Abstract:
What is disclosed is a device directed to protecting surfaces from damage due to low-impact forces. The device is fabricated from resilient plastic material that will absorb such forces and return to its original shape without breaking or permanent deformation. The device disclosed is semi-circular in cross-section and is adhered to the surface to be protected by EZ-ON means of double-sided adhesive tape or alternatively by flexing onto a bracket.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
       [0001]     The present invention is directed to a multi-purpose device for protecting surfaces from slow speed collisions. The present invention can be applied to an automobile bumper to protect the automobile from damage in slow speed accidents. The device can also be adapted for use on automobile side doors to protect the doors from dents in a parking lot when doors are opened or closed. However, the present invention should not be limited to automobile applications only. Rather, the present invention can be readily adapted to other surfaces that need protection including but not limited to loading docks at warehouses for trucks or at boat docks. Thus, the present invention can be utilized to protect any possible impact area with flexible built-in impact protection.  
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
       [0002]     The present invention is directed to a device to be adhered to an automobile bumper, automobile side door, or other surface requiring protection from slow-speed collisions. The device is generally hollow and comprises a resilient compressible material of a length, width, height and generally semi-circular cross-section. The device further comprises an adhesive or other means adapted for attaching the device to the surface to be protected. In one embodiment, the EZ-ON double-backed adhesive tape is utilized while a bracket is utilized in an alternative embodiment to FLEX-ON the device to the surface to be protected. 
     
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0003]      FIGS. 1   a, b, c  are plan views of three embodiments of the device of the present invention.  
         [0004]      FIGS. 2   a, b, c,  are cross-section views of three embodiments of the device shown in  FIGS. 1   a, b, c  respectively.  
         [0005]      FIG. 3  is a plan view of a device of the present invention as applied to a straight bumper of an automobile.  
         [0006]      FIG. 4  is a plan view of a device of the present invention as applied to a curved automobile bumper.  
         [0007]      FIGS. 5   a, b, c , illustrate the device of the present invention just prior to, during and just after a collision respectively.  
         [0008]      FIG. 6  is a plan view of an alternate embodiment of the present invention.  
         [0009]      FIG. 7  illustrates the mounting of the embodiment shown in  FIG. 6 .  
         [0010]      FIG. 8  illustrates a side sectional view of the embodiment illustrated in  FIGS. 6 and 7 . 
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION  
       [0011]     The present invention will now be described in terms of the presently preferred embodiment as illustrated in the drawings. However, those of ordinary skill in the art will recognize that many obvious modifications may be made thereto without departing from the spirit or scope of the invention as set forth in the appended claims.  
         [0012]     The bumper guard  10  of the present invention is illustrated in  FIG. 1  and  FIG. 2 . The bumper guard  10  is generally semi-circular in cross-section and all three embodiments are generally hollow. The bumper guard can be a variety of different lengths “L” depending upon the application.  
         [0013]     For example, when applied to a straight surface of an automobile bumper, it is presently contemplated that the length will be approximately 7.0 inches with a width of 3.5 inches and height of 3.5 inches. The width is about 1 inch, the length 3.5 inches and the height 3.5 inches when applied on a side door of the automobile or to a curved portion of the bumper. In one embodiment of the present invention, the flat surface  12  of the bumper guard  10  will be provided with double-backed adhesive tape with covering tape  14 . The double-backed adhesive tape will first be adhered to the flat surface  12  during manufacture and the covering tape will remain in place. When installing the bumper guard  10 , the covering tape  14  will be removed from the double-backed tape to expose the adhesive and then the bumper guard  10  will be adhered to a surface, such as a bumper to be protected by the bumper guard  10 . The semi-circular surface  16  of the bumper guard  10  will then protrude from the surface to be protected. Thereby, the surface will be protected from slow speed impacts.  
         [0014]     The semi-circular outer surface  16  of the bumper guard  10  shown in  FIGS. 1   a  and  2   a  comprises a plurality of longitudinal recesses  20 . The longitudinal recesses  20  allow the bumper guard  10  to absorb a higher impact force than a merely smooth surface. The bumper guard  10  in  FIGS. 1   b  and  2   b  comprises a smooth outer surface. The bumper guard  10  illustrated in  FIGS. 1   c  and  2   c  is partially hollow with a plurality of internal spines  15 .  
         [0015]     The bumper guard  10  can be fabricated from resilient flexible plastic material that absorbs the force of a slow speed impact by compressing upon impact and then returning to its original semi-circular shape without breaking or cracking as illustrated in  FIGS. 5   a ,  5   b  and  5   c . The hollow interiors shown in the embodiments allow the bumper guard  10  to absorb pressure from the impact and then return to its original shape. It is presently contemplated that the bumper guard  10  will be fabricated from resilient polyethylene, vinyl or similar material. This type of material is resilient and flexible but will not dry up when exposed to the elements and become brittle. If the material were to become brittle when exposed to the elements, then the purpose of the present invention would be defeated by such a material. However, it is contemplated that other materials with the same or similar characteristics as polyethylene without plasticizers can be substituted without departing from the spirit or scope of the present invention.  
         [0016]     An alternate embodiment of the present invention is illustrated in  FIGS. 6, 7 ,  8 . In that embodiment, the guard  100  is mounted in a bracket  102 . The bracket  102  comprises longitudinal slots  104  for securing and holding the guard  100  in the bracket. The guard  100  in this embodiment is semi-circular in cross-section and comprises longitudinal slots  106  which are adapted to be received in the bracket  102  by means of slots  104 . The installation of guard  100  on bracket  102  is illustrated in  FIG. 8 . The guard  100  can either slide into the bracket as shown in  FIG. 7  or be Flexed-on to the bracket as shown in  FIG. 8 . The bracket  102  is adapted to be secured to the surface to be protected by means of screws or other known fasteners or even double-backed tape. This embodiment is particularly appropriate for use on loading docks and in boat marinas. This type of installation allows for easy replacement of the guard  100  if necessary. In this embodiment, the guard is fabricated from polyethylene as in the previous embodiment. Although  FIGS. 7 and 8  illustrate an embodiment somewhat similar to  FIG. 1   b , it is also contemplated that the embodiments illustrated in  FIGS. 1   a  and  1   c  could also be adapted to be mounted by way of a bracket.  
         [0017]     As noted above, the length L of the bumper guard  10  can be varied for adaptation to the particular application. For example, a typical length for application to a straight automobile bumper would be about 7.0 inches. Such an application is illustrated in  FIG. 3 . If the outer wall width and/or height is increased, the amount of resistance to an impact force of the bumper guard is increased. Likewise, decreasing the outer wall width and/or height decreases the amount of resistance to an impact force. In addition, in the embodiment shown in  FIG. 2   c , the resistance may also be varied by varying the thickness of the spines  15 . Thus, by varying the length L and width W and height of the bumper guard  10 , the number of distinct potential applications for the present invention is extremely large. It is contemplated that these variations are all obvious modifications to the present invention and fall within its contemplated scope.  
         [0018]     Those of ordinary skill in the art will recognize the foregoing description merely illustrates an embodiment of the present invention and many modifications may be made thereto without departing from the spirit or scope of the present invention as set forth in the appended claims.