Patent ID: 9676367
Date: 2017-06-13
CPC Classifications: B60R

Claim:
1. A method of deflecting a guard piece attached to a body of a vehicle such that the guard piece extends longitudinally between front and rear wheels of the vehicle, forward of the rear wheels and below a side panel on a side of the vehicle in order to: a) deflect an animate object from a path of the wheel by direct engagement with the guard piece in the operational position during movement of the vehicle so as to prevent the animate object from being run-over and crushed by the wheel; and b) deflect upon engagement with an inanimate object to prevent damage to the guard piece, said method comprising: shifting the guard piece from the operational position linearly relative to the body during movement of the vehicle upon engagement of at least a portion of the guard piece with an object and automatically re-shifting the guard piece back to the operational position; and shifting the guard piece from the operational position arcuately relative to the body during movement of the vehicle upon engagement of at least a portion of the guard piece with an object and automatically re-shifting the guard piece back to the operational position.