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US 5,626,376 AGranted
Impact bumper apparatus and method
OwnerLloyd J. Parkerinventor
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
An impact bumper apparatus and method for absorbing an impact delivered to a vehicle comprising a pair of contiguous, generally hollow longitudinal tubular members adapted to absorbing an impact by crumpling, interconnected by at least one spacer, at least one trapezoidal shaped guide assembly, and at least one support assembly. The guide assembly absorbs impact and effects an upward change in the direction of the impact, and the support assembly absorbs impact and effects a downward change in the direction of the impact.
Claims11
An impact bumper comprising a first generally hollow longitudinal member (12);
- a second generally hollow longitudinal member (14);
- at least one generally hollow spacer member (16) secured to said first generally hollow longitudinal member (12) and to said second generally hollow longitudinal member (14);
- at least one generally hollow guide assembly (24) having a slanted surface (36) and being secured to said first generally hollow longitudinal member (12) and said second generally hollow longitudinal member (14) for absorbing and elevating a direction of an impact force;
- and at least one base support assembly (20-22) secured to said first generally hollow longitudinal member (12) and to said second generally hollow longitudinal member (14) for absorbing and lowering a direction of an impact force;
- said least one generally hollow guide assembly (24) additionally comprising a first guide plate member (34) normal to and secured to said first generally hollow longitudinal member (12);
- a second guide plate member (32) normal to and secured to said first generally hollow longitudinal member (12);
- a third guide plate member (30) normal to and secured to said second generally hollow longitudinal member (14);
- and a top guide plate member secured to said first guide plate member (34), said second guide plate member (32), and said third guide plate member (30) for defining said slanted surface (36);
- said least one guide assembly additionally comprising an outer left guide assembly, an outer right guide assembly, and an inner guide assembly equispaced from said outer left guide assembly and said outer right guide assembly.
6 more elements
A method for absorbing and changing the directional vector of an impact force comprising the steps of:
- (a) providing an impact bumper comprising a first generally longitudinal member (12), a second generally hollow longitudinal member (14), at least one generally hollow spacer member (16) secured to said first generally hollow longitudinal member (12) and to said second generally hollow longitudinal member (14), at least one generally hollow guide assembly (24) having a slanted surface (36) and being secured to said first generally hollow longitudinal member (12) and said second generally hollow longitudinal member (14) for absorbing and elevating a direction of an impact force, and at least one base support assembly (20-22) having a beveled end thereof (44) for guiding and directing a direction of an impact force, said least one base support assembly (20-22) being secured to said first generally hollow longitudinal member (12) and to said second generally hollow longitudinal member (14);
- (b) providing a vehicle;
- (c) coupling said impact bumper to said vehicle;
- (d) impacting said impact bumper with a force comprising a substantially horizontal directional vector;
- (e) striking said least one generally hollow guide assembly with said force;
- (f) guiding said force upwards along said slanted surface (36) of said least one generally hollow guide assembly against gravity to absorb a portion of said force;
- and
- (g) simultaneously crumpling said generally hollow guide assembly to absorb a remaining portion of said force.
5 more elements
A method for absorbing an impact force comprising the steps of:
- (a) providing an impact bumper comprising a first generally longitudinal member (12), a second generally hollow longitudinal member (14), at least one generally hollow spacer member (16) secured to said first generally hollow longitudinal member (12) and to said second generally hollow longitudinal member (14), at least one generally hollow guide assembly (24) having a slanted surface (36) and being secured to said first generally hollow longitudinal member (12) and said second generally hollow longitudinal member (14) for absorbing and elevating a direction of an impact force, and at least one base support assembly (22-22) having a beveled end thereof (44), said least one base support assembly (22-22) being secured to said first generally hollow longitudinal member (12) and to said second generally hollow longitudinal member (14);
- (b) providing a vehicle (8);
- (c) coupling said impact bumper (10) to said vehicle (8);
- (d) impacting said impact bumper (10) with a force having a substantially horizontal directional vector;
- (e) striking said beveled end of said least one base support assembly with said force having said substantially horizontal vector;
- and
- (f) guiding said vehicle (8) upwards against gravity as said force engages said beveled end (44) to absorb said force.
4 more elements
A method for absorbing an impact force comprising the steps of:
- (a) providing an impact bumper comprising a first generally longitudinal member (12), a second generally hollow longitudinal member (14), at least one generally hollow spacer member (16) secured to said first generally hollow longitudinal member (12) and to said second generally hollow longitudinal member (14), at least one generally hollow guide assembly (24) having a slanted surface (36) and being secured to said first generally hollow longitudinal member (12) and said second generally hollow longitudinal member (14) for absorbing and elevating a direction of an impact force, and at least one base support assembly (22-22) having a beveled end thereof (44), said least one base support assembly (22-22) being secured to said first generally hollow longitudinal member (12) and to said second generally hollow longitudinal member (14);
- (b) providing a vehicle (8);
- (c) coupling said impact bumper (10) to said vehicle (8);
- (d) impacting said impact bumper (10) with a force having a substantially horizontal directional vector;
- (e) striking said first generally hollow longitudinal member (12) with said force;
- and
- (f) collapsing said first generally hollow longitudinal member (12) with said force to absorb same.
4 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.