BUMPER SYSTEM FOR LIMITING THE MOBILITY OF A WHEELED DEVICE

• US 20010013597A1
• Filed: 12/22/1999
• Published: 08/16/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 05/06/1998
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Albert Santelli Jr
• Original Assignee: Albert Santelli Jr
• Inventors: SANTELLI, ALBERT Jr.
• Granted Patent: US 6,302,382 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 256/26
• CPC Class Codes: A47D 13/043 Baby walkers with a seat
• CPC Class Codes: E04F 19/026 specially adapted for cushioning impacts

Abstract

A bumper for limiting the limiting the mobility of a wheeled device. The bumper is an elongated member having a base wall and an elastically resilient wheel engagement wall coupled to the base wall. The wheel engagement wall includes an outer surface and an inner surface, one of which includes reliefs for aiding the wall to conform to and stop the rolling action of a wheel of a wheeled device when impacted thereby. The energy stored in the engagement wall when impacted by the wheel of the wheeled device returns the engagement wall to its original shape thereby pushing the wheel of the wheeled device away from the elongated member. A bumper system may be fabricated by connecting two or more of the bumpers together in a desired configuration using adjustable, straight, or bent connectors.

Claims

1. A bumper for limiting the limiting the mobility of a wheeled device, the bumper comprising an elongated member having a base wall and an elastically resilient wheel engagement wall coupled to the base wall, the wheel engagement wall including an outer surface and an inner surface, one of the outer and the inner surfaces including relief means for aiding the elastically resilient engagement wall to conform to and stop the rolling action of a wheel of the wheeled device when impacted thereby, the energy stored in the engagement wall returning the engagement wall to its original shape to push the wheel of the wheeled device away from the bumper.

2. The bumper according to

claim 1

, wherein the elongated member includes a second wheel engagement wall coupled to the base member.

3. The bumper according to

claim 2

, wherein the elongated member is triangular in shape.

4. The bumper according to

claim 3

, wherein the elongated member is hollow.

5. The bumper according to

claim 2

, wherein the second engagement wall includes said relief means.

6. The bumper according to

claim 5

, wherein the base wall includes said relief means.

7. The bumper according to

claim 1

, wherein the base wall includes said relief means.

8. The bumper according to

claim 1

, wherein the elongated member is hollow.

9. The bumper according to

claim 1

, wherein the elongated member is made from a thermal plastic rubber material.

10. The bumper according to

claim 9

, wherein the thermal plastic rubber material has a durometer which ranges between about 35 and about 115.

11. A bumper system for limiting the mobility of a wheeled device, the bumper system comprising:

at least two bumpers for stopping the rolling action of a wheeled device and pushing the wheeled device away therefrom; and

coupling means for connecting the at least two bumpers to each other.

12. The bumper system according to

claim 11

, wherein each of the bumpers comprises an elongated member having a base wall and an elastically resilient wheel engagement wall coupled to the base wall, the wheel engagement wall including an outer surface and an inner surface, one of the outer and the inner surfaces including means relief means for aiding the elastically resilient engagement wall to conform to and stop the rolling action of a wheel of the wheeled device when impacted thereby, the energy stored in the engagement wall returning the engagement wall to its original shape thereby pushing the wheel of the wheeled device away from the bumper.

13. The bumper system according to

claim 12

, wherein the elongated member includes a second wheel engagement wall coupled to the base member.

14. The bumper system according to

claim 13

, wherein the elongated member is triangular in shape.

15. The bumper system according to

claim 14

, wherein the elongated member is hollow.

16. The bumper system according to

claim 13

, wherein the second engagement wall includes relief means.

17. The bumper system according to

claim 16

, wherein the base wall includes relief means.

18. The bumper system according to

claim 12

, wherein the base wall includes relief means.

19. The bumper system according to

claim 12

, wherein the elongated member is hollow.

20. The bumper system according to

claim 12

, wherein the elongated member is made from a thermal plastic rubber material.

21. The bumper system according to

claim 20

, wherein the thermal plastic rubber material has a durometer which ranges between about 35 and 115.

22. The bumper system according to

claim 11

, wherein the coupling means includes a linearly-shaped connector for coupling the at least two bumpers in an inline manner.

23. The bumper system according to

claim 11

, wherein the coupling means includes a bent-shaped connector for coupling the at least two bumpers in an angled manner.

24. The bumper system according to

claim 11

, wherein the coupling means includes pivoting means for varying the angle between the at least two bumpers.