Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 5
Claim 1
Independent Claim
197 words
A bumper for a vehicle having a frame including a pair of laterally spaced beams extending longitudinally of said vehicle, and rubber-tired wheels mounted in paired relation on said frame in conventional manner so that the wheels of each pair are disposed outwardly of respective beams adjacent the ends thereof, comprising a center bumper section rigidly secured to said frame at an end thereof and extending horizontally and crosswise of said frame beams, an end bumper section at each end of said center bumper section, each end section being disposed to guard an adjacent wheel of said pair of wheels against impact with an object on the road over which said vehicle travels, and leaf spring means disposed between and secured to each bumper end section and said center bumper section, constructed and arranged for disposition generally within the confines of and lying flat against said sections and operative to bias said end bumper sections to longitudinal continuity with said center section but permitting an end bumper section to be moved toward a respective wheel against the biasing force of its spring connection with said center section when said end section strikes an obstruction in the road.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
197 words
A bumper for a vehicle having a frame including a pair of laterally spaced beams extending longitudinally of said vehicle, and rubber-tired wheels mounted in paired relation on said frame in conventional manner so that the wheels of each pair are disposed outwardly of respective beams adjacent the ends thereof, comprising a center bumper section rigidly secured to said frame at an end thereof and extending horizontally and crosswise of said frame beams, an end bumper section at each end of said center bumper section, each end section being disposed to guard an adjacent wheel of said pair of wheels against impact with an object on the road over which said vehicle travels, and leaf spring means disposed between and secured to each bumper end section and said center bumper section, constructed and arranged for disposition generally within the confines of and lying flat against said sections and operative to bias said end bumper sections to longitudinal continuity with said center section but permitting an end bumper section to be moved toward a respective wheel against the biasing force of its spring connection with said center section when said end section strikes an obstruction in the road.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
82 words
The construction according to claim 1 wherein each of said end bumper sections is disposed in closely spaced relation with respect to the peripheral surface of the tire of a said adjacent wheel, each end bumper section having a curved portion adapted to strike the tire peripheral surface without injury to the latter, the rotating direction of said tire assisting the biasing force of the spring connection to return a respective end section to its longitudinal continuity with said center bumper section.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
161 words
The construction according to claim 1 wherein said center bumper section is of a length not materially exceeding the lateral spacing between adjoining ends of said beams, opposite ends of saId center section being bolted to an end of said frame, wherein one end of said leaf spring is bolted to said center section, and the other end of said spring is bolted to said center section by the same bolts that additionally secure the respective opposite center section ends to said frame end, and wherein each of said bumper end sections is disposed in closely spaced relation with respect to the peripheral surface of the tire of a said adjacent wheel, each end bumper section having a curved portion adapted to strike the tire peripheral surface without injury to the latter, the rotating direction of said tire assisting the biasing force of the spring connection to return a respective end section to its longitudinal continuity with said center bumper section.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
31 words
The construction according to claim 1 wherein bolt means secures said center bumper section to said frame, said bolt means additionally securing said leaf spring means to said center bumper section.