# US 12,109,962 B2 · Reconfigurable vehicle bumper ends > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 12,109,962 B2 - Document ID: US12109962B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 17/804,034 - Filed: 2022-05-25 - Published: 2023-11-30 - Granted: 2024-10-08 - Earliest claimed: 2022-05-25 - Assignees: Canoo Technologies Inc. - Applicants: Canoo Technologies Inc. - Inventors: Anthony Aquila; Richard Kim; Arthur Henrique Martins Junior; Jackson Eric Luttig; Senon Franco; Mark Smith - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US12109962B2 ## CPC - B60R 19/48: combined with, or convertible into, other devices or objects, e.g. bumpers combined with road brushes, bumpers convertible into beds - B60R 19/44: Bumper guards - B60R 19/50: with lights or registration plates - B60R 2019/505: {with lights} - B60R: VEHICLES, VEHICLE FITTINGS, OR VEHICLE PARTS, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR ## Abstract A multi-purpose vehicle includes reconfigurable bumper ends each including a vehicle bumper end body configured to securely attach to a vehicle bumper and extend along a side of a vehicle on which the vehicle bumper is mounted. A socket formed within the vehicle bumper end body is configured to receive an insert portion of a bumper end insert. Bumper end inserts may include a step insert or a safety indicator insert. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A reconfigurable vehicle bumper end, comprising: a vehicle bumper end body configured to securely attach to a vehicle bumper and extend along a side of a vehicle on which the vehicle bumper is mounted, the side of the vehicle extending from a front of the vehicle toward a rear of the vehicle; and a socket formed by a recess extending into an outside surface of the vehicle on a portion of the vehicle bumper end body that extends along the side of the vehicle, the recess extending inward, relative to the vehicle, from the outside surface of the vehicle on the portion of the vehicle bumper end body that extends along the side of the vehicle, wherein the socket is configured to receive an insert portion of a bumper end insert. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The reconfigurable vehicle bumper end according to claim 1, wherein the vehicle bumper end body is configured to wrap around a corner of the vehicle. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The reconfigurable vehicle bumper end according to claim 1, wherein the socket includes one or more structures for retaining the insert portion of the bumper end insert, once received therein. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The reconfigurable vehicle bumper end according to claim 1, further comprising: a step insert having a panel movable between a closed position and an open position, the panel forming a step surface when the panel is in the open position. ### Claim 5 (depends on 4) The reconfigurable vehicle bumper end according to claim 4, wherein the step insert is configured to support at least 250 pounds when the panel is in the open position. ### Claim 6 (depends on 4) The reconfigurable vehicle bumper end according to claim 4, wherein an upper surface of the panel, when the panel is in the open position, has a textured surface. ### Claim 7 (depends on 4) The reconfigurable vehicle bumper end according to claim 4, wherein an upper surface of the panel, when the panel is in the open position, is approximately 12 inches above the ground on which the vehicle rests. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The reconfigurable vehicle bumper end according to claim 1, further comprising: a safety indicator insert having a panel movable between a retracted position and a deployed position, the panel extending substantially perpendicularly to a body of the vehicle when in the deployed position. ### Claim 9 (depends on 8) The reconfigurable vehicle bumper end according to claim 8, wherein at least one major surface of the panel includes warning indicia, wherein the warning indicia include one or more of stripes of alternating colors, lights, or reflectors. ### Claim 10 (depends on 1) The vehicle including the reconfigurable vehicle bumper end according to claim 1, the vehicle further comprising: a chassis to which the vehicle bumper is mounted; wheels mounted to the chassis; a motor mounted to the chassis; and a vehicle body mounted to the chassis, the vehicle body configured to accommodate at least an operator for the vehicle. ### Claim 11 A method of reconfiguring a vehicle bumper end, comprising: configuring a vehicle bumper end body to securely attach to a vehicle bumper and extend along a side of a vehicle on which the vehicle bumper is mounted, the side of the vehicle extending from a front of the vehicle toward a rear of the vehicle; and providing a socket formed by a recess extending into an outside surface of the vehicle on a portion of the vehicle bumper end body that extends along the side of the vehicle, the recess extending inward, relative to the vehicle, from the outside surface of the vehicle on the portion of the vehicle bumper end body that extends along the side of the vehicle, wherein the socket is configured to receive an insert portion of a bumper end insert. ### Claim 12 (depends on 11) The method according to claim 11, wherein the vehicle bumper end body is configured to wrap around a corner of the vehicle. ### Claim 13 (depends on 11) The method according to claim 11, wherein the socket includes one or more structures for retaining the insert portion of the bumper end insert, once received therein. ### Claim 14 (depends on 11) The method according to claim 11, further comprising: securing a step insert in the socket, the step insert having a panel movable between a closed position and an open position, the panel forming a step surface when the panel is in the open position. ### Claim 15 (depends on 14) The method according to claim 14, wherein the step insert is configured to support at least 250 pounds when the panel is in the open position. ### Claim 16 (depends on 14) The method according to claim 14, wherein an upper surface of the panel, when the panel is in the open position, has a textured surface. ### Claim 17 (depends on 14) The method according to claim 14, wherein an upper surface of the panel, when the panel is in the open position, is approximately 12 inches above the ground on which the vehicle rests. ### Claim 18 (depends on 11) The method according to claim 11, further comprising: securing a safety indicator insert in the socket, the safety indicator insert having a panel movable between a retracted position and a deployed position, the panel extending substantially perpendicularly to a body of the vehicle when in the deployed position. ### Claim 19 (depends on 18) The method according to claim 18, wherein at least one major surface of the panel includes warning indicia. ### Claim 20 (depends on 19) The method according to claim 19, wherein the warning indicia include one or more of stripes of alternating colors, lights, or reflectors.