US3782768A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Tubular, shock-absorbing bumpers
Assignee: Individual
•
Filing: 1971-04-05
•
Granted: 1974-01-01
•
Expires: 1991-04-05
Abstract
Abstract Shock-absorbing bumper means for cars, boats or other vehicles, comprising resilient, tubular cushioning members of optional variation in cross-sectional shape, containing gaseous material that may be: pressurized air or other gas; gas-cell-containing foam plastic; or a gas-containing mass (optionally pressurized) of separate fibers, globules, or small-diameter elements (very small flexible tubes containing gaseous material or elongated rods of resilient rubber or other flexible or crushable material). The cushioning means may be only at the front and/or rear of the vehicle or may extend around it, with or without integral junctions between the tubular elements. The tubular members may have axes that are: horizontal; vertical or upright; optionally either upright or horizontal; or they may comprise outer horizontal tubular sheaths and inner vertical tubular elements. The tubular-member material may comprise: ductile or resilient metal - e.g., copper, lead, soft iron, resilient steel, with or without mesh or other reinforcing material; or flexible plastic (preferably fabric-reinforced rubber). The tubular members may comprise flat-ended tubular elements that are either separate tubes or tubular links in a bumper band around a portion or all of the vehicle, some of these links optionally comprising a fender above a wheel and a running-board-like side bumper-step. The tubular elements may comprise relatively wide, spring-like bands of resilient steel or the like, acting when flexed to compress fibers or other small filler elements.
Inventors
- 👤 A Moore
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-04 11:07
CPC Classifications
B; B60; B60R; B60R19/00; B60R19/02; B60R19/18; B60R19/20; B63; B63B; B63B59/00; B63B59/02; B60R19/42
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 46
Claim 1
Independent Claim
137 words
Resilient, vehicular bumper means, comprising: a vehicle-body-attachment member, of strength-providing material, constructed and arranged for attachment to a vertically-middle portion of the exterior of a vehicular body, and comprising at least one upright vehicle-attachment element; a bumper sheath of flexible, waterproof material, connected to said upright element, having yieldable, free-to-move outer, upper and lower surfaces that in use are exposed to ambient air and flex under impacts; within said sheath, at least one resilient tubular member, having a sealed tubular wall, at least a portion of which has a curved surface that is outwardly convex toward said sheath and endlessly arcuate in cross section, comprising metal, capable of repeated flexing without fracture; interior, shock-absorbing gaseous material on the vehicle side of said curved surface, resisting said flexing; and exterior gaseous material between said sheath and curved surface.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
137 words
Resilient, vehicular bumper means, comprising: a vehicle-body-attachment member, of strength-providing material, constructed and arranged for attachment to a vertically-middle portion of the exterior of a vehicular body, and comprising at least one upright vehicle-attachment element; a bumper sheath of flexible, waterproof material, connected to said upright element, having yieldable, free-to-move outer, upper and lower surfaces that in use are exposed to ambient air and flex under impacts; within said sheath, at least one resilient tubular member, having a sealed tubular wall, at least a portion of which has a curved surface that is outwardly convex toward said sheath and endlessly arcuate in cross section, comprising metal, capable of repeated flexing without fracture; interior, shock-absorbing gaseous material on the vehicle side of said curved surface, resisting said flexing; and exterior gaseous material between said sheath and curved surface.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
33 words
Bumper means as set forth in claim 1, in which: said gas is under a pressure above that of the atmosphere; and said upright element is a metallic part of a vehicular chassis.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
24 words
Bumper means as set forth in claim 1, in which said interior gaseous material comprises filler elements of non-gaseous material mixed with said gas.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
27 words
Bumper means as set forth in claim 1, in which said interior gaseous material comprises cellular foam plastic, and said gas comprises gas in the foam-plastic cells.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
15 words
Bumper means as set forth in claim 3, in which said filler elements comprise fibers.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
19 words
Bumper means as set forth in claim 1, in which the said exterior gaseous material comprises flexible foam plastic.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
128 words
Resilient, vehicular bumper means, comprising: a vehicle-body-attachment member, of strength-providing material, constructed and arranged for attachment to a vertically-middle portion of the exterior of a vehicular body, and comprising at least one upright vehicle-attachment element; a bumper sheath of flexible, waterproof material, connected to said upright element, having yieldable, free-to-move outer, upper and lower surfaces that in use are exposed to ambient air and flex under impacts; within said sheath, a plurality of resilient tubular members, comprising lead, capable of repeated flexing without fracture, each of said tubular members having a portion with a curved surface that is outwardly convex toward said sheath; interior, shock-absorbing gaseous material on the vehicle side of said curved surface, resisting said flexing; and exterior gaseous material between said sheath and curved surface.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
128 words
Resilient, vehicular bumper means, comprising: a vehicle-body-attachment member, of strength-providing material, constructed and arranged for attachment to a vertically-middle portion of the exterior of a vehicular body, and comprising at least one upright vehicle-attachment element; a bumper sheath of flexible, waterproof material, connected to said upright element, having yieldable, free-to-move outer, upper and lower surfaces that in use are exposed to ambient air and flex under impacts; within said sheath, a plurality of resilient tubular members, comprising lead, capable of repeated flexing without fracture, each of said tubular members having a portion with a curved surface that is outwardly convex toward said sheath; interior, shock-absorbing gaseous material on the vehicle side of said curved surface, resisting said flexing; and exterior gaseous material between said sheath and curved surface.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
35 words
Bumper means as set forth in claim 7, in which the said sheath comprises flexible plastic, is elongated, and is constructed and arranged to extend around a substantial portion of the perimeter of a vehicle.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
71 words
Bumper means as set forth in claim 7, in which: the said sheath comprises flexible plastic; and has a horizontal dimension that is at least as long as the width of the front end of a vehicle; and the said upright element comprises a bumper-support means located on the vehicle side of said tubular member, having a horizontal dimension that is substantially equal to the said horizontal dimension of the sheath.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
19 words
Bumper means as set forth in claim 9, in which said bumper-support means comprises part of a vehicular body.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
42 words
Bumper means as set forth in claim 7, in which: said bumper-support means comprises a strip of dense material, having a shape conforming to part of a vehicular body; and the bumper means comprises means for connecting said tubular member and strip.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
27 words
Bumper means as set forth in claim 11 in which said interior gaseous material comprises foam plastic, adhering to and holding together said tubular member and strip.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
21 words
Bumper means as set forth in claim 7, in which each of said tubular members has an axis that is upright.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
244 words
Resilient, vehicular bumper means comprising: a vehicle-body-attachment member, of strength-providing material, constructed and arranged for attachment to a vertically middle portion of the exterior of a vehicular body, and comprising at least one upright vehicle-attachment element; bumper-sheath means of flexible, waterproof material, encompassing said vehicular body, extending from its forward end along both sides of the vehicle to and around it after end, resiliently jutting outward from said body, having yieldable, free-to-move outer, upper and lower bumper surfaces that are exposed to fluid of vehicular travel and flex under impacts; within said sheath means, a plurality of resilient tubular elements, comprising flexible, substantially non-extensible material, capable of repeated flexing under impact without fracture, each of said tubular elements having a curved surface that is outwardly convex toward said sheath means; the said plurality of tubular elements being constructed and arranged to form a resilient bumper framework around the whole of the vehicular body; interior, shock-absorbing gaseous material on the vehicle side of said curved surfaces, comprising gas and a multiplicity of filler elements, free of fixed connection with each other and with said tubular elements, the maximum dimension of each filler element being a minor part of the maximum cross-sectional dimension of each of the tubular elements; the said filler elements being movable relatively to each other and the tubular elements, absoring some of the force of said impact flexing in friction between them; and exterior gaseous material between said sheath and curved surfaces.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
244 words
Resilient, vehicular bumper means comprising: a vehicle-body-attachment member, of strength-providing material, constructed and arranged for attachment to a vertically middle portion of the exterior of a vehicular body, and comprising at least one upright vehicle-attachment element; bumper-sheath means of flexible, waterproof material, encompassing said vehicular body, extending from its forward end along both sides of the vehicle to and around it after end, resiliently jutting outward from said body, having yieldable, free-to-move outer, upper and lower bumper surfaces that are exposed to fluid of vehicular travel and flex under impacts; within said sheath means, a plurality of resilient tubular elements, comprising flexible, substantially non-extensible material, capable of repeated flexing under impact without fracture, each of said tubular elements having a curved surface that is outwardly convex toward said sheath means; the said plurality of tubular elements being constructed and arranged to form a resilient bumper framework around the whole of the vehicular body; interior, shock-absorbing gaseous material on the vehicle side of said curved surfaces, comprising gas and a multiplicity of filler elements, free of fixed connection with each other and with said tubular elements, the maximum dimension of each filler element being a minor part of the maximum cross-sectional dimension of each of the tubular elements; the said filler elements being movable relatively to each other and the tubular elements, absoring some of the force of said impact flexing in friction between them; and exterior gaseous material between said sheath and curved surfaces.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
23 words
Bumper means as set forth in claim 14, in which each of said tubular elements is generally shaped like half of a doughnut.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
19 words
Bumper means as set forth in claim 14, in which each of said tubular elements comprises a bowed spring.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
70 words
Bumper means as set forth in claim 1, comprising more than one said tubular member, in which: at least some of these tubular members comprise tubular elements, arcuately curved in cross sections; adjacent pairs of the ends of some of said tubular elements are joined and provide angles between tubular-element axes, said last-named tubular elements and ends being constructed and arranged to provide a bumper-element bridge over a vehicular wheel.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
54 words
Bumper means as set forth in claim 1, comprising more than one said tubular member, in which: at least part of said sheath and at least some of said tubular members are constructed and arranged to fit by the elongated side of a vehicle, and to form a running-board vehicular step at said side.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
24 words
Bumper means as set forth in claim 1, in which the said wall comprises a lead tubular element and fabric contiguous with the lead.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
22 words
Bumper means as set forth in claim 1, in which each of said tubular members has arcuate-in-cross-section middle parts and flat ends.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
21 words
Bumper means as set forth in claim 1, in which said metal has ductility at least equal to that of copper.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
14 words
Bumper means as set forth in claim 21, in which said metal is lead.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
37 words
Bumper means as set forth in claim 1, in which: said metal comprises lead and said tubular wall further comprises strength-providing fabric fixed to said lead; and said exterior gaseous material comprises mixed air and filler elements.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
178 words
Resilient, vehicular bumper means, comprising: a vehicle-body-attachment member, of strength-providing material, constructed and arranged for attachment to a vertically-middle portion of the exterior of a vehicular body, and comprising at least one upright, vehicle-attachment element; a bumper sheath of flexible, waterproof material, connecteD to said upright element, having yieldable, free-to-move outer, upper and lower surfaces that in use are exposed to ambient air and flex under impacts; within said sheath, a plurality of resilient tubular members, comprising flexible material, capable of repeated flexing without fracture, having portions with curved surfaces that are outwardly convex toward said sheath; at least some of said tubular members comprising tubular elements, arcuately curved in cross sections, having substantially flat ends; adjacent pairs of the ends of some of said tubular elements being joined, providing angles between tubular-element axes, said last-named tubular elements and ends being constructed and arranged to provide a bumper-element bridge over a vehicular wheel; interior, shock-absorbing gaseous material on the vehicle side of said curved surfaces, resisting said flexing; and exterior gaseous material between said sheath and curved surfaces.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
178 words
Resilient, vehicular bumper means, comprising: a vehicle-body-attachment member, of strength-providing material, constructed and arranged for attachment to a vertically-middle portion of the exterior of a vehicular body, and comprising at least one upright, vehicle-attachment element; a bumper sheath of flexible, waterproof material, connecteD to said upright element, having yieldable, free-to-move outer, upper and lower surfaces that in use are exposed to ambient air and flex under impacts; within said sheath, a plurality of resilient tubular members, comprising flexible material, capable of repeated flexing without fracture, having portions with curved surfaces that are outwardly convex toward said sheath; at least some of said tubular members comprising tubular elements, arcuately curved in cross sections, having substantially flat ends; adjacent pairs of the ends of some of said tubular elements being joined, providing angles between tubular-element axes, said last-named tubular elements and ends being constructed and arranged to provide a bumper-element bridge over a vehicular wheel; interior, shock-absorbing gaseous material on the vehicle side of said curved surfaces, resisting said flexing; and exterior gaseous material between said sheath and curved surfaces.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
24 words
Bumper means as set forth in claim 14, in which said tubular-element material comprises metal, having ductility at least equal to that of copper.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim
27 words
Bumper means as set forth in claim 14, in which said tubular-element material comprises a layer of lead and a layer of fabric, contiguous to said lead.
Claim 31
Dependent Claim
18 words
Bumper means as set forth in claim 14, in which said tubular-element material comprises plastic and reinforcing fabric.
Claim 32
Dependent Claim
36 words
Bumper means as set forth in claim 14, in which: said tubular elements are endlessly arcuate in cross sections; and at least some of said tubular elements are end-joined, forming at least one elongated tubular member.
Claim 33
Dependent Claim
39 words
Bumper means as set forth in claim 28, comprising a substantially parallel pair of tubular members of end-joined tubular elements, the said pair comprising tubular elements having their axes angled and arranged to form bumper-element bridges over vehicular wheels.
Claim 34
Dependent Claim
28 words
Bumper means as set forth in claim 28, comprising disk-like pieces of said tubular-element material, fixed to and joining adjacent pairs of ends of said end-joined tubular elements.
Claim 35
Dependent Claim
16 words
Bumper means as set forth in claim 28, in which said gas is under above-atmospheric pressure.
Claim 36
Dependent Claim
31 words
Bumper means as set forth in claim 14, in which said interior gaseous material comprises, within each of said tubular elements, gas and a multiplicity of filler elements in the gas.
Claim 37
Dependent Claim
40 words
Bumper means as set forth in claim 32, in which said gas is under above-atmospheric pressure, and said filler elements are pellets, adapted to absorb force of vehicular collision by friction between pellets in their movement relatively to each other.
Claim 38
Dependent Claim
16 words
Bumper means as set forth in claim 14, in which said tubular elements have upright axes.
Claim 39
Dependent Claim
84 words
A shock absorbing bumper, comprising: a backing plate to be fastened to a structure or vehicle to be protected; a resilient, bowed, impact-distribution elements, having ends that are slidable along said backing plate; shock-absorbing material in contact with said impact-distribution element, comprising a plurality of substantially rigid, frangible, tubular elements that are between the bight of said impact-distribution element and said backing plate, so that movement of a major portion of the impact-distribution element toward said backing plate tends to compress said tubular elements.
Claim 40
Dependent Claim
84 words
A shock absorbing bumper, comprising: a backing plate to be fastened to a structure or vehicle to be protected; a resilient, bowed, impact-distribution elements, having ends that are slidable along said backing plate; shock-absorbing material in contact with said impact-distribution element, comprising a plurality of substantially rigid, frangible, tubular elements that are between the bight of said impact-distribution element and said backing plate, so that movement of a major portion of the impact-distribution element toward said backing plate tends to compress said tubular elements.
Claim 41
Dependent Claim
84 words
A shock-absorbing bumper, comprising: a backing plate adapted to be fastened to a structure or vehicle to be protected; a resilient, bowed, impact-distribution element, having ends that are slidable along said backing plate; shock-absorbing material in contact with said impact-distribution element, comprising a plurality of substantially rigid, frangible, globular elements that are between the bight of said impact-distribution element and said backing plate, so that movement of a major portion of the impact-distribution element toward said backing plate tends to compress said globular elements.
Claim 42
Dependent Claim
84 words
A shock-absorbing bumper, comprising: a backing plate adapted to be fastened to a structure or vehicle to be protected; a resilient, bowed, impact-distribution element, having ends that are slidable along said backing plate; shock-absorbing material in contact with said impact-distribution element, comprising a plurality of substantially rigid, frangible, globular elements that are between the bight of said impact-distribution element and said backing plate, so that movement of a major portion of the impact-distribution element toward said backing plate tends to compress said globular elements.
Claim 43
Dependent Claim
20 words
A shock-absorbing bumper as set forth in claim 35, in which said impact-distributIon element is imbedded within said shock-absorbing material.
Claim 44
Dependent Claim
88 words
A shock-absorbing bumper, comprising: a backing plate adapted to be fastened to a strucure or vehicle to be protected; a resilient, bowed, impact-distribution element, having end portions that are mounted on and slidable on said backing plate; shock-absorbing material in contact with said impact-distribution element, comprising a plurality of substantially rigid, crushable, tubular elements that are between the bight of said impact-distribution element and said backing plate, so that movement of a major portion of the impact-distribution element toward said backing plate tends to compress said tubular elements.
Claim 45
Dependent Claim
88 words
A shock-absorbing bumper, comprising: a backing plate adapted to be fastened to a strucure or vehicle to be protected; a resilient, bowed, impact-distribution element, having end portions that are mounted on and slidable on said backing plate; shock-absorbing material in contact with said impact-distribution element, comprising a plurality of substantially rigid, crushable, tubular elements that are between the bight of said impact-distribution element and said backing plate, so that movement of a major portion of the impact-distribution element toward said backing plate tends to compress said tubular elements.
Claim 46
Dependent Claim
20 words
A shock-absorbing bumper as set forth in claim 38, in which said impact-distribution element is imbedded in said shock-absorbing material.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1976-12-31 | 1977-07-02 | 1978-01-01 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1980-12-31 | 1981-07-02 | 1982-01-01 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1984-12-31 | 1985-07-02 | 1986-01-01 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |