US2585438A - Rubberlike article - Google Patents

Description

F b. 12, 1952 E, CUN MAN 2,585,438

RUBBERLIKE ARTICLE Filed April 8, 1948 JNVENTOR. /-?4uL [T 04 INGMA/V Patented Feb. 12, i952 RUBBERLIKE ARTICLE Paul E. C lingman, Dayton, hio, ,a.ss ignor to Gen eral Motors Corporation, Detroit, Mich a corporation of Delaware Application April 8, 1948, Serial No. 19,760

3 claims. (01.15am)v This invention relates to resilient bumpers and is particularly concerned with extruded rectilinear bumpers.

It is a primary object of the invention to. pro: vide an extruded rubber-like rectilinear bumper adapted for attachment to sheet metal parts and the like wherein said bumper includes a head portion and a nose portion both of rectilinear extent and connected by a reduced size rectilinear neck portion, said neck and head portions having a cavity extending .the entire length thereof and at least partially extending into the nose portion.

Further objects and advantages of the present invention will be apparent from the following description, reference being had to the accompanying drawing, wherein preferred embodiments of the present invention are clearly shown.

In the drawing:

Fig. 1 shows a view in perspective of the extruded stock used in making bumpers.

Fig. 2 is a sectional view of the stock.

Fig. 3 is a side view of a bumper.

Fig. 4 is a view in section of a bumper in inserted position.

Fig. 5 is a side View of another type of bumper made from extruded stock.

Fig. 6 is a view in section of a bumper being inserted into a piece of metal.

Rubber bumpers are important additions to many types of equipment.-

Automobile bodies use numerous bumpers thereon to prevent frictional rubbing and thereby lessen noises in the body. For example, bumpers are used between the hood and the body and are likewise used on the doors, windows and the like. All of these bumpers have in the past been molded parts made from rubber-like material, such as, natural rubber, reclaimed rubber and synthetic rubber which include such materials as butadiene-styrene copolymers, butadiene-acrylonitrile copolymers, polychloroprene, etc. These molded parts are relatively expensive to manufacture, and since the quantities involved are so great their use presents a problem of rather large monetary interest.

This invention is directed to a means for reducing the cost of such bumpers without in any way changing their usefulness and in fact with out making it necessary to modify the body design. The invention is directed in the main to an extruded bumper wherein long strips 20 of extruded material have a uniform cross sectional configuration of the desired shape. These strips are then cut transversely, to provide a plurality of bumpers 2 2. Thebumperlfl includes ahead or buffer portion 24 and a tapered nose or anchor portion 26, which is joined to head 24 by are: duced neck portion 28.; "The bumper preferably includes a cavity 30- therein which may be extruded the entire length of the strip 20. This cavity 30 is preferably open at the top thereof for reasons hereinafter explained. In the least expensive embodimentof the invention, the tapered nose portion 25is of the same length as the head portion 22 as shown in Fig. 3. However, it is possible to cut the nose portion 26 to a less dimension if desired, such a modification being shown in Fig. 5 at 36. The sheet metal or other part to which the bumper is to be attached is provided with a hole 38 preferably punched therethrough which is preferably of rectilinear extent and this is the only difference between the installation of the present bumper and the old style molded bumper which required a circular hole. When placing a bumper in position on the sheet metal part, a tool 40 is used which is pressed into the cavity 30. The nose or anchor portion 26 is then entered into the aperture 38 and the tool 40 pressed downwardly. This stretches the nose and reduces its cross sectional dimension whereby the nose portion 26 slips through the hole or aperture 38 until such time as the head 24 contacts the sheet metal 39. At this time, the tool is removed and the sheet metal fits within the neck portion 28 and the bumper is thereby immovably secured to the sheet metal 39.

The present bumper has additional advantages of a round bumper. Round bumpers often turn by vibration within their receiving apertures and eventually the head portion is severed by the edge of the sheet metal from the nose portion, thereby permitting the bumper to dropout of place. In the present instance, the neck portion 28 and the aperture 38 both being of rectilinear extent, such as a rectangle or square, prevents turning of the bumper due to vibration whereby the bumper is prevented from being severed during use. Thus the new type bumper has in general a longer extent of useful life.

While the embodiments of the present invention as herein disclosed, constitute preferred forms, it is to be understood that other forms might be adopted, all coming within the scope of the claims which follow.

What is claimed is as follows:

1. An extruded bumper, having a length of the same dimensional order as its depth, formed from resilient rubber-like material for use in connection with a piece of sheet metal having an aperture therethrough of rectilinear extent consisting of a rubber-like part comprising: a rectilinear head portion, a rectilinear tapered nose portion having a length equal to the length of the head but with a width of less dimension than the width of the head, and aneck portion connecting the head and nose, said ne ck'portion having a length equal to the length of the head and nose portions but having a width less than that of the head and nose portions, said bumper having a cavity opening through the head portion thereof and extending longitudinally the entire length of the head portion and also extending the entire length of the nose portion, said cavity being at least partially within the nose portion.

2. A one-piece extruded bumper, having a length of the same dimensional order as its depth, formed from resilient rubber-like material for attachment to a piece of sheet metal having an aperture therein ofrectilinear extent comprising: a head portion of rectilinear shape, a nose portion of rectilinear shape .but shorter than said head, and a'neokportion of rectilinear shape integrally connectingsaid nose and head portions, said bumper having a cavity opening through the head portion thereof and extending longitudinally the entire length of the head portion and also extending the entire length of the nose portion, said cavity being at least partially within the nose portion.

3. A bumper having a length of the same dimensional order as its depth and formed of resilient rubber-like material having a bufier portion and an integral anchor portion adapted to be forced through an aperture in a supporting mem her, said bufier and anchor portions being connected together by a relatively smallerneck portion integral therewith, said bumper having a cavity of rectilinear shape therein opening through the upper surface of said buffer portion and extending down through said neck portion and partially into said anchor portion, said cavity extending the full length of said bufier, neck and anchor portions respectively, said bumper having such rectilinear shape in one direction that a series of duplicate bumpers can be made by cutting off. relatively short lengths from an elongated strip of extruded stock having a uniform cross section.

PAUL E. CLINGMAN.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 204,913 Pratt June 18, 1870 1,915,249 Jorgensen June 20, 1933 1,998,791 Schanz Apr. 23, 1935 2,024,101 Kahn Dec. 10, 1935

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