Front bumper cover and radiator grille

1. A front bumper cover for an automotive vehicle comprising:

at least two side cover parts;

a central cover part; and

a radiator grille having a pair of bracket attachment points for fixedly securing said at least two side cover parts to said radiator grille, said radiator grille adapted to mount to the vehicle thereby acting as a load-bearing element for supporting said front bumper cover.

2. A front bumper cover as set forth in claim 1 wherein at least a portion of a peripheral edge of said radiator grille includes a U-shaped profile for mating with said at least two side cover parts.

3. A front bumper cover as set forth in claim 2 wherein said U-shaped profile includes at least one pair of recesses.

4. A front bumper cover as set forth in claim 3 wherein said at least two side cover parts each include at least one push-in tab for engaging said at least one pair of recesses to fixedly secure said at least two side cover parts to said radiator grille.

5. A front bumper cover as set forth in claim 4 wherein said at least one push-in tab is a latching hook for engaging at least one pair of recesses to fixedly secure said at least two side cover parts to said radiator grille.

6. A front bumper cover as set forth in claim 1 wherein said radiator grille includes at least one recess disposed horizontally along a lower edge of said radiator grille for fixedly securing said central cover part to said radiator grille.

7. A front bumper cover as set forth in claim 6 wherein said central cover part includes at least one latching hook for engaging said at least one recess at said lower edge of said radiator grille to fixedly secure said central cover part thereto.

8. A front bumper cover as set forth in claim 1 including a lower protective bar provided as an additional connecting member for said cover parts.

9. A front bumper cover as set forth in claim 1 wherein said cover parts are made of plastic.

10. A bumper cover as set forth in claim 1 wherein said radiator grille is made of plastic.

11. A front bumper cover for an automotive vehicle comprising:

a pair of side cover parts;

a central cover part; and

a radiator grille having a pair of bracket attachment points for fixedly securing said pair of side cover parts to said radiator grille, said radiator grille adapted to mount to the vehicle thereby acting as a load-bearing element to support said front bumper cover.

12. A front bumper cover as set forth in claim 11 wherein said radiator grille includes at least one recess disposed horizontally along a lower edge of said radiator grille for fixedly securing said central cover part to said radiator grille.

13. A front bumper cover as set forth in claim 12 wherein said central cover part includes at least one latching hook for engaging said at least one recess at said lower edge of said radiator grille to fixedly secure said central cover part thereto.

14. A front bumper cover as set forth in claim 13 wherein at least a portion of a peripheral edge of said radiator grille includes a U-shaped profile for mating with said pair of side cover parts.

15. A front bumper cover as set forth in claim 14 wherein said U-shaped profile includes at least one pair of recesses.

16. A front bumper cover as set forth in claim 15 wherein said pair of side cover parts each include at least one push-in tab for engaging said at least one pair of recesses to fixedly secure said pair of side cover parts to said radiator grille.

17. A front bumper cover as set forth in claim 16 wherein said at least one push-in tab is a latching hook for engaging said at least one pair of recesses to fixedly secure said pair of side cover parts to said radiator grille.

18. A front bumper cover as set forth in claim 17 wherein said pair of side cover parts, said central cover part, and said radiator grille are made of plastic.