Bumper protection system

A vehicle bumper protection system, comprising:

• a control unit configured for selectively outputting an inflation signal and a deflation signal;
• a pneumatically inflatable protective cover configured for being attached to a bumper of a vehicle, wherein said protective cover is normally in a deflated condition;
• a bumper engagement surface of said protective cover is contoured to mate substantially flush with a mating portion of the bumper;
• said protective cover includes a license plate exposure feature;
• and edges of the license plate exposure feature at least partially encompass a license plate mounting region of the bumper for enabling visibility of the license plate mounting region of the bumper when said protective cover is attached to the license bumper;
• an air pump electrically connected to the control unit and fluid communicatively connected to said protective cover, wherein the air pump supplies compressed air to said protective cover for inflating said protective cover when the inflation signal is outputted by the control unit and wherein the air pump facilitates deflation of said protective cover when the deflation signal is outputted by the control unit;
• and
• an air valve for enabling said compressed air to be released from the interior space of said protective cover when the second control signal is outputted by the control unit, wherein the air valve is integral with the air pump, wherein the inflation signal is an electrical current supplied to the air pump and wherein the deflation signal is an electrical current supplied to the air valve.

A vehicle, comprising:

• a front bumper,
• a rear bumper,
• a first pneumatically inflatable protective cover attached to the front bumper, wherein said first protective cover is normally in a respective deflated condition;
• a second pneumatically inflatable protective cover attached to the rear bumper, wherein said second protective cover is normally in a respective deflated condition;
• a control unit manually controllable for selectively outputting an inflation signal and a deflation signal;
• a first air pump electrically connected to the control unit and fluid communicatively connected to said first protective cover, wherein the first air pump supplies compressed air to said first protective cover for inflating said first protective cover when the inflation signal is outputted by the control unit and wherein the first air pump facilitates deflation of said first protective cover when the deflation signal is outputted by the control unit;
• and
• a second air pump electrically connected to the control unit and fluid communicatively connected to said second protective cover, wherein the second air pump supplies compressed air to said second protective cover for inflating said second protective cover when the inflation signal is outputted by the control unit and wherein the second air pump facilitates deflation of said second protective cover when the deflation signal is outputted by the control unit.