Hood Bumper Protector

The instant invention relates generally to safety devices for motor vehicles and more specifically it relates to a hood bumper protector.

Numerous safety devices for motor vehicles have been provided in prior art that are adapted to protect pedestrians and the motor vehicles. For example, U.S. Pat. Nos. 1,865,014; 3,829,140 and 3,905,629 all are illustrative of such prior art. While these units may be suitable for the particular purpose to which they address, they would not be as suitable for the purposes of the present invention as heretofore described.

A primary object of the present invention is to provide a hood bumper protector that will overcome the shortcomings of the prior art devices.

Another object is to provide a hood bumper protector which when activated by brake pedal will keep a driver safe and avoid a windshield crash when an accident happens between the motor vehicle and a trailer truck.

An additional object is to provide a hood bumper protector which will remain in a raised operative position above the front hood of the motor vehicle after release of the brake pedal until manually released so as to prevent further damage to the motor vehicle after the accident but before removal of the motor vehicle from against the trailer truck.

A further object is to provide a hood bumper protector that is simple and easy to use.

A still further object is to provide a hood bumper protector that is economical in cost to manufacture.

Further objects of the invention will appear as the description proceeds.

To the accomplishment of the above and related objects, this invention may be embodied in the form illustrated in the accompanying drawings, attention being called to the fact, however, that the drawings are illustrative only, and that changes may be made in the specific construction illustrated and described within the scope of the appended claims.

FIG. 1 is a side view of a motor vehicle hitting a rear portion of a trailer truck with bumper member in raised operative position.

FIG. 2 is a side view of a motor vehicle hitting a side portion of a trailer truck with bumper member in the raised operative position.

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the motor vehicle with parts broken away and the bumper member in retracted stowed position.

FIG. 4 is a perspective view similar to FIG. 3 with bumper member in the raised operative position.

FIG. 5 is a side view of details of the invention with parts broken away and in section showing that actuation of the brake pedal will raise the bumper member to its operative position.

FIG. 6 is a cross sectional view taken along line 6--6 in FIG. 5 showing one of the front support members for the bumper member.

FIG. 7 is a cross sectional view taken along line 7--7 in FIG. 5 showing one of the rear support members for one of the hydraulic pistons.

Turning now descriptively to the drawings, in which similar reference characters denote similar elements throughout the several views, the figures illustrate a device 10 for protecting a hood 12 and windshield 14 of a motor vehicle 16. The device 10 includes a bumper member 18 and actuator 20 for moving the bumper member 18 from a retracted stowed position "A" into a raised operative position "B". A mechanism 22 is provided for actuating the actuator 20 before a collision takes place between the motor vehicle 16 and another object 24, such as a trailer truck. The bumper member 18 will go from its stowed position "A" to its operative position "B" to protect the hood 12 and windshield 14 of the motor vehicle 16 from damage caused by the collision.

The hood 12 of the motor vehicle 16 has a inverted U-shaped recess 26 therein. The bumper member 18 is substantially U-shaped in which a pivot point 28 is formed at each extremity of the "U" onto a front support member 29 so that the bumper member 18 can be received within the recess 26 and be pivotable by the actuator 20 about the pivot points 28 to move freely through the hood from its stowed position "A" to its operative position "B".

The actuator 20 includes a pair of normally spring biased to the retracted position hydraulic pistons 30, each of which is connected between one side 34 of the bumper member 18 and the chassis 36 of the motor vehicle 16 via support member 38 so as to lift the sides 34 of the bumper member 18 simultaneously to the raised operative position "B".

The actuating mechanism 22 includes a solenoid actuated valve 40 which is spring biased to the closed position, connected in a hydraulic line 42 bewteen the hydraulic pistons 30 and the brake system of the motor vehicle 16. A switch 44 having a lever 45 slideably connected to the normal brake pedal 46 of the motor vehicle 16 and is electrically connected between the solenoid actuated valve 40 and the power supply (battery) of the motor vehicle. The lever 45 of the switch 44 can be activated when foot 48 of the driver of the motor vehicle shown in dotted lines depresses both the brake pedal 46 and lever 45 opening the solenoid actuated valve 40 and causing the hydraulic pistons 30 to place the bumper member 18 into the raised operative position "B". The spring returning the solenoid actuated valve 40 to the closed position is slow acting so as to permit return flow of brake fluid when the brake pedal is released allowing the bumper member to retract. A safety check valve 50 is connected in the hydraulic line 42 between the solenoid actuated valve 40 and the hydraulic pistons 30 so as to hold pressure in the hydraulic line 42 and keep the bumper member 18 in the raised operative position "B" when the foot 48 of the driver is lifted off the brake pedal 46 and switch lever 45 after the collision to prevent additional damage to the motor vehicle 16 before separation from the other object 24. The check valve 50 ensures retention of the bumper member in the operative upright position, if there is back flow leakage through the solenoid actuated valve 40.

A manually operated valve 52 is connected in the hydraulic line 42 to bypass the check valve 50 and the solenoid actuated valve 40 via pipe 54 so as to release pressure in the hydraulic line 42 and lower the bumper member 18 back into the stowed position "A".

While certain novel features of this invention have been shown and described and are pointed out in the annexed claims, it will be understood that various omissions, substitutions and changes in the forms and details of the device illustrated and in its operation can be made by those skilled in the art without departing from the spirit of the invention.