Folding truck bumper

• US 3,871,695 A
• Filed: 02/20/1974
• Issued: 03/18/1975
• Est. Priority Date: 02/20/1974
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Robert W. Koenig
• Original Assignee: Robert W. Koenig
• Inventors: Koenig, Robert W.
• Primary Examiner(s): Schacher, Richard A.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Saifer, Robert
• Application Number:
  US05/444,109
• Time in Patent Office: 391 Days
• Field of Search: 293/73 248/324,325,326,486 273/1.5R
• US Class Current: 293/118
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 19/56 Fittings damping bouncing force in truck collisions, e.g. bumpers; Arrangements on high-riding vehicles, e.g. lorries, for preventing vehicles or objects from running thereunder

Abstract

A folding bumper for an over-the-road vehicle is attached to the underside of and to the rear of the vehicle frame. Structurally it includes a bumper plate assembly which, in the extended bumper position, depends from a pivotal connection to the frame generally at right angles to the frame. The folding bumper also includes support arms extending from pivotal connections to the frame, connections spaced horizontally from the pivotal connection of the bumper plate assembly to the frame, to releasable connections at the lower end of the bumper plate assembly. Removable pins make the connection between the support arms and the bumper plate assembly to lock the bumper plate assembly in its extended position. To permit movement of the folding bumper to its collapsed position, the pins are removed freeing the bumper plate assembly and support arms for pivotal movement toward a generally horizontal position. The pins are inserted through an opening provided in the support arm intermediate its ends and again through an opening in the bumper plate assembly to hold both the support arms and the bumper plate assembly in a generally horizontal position adjacent the underside of the frame, i.e. in a folded or collapsed position.

Claims

1. A folding bumper for use in connection with an over-the-road vehicle having a frame, the folding bumper comprising, in combination, a bumper plate assembly, first hinge means for pivotally connecting the bumper plate assembly to the vehicle frame and defining a generally horizontal pivot axis, said first hinge means supporting said bumper plate assembly for pivotal movement about said pivot axis between a first, generally vertical extended position and a second, generally horizontal collapsed position, a support arm, second hinge means spaced horizontally from said first hinge means and defining a generally horizontal pivot axis for said support arm and about which said support arm pivots between an extended and a collapsed position to hold said bumper plate assembly respectively in said first and second positions, means defining a first hole in said bumper plate assembly and second and third holes spaced along said support arm, said second and third holes being selectively registerable with said first hole, and pin means releasably receivable in said first, second and third holes and including means for locking said pin means in said registered first and second holes or said first and third holes, whereby insertion of said pin means in said first and second holes locates and locks said bumper plate assembly in said extended position and said pin means inserted in said first and third holes locks said bumper plate assembly in said collapsed position.

2. The combination of claim 1 including motion limiting means engageable between said support arm and said frame to limit movement of said support arm and correspondingly said bumper plate assembly when said bumper plate assembly is located and locked in said extended position.

3. The combination of claim 2 wherein said support arm is generally elongated, and said motion limiting means comprises means defining an angular surface at the end of said support arm adjacent said second hinge means, said angular surface engaging said frame means when saiD support arm'"'"''"'"'s second hole is registered with said bumper plate assembly first hole.

4. The combination of claim 2 wherein said support arm is generally elongated and said second hole is positioned adjacent the end of said support spaced from said second hinge means and said third hole is positioned intermediate the ends of said support arms.

5. A folding bumper for use in connection with an over-the-road vehicle having a frame, the folding bumper comprising, in combination, a bumper plate assembly, hinge means for pivotally connecting the bumper plate assembly to the vehicle frame and supporting said bumper plate assembly for pivotal movement between a first extended position and a second collapsed position, structural support means associated with and operative to hold said bumper plate assembly selectively in one of said first and second positions, means mounting said support means for movement relative to said frame between a first extended position for supporting said bumper assembly in its extended position and a second collapsed position, and locking means including first means on said bumper plate assembly and second and third means relatively spaced on said support means, said second and third means selectively connectable with said first means when said bumper plate assembly and said support means are in said extended and collapsed position and, when so connected, operative to hold said bumper plate assembly in one of said first and second bumper plate assembly'"'"''"'"'s positions and further operative, when not connected, to free said bumper plate assembly and support means for movement relative to each other and the vehicle frame.