Vehicle fenders – Buffer or bumper type – Bumper guard
Reexamination Certificate
1999-11-12
2001-09-04
Pape, Joseph D. (Department: 3612)
Vehicle fenders
Buffer or bumper type
Bumper guard
C293SDIG006, C160SDIG001
Reexamination Certificate
active
06283518
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to bumper guards and more particularly pertains to a new bumper guard for protecting a vehicular bumper from damage.
2. Description of the Prior Art
The use of bumper guards is known in the prior art. More specifically, bumper guards heretofore devised and utilized are known to consist basically of familiar, expected and obvious structural configurations, notwithstanding the myriad of designs encompassed by the crowded prior art which have been developed for the fulfillment of countless objectives and requirements.
Known prior art includes U. S. Pat. No. 5,618,073; U.S. Pat. No. 4,690,446; U.S. Pat. No. 2,758,866; U.S. Pat. No. 4,884,824; U.S. Pat. No. 4,726,614; and U.S. Pat. Des. 378,909.
In these respects, the bumper guard according to the present invention substantially departs from the conventional concepts and designs of the prior art, and in so doing provides an apparatus primarily developed for the purpose of protecting a vehicular bumper from damage.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
In view of the foregoing disadvantages inherent in the known types of bumper guards now present in the prior art, the present invention provides a new bumper guard construction wherein the same can be utilized for protecting a vehicular bumper from damage.
The general purpose of the present invention, which will be described subsequently in greater detail, is to provide a new bumper guard apparatus and method which has many of the advantages of the bumper guards mentioned heretofore and many novel features that result in a new bumper guard which is not anticipated, rendered obvious, suggested, or even implied by any of the prior art bumper guards, either alone or in any combination thereof.
To attain this, the present invention includes a thin flexible backing constructed from a magnetic material and having a substantially planar rectangular configuration. The backing is defined by a front face, a rear face, and a periphery formed therebetween. The periphery includes an elongated top edge, an elongated bottom edge, and a pair of short side edges formed therebetween. Next provided is a matrix of at least twenty cushions constructed from a resilient material. Each cushion has a planar rear face coupled to the front face of the backing, a front face with a substantially cylindrical configuration, and a pair of end faces with a substantially semi-spherical configuration. The cushions are positioned on the backing such that a longitudinal axis of each cushion remains in parallel relationship with the top edge of the backing. The cushions terminate a distance of about ¼ a height of the backing from the bottom edge of the backing. Also included is a magnet strip mounted along the bottom edge of the backing with a thickness at least three times that of the backing. As shown in
FIG. 5
, a front face of the magnet strip is flush with that of the backing. A rear face of the magnet strip extends rearwardly from the backing for being folding behind a bumper of a vehicle to communicate with an upper extent of the backing. The magnet thus serves to maintain the system on the bumper of the vehicle.
There has thus been outlined, rather broadly, the more important features of the invention in order that the detailed description thereof that follows may be better understood, and in order that the present contribution to the art may be better appreciated. There are additional features of the invention that will be described hereinafter and which will form the subject matter of the claims appended hereto.
In this respect, before explaining at least one embodiment of the invention in detail, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited in its application to the details of construction and to the arrangements of the components set forth in the following description or illustrated in the drawings. The invention is capable of other embodiments and of being practiced and carried out in various ways. Also, it is to be understood that the phraseology and terminology employed herein are for the purpose of description and should not be regarded as limiting.
As such, those skilled in the art will appreciate that the conception, upon which this disclosure is based, may readily be utilized as a basis for the designing of other structures, methods and systems for carrying out the several purposes of the present invention. It is important, therefore, that the claims be regarded as including such equivalent constructions insofar as they do not depart from the spirit and scope of the present invention.
Further, the purpose of the foregoing abstract is to enable the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office and the public generally, and especially the scientists, engineers and practitioners in the art who are not familiar with patent or legal terms or phraseology, to determine quickly from a cursory inspection the nature and essence of the technical disclosure of the application. The abstract is neither intended to define the invention of the application, which is measured by the claims, nor is it intended to be limiting as to the scope of the invention in any way.
It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a new bumper guard apparatus and method which has many of the advantages of the bumper guards mentioned heretofore and many novel features that result in a new bumper guard which is not anticipated, rendered obvious, suggested, or even implied by any of the prior art bumper guards, either alone or in any combination thereof.
It is another object of the present invention to provide a new bumper guard which may be easily and efficiently manufactured and marketed.
It is a further object of the present invention to provide a new bumper guard which is of a durable and reliable construction.
An even further object of the present invention is to provide a new bumper guard which is susceptible of a low cost of manufacture with regard to both materials and labor, and which accordingly is then susceptible of low prices of sale to the consuming public, thereby making such bumper guard economically available to the buying public.
Still yet another object of the present invention is to provide a new bumper guard which provides in the apparatuses and methods of the prior art some of the advantages thereof, while simultaneously overcoming some of the disadvantages normally associated therewith.
Still another object of the present invention is to provide a new bumper guard for protecting a vehicular bumper from damage.
Even still another object of the present invention is to provide a new bumper guard that includes a thin flexible backing constructed from a magnetic material and at least one cushion mounted on the backing. In use, the backing may be mounted on a vehicular bumper for protecting the same.
These together with other objects of the invention, along with the various features of novelty which characterize the invention, are pointed out with particularity in the claims annexed to and forming a part of this disclosure. For a better understanding of the invention, its operating advantages and the specific objects attained by its uses, reference should be made to the accompanying drawings and descriptive matter in which there are illustrated preferred embodiments of the invention.
REFERENCES:
patent: D. 378909 (1997-04-01), Aycock
patent: 2758866 (1956-08-01), Dollar
patent: 3529328 (1970-09-01), Davison
patent: 3629905 (1971-12-01), Cote
patent: 4588209 (1986-05-01), Zebrowski et al.
patent: 4690446 (1987-09-01), Warren
patent: 4726614 (1988-02-01), Myers et al.
patent: 4884824 (1989-12-01), Radke
patent: 4890854 (1990-01-01), Hoover
patent: 5312145 (1994-05-01), McNeil
patent: 5553981 (1996-09-01), Braden
patent: 5618073 (1997-04-01), Criscione
patent: 5682653 (1997-11-01), Berglof et al.
Koroseal Flexible Magnetic Strip, Bulletin No. 24 IPC-1060-2, Apr. 1961, Report to Designers and Engineers from B.F. Goodrich Industrial Products Company, pp. 1-7.
Engle Patricia
Pape Joseph D.
LandOfFree
Bumper guard does not yet have a rating. At this time, there are no reviews or comments for this patent.
If you have personal experience with Bumper guard, we encourage you to share that experience with our LandOfFree.com community. Your opinion is very important and Bumper guard will most certainly appreciate the feedback.
Profile ID: LFUS-PAI-O-2520368