Adjustable safety bumper

• US 6,974,166 B2
• Filed: 06/03/2004
• Issued: 12/13/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 01/18/2002
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Transfreight Technology LLC
• Original Assignee: Transfreight Technology LLC
• Inventors: Ledford, Kimble E., Gaddis, John A.
• Primary Examiner(s): Patel, Kiran B.
• Application Number:
  US10/860,504
• Publication Number:
  US 20040217603A1
• Time in Patent Office: 558 Days
• Field of Search: 293/102, 293/118, 293/131, 293/103, 293/132, 293/137, 293/140, 293/9, 410/59, 296/194, 280/511, 343/880
• US Class Current: 293/102
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 19/32 Fluid shock absorbers , e.g. with coaxial coil springs
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 19/483 with obstacle sensors of electric or electronic type
• 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
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2021/0011 Rear collision or recoiling bounce after frontal collision

Abstract

An adjustable bumper system that can be easily attached to a vehicle and removed and replaced if damaged. The bumper system includes housings that are mounted to the rails of the vehicle. The housings are independently mounted and thus can be mounted to any vehicle regardless of the spacing of the rails. A vertically extending member is attached to the housing and includes a face plate that is operable to receive a bracket. The bracket and the face plate are used to attach a step portion of the bumper assembly. The combination of the housing and the mounting brackets allow for a bumper system that can be universally mounted to any trailer or vehicle.

Claims

1. A bumper assembly for mounting a bumper system to a vehicle or trailer, the bumper system comprising:

a housing comprising;

a front plate;

a top plate;

a left-side plate; and

a right-side plate;

the housing being attachable to the rail of a vehicle substantially near the rear portion of the vehicle with at least one of the front, top, left-side or right-side plates being flush with a surface of the rail;

a face plate that faces towards the rear of the vehicle and includes a plurality of mounting holes;

a c-shaped bracket that includes a plurality of matching mounting holes and that is operative to be attached to the face plate and to securely hold a step portion of the bumper assembly in place.

2. The bumper assembly of claim 1, wherein a vertically extending member extends downward from the housing and the face plate is fixedly attached to the lower end of the vertically extending member.

3. The bumper assembly of claim 2, wherein the vertically extending member includes an interior portion and an exterior portion and the length of the vertically extending member can be adjusted by sliding the interior portion within the exterior portion.

4. The bumper assembly of claim 1, wherein a vertically extending member extends downward from the housing a horizontally extending member is fixedly attached to the lower end of the vertically extending member and the face plate is fixedly attached to the rearward facing end of the horizontally extending member.

5. The bumper assembly of claim 4, wherein the horizontally extending member includes an interior portion and an exterior portion and the length of the horizontally extending member can be adjusted by sliding the interior portion within the exterior portion.

6. A system for enabling the removable attachment of a bumper assembly to the rails of a vehicle or trailer, the system comprising:

at least two housings, with each housing comprising;

a front plate;

a top plate;

a left-side plate; and

a right-side plate;

each housing being attachable to the rail of a vehicle substantially near the rear portion of the vehicle with at least one of the front, top, left-side or right-side plates being flush with a surface of the rail;

a face plate that faces towards the rear of the vehicle and includes a plurality of mounting holes;

a c-shaped bracket that includes a plurality of matching mounting holes and that is operative to be attached to the face plate and to securely hold a step portion of the bumper assembly in place.

7. The system of claim 6, further comprising a vertically extending member that attaches at an upper end to the housing and includes the face plate on the lower end.

8. The system of claim 7, wherein the vertically extending member can be adjusted to different lengths.

9. The system of claim 6, further comprising a vertically extending member that attaches at an upper end to the housing and includes a horizontally extending member on the lower end, the horizontally extending member being substantially parallel to the rail and the face plate being included on the end of the horizontally extending member facing the rear of the vehicle.

10. The system of claim 7, wherein the horizontally extending member can be adjusted to different lengths.