Vehicle bumper guard and monitoring assembly

• US 8,531,282 B1
• Filed: 10/24/2011
• Issued: 09/10/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 10/24/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: William Santiago
• Original Assignee: William Santiago
• Inventors: Santiago, William
• Primary Examiner(s): Nguyen, Tai T
• Application Number:
  US13/279,462
• Time in Patent Office: 687 Days
• Field of Search: 340/435, 340/436, 340/605, 340/612, 340/614, 293/119, 293/132
• US Class Current: 340/436
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 19/44 Bumper guards
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 19/483 with obstacle sensors of electric or electronic type

Abstract

A vehicle bumper guard and monitoring assembly is provided for protecting the bumper area of a vehicle, monitoring the surrounding area, and providing an alert upon detection of contact with the bumper guard. The assembly includes a sheet having opposed ends. The sheet is configured for conforming to a bumper of a vehicle. A plurality of hooks is coupled to and extends from the sheet. Each hook is configured for securing to the vehicle whereby the sheet is positioned over the bumper of the vehicle. A plurality of sensors is coupled to the sheet. Each sensor is configured to detect contact or imminent contact between an object and the bumper of the vehicle. A transmitter is operationally coupled to the sensors to transmit an alert signal when contact is detected between the object and the bumper of the vehicle.

Claims

1. A bumper guard and vehicle monitoring assembly comprising:

a sheet, said sheet having opposed ends, said sheet being configured for conforming to a bumper of a vehicle;

a plurality of hooks, each hook being coupled to and extending from said sheet, each hook being configured for securing to the vehicle whereby said sheet is positioned over the bumper of the vehicle;

a plurality of sensors coupled to said sheet, each sensor being configured to detect contact between an object and the bumper of the vehicle; and

a transmitter, said transmitter being operationally coupled to said sensors, said transmitter transmitting an alert signal when contact is detected between the object and the bumper of the vehicle.

2. The assembly of claim 1, further comprising:

a housing, said transmitter being positioned in said housing; and

a processor positioned in said housing, said processor being operationally coupled to said transmitter and said sensors.

3. The assembly of claim 2, further comprising:

a slot positioned in said housing; and

a memory card insertable through said slot in said housing, said memory card being selectively operationally coupled to said processor.

4. The assembly of claim 2, further including a plurality of housing lights coupled to said housing, said housing lights being operationally coupled to said processor for selectively being illuminated by said processor.

5. The assembly of claim 2, further including a first wire, a first end of said first wire being coupled to said sheet, a second end of said first wire being coupled to said housing, said first end of said first wire being electrically coupled to said sensors, said second end of said first wire being electrically coupled to said processor.

6. The assembly of claim 2, further including a camera configured for coupling to the vehicle, said camera being configured for monitoring an area proximate the vehicle, said camera being operationally coupled to said processor.

7. The assembly of claim 6, further including a second wire, a first end of said second wire being coupled to said housing, a second end of said second wire being coupled to said camera, said first end of said second wire being electrically coupled to said processor, said second end of said second wire being electrically coupled to said camera.

8. The assembly of claim 1, further including a reflector coupled to an outer face of said sheet.

9. The assembly of claim 1, further including said sheet being constructed of rubber.

10. The assembly of claim 1, further including said sheet having a transparent central section configured for positioning over a license plate whereby the license plate is visible through said central section when said sheet is coupled to the bumper.

11. The assembly of claim 1, further including a plurality of sheet lights coupled to said sheet.

12. The assembly of claim 1, further including a plurality of suction cups coupled to an inner face of said sheet, said suction cups being configured for coupling to an outer surface of the vehicle.

13. The assembly of claim 12, further including said suction cups being arranged into a pair of cup arrays, each of said cup arrays being positioned proximate an associated one of said opposed ends of said sheet.

14. The assembly of claim 1, wherein said alert signal is a telephonic message.

15. The assembly of claim 1, wherein said alert signal is communicated to a remote device.

16. The assembly of claim 1, further including a receiver, said receiver being positioned in said housing, said receiver being operationally coupled to said processor whereby said receiver is configured for communications between said processor and a remote communications device.

17. A bumper guard and vehicle monitoring assembly comprising:

a rubber sheet, said sheet having opposed ends said sheet being configured for conforming to a bumper of a vehicle, said sheet having a transparent central section configured for positioning over a license plate whereby the license plate is visible through said central section when said sheet is coupled to the bumper;

a plurality of hooks, each hook being coupled to and extending from said sheet, each hook being configured for securing to the vehicle whereby said sheet is positioned over the bumper of the vehicle;

a plurality of sensors coupled to said sheet, each sensor being configured to detect contact between an object and the bumper of the vehicle;

a transmitter, said transmitter being operationally coupled to said sensors, said transmitter transmitting an alert signal when contact is detected between the object and the bumper of the vehicle, said alert signal being a telephonic message communicated to a remote device;

a housing, said transmitter being positioned in said housing;

a processor positioned in said housing, said processor being operationally coupled to said transmitter and said sensors;

a slot positioned in said housing;

a memory card insertable through said slot in said housing, said memory card being selectively operationally coupled to said processor;

a plurality of housing lights coupled to said housing, said housing lights being operationally coupled to said processor for selectively being illuminated by said processor;

a first wire, a first end of said first wire being coupled to said sheet, a second end of said first wire being coupled to said housing, said first end of said first wire being electrically coupled to said sensors, said second end of said first wire being electrically coupled to said processor;

a camera configured for coupling to the vehicle, said camera being configured for monitoring an area proximate the vehicle, said camera being operationally coupled to said processor;

a second wire, a first end of said second wire being coupled to said housing, a second end of said second wire being coupled to said camera, said first end of said second wire being electrically coupled to said processor, said second end of said second wire being electrically coupled to said camera;

a reflector coupled to an outer face of said sheet;

a plurality of sheet lights coupled to said sheet;

a plurality of suction cups coupled to an inner face of said sheet, said suction cups being configured for coupling to an outer surface of the vehicle, said suction cups being arranged into a pair of cup arrays, each of said cup arrays being positioned proximate an associated one of said opposed ends of said sheet; and

a receiver, said receiver being positioned in said housing, said receiver being operationally coupled to said processor whereby said receiver is configured for communications between said processor and a remote communications device.