Adjustable bumper including protection against under-ride

Claim 2

An adjustable, protective bumper for a vehicle, or the like, having an elevated body, designed and adapted to protect against under-ride and to dissipate energy upon impact; the bumper comprising: A. a hanging support structure comprising connecting means for coupling the same to the rear portion of the elevated body; B. a lower rigid structure comprising a plurality of vertically aligned rigid members, adjustably connected to and extending downwardly from the support structure, the adjustable connection permitting the vertical adjustment of the lower structure; C. support means for supporting energy-dissipating, impactprotection means, the support means being connected to the lower rigid structure; D. a plurality of reinforcing struts, each strut being designed and adapted to form a triangulated reinforcement for the lower rigid structure, one portion of each strut being connected to the lowermost portion of the lower rigid structure, a second portion of each strut being connected at a second, more elevated location on the lower rigid structure, and a third portion of each strut being designed and adapted to be connected adjacent the lower portion of the elevated body; and E. adjustment means for each strut, designed and adapted to permit varying the length of each strut between the portions connected to the lower rigid structure and the third portion; whereby, the lower rigid structure can be maintained at a desirable attitude with respect to the ground, regardless of the attitude of the vehicle, by adjusting the adjustment means.

Claim 3

The bumper of claim 1, wherein the support means for the energy-dissipating, impact-protection means comprises a subStantially horizontal platform rigidly connected to the lowermost portion of the lower rigid structure and extending outwardly therefrom in a direction away from the reinforcing strut.

Claim 4

The bumper of claim 1, wherein the reinforcing strut is pivotally connected to the lower rigid structure at the first and second portions and wherein the third portion of a strut is designed and adapted to be removably and pivotally connected to the elevated body.

Claim 5

An adjustable protective bumper to protect against under-ride and to dissipate energy of impact, for a vehicle having an elevated body, the bumper comprising: a substantially vertically aligned lower plate; a substantially vertically aligned upper plate vertically adjustably connected to the lower plate and substantially parallel thereto and overlapping the upper portion thereof; the upper plate having a plurality of vertically aligned parallel slots therethrough extending upwardly from the bottom edge thereof; a substantially horizontal platform, rigidly connected to the lower vertical plate and extending horizontally rearwardly therefrom; a plurality of vertical columns rigidly connected to the horizontal platform and to the lower plate extending upwardly from the platform parallel to the lower plate, each column being juxtaposed within a corresponding parallel slot within the upper plate; connecting means, rigidly connected to the upper portion of the upper plate, designed and adapted to be coupled to the tailgate of a truck vehicle body; a plurality of reinforcing struts forming a triangulated reinforcement for the bumper, one portion of each strut being connected to the lowermost portion of a column, a second portion of each strut being connected to a second portion of the same column at a location vertically above the first portion, and a third portion of a strut being designed and adapted to be removably connected to a vehicle at a location adjacent the lowermost portion of the body of the vehicle; and adjustment means for each strut, designed and adapted to permit varying the length of each strut between the portions connected to the column and the portion designed and adapted to be connected to the vehicle, whereby the platform is maintained horizontal regardless of the attitude of the vehicle.

Claim 6

An adjustable protective bumper to protect against under-ride and to dissipate energy of impact, for a vehicle having an elevated body, the bumper comprising: a substantially vertically aligned lower plate; a substantially vertically aligned upper plate vertically adjustably connected to the lower plate and substantially parallel thereto and overlapping the upper portion thereof; the upper plate having a plurality of vertically aligned parallel slots therethrough extending upwardly from the bottom edge thereof; a substantially horizontal platform, rigidly connected to the lower vertical plate and extending horizontally rearwardly therefrom; a plurality of vertical columns rigidly connected to the horizontal platform and to the lower plate extending upwardly from the platform parallel to the lower plate, each column being juxtaposed within a corresponding parallel slot within the upper plate; connecting means, rigidly connected to the upper portion of the upper plate, designed and adapted to be coupled to the tailgate of a truck vehicle body; a plurality of reinforcing struts forming a triangulated reinforcement for the bumper, one portion of each strut being connected to the lowermost portion of a column, a second portion of each strut being connected to a second portion of the same column at a location vertically above the first portion, and a third portion of a strut being designed and adapted to be removably connected to a vehicle at a location adjacent the lowermost portion of the body of the vehicle; and adjustment means for each strut, designed and adapted to permit varying the length of each strut between the portions connected to the column and the portion designed and adapted to be connected to the vehicle, whereby the platform is maintained horizontal regardless of the attitude of the vehicle.

Claim 7

A bumper in accordance with claim 4, further comprising a battery of impact-cushioning means supported on said horizontal platform.

Claim 8

A bumper in accordance with claim 5, wherein the adjustment means comprises a turnbuckle assembly on each strut.

Claim 9

An adjustable, protective bumper for a vehicle, or the like, having an elevated body, designed and adapted to protect against under-ride and to dissipate energy upon impact; the bumper comprising: A. a hanging support structure designed and adapted to be coupled to the rear portion of the elevated body and comprising a substantially vertically aligned upper plate having a bent downturned lip along the uppermost portion thereof designed and adapted to fit over and rest upon the upper edge of the tailgate of a dumptruck type vehicle; B. a lower rigid structure comprising a plurality of vertically aligned rigid members, adjustably connected to and extending downwardly from the support structure, the adjustable connection permitting the vertical adjustment of the lower structure; C. support means for energy-dissipating, impactprotection means, the support means being connected to the lower rigid structure; D. a plurality of reinforcing struts, each strut being designed and adapted to form a triangulated reinforcement for the lower rigid structure, one portion of each strut being connected to the lowermost portion of the lower rigid structure, a second portion of each strut being connected at a second, more elevated location on the lower rigid structure, and a third portion of each strut being designed and adapted to be connected adjacent the lower portion of the elevated body; and E. adjustment means for each strut, designed and adapted to permit varying the length of each strut between the portions connected to the lower rigid structure and the third portion; whereby, the lower rigid structure can be maintained at a desirable attitude with respect to the ground, regardless of the attitude of the vehicle, by adjusting the adjustment means.

Claim 10

An adjustable, protective bumper for a vehicle, or the like, having an elevated body, designed and adapted to protect against under-ride and to dissipate energy upon impact; the bumper comprising: A. a hanging support structure designed and adapted to be coupled to the rear portion of the elevated body and comprising a substantially vertically aligned upper plate having a bent downturned lip along the uppermost portion thereof designed and adapted to fit over and rest upon the upper edge of the tailgate of a dumptruck type vehicle; B. a lower rigid structure comprising a plurality of vertically aligned rigid members, adjustably connected to and extending downwardly from the support structure, the adjustable connection permitting the vertical adjustment of the lower structure; C. support means for energy-dissipating, impactprotection means, the support means being connected to the lower rigid structure; D. a plurality of reinforcing struts, each strut being designed and adapted to form a triangulated reinforcement for the lower rigid structure, one portion of each strut being connected to the lowermost portion of the lower rigid structure, a second portion of each strut being connected at a second, more elevated location on the lower rigid structure, and a third portion of each strut being designed and adapted to be connected adjacent the lower portion of the elevated body; and E. adjustment means for each strut, designed and adapted to permit varying the length of each strut between the portions connected to the lower rigid structure and the third portion; whereby, the lower rigid structure can be maintained at a desirable attitude with respect to the ground, regardless of the attitude of the vehicle, by adjusting the adjustment means.

Claim 11

The bumper of claim 7, wherein the lower rigid structure comprises in addition a lower plate vertically aligned and substantially parallel to the upper plate and overlapping the lower portion of the upper plate, and further wherein, the upper plate surface defines a plurality of vertically aligned parallel slots extending from the bottom edge thereof upwardly along the plate, and further wherein, the lower plate is rigidly connected to the vertically aligned rigid members, which are in juxtaposed relation to the upper plate so as to be aligned with and fit within the confines of the plurality of slots in said upper plate; whereby when the lower plate is adjusted vertically with respect to the upper plate, the vertical rigid members slide within the plurality of slots.