Vehicle fenders – Buffer or bumper type – Composite bumper
Reexamination Certificate
1999-03-31
2001-03-27
Pape, Joseph D. (Department: 3612)
Vehicle fenders
Buffer or bumper type
Composite bumper
C293S102000, C293S154000, C296S180400
Reexamination Certificate
active
06206439
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The invention relates to a protective bumper assembly for a refrigeration unit of the type adapted to be mounted on the front wall of a trailer. More specifically, it relates to such a bumper assembly which protects both the front and sides of such a refrigeration unit and which transmits force from the bumper to the front wall of the trailer.
2. Description of the Prior Art
Refrigeration units adapted to be mounted to the front end of the trailer of a tractor trailer vehicle for controlling the temperature within the trailer are well known in the art. It is common practice for such refrigerated trailers to be stored in a rail yard, or the like, without the tractor unit attached thereto. It is also common practice for such refrigerated trailers to be shipped by rail without the trailers attached thereto. During such storage or transportation of the trailer without the tractor attached, the refrigeration unit is subject to damage as a result of impact with other trailers and the refrigeration units of other trailers.
Various protective bumpers and bumper systems have been used with such units for the purpose of attempting to prevent or minimize damage to the refrigeration units. Known bumper systems have either been not robust enough to prevent damage or they transmitted the force of the collision into the frame of the refrigeration unit, thus, causing the frame to distort and causing internal unit damage.
A U.S. patent application entitled “Protective Bumper For A Transport Refrigeration Unit” filed on Feb. 20, 1998, as U.S. Ser. No. 09/027,386 and assigned to the Assignee of the present invention discloses a protective bumper assembly for a refrigeration unit of this type, which will protect the unit without the possibility of causing damage to the internal framework of the unit. The protective bumper assembly disclosed in this patent application is relatively inexpensive and can protect both the top and bottom of the refrigeration unit.
It has been found that the protective bumpers disclosed in the above-referenced patent application perform very well in protecting refrigeration units under the circumstances set forth above, but that they required additional protection in the corners of the unit. Such additional protection would protect the microprocessor and other components located on the left or right front sides of the covers of such units from damage when one trailer backed into another and the pointed rear corner of the trailer impacted a very narrow area in the corner of the unit, which the main bumpers did not protect.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
Auxiliary structural bumpers are adapted to be attached to a main protective bumper assembly for a refrigeration unit of the type adapted to be mounted on the front wall of a trailer. The main protective bumper protects the front of the unit while the auxiliary bumpers are adapted to protect the left and right-hand sides of the refrigeration unit.
In the preferred embodiment, the refrigeration unit includes an outer cover, and a structural framework, which includes a pair of vertically extending structural elements located at opposite rear corners of the refrigeration unit adjacent to the front wall of the trailer. The main bumper assembly includes two vertically extending structural members, each of which is adapted to be structurally coupled to one of the vertically extending structural elements of the refrigeration unit. A portion of the vertically extending structural member extends above the outer cover of the unit. A pair of horizontally extending structural members, also located outside the outer cover of the refrigeration unit, are attached to the ends of the vertically extending members at one end thereof and the other ends extend forwardly towards the front of the refrigeration unit. The ends of the horizontally extending structural members, which extend forwardly, terminate at a location forward of the outer cover and spaced from one another. An elongated structural bumper extends substantially horizontally at a location forwardly of the outer cover where it is attached to the other ends of the horizontally extending structural members. Auxiliary structural bumpers are adapted to be positioned to one side of the main structural bumper and outboard of one side of the outer cover of the refrigeration unit. The auxiliary bumpers extend substantially horizontally and are structurally attached at one end thereof to one end of one of the horizontally extending structural members and at the other end thereof to the main elongated structural bumper.
REFERENCES:
patent: 4055362 (1977-10-01), Becker, III
patent: 4111478 (1978-09-01), Pompei et al.
patent: 4299418 (1981-11-01), Dossin
patent: 4310192 (1982-01-01), Fitzgerald
patent: 4364591 (1982-12-01), Bien
patent: 4546021 (1985-10-01), Mears
patent: 4551986 (1985-11-01), Anderson et al.
patent: 4596412 (1986-06-01), Everett et al.
patent: 4783104 (1988-11-01), Watanabe et al.
patent: 5031947 (1991-07-01), Chen
patent: 5137313 (1992-08-01), Teig
patent: 5711073 (1998-01-01), Tippmann et al.
patent: 6042162 (2000-03-01), Kiefer et al.
Davis Michael E.
Kiefer David D.
Moore Douglas E.
Carrier Corporation
Pape Joseph D.
Patel Kiran
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