U=shaped bumper for motor vehicle - has end parts hinged to central part and operating switches when deflected to indicate same to driver

The bumper has a centre part with a U-shaped cross-section and two end parts each with a roughly U-shaped cross-section and curving around the bodywork. A hinge-like join connects the end parts to the centre part. The hinge joint (6) is formed by reducing the thickness of the material from which the bumper is made. (This material has a limited amount of elasticity). Each hinge joint comprises a region of reduced thickness in the spine (10) of the U and two slots (11) cut into the arms of the U. The impact absorber (13) is split into three parts corresponding to the three parts of the bumper. An electrical switch is located behind each end part and is operated when that part is deflected, thereby warning the driver of this deflection. L'INVENTION CONCERNE UN PARE-CHOCS POUR VEHICULES, EN PARTICULIER POUR VOITURES DE TOURISME, COMPORTANT UNE PARTIE CENTRALE DE PARE-CHOCS PROFILEE EN U ET, SE RACCORDANT A CELLE-CI, DEUX PARTIES TERMINALES LATERALEMENT ENVELOPPANTES ET EGALEMENT PROFILEES EN U, UNE LIAISON EN CHARNIERE EXISTANT ENTRE LES PARTIES TERMINALES ET LA PARTIE CENTRALE DU PARECHOCS.LA LIAISON EN CHARNIERE 6 EST REALISEE PAR UN AFFAIBLISSEMENT 7 DU CORPS PRINCIPAL 5 DU PARE-CHOCS, LEQUEL CONSISTE EN UN MATERIAU D'UNE ELASTICITE LIMITEE.APPLICATION AUX PARE-CHOCS ARTICULES.