Pendulum suspended bumper assembly

• US 4,397,372 A
• Filed: 03/09/1981
• Issued: 08/09/1983
• Est. Priority Date: 03/09/1981
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Bell & Howell LLC (Böwe Systec AG)
• Original Assignee: Bell & Howell LLC (Böwe Systec AG)
• Inventors: De Kraker, Larry
• Primary Examiner(s): Mitchell, David M.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Roesch, Timothy
• Application Number:
  US06/241,699
• Time in Patent Office: 883 Days
• Field of Search: 180/277, 180/274, 180/279, 180/275, 293/4, 293/6-8, 293/15, 293/102, 293/120, 293/121, 293/126, 293/131, 293/136, 293/142, 293/127, 293/117, 248/345.1, 248/354 H, 248/354 C, 411/388, 411/389, 200/61.44
• US Class Current: 180/277
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 19/483 with obstacle sensors of electric or electronic type
• CPC Class Codes: B61B 10/04 with vehicles rolling trackless on the ground
• CPC Class Codes: B62D 1/26 mechanical, e.g. by a non-load-bearing guide railways B61

Abstract

A bumper assembly (12) is disclosed for use with a self-propelled vehicle (10) and includes a bumper (18) mounted to a bumper frame (16) pendulously suspended from a vehicle frame (14) by means of a plurality of hangers (20). When the vehicle (10) collides with an obstacle in its path, the bumper (18) and the bumper frame (16) pendulously swing and deflect at least one spring-loaded arm (32), thereby activating corresponding electrical switch assemblies (30) connected thereto to disconnect the driving power to the vehicle motor and decelerate the vehicle.

Claims

1. A bumper assembly for a self-propelled vehicle and adapted to detect impact with an obstacle and preclude vehicle damage caused thereby, the vehicle comprising a vehicle frame with a front, back and lateral side, and means for propelling the vehicle, and the assembly comprising:

compressible means for cushioning the vehicle upon impact with an obstacle;

suspension means connected to the compressible means for suspending the compressible means from the vehicle frame in a manner enabling the compressible means to pendulously move in a multitude of directions of at least about 180°

including rearwardly and laterally of the vehicle frame in response to vehicle impact with an obstacle;

detection means mounted between the vehicle frame and the compressible means, the detection means having activated and deactivated states and responsive to movement of the compressible means in any of said multitude of directions for switching between states; and

the means for propelling the vehicle is responsive to the detection means to decelerate the vehicle upon switching of the detection means between the activated and deactivated states.

2. A bumper assembly according to claim 1 wherein the compressible means comprises:

a frame member suspended from the vehicle frame; and

a compressible, deformable bumper removably secured to the frame member.

3. A bumper assembly according to claim 2 wherein the bumper is removably secured to the frame member with VELCRO fasteners.

4. A bumper assembly according to claim 2 wherein the detection means comprises:

at least one switch assembly for mounting to the vehicle frame and having a switch which, upon actuation, is adapted to cause the means for propelling the vehicle to disconnect and the vehicle to decelerate;

at least one spring-loaded arm member mounted on the at least one switch assembly, the arm member pivotably connected to the switch of the at least one switch assembly and for abutting the frame member; and

the at least one spring-loaded arm member being adapted to actuate the at least one switch assembly when the movement of the frame member deflects the at least one arm member.

5. A bumper assembly according to claim 4 and further comprising:

means for damping the movement of the frame member with respect to the vehicle frame.

6. A bumper assembly according to claim 2 wherein the suspension means comprises:

a cylindrical rod member; and

means for connecting an upper portion of the rod member to the vehicle and a lower portion of the rod member to the frame member, so that the rod member and the frame member connected thereto freely swing in said multitude of directions of with respect to the vehicle frame.

7. A bumper assembly according to claim 6 wherein the connecting means comprises:

means for retaining the upper portion of the rod member above an enlarged hole of a first clip secured on the vehicle frame, and the lower portion of the rod member below another enlarged hole of a second clip secured to the frame member, thereby enabling the frame member to be suspended from the vehicle frame and move in said multitude of directions.

8. In a self-propelled vehicle having a vehicle frame with front, back and vertical sides, means for propelling the vehicle along a predetermined path, and having a bumper assembly mounted to the frame and adopted to detect impact with an obstacle and to stop the forward motion of the vehicle upon impact, wherein the improvement in the bumper assembly comprises:

compressible means for cushioning the vehicle when the vehicle collides with an obstacle;

suspension means connected to the vehicle frame and the compressible means for suspending the compressible means from the vehicle frame in a manner enabling the compressible means to move in a multitude of directions of at least 180°

including rearwardly and laterally of the vehicle frame in response to vehicle impact with an obstacle;

detection means mounted to the vehicle frame and the compressible means, the detection means having activated and deactivated states for responding to the movement of the compressible means with respect to the vehicle frame in said multitude of directions to switch between activated and deactivated states; and

the means for propelling the vehicle being responsive to the detection means for decelerating the vehicle upon switching of the detection means between activated and deactivated states.

9. A self-propelled vehicle according to claim 8 wherein the compressible means comprises:

a frame member suspended from the vehicle frame; and

a compressible, deformable bumper removably secured to the frame member.

10. A self-propelled vehicle according to claim 9 wherein the bumper is removably secured to the frame member with VELCRO fasteners.

11. A self-propelled vehicle according to claim 9 wherein the detection means comprises:

at least one switch assembly mounted to the vehicle frame and having a switch which, upon actuation, causes the means for propelling the vehicle to disconnect and the vehicle to decelerate;

at least one spring-loaded arm member corresponding to the at least one switch assembly, the arm manner pivotably connected to the switch of the at least one switch assembly and abutting the frame member; and

the at least one spring-loaded arm member actuating the at least one switch assembly when the movement of the frame member deflects the at least one arm member.

12. A self-propelled vehicle according to claim 11 and further comprising:

means for damping the movement of the frame member with respect to the vehicle frame.

13. A self-propelled vehicle according to claim 9 wherein the suspension means comprises:

a cylindrical rod member; and

means for connecting an upper portion of the rod member to the vehicle and a lower portion of the rod member to the frame member, thereby enabling the frame member to be suspended from the vehicle, and to freely swing in a pendulous manner in said multitude of directions with respect to the vehicle frame.

14. A self-propelled vehicle according to claim 13 wherein the connecting means comprises:

a first clip on the vehicle frame and having a hole, the diameter of which is larger than the diameter of the rod member;

a second clip secured to the frame member and having a hole, the diameter of which is larger than the diameter of the rod member; and

means for retaining the upper portion of the rod member above the hole of the first clip and the lower portion of the rod member below the hole of the second clip, thereby enabling the frame member to be suspended from the vehicle frame and move in a pendulous manner in said multitude of directions with respect thereto.

15. A self-propelled vehicle according to claim 8 wherein the compressible means is of a width sufficient to extend the compressible means from the vehicle so as to allow the vehicle to stop upon striking an obstacle and switching of the detection means before complete compression of the compressible means.