Safety step bumper assembly

Claim 1

A safety step bumper assembly for a vehicle comprising: a frame having a base member constructed for fixed attachment of said frame to the chassis of a vehicle, an elongated step bumper member mounted upon said frame in a predetermined axial position and a predetermined rotational position, a pin member joining said step bumper member and said frame in pivotable relationship, said step bumper member adapted for pivoting movement, relative to said frame, from said predetermined rotational position and for return thereto, said safety step bumper assembly defining a slot, and said pin member engaged in said slot and movable therein between a first pin position with said step bumper member spaced from said chassis and in said predetermined axial position, and a second pin position with said step bumper member relatively closer to said chassis, means for biasing said step bumper member toward said predetermined axial and rotational position, and a stop member adapted to limit movement of said step bumper member for return of said bumper member toward its said predetermined axial and rotational positions under influence of said means for biasing, whereby said safety step bumper assembly is adapted for pivoting and sliding movement of said step bumper member, relative to the fixed frame on the chassis, from said predetermined axial and rotational positions, in a manner to adjust to otherwise destructive forces applied to said step bumper member by engagement upon a dock or other obstruction.