Vehicle fenders – Buffer or bumper type – Bumper having impact force absorbing means directly...
Reexamination Certificate
1999-11-04
2001-04-17
Dayoan, D. Glenn (Department: 3612)
Vehicle fenders
Buffer or bumper type
Bumper having impact force absorbing means directly...
C293S132000, C293S135000, C293S136000, C293S137000, C293S106000, C293S107000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06217090
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates generally to automobile and motor vehicle safety equipment, and more specifically to a safety bumper system for absorbing impacts. A first embodiment of the present safety bumper also includes fire suppressant means therewith. While the bumper is particularly adapted for installation to the rear end of a motor vehicle, it may also be installed upon the forward end. A simplified front bumper with a contact signaling system is another embodiment.
2. Description of the Related Art
Increasing traffic congestion over the years has led to ever increasing numbers of collisions, both major and minor. The typical collision involves front-to-rear contact between two automobiles or other motor vehicles, due to following too closely in heavy traffic, inattentive driving on the part of the following driver, or for whatever other reason. Such collisions have become so frequent, that federally mandated standards have been implemented to require major automobile manufacturers to provide protection for critical components, e.g., lighting and signalling systems) in the event of a minor impact of a “five mile per hour bumper” regulation.
While the above noted regulation generally allows an automobile to be driven legally and safely after an accident until such time as repairs may be made, the fact remains that damage generally occurs to the bumper structure itself, with such bumper damage being relatively costly to repair. This is because the design of bumpers has been changed over the years in order to meet the Federal standards, and this has resulted in bumpers which serve well to protect other vehicle structures, but which may be damaged extensively and expensively themselves in a minor collision.
Furthermore, while federal standards provide protection for vehicle lighting systems and other critical components in relatively minor collisions, they do nothing to protect the structure in more major collisions involving higher closing speeds. Such accidents can seriously jeopardize various systems of the vehicle, with such system damage potentially endangering occupants of the vehicle in an otherwise relatively non-hazardous collision. A past example of such is the recall of the Ford Pinto automobile for additional protection of the fuel tank due to its vulnerability to damage from rear impacts. While in many cases such an impact did not directly endanger the occupants of the vehicle, the rupture of the fuel tank and resulting fire created further injury and even led to some deaths among vehicle occupants who had otherwise sustained only relatively minor, or perhaps no, injuries.
Accordingly, a need will be seen for a safety bumper incorporating spring means to absorb relatively minor impact forces without incurring damage to the bumper structure itself, or to other portions of the vehicle structure. The present safety bumper also incorporates a fire control system comprising a collapsible bladder disposed between the bumper and underlying relatively fixed bumper support structure of the vehicle. Impacts sufficient to collapse the bumper also serve to collapse the bladder, causing the bladder to eject a fire suppressant substance from a nozzle. The nozzle may be located in the vicinity of the vehicle fuel tank, or other critical area as desired.
Another aspect of a minor front collision with another automobile or wall is the difficulty of estimating the clearance by the driver because of the projecting front bumpers. Therefore, a second embodiment of the present invention utilizes a simplified and economical front bumper which will notify the driver by way of a dashboard signal such as a buzzer or warning light upon contact.
A discussion of the related art of which the present inventor is aware, and its differences and distinctions from the present invention, is provided below.
U.S. Pat. No. 3,433,520 issued on Mar. 18, 1969, to Norvan O. Kearns et al., titled “Spring Biased Shock Absorbing Bumper,” describes a bumper mounted upon longitudinally disposed rods which are free to slide within relatively fixed brackets immovably affixed to the vehicle structure. Compression springs are disposed between the bumper and fixed structure. The Kearns et al. assembly differs from the present invention in that (1) the Kearns et al. springs are not concentric with their telescoping shafts; (2) Kearns et al. do not provide tension springs to provide a counterforce to assist in extending the bumper after impact; and (3) Kearns et al. do not provide any form of fire suppressant means, which feature including concentric springs and tension springs are in the present invention.
U.S. Pat. No. 3,833,248 issued on Sep. 3, 1974, to Felix Wossner et al., titled “Shock-Absorbing Bumper Arrangement,” describes a shock absorber having constant resistance as the piston velocity decreases toward the end of its stroke. No bumper attachment or spring recovery means is disclosed in the Wossner et al. patent, nor is any fire suppressant means disclosed, as is provided in the present safety bumper invention.
U.S. Pat. No. 3,834,483 issued on Sep. 10, 1974 to J. F. Palmer, titled “Shock Absorbing Bumper System”, describes a system incorporating both hydraulic or pneumatic telescoping shock absorbers and coil springs concentrically disposed therearound. The Palmer system also incorporates means for retracting and extending the bumpers as desired, and for automatically gearing down the vehicle upon impact, both of which systems are beyond the scope of the present invention. Palmer does not provide any tension springs for providing a counterforce to the compression of the bumper, as provided by the present system, nor does Palmer provide any fire suppressant means with his bumper.
U.S. Pat. No. 3,857,595 issued on Dec. 31, 1974, to Alain E. Plegat, titled “Shock-Absorber For Vehicles And The Like,” describes a bumper system incorporating a series of crush washers (corrugated stampings, etc.) which are flattened upon impact to the bumper. The Plegat bumper utilizes a plurality of longitudinal rods upon which the washers are stacked, but does not provide any shock absorbing spring means, counterforce tension spring means, or fire suppressant means, all of which are parts of the present system.
U.S. Pat. No. 3,960,397 issued on Jun. 1, 1976, to John Janci, titled “Energy-Absorbing Bumper System,” describes a system incorporating a gas-filled bumper shell in combination with a plurality of spring loaded telescoping bumper mounts. The springs are held in a compressed state until impact further momentarily compresses the struts, whereupon the springs are released to counteract the impact. The gas filled bumper also assists in absorbing impact, but the gas is not a fire suppressant substance, nor is it routed to any vital areas of the vehicle, as in the present system.
U.S. Pat. No. 3,961,669 issued on Jun. 8, 1976, to Mikio Kaneko describes an automobile fire fighting apparatus comprising an outer container containing a fire extinguishing composition and an inner container containing a high pressure gas with a plunger for activating the fire extinguishers upon impact. The fire extinguishers are to be located in the engine compartment and near the fuel tank. The apparatus is distinguishable for its location other than the bumpers.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,025,098 issued on May 24, 1977, to Tadeusz Powaska, titled “Bumper Assembly For A Motor Vehicle,” describes a bumper system having two opposed lateral bumpers with telescoping struts and compression springs. No secondary counteracting tension springs are provided for restoring the original positions of the lateral bumpers, which restoring spring means is a part of the present rearward and/or forward bumper invention. Powaska also provides mutually interacting forward and rearward bumpers, with compression of one of the bumpers resulting in the retraction of the opposite bumper. The Powaska system requires a separate frame and body construction for the automobile with which it is used, which construction is not com
Blankenship Greg
Dayoan D. Glenn
Litman Richard C.
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