Active bumper assembly
First Claim
1. An active bumper assembly for use on a vehicle, comprising:
- a bumper;
a hinge connected to the bumper and allowing movement of the bumper from a first position to a second position;
a locking mechanism for securing the bumper in the second position;
an actuator for moving the bumper from the first position to the second position in response to a signal; and
a sensing system for sensing an impending collision, the sensing system generating the signal to which the actuator responds.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
An active bumper assembly for mounting to a vehicle is disclosed. The active bumper assembly includes a bumper that may be hingedly connected to a vehicle. When the bumper is in the inactivated position it is disposed behind the outer edge of the vehicle. When activated, the bumper is moved to an activated position, which is lower with respect to the inactivated position and extends below the outer edge of the vehicle. A sensing system detects an impending collision and generates a signal to which an actuator responds, moving the bumper from the inactivated position to the activated position. A locking member, configured to be interconnected between the bumper and the vehicle frame, then secures the bumper in the activated position.
75 Citations
34 Claims
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1. An active bumper assembly for use on a vehicle, comprising:
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a bumper;
a hinge connected to the bumper and allowing movement of the bumper from a first position to a second position;
a locking mechanism for securing the bumper in the second position;
an actuator for moving the bumper from the first position to the second position in response to a signal; and
a sensing system for sensing an impending collision, the sensing system generating the signal to which the actuator responds. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11)
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12. An active bumper assembly for use on a vehicle, comprising:
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a bumper;
a hinge connected to the bumper allowing movement of the bumper from a first position to a lower second position when the active bumper assembly is mounted to the vehicle;
a locking mechanism for securing the bumper in the second position;
an actuator for moving the bumper from the first position to the second position in response to a signal; and
a sensing system for sensing an impending collision, the sensing system generating the signal to which the actuator responds. - View Dependent Claims (13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19)
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20. An active bumper assembly for mounting on a vehicle, comprising:
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a bumper which is orientable between a first position in which the bumper is configured to be disposed behind an outer edge of a vehicle to which it is mounted, and a second position in which the bumper is lowered with respect to the first position and configured to extend below the outer edge of the vehicle;
a hinged connection attached to the bumper for connecting the bumper to the vehicle;
a locking member configured to be interconnected between the bumper and a vehicle frame for securing the bumper in the second position;
an actuator for moving the bumper from the first position to the second position in response to a signal; and
a sensing system for sensing an impending collision, the sensing system generating the signal to which the actuator responds. - View Dependent Claims (21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29)
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30. An active bumper assembly for mounting on a vehicle, comprising:
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a bumper which is orientable between a first position in which the bumper is configured to be disposed behind an outer edge of a nose of the vehicle, and a second position in which the bumper is lowered with respect to the first position and configured to extend below and beyond the outer edge of the nose of the vehicle when the active bumper assembly is mounted to the vehicle;
a hinge attached to the bumper for connecting the bumper to a vehicle frame;
a hinged locking member configured to be interconnected between the bumper and a vehicle frame for securing the bumper in the second position;
an actuator for moving the bumper from the first position to the second position in response to a signal; and
a radar sensor for sensing an impending collision, the radar sensor generating the signal to which the actuator responds. - View Dependent Claims (31, 32, 33, 34)
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Specification