Motor vehicle bumper skin protection cover, a stowage device including such a cover, and a method of loading said bumper skin

Abstract

The present invention relates to a bumper skin protection cover ( 22 ) including means ( 24; 32; 34; 38 ) for suspending it from a support.

1 .- 18 . (canceled) 
   
   
       19 . A bumper skin protection cover including suspension means for suspending it from a support. 
   
   
       20 . A bumper skin protection cover according to  claim 19 , in which the suspension means comprise a ring or a hook. 
   
   
       21 . A bumper skin protection cover according to  claim 19 , in which the suspension means comprise at least one strap. 
   
   
       22 . A bumper skin protection cover according to  claim 21 , in which at least one strap is suitable for being secured to the bumper skin so as to transmit directly to the support at least a fraction of the weight of the bumper skin. 
   
   
       23 . A bumper skin protection cover according to  claim 21 , in which at least one strap includes a releasable link mechanism suitable for linking the strap to a complementary strap. 
   
   
       24 . A bumper skin protection cover according to  claim 19 , in which the suspension means comprise, stitched to the cover, a lug of plastics material and including an opening. 
   
   
       25 . An assembly comprising a bumper skin stowage device and a cover according to  claim 19 , wherein the stowage device comprises a stand provided with connection means suitable for co-operating with the suspension means of the cover. 
   
   
       26 . An assembly according to  claim 25 , in which the connection means comprise at least one taut cable or rigid bar extending in a horizontal direction and suitable for co-operating with the suspension means, and the suspension means comprises a ring or a hook. 
   
   
       27 . An assembly according to  claim 25 , in which the connection means comprise at least one hook or ring suitable for co-operating with the suspension means, and the suspension means comprises at least one strap. 
   
   
       28 . An assembly according to  claim 26 , in which the rigid bar is provided with a slideway. 
   
   
       29 . An assembly according to of  claim 25 , including spreader means for holding two adjacent bumper skins a predetermined distance apart. 
   
   
       30 . An assembly according to  claim 29 , in which the stand comprises two rigid bars, and the spreader means comprise an I-shaped bar comprising a rectilinear central portion having the suspension means of the cover arranged thereon, and two parallel rectilinear end portions forming respective sliders, each co-operating with a slideway of a rigid bar. 
   
   
       31 . An assembly according to of  claim 23 , in which the connection means are provided at different heights. 
   
   
       32 . An assembly according to  claim 23 , in which the carrier also includes means for adjusting the level of the connection means along a vertical axis. 
   
   
       33 . A method of stowing at least one bumper skin in a transport vehicle, the method being characterized in that it comprises:
 a step of packaging the bumper skin in a cover including suspension means for suspending it from a support;   a step of connecting the cover to a stand of a device according to  claim 25 ; and   a step of loading a frame of said device in the transport vehicle.   
   
   
       34 . A stowing method according to  claim 33 , in which the suspension means comprises at least one strap, and including an additional step of securing the strap of the cover to the bumper skin, performed after the packaging step and before the connection step. 
   
   
       35 . A stowing method according to  claim 33 , including an additional transfer step performed before loading, in which at least one cover positioned on a push cart constituting a stand of a device comprising at least one taut cable or rigid bar extending in a horizontal direction and suitable for cooperating with the suspension means is transferred to a second stand of a device for loading in the transport vehicle. 
   
   
       36 . A stowing method according to  claim 35 , including, between the packaging and connection steps, a step of placing the cover on a conveyor, and a step of separating the cover from the conveyor. 
   
   
       37 . A bumper skin protection cover according to  claim 21 , wherein said strap is a strap of fabric secured to the cover by stitching.