Abstract:
There is provided apparatus for protection of a vehicle from damage by other vehicles attempting to undesirably encroach to the front or rear of the vehicle. The apparatus includes extendable and retractable bumper portions that when extended form a safety enclosure for activities at the rear of a vehicle. The apparatus includes sensors for monitoring encroaching objects and may be electrically or hydraulically operated, either automatically or upon demand.

Description:
BACKGROUND 
       [0001]    The background of the invention will be discussed in two parts. 
         [0002]    1. Field of the Invention 
         [0003]    The present invention relates to a bumper protection apparatus for use in connection with a vehicle. The bumper protection apparatus has particular utility in connection with protecting a person during unloading or other activities at the rear of a stopped vehicle as well as providing protection for a parked vehicle from damage caused by other vehicles attempting to park behind or in front of it. 
         [0004]    2. Description of the Prior Art 
         [0005]    Bumper guard devices are known in the prior art. For example, U.S. Pat. No. 4,641,870 to Heyman discloses a bumper guard bolted to the automobile frame; however, it does not protect the rear of the vehicle to which it is affixed. U.S. Pat. No. 6,113,164 to Setina discloses an auxiliary push bumper that prevents damage to a vehicle when it pushes another vehicle, however, it does not protect the rear of the vehicle to which it is affixed. U.S. Pat. No. 2,736,287 to Moyes discloses a tailgate-supporting bumper-guard that will serve as a support for the outer or free end portion of the hingedly mounted tailgate when said tailgate is in its lowered, load supporting position, however, it does not protect the vehicle from damage resulting from contact with another vehicle. U.S. Pat. No. 2,203,489 to Conwell discloses an accessory bumper guard that applies to a conventional bumper structure, however, it does not protect the front of the vehicle to which is attached. U.S. Pat. No. 3,308,903 to Sobel et al. discloses a motor vehicle push preventing bumper guard that renders the power plant of a moving motor vehicle inoperative when it comes in contact with an obstruction such as another motor vehicle, however, it does not deter other vehicles from making contact with the vehicle to which the guard is attached. U.S. Pat. No. 2,083,742 to Poncher et al. discloses a bumper guard that mounts on the front and rear bumpers to protect the radiator and the trunk door, however, it does not deter other vehicles from making contact with the vehicle to which the guard is attached. U.S. Pat. No. 6,572,163 to Pickett discloses a bumper guard that mounts on the front and rear bumpers in a position to protect the radiator and the trunk door, however, the apparatus includes visual deterrents such as metal spikes for the purpose of protecting a parked vehicle from damage caused by other vehicles attempting to park adjacent to it. 
         [0006]    While the above-described devices fulfill their particular objectives and requirements, they do not describe a bumper protection apparatus that allows protecting a parked vehicle from damage caused by other vehicles attempting to park to the front or rear of it, nor do they make provision for protecting a person having activities at the rear of a parked or stopped vehicle. Further, the devices do not deter other drivers from making damaging contact with the vehicle to which they are affixed nor are they universally attachable to a wide variety of vehicles. Thus, in view of the prior art there exists a need for a new and improved bumper protection apparatus that can be used for protecting a parked vehicle from damage caused by other vehicles attempting to park to the front or rear of it, as well as providing protection for a person during unloading or activities at the rear of the parked or stopped vehicle. 
         [0007]    It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a new and improved bumper protection apparatus that in substantially departing from the conventional concepts and designs of the prior art, provides unique apparatus for both protecting a parked vehicle and as well as protecting a person having activities at the rear of the parked or stopped vehicle. 
         [0008]    It is another object of the present invention is to provide a bumper protection apparatus for protecting a parked vehicle from damage caused by other vehicles attempting to park to the front or rear of it, making it possible to visually and physically deter other drivers from placing their vehicle in the area covered by the bumper protection apparatus. 
         [0009]    A further object of the present invention is to provide a bumper protection apparatus for protecting a person having activities at the rear of the parked or stopped vehicle. 
         [0010]    Numerous other objects, features and advantages of the invention will be readily apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art upon a reading of the following detailed description when taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings in which like reference numerals refer to like elements in the several views. 
       SUMMARY 
       [0011]    The present invention provides improved bumper protection apparatus having many novel features including protection of a stopped or parked vehicle from damage caused by other vehicles attempting to park, or otherwise undesirably encroach, to the front or rear of it, as well as providing protection for a person during unloading or other activities at the rear of the stopped or parked vehicle. The apparatus includes extendable and retractable bumper portions that when extended form a safety enclosure for activities at the rear of a vehicle as well as making it possible to visually and physically deter other drivers from placing their vehicle in the area covered by the bumper protection apparatus. The apparatus includes distance sensors and may be electrically or hydraulically operated, either automatically or upon demand. 
     
     
       DRAWINGS 
         [0012]      FIG. 1A  is a perspective view of an embodiment of the bumper protection apparatus in accordance with the principles of the present invention with the apparatus shown in the retracted position; 
           [0013]      FIG. 1B  is a perspective view of the bumper protection apparatus of  FIG. 1A  with the apparatus shown in the fully extended position and illustrating the safety enclosure features of the invention; 
           [0014]      FIG. 1C  illustrates in side view the bumper protection apparatus of  FIG. 1B  and further shows the protective enclosure features of the invention; 
           [0015]      FIG. 2A  is a bottom view illustrating installation in a vehicle of the apparatus of the invention, the apparatus in the retracted position; 
           [0016]      FIG. 2B  is a bottom view illustrating installation in a vehicle of the apparatus of the invention, the apparatus in the extended position; 
           [0017]      FIG. 3  is a functional block diagram depicting function of the apparatus of the invention as operated by electrical means; 
           [0018]      FIG. 4A  is a perspective view of the bumper protection apparatus of the invention shown installed in a delivery truck in the retracted position; 
           [0019]      FIG. 4B  is a perspective view of the bumper protection apparatus of  FIG. 4A  shown in the fully extended position and illustrating safety enclosure protective features of the invention; 
           [0020]      FIG. 5A  illustrates in side view the protective work space established for a large truck by the apparatus of the invention; 
           [0021]      FIG. 5B  illustrates in side view a vehicle approaching the protective work space established by the apparatus of the invention; 
           [0022]      FIG. 5C  illustrates in side view the bumper protection apparatus shown in  FIG. 5B  cushioning the impact of the approached vehicle; 
           [0023]      FIG. 6A  illustrates in side view a modified bumper apparatus in accordance with the invention, the apparatus in the retracted position; 
           [0024]      FIG. 6B  illustrates the bumper apparatus of  FIG. 6A  extended to conserve egress parking space as well as for impact damage prevention; 
           [0025]      FIG. 7A  illustrates front and rear installation of the invention in a vehicle bracketed by two other vehicles, the apparatus in the retracted position; and 
           [0026]      FIG. 7B  illustrates the bumper apparatus of  FIG. 5A  extended to conserve front and rear egress parking space as well as for impact damage prevention. 
       
    
    
     DESCRIPTION 
       [0027]    Referring to the drawings there is shown the bumper protection apparatus of the present invention. As will be described the bumper apparatus provides for protection of a stopped or parked vehicle from damage caused by undesirably encroaching vehicles either from the front or back, and as well provides a protected work space for unloading or other activities at the rear of the parked or stopped vehicle. 
         [0028]      FIGS. 1A-1C  illustrate the inventive features of the invention,  FIG. 1A  illustrating in perspective view the bumper protection apparatus  10  installed in a vehicle  11  in the retracted position or mode with  FIG. 1B  illustrating apparatus  10  in the fully extended position or mode. As shown in cross-hatch, the apparatus  10  includes substantially identical protective bumper apparatus portions  10   a  and  10   b  that may be formed as part of the rear bumper  13 .  FIG. 1C  illustrates in side view the bumper protection apparatus  10  in the extended mode thereby defining, by apparatus portions  10   a  and  10   b , a protected work space for loading or unloading activities at the rear of the vehicle. As indicated in  FIGS. 1A-1C  the apparatus  10  is suitable for a relatively small vehicle such as an automobile, a sport utility vehicle (SUV), or small panel truck. As will be explained infra the apparatus  10  may be extended and retracted by electrical means, by means of a hydraulic system, or by other suitable means in accordance with the invention. 
         [0029]      FIGS. 2A and 2   b  illustrate in bottom view the apparatus  10  of the invention in greater detail,  FIG. 2A  illustrating apparatus  10  in the retracted mode and  FIG. 2B  illustrating apparatus  10  in the extended mode. Only shock absorber means  30  are shown for the front bumper although it is to be understood that apparatus  10  as described may also be installed at the front end of the vehicle. As seen, bumper protection apparatus portions  10   a  and  10   b  have respectively substantially identical extension rods  10   c  and cylinders  10   d  for receiving extension rods  10   c  in the retracted mode ( FIG. 2A ). Bumper portions  10   a  and  10   b  further include built-in substantially identical shock absorbers  10   e  and safety sensors  10   f . Bumper portions  10   a  and  10   b  may be of resilient material to allow for compression and reaction of shock absorbers  10   e . Sensors  10   f  may be of a conventional sonar design or as may be found desirable. 
         [0030]      FIG. 3  is a functional block diagram depicting function of the apparatus in accordance with the invention as operated by electrical means for both the retracted and extended mode. Since bumper portions  10   a  and  10   b  are substantially identical except for left/right configuration only portion  10   a  will be described. For the retracted mode, safety bumper portion  10   a  is depicted having sensor  10   f  for sensing near proximity objects, shock absorber  10   e  for impact absorption, extension rod  10   c , cylinder  10   d  for receiving extension rod  10   c , and electric motor  70  for extending and retracting extension rod  10   c  and thus bumper portion  10   a . Also shown is locking mechanism  71  and associated notch  71   a  for locking in place bumper portion  10   a . Although only one notch means  71   a  is shown, it is understood that locking mechanism  71  could include means for locking bumper portion  10   a  in multiple selected extension positions. Further, although not shown, microcontroller  73  may include means for automatically unlocking locking mechanism  71  upon predetermined impact to allow compression of shock absorbers  10   e . However, sensors  10   f  sense occupation of said work place and upon impact microcontroller  73  automatically selectively locks said bumper portions to maintain the safety of the work space. Microcontroller  73  may further include means for automatically extending and retracting bumper portions  10   a ,  10   b  in response to predetermined signals from sensors  10   f . In addition, visual display means as well as audio means may be included for informing the vehicle operator of the extension/retraction status of the bumper portions  10   a ,  10   b  and microcontroller  73  may include manually switched means for extension/retraction of bumper portions  10   a ,  10   b.    
         [0031]    For the extended mode of bumper portion  10   a  the output of sensor  10   f  is fed to bumper sensor electronics  72  and in turn the signals generated by sensor electronics  72  are fed to microcontroller  73 . As known in the art, such microcontrollers  73  include electronics for controlling multiple functions and can be designed as an integrated circuit or any similar data analyzing device. In accordance with the invention, the microcontroller  73  receives signals generated in sensor electronics  72  and responds to transmit appropriate signals by way of extend/retract mechanism  74  to electric motor  70  to thereby extend or retract bumper portion  10 A, and when appropriate, transmit signals by way of locking mechanism  75  to either unlock or lock locking mechanism  71 . Although shown separately, sensor electronics  72  can be combined integrally with the microcontroller  73 . A power source, grounding and on/off control as may be appropriate is indicated. 
         [0032]    Although not shown, it is to be understood that in accordance with the invention a hydraulic system can be used instead of electrical means for both the retracted and extended mode. That is, a hydraulic pump with reservoir and an associated hydraulic cylinder can be substituted for electric motor  70  and cylinder  10   d , respectively. Further, as will be understood, microcontroller  73  may be configured for either automatic operation of the apparatus of the invention or for on-demand manual operation. 
         [0033]      FIGS. 4A and 4B  illustrate in perspective view an embodiment of the bumper protection apparatus  10  installed in a medium sized truck or van  14  in the retracted position or mode ( FIG. 4A ) and in the fully extended position or mode ( FIG. 4B ). As indicated the apparatus  10  can be formed to be a part of the rear bumper  13 . 
         [0034]      FIG. 5A-FIG .  5 C illustrate in side view the bumper protection apparatus  10  installed underneath a large truck, and if suitable, independent of any other rear impact protection that the truck may have.  FIG. 5A  illustrates the apparatus  10  in the extendable mode wherein a protected work space is provided for the person  12  between the vehicle  15  and the vehicle  16 . Also shown is safety bumper portion  10   b  with associated extension rod  10   c  and safety bumper cylinder  10   d.    
         [0035]      FIG. 5B  illustrates vehicle  16  approaching the person  12  in the work space created by the apparatus  10  of the invention with  FIG. 2C  illustrating contact by vehicle  16  with the apparatus  10 . As indicated the shock absorber means  10   e  of bumper portion  10   a  operates to cushion the impact of the vehicle  16  while still maintaining a sufficient safety space for the person  12 . 
         [0036]      FIGS. 6A and 6B  illustrate in side view another embodiment of the bumper protection apparatus in accordance with the invention wherein bumper apparatus  10  has been modified to include an upright guard portion  20  for protection against vehicle, such as vehicle  19 , having raised rear ends. The bumper apparatus  20  installed in vehicle  18  is shown retracted in  FIG. 6A  and extended in  FIG. 6B  to prevent impact by the vehicle  19  as well as to establish egress space for vehicle  18  as needed. 
         [0037]      FIGS. 7A and 7B  illustrate in side view bumper protection apparatus  10  mounted to the rear end of the vehicle  18  and bumper protection apparatus  20  mounted to the front end of the vehicle  18 . Bumper apparatus  10  and bumper apparatus  20  are shown retracted ( FIG. 7A ) during parking and extended ( FIG. 7B ) after parking to prevent undesirable encroachment by other vehicles as well as to establish egress space as needed, retraction of all apparatus being made as desired to permit egress. 
         [0038]    Although the present invention has been described in connection with example embodiments thereof, it will be appreciated by those skilled in the art that additions, deletions, substitutions, and other modifications not specifically described herein may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention.