US4068876A — Bumper and counterweight arrangement and method f…

Claim 1

Independent Claim 121 words

A combined bumper and counterweight arrangement mounted on one end of a frame of a vehicle having a work implement mounted on the other end thereof comprising a bumper assembly including a horizontally disposed bottom plate and a plurality of upstanding plates secured to said bottom plate to define a compartment therein, a counterweight disposed within said compartment and resting on said bottom plate, bracket means comprising at least one horizontally disposed bracket mounting said bumper assembly on said frame a vertically disposed pin further disposed in vertically aligned bores formed through said bracket and said frame whereby said bumper assembly can be mounted expeditiously on said frame and vertically disposed attachment means releasably attaching said counterweight to said bottom plate.

Claim 2

Dependent Claim 121 words

A combined bumper and counterweight arrangement mounted on one end of a frame of a vehicle having a work implement mounted on the other end thereof comprising a bumper assembly including a horizontally disposed bottom plate and a plurality of upstanding plates secured to said bottom plate to define a compartment therein, a counterweight disposed within said compartment and resting on said bottom plate, bracket means comprising at least one horizontally disposed bracket mounting said bumper assembly on said frame a vertically disposed pin further disposed in vertically aligned bores formed through said bracket and said frame whereby said bumper assembly can be mounted expeditiously on said frame and vertically disposed attachment means releasably attaching said counterweight to said bottom plate.

Claim 3

Dependent Claim 17 words

The arrangement of claim 1 wherein said attachment means intersects the center of gravity of said counterweight.

Claim 4

Dependent Claim 41 words

The arrangement of claim 2 wherein said attachment means comprises a spacer closely fitted within an aperture formed through said counterweight, said spacer and said aperture each having rectangular cross sections for preventing said spacer from rotating relative to said counterweight.

Claim 5

Dependent Claim 26 words

The arrangement of claim 2 wherein said attachment means comprises self-centering means for guiding and centering said counterweight on the bottom plate of said bumper assembly.

Claim 6

Dependent Claim 56 words

The arrangement of claim 4 wherein said attachment means further comprises a spacer disposed in an aperture formed in said weight, a pair of bolts threadably attached to opposite ends of said spacer and an annular centering member secured on a lower end of said spacer and disposed on the bottom wall of said bumper assembly.

Claim 7

Dependent Claim 43 words

The arrangement of claim 5 further comprising an annular mounting member secured on the bottom wall of said bumper assembly to form an integral part thereof and having one of said bolts extending therethrough threadably attached to a lower end of said spacer.

Claim 8

Dependent Claim 39 words

The arrangement of claim 6 wherein said self-centering means comprises a frusto-conically shaped surface formed on an underside of said centering member and mounted within a like-shaped frusto-conically shaped cavity formed on an upper side of said mounting member.

Claim 9

Dependent Claim 37 words

The arrangement of claim 1 wherein a pair of said compartments are defined in laterally spaced relationship on a rearward end of said bumper assembly and wherein a said counterweight is disposed within each of said compartments.

Claim 10

Dependent Claim 22 words

The arrangement of claim 1 further comprising a cover plate detachably mounted on said bumper assembly in covering relationship over said counterweight.

Claim 11

Dependent Claim 24 words

The arrangement of claim 9 wherein a plurality of compartments are defined in said bumper assembly with a cover plate covering each said compartment.

Claim 12

Dependent Claim 21 words

The arrangement of claim 1 wherein said bracket means comprises a pair of said brackets and a pair of said pins.

Claim 13

Dependent Claim 29 words

The arrangement of claim 1 further comprising releasable fastening means disposed forwardly of said bracket means and releasably attaching said bumper assembly on said frame from beneath said vehicle.

Claim 14

Independent Claim 107 words

A method for mounting a counterweight in a compartment defined in a bumper assembly for a vehicle comprising the steps of threadably attaching lifting means to an upper side of said counterweight, lifting said counterweight by said lifting means over said compartment, lowering and simultaneously self-centering said counterweight in said compartment, securing said counterweight to said bumper assembly by replacing said lifting means with a bolt threadably attached to the upper side of said counterweight and duplicating said attaching, lifting, lowering and securing steps to mount a second counterweight in a second compartment defined in said bumper assembly in laterally spaced relationship relative to said first-mentioned counterweight.

Claim 15

Independent Claim 107 words

A method for mounting a counterweight in a compartment defined in a bumper assembly for a vehicle comprising the steps of threadably attaching lifting means to an upper side of said counterweight, lifting said counterweight by said lifting means over said compartment, lowering and simultaneously self-centering said counterweight in said compartment, securing said counterweight to said bumper assembly by replacing said lifting means with a bolt threadably attached to the upper side of said counterweight and duplicating said attaching, lifting, lowering and securing steps to mount a second counterweight in a second compartment defined in said bumper assembly in laterally spaced relationship relative to said first-mentioned counterweight.

Claim 16

Dependent Claim 26 words

The method of claim 13 wherein said lifting step comprises applying a lifting force to said counterweight at least approximately at the center of gravity thereof.

Claim 17

Dependent Claim 25 words

The method of claim 13 wherein said lowering and centering steps comprise interengaging mating frustoconically shaped surfaces defined between said counterweight and said bumper assembly.

Claim 18

Dependent Claim 20 words

The method of claim 13 further comprising the step of mounting said bumper assembly on a frame of a vehicle.

Claim 19

Dependent Claim 126 words

A combined bumper and counterweight arrangement adapted for mounting on a frame of a vehicle comprising a bumper assembly including a horizontally disposed bottom plate and a plurality of upstanding plates secured to said bottom plate to define a compartment therein, a counterweight disposed within said compartment and resting on said bottom plate and attachment means releasably attaching said counterweight to said bottom plate comprising self-centering means for guiding and centering said counterweight on the bottom plate of said bumper assembly, a spacer disposed in an aperture formed in said weight, a pair of bolts threadably attached to opposite ends of said spacer and an annular centering member secured on a lower end of said spacer and disposed on the bottom wall of said bumper assembly.

Claim 20

Dependent Claim 126 words

A combined bumper and counterweight arrangement adapted for mounting on a frame of a vehicle comprising a bumper assembly including a horizontally disposed bottom plate and a plurality of upstanding plates secured to said bottom plate to define a compartment therein, a counterweight disposed within said compartment and resting on said bottom plate and attachment means releasably attaching said counterweight to said bottom plate comprising self-centering means for guiding and centering said counterweight on the bottom plate of said bumper assembly, a spacer disposed in an aperture formed in said weight, a pair of bolts threadably attached to opposite ends of said spacer and an annular centering member secured on a lower end of said spacer and disposed on the bottom wall of said bumper assembly.

Claim 21

Dependent Claim 122 words

A combined bumper and counterweight arrangement mounted on one end of a frame of a vehicle having a work implement mounted on the other end thereof comprising a bumper assembly including a horizontally disposed bottom plate and a plurality of upstanding plates secured to said bottom plate to define a pair of laterally spaced compartments on a rearward end of said bumper assembly, a counterweight disposed within each of said compartments and resting on said bottom plate, bracket means comprising at least one horizontally disposed bracket mounting said bumper assembly on said frame, and a vertically disposed pin further disposed in vertically aligned bores formed through said bracket and said frame whereby said bumper assembly can be mounted expeditiously on said frame.

Claim 22

Dependent Claim 122 words

A combined bumper and counterweight arrangement mounted on one end of a frame of a vehicle having a work implement mounted on the other end thereof comprising a bumper assembly including a horizontally disposed bottom plate and a plurality of upstanding plates secured to said bottom plate to define a pair of laterally spaced compartments on a rearward end of said bumper assembly, a counterweight disposed within each of said compartments and resting on said bottom plate, bracket means comprising at least one horizontally disposed bracket mounting said bumper assembly on said frame, and a vertically disposed pin further disposed in vertically aligned bores formed through said bracket and said frame whereby said bumper assembly can be mounted expeditiously on said frame.

Claim 23

Independent Claim 120 words

A method for mounting a counterweight in a compartment defined in a bumper assembly for a vehicle comprising the steps of threadably attaching lifting means to an upper said of said counterweight, lifting said counterweight by said lifting means over said compartment, lowering and simultaneously self-centering said counterweight in said compartment, securing said counterweight to said bumper assembly by replacing and lifting means with a bolt threadably attached to the upper side of said counterweight, and mounting said bumper assembly on a frame of a vehicle by first attaching a pair of brackets of said bumper assembly on said frame and then bolting said bumper assembly to said frame at a location remote from said brackets from beneath said vehicle.

Claim 24

Independent Claim 120 words

A method for mounting a counterweight in a compartment defined in a bumper assembly for a vehicle comprising the steps of threadably attaching lifting means to an upper said of said counterweight, lifting said counterweight by said lifting means over said compartment, lowering and simultaneously self-centering said counterweight in said compartment, securing said counterweight to said bumper assembly by replacing and lifting means with a bolt threadably attached to the upper side of said counterweight, and mounting said bumper assembly on a frame of a vehicle by first attaching a pair of brackets of said bumper assembly on said frame and then bolting said bumper assembly to said frame at a location remote from said brackets from beneath said vehicle.

Claim 25

Dependent Claim 25 words

The method of claim 19 wherein said attaching step comprises inserting a pin through aligned bores formed through each of said brackets and said frame.

Annuity Stage	Window Opens	Payment Deadline	Surcharge Period Until	Estimated Fee	Status
3.5 Years (Year 4)	1981-01-16	1981-07-18	1982-01-17	$2000.00	Window Closed / Lapsed
7.5 Years (Year 8)	1985-01-16	1985-07-18	1986-01-17	$3760.00	Window Closed / Lapsed
11.5 Years (Year 12)	1989-01-16	1989-07-18	1990-01-17	$7700.00	Window Closed / Lapsed

Bumper and counterweight arrangement and method for assembling the same

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