DRAWINGS
FIG. 1A is a perspective view of an embodiment of the bumper protection apparatus in accordance with the principles of the present invention with the apparatus shown in the retracted position;
FIG. 1B is a perspective view of the bumper protection apparatus of FIG. 1A with the apparatus shown in the fully extended position and illustrating the safety enclosure features of the invention;
FIG. 1C illustrates in side view the bumper protection apparatus of FIG. 1B and further shows the protective enclosure features of the invention;
FIG. 2A is a bottom view illustrating installation in a vehicle of the apparatus of the invention, the apparatus in the retracted position;
FIG. 2B is a bottom view illustrating installation in a vehicle of the apparatus of the invention, the apparatus in the extended position;
FIG. 3 is a functional block diagram depicting function of the apparatus of the invention as operated by electrical means;
FIG. 4A is a perspective view of the bumper protection apparatus of the invention shown installed in a delivery truck in the retracted position;
FIG. 4B is a perspective view of the bumper protection apparatus of FIG. 4A shown in the fully extended position and illustrating safety enclosure protective features of the invention;
FIG. 5A illustrates in side view the protective work space established for a large truck by the apparatus of the invention;
FIG. 5B illustrates in side view a vehicle approaching the protective work space established by the apparatus of the invention;
FIG. 5C illustrates in side view the bumper protection apparatus shown in FIG. 5B cushioning the impact of the approached vehicle;
FIG. 6A illustrates in side view a modified bumper apparatus in accordance with the invention, the apparatus in the retracted position;
FIG. 6B illustrates the bumper apparatus of FIG. 6A extended to conserve egress parking space as well as for impact damage prevention;
FIG. 7A illustrates front and rear installation of the invention in a vehicle bracketed by two other vehicles, the apparatus in the retracted position; and
FIG. 7B illustrates the bumper apparatus of FIG. 5A extended to conserve front and rear egress parking space as well as for impact damage prevention.
DESCRIPTION
Referring to the drawings there is shown the bumper protection apparatus of the present invention. As will be described the bumper apparatus provides for protection of a stopped or parked vehicle from damage caused by undesirably encroaching vehicles either from the front or back, and as well provides a protected work space for unloading or other activities at the rear of the parked or stopped vehicle.
FIGS. 1A-1C illustrate the inventive features of the invention, FIG. 1A illustrating in perspective view the bumper protection apparatus 10 installed in a vehicle 11 in the retracted position or mode with FIG. 1B illustrating apparatus 10 in the fully extended position or mode. As shown in cross-hatch, the apparatus 10 includes substantially identical protective bumper apparatus portions 10a and 10b that may be formed as part of the rear bumper 13. FIG. 1C illustrates in side view the bumper protection apparatus 10 in the extended mode thereby defining, by apparatus portions 10a and 10b, a protected work space for loading or unloading activities at the rear of the vehicle. As indicated in FIGS. 1A-1C the apparatus 10 is suitable for a relatively small vehicle such as an automobile, a sport utility vehicle (SUV), or small panel truck. As will be explained infra the apparatus 10 may be extended and retracted by electrical means, by means of a hydraulic system, or by other suitable means in accordance with the invention.
FIGS. 2A and 2
b illustrate in bottom view the apparatus 10 of the invention in greater detail, FIG. 2A illustrating apparatus 10 in the retracted mode and FIG. 2B illustrating apparatus 10 in the extended mode. Only shock absorber means 30 are shown for the front bumper although it is to be understood that apparatus 10 as described may also be installed at the front end of the vehicle. As seen, bumper protection apparatus portions 10a and 10b have respectively substantially identical extension rods 10c and cylinders 10d for receiving extension rods 10c in the retracted mode (FIG. 2A). Bumper portions 10a and 10b further include built-in substantially identical shock absorbers 10e and safety sensors 10f. Bumper portions 10a and 10b may be of resilient material to allow for compression and reaction of shock absorbers 10e. Sensors 10f may be of a conventional sonar design or as may be found desirable.
FIG. 3 is a functional block diagram depicting function of the apparatus in accordance with the invention as operated by electrical means for both the retracted and extended mode. Since bumper portions 10a and 10b are substantially identical except for left/right configuration only portion 10a will be described. For the retracted mode, safety bumper portion 10a is depicted having sensor 10f for sensing near proximity objects, shock absorber 10e for impact absorption, extension rod 10c, cylinder 10d for receiving extension rod 10c, and electric motor 70 for extending and retracting extension rod 10c and thus bumper portion 10a. Also shown is locking mechanism 71 and associated notch 71a for locking in place bumper portion 10a. Although only one notch means 71a is shown, it is understood that locking mechanism 71 could include means for locking bumper portion 10a in multiple selected extension positions. Further, although not shown, microcontroller 73 may include means for automatically unlocking locking mechanism 71 upon predetermined impact to allow compression of shock absorbers 10e. However, sensors 10f sense occupation of said work place and upon impact microcontroller 73 automatically selectively locks said bumper portions to maintain the safety of the work space. Microcontroller 73 may further include means for automatically extending and retracting bumper portions 10a, 10b in response to predetermined signals from sensors 10f. In addition, visual display means as well as audio means may be included for informing the vehicle operator of the extension/retraction status of the bumper portions 10a, 10b and microcontroller 73 may include manually switched means for extension/retraction of bumper portions 10a, 10b.
For the extended mode of bumper portion 10a the output of sensor 10f is fed to bumper sensor electronics 72 and in turn the signals generated by sensor electronics 72 are fed to microcontroller 73. As known in the art, such microcontrollers 73 include electronics for controlling multiple functions and can be designed as an integrated circuit or any similar data analyzing device. In accordance with the invention, the microcontroller 73 receives signals generated in sensor electronics 72 and responds to transmit appropriate signals by way of extend/retract mechanism 74 to electric motor 70 to thereby extend or retract bumper portion 10A, and when appropriate, transmit signals by way of locking mechanism 75 to either unlock or lock locking mechanism 71. Although shown separately, sensor electronics 72 can be combined integrally with the microcontroller 73. A power source, grounding and on/off control as may be appropriate is indicated.
Although not shown, it is to be understood that in accordance with the invention a hydraulic system can be used instead of electrical means for both the retracted and extended mode. That is, a hydraulic pump with reservoir and an associated hydraulic cylinder can be substituted for electric motor 70 and cylinder 10d, respectively. Further, as will be understood, microcontroller 73 may be configured for either automatic operation of the apparatus of the invention or for on-demand manual operation.
FIGS. 4A and 4B illustrate in perspective view an embodiment of the bumper protection apparatus 10 installed in a medium sized truck or van 14 in the retracted position or mode (FIG. 4A) and in the fully extended position or mode (FIG. 4B). As indicated the apparatus 10 can be formed to be a part of the rear bumper 13.
FIG. 5A-FIG. 5C illustrate in side view the bumper protection apparatus 10 installed underneath a large truck, and if suitable, independent of any other rear impact protection that the truck may have. FIG. 5A illustrates the apparatus 10 in the extendable mode wherein a protected work space is provided for the person 12 between the vehicle 15 and the vehicle 16. Also shown is safety bumper portion 10b with associated extension rod 10c and safety bumper cylinder 10d.
FIG. 5B illustrates vehicle 16 approaching the person 12 in the work space created by the apparatus 10 of the invention with FIG. 2C illustrating contact by vehicle 16 with the apparatus 10. As indicated the shock absorber means 10e of bumper portion 10a operates to cushion the impact of the vehicle 16 while still maintaining a sufficient safety space for the person 12.
FIGS. 6A and 6B illustrate in side view another embodiment of the bumper protection apparatus in accordance with the invention wherein bumper apparatus 10 has been modified to include an upright guard portion 20 for protection against vehicle, such as vehicle 19, having raised rear ends. The bumper apparatus 20 installed in vehicle 18 is shown retracted in FIG. 6A and extended in FIG. 6B to prevent impact by the vehicle 19 as well as to establish egress space for vehicle 18 as needed.
FIGS. 7A and 7B illustrate in side view bumper protection apparatus 10 mounted to the rear end of the vehicle 18 and bumper protection apparatus 20 mounted to the front end of the vehicle 18. Bumper apparatus 10 and bumper apparatus 20 are shown retracted (FIG. 7A) during parking and extended (FIG. 7B) after parking to prevent undesirable encroachment by other vehicles as well as to establish egress space as needed, retraction of all apparatus being made as desired to permit egress.
Although the present invention has been described in connection with example embodiments thereof, it will be appreciated by those skilled in the art that additions, deletions, substitutions, and other modifications not specifically described herein may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention.
Patent Application
20070290515
