffer front may be made of a single piece or strip of such resilient material it may, if desired, be formed of two strips which may in some cases be of generally similar shape and have overlapping portions which may be adjustably or otherwise connected together to form a double thickness reenforced portion at the central impact receiving part of the buffer front. This type of construction also has practical advantages, since it makes possible a smaller package when the buffer is shipped in disassembled condition.

The accompanying drawing shows in a somewhat diagrammatic'way a number of illustrative embodiments of the invention in plan view. 1

In the form of bufier shown in Fig. 1, the

bufl'er front may as indicated comprise one or more strips of tempered spring steel or other suitable resilient material which may, for example, be a quarter to threeeighths of an inch thick and one and three-quarters plurality of similarly shaped spring strip= elements which may have overlapping ends or portions adjacent the central impact receiving portion of the bufi'er, 0ne of these overlapping strip ends being clamped, if desired, to the other strip end by the two clamping devices 36, 37, so that a double thickness ree-nforced impact receiving member is thus formed. Loop ends may be formed on the buffer by bending the strip ends so as to form theend loops 21, 29 and also, if desired, the inwardly turned inner loops 23, 27 on the rear portions of these looped ends, so that the strip ends 24, 39 and 26, 38 may be brought out substantially in line after passing through the clamping devices, although it is of course understood that such strip ends may be otherwise clamped or permanently secured together in any suitable way where lateral adjustment of the buffer front is not thought necessary. By using such enclosing clamping devices as 36, 37, which may be tightened by screwing home the bolts 16, the buffer strips may be adjustably connected together so that the width of the buffer front may be adjusted'to suit different automobiles or. other vehicles and the front elements may of course be disconnected for packing and shipping which is an additional advantage. Any suitableform of attaching members may be used with a buffer front of this general character and as indicated the attaching members 32, may be formed of resilient or spring steel strip and may have the outwardly curved portions 31 3 1, so that the connector portions 30, 33 come substantially into line with the adjacent connector portions of the end loops to which theymay be secured as by the enclosing clamping devices 38, 39.

v I Fig. 2 shows a generally similar form of Spring buffer front which may comprise an integral strip, such as 46, formed on each end with bent portions or end loops 45, 48 which may have rearwardly inclined front portions 47 to which the rear portions 44, 49 may be substantially parallel. Similar inwardly turned inner loops 43, 50 may be used in this instance also, so that the strip ends 42, 51 are outwardly directed in this case and are substantially parallel to the adjacent front portions of the strips. If desired an additional reenforcing member or resilient strip 41 maybe used at the central impact receiving portion of the buffer front and may be secured to the other strips or members in any suitable way as by suitable clamping devices 52, 53, thus making a buffer front which has a pleasing appearance. Similar attaching members 58, 61 may be used in this case and may have outwardly curved yielding portions 57, and connector end portions 56, 59 secured as by the clips 54, 55 to the cooperating portions of the buffer front.

Fig. 3 shows a buffer front which may be composed of two front strips 82, 86 of generally similar shape, each of which may be formed with an integral end loop, such as 83, 87. By overlapping the relatively straight or similarly curved ends of these re silient strips a double thickness or reenforced portion of the buffer may be formed and it is sometimes desirable to have the front stri zis bent back upon themselves in opposite 'directionsto form these end loops, so that the strip ends 84, 88 are on opposite sides of the central or impact receiving portion of the buffer front. Suitable attaching members, such as 93, 97, may be used in this case and may be formed with connector portions 90, 94 adjustably connected to the other strips or members as by the clamping devices 98, 99 so as to secure adjustment beforms proportions. parts, arrangements, ma-

terials, methods of connection and use, to the details of which disclosure the invention is not of course to be limited, since what is claimed as new and what is desired to be secured by Letters Patent is set forth in the appended claims:

1'. The automobile bufit'er comprising a resilient bufi'er front formed of tempered steel strip having considerably greater vertical width than thickness and comprising aireeriforced central. impact receiving portion and end loop portions formed by bending such spring strip back upon itself in opposite directions and bending forward and outward the inturned ends of said strips to form inwardly turned inner loops and adjacent connector portions and enclosing clamping devices adjustably connecting said connector portions to the adjacent portions of said central impact receiving portion of the buffer front, resilient strip attaching members having outwardly and forwardly bent connector portions and clamping devices adjustably securing said connector portions to the buffer front adjacent the end loops thereof.

2. The automobile buffer comprising a resilient buffer front formed of spring steel strip having considerably greater vertical width than thickness and comprising a reenforced central impact receiving portion,

ing members having connector portions and clamping devices adjustably securing said connector portions to the buffer front adjacent the end loops thereof.

3. The automobile buffer comprising a resilient buffer front formed of steel strip having considerably greater vertical width than thickness and comprising a central impact receiving portion and end loop portions formed by bending such spring strip back upon itself and bending the inturned ends of said end loop portions to form inwardly turned inner loops and adjacent connector portions and clamping devices adjustably connecting said connector portions to the adjacent portions of the buffer front and resilient strip attaching members having bent connector portions and clamping devices adjustably securing said connector portions to the buffer front adjacent the end loops thereof.

4. The automobile buffer comprising a resilient buffer front formed of steel strip having considerably greater vertical width than thickness and con'iprising a central impact receiving portion and end loop portions formed by bending such spring strip back upon itself and bending the inturned ends of said end loop portions to form inner loops and adjacent connector portions and clamping devices connecting said connector portions to the adjacent portions of the buffer front and attaching members having connector portions and devices adjustably securing said connector portions to the buffer front adjacent the end loops thereof.

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5. The automobile buifer comprising a re silient bufl'er front formed of resilient flat steel strip having considerably greater vertical Width than thickness and comprising a multiple strip central impact receiving portion and end loops integral therewith, the inturned portions of the end loops being bent forward and outward to form inwardly inturne'd inner loops and adjacent connector portions adjacent the connector portions of the impact receiving portion of the buffer front and enclosing clamping devices adjustably connecting said connector portions to connect the buffer front elements, and attaching members and clamping devices adjustably securing said attaching members to the rear strips of the end loop portions of the buffer front.

6. The automobile buffer comprising a resilient buffer front formed of steel strip having considerably greater vertical Width than thickness and comprising a multiple strip central impact receiving portion and end loops, the inturned portions of the end loops being hent to form inner loops and adjacent connector portions adjacent the connector portions of the impact receiving portion of the buffer front and clamping devices adjustably connecting said connec tor portionsto connect the buffer front elements, and attaching members and clamping devices securing said attaching members to the rear strips of the end loop portions of the buffer front.

7. The automobile buffer con'iprising a resilient buffer front formed of steel strip having considerably greater vertical width than thickness and comprising a multiple strip central impact receiving portion and integral end loops having rear portions substantially parallel to the corresponding front portions, the inturned portions of the end loops being bent to form inwardly turned inner loops and adjacent connector portions adjacent the connector portions of the impact receiving portion of the strip and securing means adjustably connecting said connector portions to connect the buf fer front elements, and resilient strip at taching members having bent connector por tions engaging adjacent the mid rear portions of said end loops and clamping devices adjustably securing said connector" portions to the rear strips of the end loopportions of the buffer front.

8. The automobile bufl'er comprising a resilient buffer front formed of steel strip having considerably greater vertical Width than thickness ans comprising a multiple strip central impact receiving portion and integral end loops the inturneu portions of the end loops being bent to form inner loops and adjacent connector portions adjacent the connector portions of the impact receiving portion of the strip and securing means connecting said connector portions to con nect' the buffer front elements and resilient strip attaching members having bent connector portions and clamping devices securing said connector portions to the rear strips of the end loop portions of the buffer front.

9. The resilient buffer front formed of steel strip having considerably greater vertical Width than thickness and comprising a multiple strip central impact receiving portion'and integral end loops, the inturned portions of the end loops being bent to form inner loops and adjacent connector portions adjacent the connector portions of the impact receiving portion of the strip and securing means connecting said connector portions to connect the buffer front elements.

10. The resilient buffer front formed of spring steel strip having considerably greater vertical'width than thickness and comprising a reenforced central impact receiving portion and end loop portions formed by bending s'uch spring strip back upon itself in opposite directions and bending forward the inturned ends of said strips to form inwardly turned inner loops and adjacent connector portions and clamping devices adjustably connecting said connector portions to the adjacent portions of said central impact receiving portion of the buffer front.

11. The resilient buffer front formed of steel strip having considerably greater ver tical width thanthickness and comprising a central impact receiving portion and end loop portions formed by bending such spring strip back upon itself into substantially parallel position and bending the inturned ends of said end loop portions to form inner loops and adjacent connector portions and clamping devices connecting said connectorport-ions to the adjacent portions of the buffer front.

12. The resilient bufferfront formed of tempered spring steel strip having considerably greater vertical Width than thickness and comprising douhle strip central impact receiving portion and end loop portions formed by bending such spring strip back upon itself in opposite directions into substantially parallel position and bending forward and outward the inturned ends of such strip to-form inwardly turned inner loops and adjacent connector portions and enclosing clamping devices adjustably con necting said connector portions to the ad jacent portions of said central impact receiving portion of the buffer front.

13. The resilient buffer front formed of tempered spring steel strip having considerably greater vertical width than thickness and comprising a double strip central impact receiving portion and end loops having rear portions substantially parallel. to the corresponding front portions and formed by lll) bendingsuch spring strip back upon itself in opposite directions and bending the inturned ends of such strip to form inwardly turned inner loops and adjacent connector portions and clamping devices connecting said connector portions to the adjacent portions of said central impact. receiving portion of the buffer front.

14:. The resilient buffer front formed of steel strip and comprising amultiple strip central impact receiving portion. and end loops having rear portions substantially parallel to the corresponding front portions, the inturned portions of the end loops being bent to form inner loops and adjacent connector portions adjacent the end connector portions of the central impact receiving portion of the strip and clamping devices adjustably connecting said connector portions to connect the buffer front elements.

15. The resilient buffer front formed of steel strip and comprising a'i'ziultiple strip central impact receiving portion and end loops, the inturned portions of the end loops being bent to form connector portionsadjacent the connector portions of the central impact receiving portion of the strip and clamping devices connectingsaid connector portions to connect the buffer front elements.

16. The automobile buffer front comprising two similar elements of flat steel strip having considerably greater vertical width than thickness and each having a closed loop portion adapted to extend into protective position adjacent the vehicle wheels than thickness and each having a closed loop portion adapted to extend into protective position ad acent the vehicle wheels and comprising an inner adjacent connector portion adjacent the front strip of the element and having a transversely extending impact receiving portion connected to the impact receiving portion and loop portion of the other element to form. a multiple strip central impact receiving portion of the buffer front.

1.8. The automobilebufler front comprising two similar elements of flat steel strip having considerably greater vertical width than thicknessand each having a closed end loop portion comprising an. inner" connector portion adjacent the front strip of the ele-.

ment and having a transversely extending comprising two elements of steel strip each.

having a closed loop having a rear portion substantially parallel to its front portion and'adapted to extend into protective position adj acentthe vehicle wheels and having a transversely extending impact receiving portion to be connected to the impact receiving portion'of the other element and form a central impact receiving portion of the buffer front. a

21. The automobile bufi'er front formed of steel strip having considerably greater vertical width than thickness and comprising end loops adapted to extend into protective position adjacent the vehicle wheels and a central reenforced impact receiving portion comprising a number of substantially contacting thicknesses'of such strip integral with the strip forming said end loops and enclosing clamping devices holding said loops together.

22. The automobile buffer front comprising a single strip of steel having consider ably greater vertical width than thickness and having end loops and a central reenforced impact receiving portion comprismg a number'of thicknesses of such strip integral with the strip forming said end loops, and clamping devices enclosing and holding closely and rigidly together said strip.

23. The automobile buffer front comprising a single strip of tempered spring steel.

having considerably greater vertical width than thickness and havingend loops and a central reenforced impact receiving portion comprising a number of thicknesses of such spring strip integral with the strip form ing said end loops, and additional spring strip reenforcing membersand clamping devices enclosing and holding rigidly together said pring strip adjacent the ends of said central impact receiving'portion.

24:. The automobile buffer comprising a resilient buffer front formed of strip having considerably greater vertical width than thickness and comprising end loops adapted to extend into protective position adjacent the vehicle wheels and a central reenforced impact receiving portion comprising a number of thicknesses of such strip integral with the strip forming said end loops and additional spring strip reenforcing members, and devices holding closely and rigidly together said strips adjacent the ends of said central impact receiving portion, and attaching members to support the bufier front from the frame of the vehicle.

25. The automobile buffer comprising a resilient buffer front formed of strip spring steel having considerably greater vertical width than thickness and comprising end loops adapted to extend into protective position adjacent the vehicle wheels and a central reenforced impact receiving portion comprising a number of thicknesses of such spring strip integral with the strip forming said end loops and additional spring .strip reenforcing members, and clamping devices enclosing and holding rigidly together said spring strips adjacent the ends of said central impact receiving portion, and attaching members adjustably engaging said clamping devices to support the buffer front from the frame of the vehicle.

26. The buffer front comprising two closed horizontally disposed spring loops having curved ends and spaced one from the other, a double strip impact surface between them in line with their forward sides and means adjustable along their rear sides for attaching the buffer front to a vehicle.

27. The buffer front comprising two closed horizontally disposed spring loops having curved ends and spaced one from the other, a double strip impact urface between them in line with their forward sides and means adjustable along their rear sides for attaching the buffer front to a Vehicle, the front side of each of said loops being ex tended transversely toward the respective opposed loop and terminating adjacent the inner side of such loop.

28. The buffer front comprising two closed horizontally disposed spring loops spaced one from the other, a double strip impact surface between them in line with their forward sides and means adjustable along their rear sides for attaching the buffer front to a vehicle, the front side of each of said loops being extended transversely toward the respective opposed loop and terminating adjacent the inner side of such loop.

29. The buffer front made up of two similar interlocking elements each comprising a substantially parallel closed loop having curved ends and a lateral extension having an end terminating at and attached to the opposed loop.

- 30. The buffer front made up of two similar interlocking elements each comprising a closed loop and a lateral extension having an end terminating at and attached to the opposed loop.

31. The buffer front made up of two similarly bent interlocking flat spring strips bent to form a closed loop having curved ends at either end of the buffer front, said loops being horizontally disposed, the spring strips extending laterally from said loops across the buffer front, the ends of the extensions being fastened at their extreme ends to the respective horizontally disposed loops.

32. The buffer front made up of two similarly bent interlocking fiat spring strips bent to form a closed loop at either end of the buffer front, said loops being horizontally disposed, the spring strips extending laterally fromsaid loops across the bufier front, the ends of the extensions being fastened at their extreme ends to the respective horizontally disposed loops.

GEORGE ALBERT LYON.

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