Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
CA 0220910~ 1997-06-26
WO97/16328 PCT~S95/14090
BUMPER FACADE FOR VEHICLES
Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a bumper facade
' 5 for vehicles, a method for covering a bumper on a vehicle,
a vehicle having a bumper ~acade thereon, and a facade for
covering a part of a motor vehicle. In particular, the
bumper facade for vehicles can be applied over a vehicle's
bumpers to provide a cosmetic change and/or to provide
protection.
Backqround of the Invention
Devices have been attached to the bumpers of
automobiles to provide protection from scratching and
denting. For example, United States Patent No. 3,715,138
to Finkle describes a bumper guard which is attached by
adhesive to an automobile bumper; United States Patent No.
3,680,903 to Hulten describes a "rub strip" which attaches
to an automobile bumper by inserting ears into slots
provided in the surface of the bumper; and United States
atent No. 4,569,865 to Placek describes a bumper fascia
having a stainless steel shell.
Other devices have been developed for protecting
automobile bumpers from tar, mud, stones, or other material
which comes off the road. For example, United States
Patent No. 1,858,569 to Woodworth describes an early design
for providing a protective material over the bumper of an
automobile; United States Patent No. 4,997,229 to Swanson
describes "bras" for protecting exterior portions of an
automobile, such as the front fenders, hood, bumper area,
grill work, and headlamps; and United States Patent No.
4,953,909 to Crane describes a resilient hood protector.
SummarY of the Invention
Many trucks and utility vehicles have metallic
bumpers. Often the bumper becomes severely scratched or
dented. Rather than replace the bumper which can be
CA 0220910~ 1997-06-26
WO 97/16328 PCTAUS95/14090
expensive, the bumper facade of the present inventi~.. can
be applied to provide a new lopk to the vehicle.
Furthermore, many motor vehicle owners desire a change in
the appearance of their motor vehicle would like to remove
the metallic appearance of their motor vehicles.
A bumper facade for motor vehicles is provided by
the present invention. A bumper facade includes a bumper
shell and a fastener for attaching the bumper shell to the
bumper of a motor vehicle. The bumper shell is
substantially transparent to visible light, has an exterior
protective surface and an interior paint receiving surface,
and is constructed and arranged to cover an exposed surface
of a motor vehicle bumper. Preferably, the interior paint
receiving surface is coated with a layer of paint. The
fastener can be a mechanical fastener, such as, bolts,
screws, and the like, or a chemical fastener, such as,
adhesive, cement, tape, and the like.
It is an advantage of the bumper facade that it
can be easily and quickly installed, and later removed from
the motor vehicle without detracting from the original
appearance of the motor vehicle. Furthermore, the exterior
surface of the bumper shell can be made of a material which
is sufficiently resilient so that stones and other hard
objects striking it are deflected without denting or
marring the painted layer underneath. The material is
preferably not self supporting. This means that the bumper
facade does not take the place of a bumper but rather is be
supported by the structure of the bumper.
A method for covering a bumper on a motor vehicle
is provided by the present invention. The method includes
the steps of providing a bumper shell, applying paint to
the interior paint receiving surface of the bumper shell,
and attaching the bumper shell to a motor vehicle bumper.
It should be appreciated that the step of providing a
bumper shell can be accomplished by purchasing a bumper
CA 0220910~ 1997-06-26
W097/16328 PCT~S95/14090
shell, manufacturing a bumper shell, or G~herwise causing a
bumper shell to be delivered.~ Preferably, the painted
bumper ~hell is applied to the front bumper of a motor
vehicle. It should be understood, however, the painted
bumper cover can be applied to the rear bumper of the motor
vehicle.
A motor vehicle is provided by the present
invention. The motor vehicle includes a bumper and a
painted bumper shell arranged thereon. In a broader sense,
a facade for covering a part of a motor vehicle is provided
by the present invention. The facade includes a pa~inted
shell wherein the shell is substantially transparent to
visible light and has an exterior protective surface and an
interior painted surface. The layer of paint is visible
from the exterior protective surface of the shell. The
facade can be applied over a part of a motor vehicle.
Preferably, the part of the motor vehicle is a metal or
chrome part.
srief DescriPtiOn of the Drawinqs
FIGURE 1 is a perspective view of a bumper facade
on a pickup truck according to the principles of the
present invention;
FIGURE 2 is an exploded perspective view of the
bumper facade of FIGURE 1;
FIGURE 3 is an elevated front view of the bumper
facade of FIGURE l;
FIGURE 4 is a bottom view of the bumper facade of
FIGURE l;
'30 FIGURE 5 is an elevated rear view of the bumper
facade of FIGURE l; and
FIGURE 6 is a perspective view of the bumper
facade according to FIGURE 1 except that the center
covering region has been replaced.
CA 0220910~ 1997-06-26
W O 97/16328 PCTAUS95/14090
Detailed DescriPtion of the Inve~tion
The preferred embodiment of the invention will be
described in detail with reference to the drawings, wherein
like reference numerals represent like parts and assemblies
throughout the several views. Reference to the pre~erred
embodiment does not limit the scope of the invention, which
is limited only by the scope of the claims attached hereto.
Referring to FIGURE 1, a bumper facade for
vehicles in accordance with this invention is illustrated
generally at 10. The bumper facade 10 is constructed and
arranged to cover the visible surface of the bumper.of a
pickup truck 12 extending from an area proximate the grill
14, around the bumper and toward the lower valance or air
dam 16. The bumper facade 10 then extends laterally around
the ends of the bumper and terminates near the left and
right fenders 18, 19. It should be understood that the
visible surface of a bumper describes the area of the
bumper of a vehicle which is exposed and visible to a
person upon normal or casual inspection while walking
around the vehicle. The visible surface of a bumper does
not include the surface which is hidden from view.
Furthermore, it should be understood that the "left" and
"right" sides, as these terms are used in the present
description, are based upon a point of reference from
inside the vehicle in the driver's seat.
Although the invention is being described in the
context of a pickup truck, it should be appreciated that
the invention can be applied to the bumper of any vehicle,
motor or otherwise, in need of a cosmetic change and/or
further protection. The reference herein to "motor
vehicles" includes light trucks, such as a pickup trucks,
heavy trucks, utility vehicles, automobiles, and the like.
In fact, the bumper facade of the present invention can be
applied to non-motorized vehicles and even stationary
objects without departing from the spirit of the invention.
CA 0220910~ 1997-06-26
W097/16328 PCT~S95/14090
It is believed that the bumper facade of the
present invention will find a more popular application on
older trucks, utility vehicles, and trucks having metallic
bumpers which are functional but have been cosmetically
damaged by, for example, scratching, denting, rusting, and
the like. Since replacing a vehicle's bumpers can be
rather expensive, the present invention provides a less
costly way for owners of vehicles with cosmetic damage to
the bumper to provide a new look to the bumpers. In
addition, some owners of vehicles are tired of the look of
metallic bumpers. By attaching a bumper facade acc~rding
to the present invention over the bumpers, the appearance
or look of the vehicle can be significantly altered. The
bumper facade can advantageously be attached and removed
without damaging the bumper. If one is not satisfied with
the final look of the vehicle, the bumper can easily be
restored to its prior appearance.
Now referring to FIGURES 1-6, the bumper facade
lO is described in more detail. In a preferred embodiment
of the invention, the bumper facade lO is constructed of
three major regions or parts so that it can be easily
packaged and shipped. These general regions or parts
include a left bumper cover region 20, a right bumper cover
region 22, and a front or center covering region 24. The
bumper facade lO is then assembled by placing the left
covering region 20 and the right covering region 22 over
the left and right portions of the bumper, respectively,
then placing the center covering region 24 over the center
portion of the bumper in an overlap arrangement with the
~30 overlap edges 26, 28 of the left covering region 20 and the
right covering region 22, respectively. More details
concerning the preferred method for assembling the bumper
facade lO is provided below.
It should be appreciated that the bumper facade
of the present invention can be provided as a single
-
CA 0220910~ 1997-06-26
WO 97/16328 PCT~US95/14090
structure or as an assembly of two or more parts. It is
preferred to provide more than one piece since it is more
difficult to construct a single large bumper facade by
vacuum molding. In addition, it is preferred to provide
three parts so that the center covering region 24 having a
license plate holder 25 can be interchanged with a center
covering region not having a license plate holder 27. The
bumper facade 10 can be referred to as an integral unit
when it is assembled and attached together. The reference
to the bumper facade of the present invention is meant to
encompass the integral unit and the unassembled par~s which
can be assembled to provide the bumper facade.
The bumper facade 10 is shaped to fit the
contours of the bumper of the truck 12. It should be
appreciated that the dimensions of the bumper facade
according to the present invention can be varied so that it
provides a more tailored fit over the bumper contours of a
specific motor vehicle model. Of course, a more universal
bumper facade can be provided which will fit a number of
motor vehicle models but the fit will likely be less
tailored. Such a bumper facade can be characterized as
having relatively universal application which means that
one overall design thereof can be adapted to fit over the
original factory bumpers of several models of motor
vehicles.
It is expected that most bumpers for motor
vehicles are relatively similar in shape and that one
skilled in the art would readily appreciate how a bumper
facade could be designed for a particular motor vehicle
~,odel based upon the teachings herein with respect to the
bumper facade 10.
The bumper facade 10 wraps around the front
portion of the truck's bumper and extends from a position
forward and below the grill, laterally around the sides of
the motor vehicle where the ends terminate near the
CA 0220910~ 1997-06-26
WO97/16328 PCT~S95/14090
fenders. The shape of the bumper facade lO can be
characterized as a bumper shell in that it tends to enclose
the bumper. It should be appreciated, however, that the
bumper shell need not enclose the entire bumper or the
entire exposed surface of the bumper. In the context of
the present invention, the bumper is enclosed if only a
fraction of the exposed surface of the bumper is covered or
if the entire exposed surface of the bumper is enclosed.
Portions or panels of the bumper facade lO are
discussed below along with an indication of their function.
It should be appreciated that certain portions or p~nels
extend across the regions 20, 22, 24, and certain other
portions or panels can be limited to a particular region or
regions. A top panel 30 is provided which opposes the top
surface of the bumper and generally extends the entire
length of the bumper facade lO. A recess 32 is provided in
the top panel 30 for styling and to provide a more
favorable surface of adhesion of the bumper facade lO to
the bumper. A front panel 34 is provided which opposes the
front surface of the bumper. The front panel 34 generally
terminates at the front corners of the truck 12. Side
panels 36, 38 are provided for opposing the side surfaces
of the bumper. The front panel 34 wraps around the forward
edges 40, 42 of the bumper facade lO and forms the side
panels 36, 38. The side panels 36, 38 then continue
rearward around the rear edges 44, 46 of the bumper facade
lO to provide the ends or flanges 48, 50 which enclose or
wrap around the ends of the bumper. An under panel 52 is
provided which follows generally the entire length of the
~30 bumper facade lO and opposes the bottom or underneath side
of the bumper. The under panel 52 includes an attachment
flange 54 which provides attachment of the bumper facade lO
between the bumper and the lower valance or air dam 16.
The attachment flange 54 is provided with
attachment holes or recesses 56 which allow bolts or screws
CA 0220910~ 1997-06-26
W O 97/16328 PCTAUS95/14090
or other fastening member to hold the bumper facade 10 in
place between the bumper and the lower valance or air dam
16. During installation of thè bumper facade 10, the lower
valance or air dam 16 can be temporarily removed from the
bumper, then the bumper facade 10 can be placed over the
exposed surface of the bumper, and the lower valance or air
dam 16 can be replaced. The bolts or screws which attach
- the lower valance or air dam 16 can then be attached to the
bumper through the attachment holes or recesses 56.
The surface of the top panel 30 can be
characterized as being substantially horizontal whe~ it is
installed on a bumper. In addition, the surfaces of the
front panel 34 and the side panels 36, 38 can be
characterized as being substantially vertical when
installed on a bumper.
The bumper shell is preferably characterized as
being made of a resilient or protective material which is
substantially transparent to visible light. The material
preferably has an interior surface which is paintable so
that a desired color paint or pigment can be applied
thereto. Since the material is substantially transparent
to visible light, the color of the applied paint or pigment
can be appreciated or viewed through the exterior surface.
This feature of the invention can be called back-coating,
and is particularly advantageous since it provides enhanced
protection for the painted layer from scratching or marring
caused by stones or other debris which may impact the
bumper facade, minor accidents, and the like.
The bumper shell is preferably prepared by vacuum
molding sheets of polymeric material which, after molding,
provide a desired shape and texture, and exhibit the
properties of resiliency and transparency. Example of
materials which can provide such properties include PETG
and IMPLEX products from Spartech Plastics of Jackson,
Missouri. It is understood that the PETG product is
,
CA 0220910~ 1997-06-26
WO 97/16328 PCT~US95/14090
generally characterized as a polyester of polyethylene
terephthalate glycol and that the IMPLEX product is an
acrylic resin modified with bùtyl rubber compounds. In
addition to these polyesters and acrylics, it is
additionally believed that polycarbonates may be useful for
forming the shell. In a most preferred embodiment, a 0.236
mil sheet of PETG material is vacuum molded to provide the
left and right covering regions, and the a 0.177 mil thick
sheet of PETG material is vacuum molded to provide the
center covering region.
Installation Procedure
The bumper facade 10 can be installed on the
pickup truck 12 according to the following described
procedure.
Generally, the bumper facade can be installed
over the original factory bumper, including the original
molding or trim thereon. The license plate frame, however,
should be removed. The lower valance or air dam 16 should
be removed from the bumper. It should be appreciated that
in certain models, it is not necessary to remove the lower
valance or air dam if it is riveted in place or if it is
too difficult to remove. If the lower valance is not
removed, the facade can be trimmed appropriately.
The regions of the bumper facade 10 should be
prefit to determine whether any trimming thereof is needed.
A high speed fine grit die grinder should be used for
trimming. The regions should then be removed, the exterior
surfaces taped, and the interior surface painted with a
desired color base coat. It is an advantage of the present
invention that a clear coat is not needed thereover. Once
the paint is dried, a double sided tape 60 is preferably
provided on the interior surface of the bumper shell as
shown in FIGURE 2. A satisfactory double sided tape is
4042 Double Sided 3M brand adhesive tape. The bumper
should be thoroughly cleaned with soap and water, and
CA 02209l0~ l997-06-26
W O 97/16328 PCT~US95/14090
dried. The area of the bumper which will contact the tape
is preferably treated with an ad~esion promoting primer
such as K-500 Adhesion Promoter from 3M, Inc. The backing
from the double sided tape should be removed and the left
and right covering regions should be applied to the bumper,
and the center covering region should be applied thereover.
The lower valance or air dam 16 should be replaced and the
bolts inserted through the holes 56. Finally, the license
plate is attached to the license plate holder 25 by washer
head cap screws inserted through holes 62, and trim caps
are placed thereover.
Although the bumper facade 10 is attached to the
bumper by a combination of tape and bolts, it should be
understood that the present invention includes other
mechanisms commonly used for attaching plastic to metal,
including the use of adhesives, mechanical fasteners, and
the like.
Although the invention has been described in
reference to a bumper facade, it should be appreciated that
the invention can be applied to additional parts of a motor
vehicle in order to alter the aesthetics thereof and/or
provide enhanced protection, and that the mechanism for
attaching to the vehicle can be the same as described
herein. In particular, should be appreciated that the
back-coating technique described above can be used over the
front grill of a motor vehicle to cover exposed metal or
chrome surfaces. In fact, it is understood that metal or
chrome surfaces anywhere on a vehicle can be covered by the
present invention. If a back-coated shell is used to cover
the front grill of a motor vehicle, it may be advantageous
to provide openings over the headlamp areas. In addition,
a back-coated shell according to the present invention can
be provided as other accessories of a motor vehicle
including, for example, the running boards, visors, and the
like.
CA 0220910~ 1997-06-26
WO 97/16328 PCT~US9S/14090
While the invention has been described in
conjunction with a specific embodiment thereo~, it is
evident that different alternatives, modifications,
variations, and uses will be apparent to those skilled in
the art in view of the foregoing description. Accordingly,
the invention is not limited to these embodiments or the
use of elements having specific configurations or shapes as
presented herein.
