Roller Skid Plate with Quick Disconnect Isolation Mounts

• US 20080277972A1
• Filed: 05/08/2008
• Published: 11/13/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 05/10/2007
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Ronald William Jr. Bonofiglio
• Original Assignee: Ronald William Jr. Bonofiglio
• Inventors: Bonofiglio, Ronald William JR.
• Application Number:
  US12/117,722
• Publication Number:
  US 20080277972A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 296/204
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 13/0861 for covering undersurfaces of vehicles, e.g. wheel houses

Abstract

An undercarriage skid plate consisting of a structural frame, heavy-duty rollers, mounting brackets, quick disconnect attachment means, and impact isolation mounts, primarily for use on off-road vehicles. The roller skid plate frame houses an array of heavy duty rollers with axes of rotation the same as the wheels of the vehicle. Mounting brackets are directly attached to the vehicle frame with appropriate fasteners. The skid plate frame is secured to the brackets with quick-disconnect fasteners inserted through impact absorbing bushings. The roller skid plate provides protection to vehicle undercarriage components while also reducing the amount of frictional drag generated when a vehicle encounters an off-road hazard. The quick disconnect mounts allow for easy removal of the skid plate for such purposes as to service the vehicle. The isolation mounts reduce the force conducted through vehicle'"'"'s frame when impact with an off-road hazard is made.

Claims

1. A roller skid plate to protect undercarriage components of a land vehicle comprising:

a frame;

a plurality of rollers mounted in said frame; and

,

a plurality of mounting brackets used to attach said frame to said land vehicle.

2. The roller skid plate according to claim 1, wherein said frame having two side members parallel to each other, a front member and a rear member permanently attached between and perpendicular to said side members, forming a rectangular shaped frame.

3. The roller skid plate according to claim 1, wherein said frame having two side members parallel to each other, a front member, a rear member, and a center member are permanently attached between and perpendicular to said side members, forming a ladder shaped frame.

4. The roller skid plate according to claim 1, wherein said plurality of rollers are mounted to said frame via axle rods such that when said frame is mounted to said land vehicle, the axes of rotation of said rollers are parallel to the axes of rotation of the wheels of said land vehicle.

5. The roller skid plate according to claim 4, wherein each of said plurality of axle rods is retained in said skid plate frame by means of two cotter pins.

6. The roller skid plate according to claim 1, wherein each of said plurality of rollers employs a polymer bushing at each end to act as a bearing.

7. The roller skid plate according to claim 1, wherein each of said plurality of rollers employs a roller bearing at each end.

8. The roller skid plate according to claim 1, wherein a plurality of isolation bushings are housed in said roller skid plate frame.

9. The roller skid plate according to claim 8, wherein each of said plurality of mounting brackets are releasably attached at one end, by means of a quick release mechanism, to each of said plurality of isolation bushings mounted in said roller skid plate frame.

10. The roller skid plate according to claim 1, wherein each of said plurality of mounting brackets are releasably attached at one end to said land vehicle frame, unit body structure, or structural member.

11. The roller skid plate according to claim 1, wherein each of said plurality of mounting brackets are permanently attached at one end to said land vehicle frame, unit body structure, or structural member.

12. The roller skid plate according to claim 1, wherein said plurality of mounting brackets includes two side mounting brackets and one rear mounting bracket in relation to the orientation of said land vehicle.

13. The roller skid plate according to claim 1, wherein said plurality of mounting brackets includes two side brackets and one front bracket in relation to the orientation of said land vehicle.

14. The roller skid plate according to claim 1, wherein said plurality of mounting brackets includes a total of four side mounting brackets, two on each side, and none on the front or rear side of said roller skid plate in relation to the orientation of said land vehicle.