Patent ID: 9004554
Filing Date: 2015-04-14
Classification: B60R

Abstract:
1. A method of deflecting animate body parts from in front of a wheel of a vehicle including a body having at least one side panel, a pair of front steerable wheels spaced in a transverse direction of the body of the vehicle, at least one pair of transversely spaced rear wheels which are longitudinally spaced from the front steerable wheels, and a door provided along the at least one side panel, said method comprising: securing a first mounting component to the body of the vehicle; attaching a second mounting component, to which a frontal guard piece is secured, to the first mounting component such that the frontal guard piece is located in an operational position beneath the body and in front of the wheel; deflecting an animate body part from in front of the wheel by direct engagement with the frontal guard piece in the operational position during movement of the vehicle so as to prevent the animate body part from being run-over and crushed by the wheel; shifting the frontal guard piece from the operational position inwardly relative to the body during movement of the vehicle upon engagement of the frontal guard piece with an inanimate object to prevent damage to the frontal guard piece by the inanimate object; and automatically re-shifting the frontal guard piece back to the operational position.