WO1998039516A1

WO1998039516A1 - Parking bumper guard

Info

Publication number: WO1998039516A1
Application number: PCT/US1998/004159
Authority: WO
Inventors: Brandon S. Johnston
Original assignee: Johnston Brandon S
Priority date: 1997-03-06
Filing date: 1998-03-05
Publication date: 1998-09-11
Also published as: AU6757898A

Abstract

A parking bumper guard (1) protects the parking bumper by acting as an impact absorption device and also displays messages, safety warnings, and advertising media in a weatherproof as well as waterproof enclosed environment. A main body that holds the messages (4) within an enclosure and is sealed by a locking device (3) that is inserted into the main housing forming a waterproof seal. The device includes UV protection and is accomplished through the use of transparent materials such as polycarbonate, acrylic, and/or various other types of plastics and sealants. The locking device (3) discourages theft of both the guard and the messages inside the guard. An optional safety lip (26) of rubber or rubber like materials that provides protection for the undercarriages of vehicles contacting the guard (1) and provides impact cushioning in the for a pedestrian coming in contact with the guard.

Description

PARKING BUMPER GUARD

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

This invention relates to guards: specifically to guards for parking bumpers which directly

attach securely to a parking bumper to protect the parking bumper from direct contact by eliminating the pressure point in which the car tires hit and to provide a means to display informational , advertising . and safety , messages for the purpose of fund raising , and/or other purposes , such as

advertising products . services , events , sales .or other promotional media , and safety warnings along with providing a more well marked surface to prevent accidental injury caused by low visibility .

BACKGROUND DESCRIPTION OF PRIOR ART

It is known to have parking bumpers in commercial parking lots to guide the traffic into the

direct parking spot, and for orderly traffic flow into and out of the parking lot . It is also known for

businesses to provide informational messages on parking bumpers ; such as employee of the month ,

reserved parking , bank parking only , or other such messages . The means that these messages have

been applied to the parking bumpers has been by being painted on by professional sign painters ,

painted on by using stencil , and applied by the use of vinyl lettering . The sign painter would use

his/her experience and/or artistic skill to individually hand paint each letter on to the surface of each

parking bumper one letter at a time , The hand painting onto parking bumpers is generally

accepted to be more time consuming ( labor intensive ) than the application of the stenciled or vinyl

lettering . Therefore , the labor cost for hand painted lettering would be much greater than the other

mentioned applications . Also the uniformity of hand painted lettering may not be as reliable as

stamped or stenciled applications . The problem with stencils is that they may produce lettering with

indistinct borders , or they may allow paint to run through them onto the parking bumper which

leaves splotches of paint on the surface of the parking bumper , producing a poor quality message that

is generally unappealing to the public .

Adhesive backed lettering directly applied to the parking bumper has been another alternative .

One drawback to the adhesive backed lettering is that it is easily abraded by repeated contact from

automobile tires and bumpers . also from shopping carts and foot traffic .

There are also other factors involved such as weather conditions . It is not known to have guards for parking bumpers which directly attach into the parking bumper eliminating the impact pressure , and ihal __multaneou_lv provide a means to display mess;:gcs in a clear holder for signboards that the user is able to change at will allowing the flexibilitv^* to inform the public in a safe clear and appealing

manner .

Many parking bumpers are made of cement and are anchored to the surface of a parking lot to

provide a strong surface to stop the forward movement of a motor vcliicle . They are also used as guides to direct motor vehicles into the parking spot . Parking bumpers are sometimes used as guides

and protectors of areas inhibiting the flow of moving objects into or onto areas where pedestrians or

stationary objects are located ; such as sidewalks , parks , utility poles and pipe risers . golf greens and trees etc.. .

As such parking bumpers are subject to the deteriorating effects of repeated contact with foreign

objects ; such as vehicle tires and other such objects . When left unanchored or when parking

bumpers deteriorate and break loose from their anchoring , or crack from repeated abuse and normal

wear and tear . parking bumpers become useless and thus fail in their function as deterents , thus

defeating the purpose that the parking bumpers were originally intended making the parking . walking , play . or other area unsafe .

Parking bumpers are usually left uncovered , however , the invention mentioned in US. Patent

3,720,406 to Aitz (1973) discloses a wooden parking abutment having an impact cusliioning means

attached to one of the surfaces most likely to come in contact with vehicle tires .

It is not known to have a guard for parking bumpers which will attach securely to it to protect it from

impact from vehicle tires and other deteriorating effects of nature and have a means of providing the display of messages that could be changed as needed without requiring the removal of permanent

messages either painted . stenciled , glued on or othei wise attached directly to the parking bumper . BRIEF SUMMARY OF INVENTION - OBJECTS AND ADVANTAGES

1. It is the primary object of this invention to provide a guard lor narking bumpers wlύch provides a

surface for the display of messages .

2. It is also an object of this invention to provide a guard for parking bumpers that will protect them

from the deteriorating effects of harsh weather conditions .

3. A further object of this invention is to provide a guard for parking bumpers that will protect the

parking bumpers from the deteriorated effects caused by the repeated contact with vehicle tires .

4. A further object of this invention is to provide a guard for parkin? lot bumpers that has a reasonable means to discourage the theft of the cover .

5. A further object of this invention is to provide a guard for the parking bumper that will have from one to several surfaces for the display of messages .

6. As described herein , properly manufactured and installed on or in a parking bumper , the present

invention would provide at least one but not limited to one surface for the display of messages .

7. Furthermore since the guard would be made of a sturdy material such as vulcanized rubber ,

acrylic . or various forms of plastics , it would protect the parking bumper from the deteriorating

effects of harsh weather as well as repeated contact with vehicle tires or other moving object .

8. The present invention could be of a singular or multi-pan construction from a liquid . or a heat or

cold sealed material . which either completely or partially encompasses the parking bumper .

9. It is contemplated that messages could be placed into a slotted area of the protective guard that are

made by means of silk screen printing . computer generated graphics or other conventional printing methods . 10. It is also contemplated that messages could be placed inside the protective guard that have been printed on durable plastic inserts designed for this purpose which are resistant to weather and temperature extremes making them removable and reusable as needed .

11. Since parking bumpers in different geographical regions arc known to have different cross sectional configurations , different embodiments of the present invention would have but not be limited to round , square , triangular , flat , concave , convex , and any other configuration as needed

to allow the attachment to parking bumpers in any geographical regions .

12. It is further considered that the term parking bumper could be applied to both flat and upright installed devices as well as curbsides that are construed for the purpose of impeding the motion of vehicle tires as well as other moving objects .

13. The upper protective lip extending from the surface of the PARKING BUMPER GUARD thus providing protection for the SPOILERS , BUMPERS , AND OTHER SUCH APPARATUS PROTRUDING FROM THE UNDERSIDE OF VEHICLES as well as offering a more protective surface in the unfortunate event of being struck by the extremities of an individual who might

accidentally come in contact with the PARKING BUMPER and in so doing also come in contact with the GUARD that has been applied to the parking bumper thus without such a lip would be exposed to

the sharp square edges of the PARKING BUMPER GUARD thus causing injury in the form of cuts abrasions or possible broken bones .

While these injuries are not totally preventable they would be greatly lessened by the inclusion of said

Up .

(14) The description herein provides preferred embodiments of the present invention but should not be construed as limiting the scope of the parking bumper guard invention . Variations in the materials used for the guard . the length of and or height of the guard . types and numbers of fastening devices used tυ .secure the guard to the parking bumpers . the number and or- tvpe of messages displayed . and

the manner in which the messages may be applied to the parking bumper guard (s) . other than those

described herein . may be incorporated into ihe present invention . Thus die scope of ihe present

invention should be determined by the appended claims and theii legal equivalents , rather than the examples given .

DESCRIPTION OF THE SUBMITTED DRAWINGS

Diagram 1. Is a frontal view of one type of bumper guard which allows for the insertion of

advertising media .

(1 ) The words BUMPER GUARD in the box below the drawing and marked with the large arrow

pointing upward show the frontal view of the bumper guard in one configuration.

(2) The words CLEAR PLASTIC in thtf box located in the upper right hand corner of the drawing

depict the type of material used to allow the viewing of advertising media and informational or safety

messages .

(3) The words LOCKING DEVICE in the box at the lower left hand corner of the drawing with an

arrow pointing to an example of a locking device that may be used to secure the advertising media

inside the bumper guard .

(4) The word ADVERTISEMENT shows the method used to insert advertising media and/or other

informational or safety messages inside the protective bumper guard with an arrow showing the

insertion method .

(5) The words TAMPER RESISTANT SCREW located in the box at the left hand upper corner of

the drawing indicate the location of the tamper resistant screw used to secure the positioning of the

locking device .

(6) The small pair of arrows located immediately to the right of the drawing of the locking device

which is shown on the left hand side of the main bumper guard and between the upper and lower descriptive boxes points to the area into which the locking device will be inserted . DIAGRAM 2 . SIDE VIEW} Depicts one ty.pe of bumper guard into which advertising media and'or other informational or safety messages may be inserted through a slot in the center of the bumper

guard .

(7) The box in the lower right hand corner of the diagram contains the words BUMPER GUARD and an arrow pointing to the picture of the bumper guard .

(8) The words TAMPER RESISTANT SCREW in the box located in the lower left hand portion of the drawing with an arrow pointing upward to the round circle located in the center of the locking device indicate one method of a theft deterrent locking device .

(9) the words LOCKING DEVICE located ir. the box in the upper left hand corner of the drawing with an arrow pointing downward to the drawing of the locking device indicate one method of locking device used as both a protective encasement of and a theft deterrent involved in the protection of advertising media and or safety or informational messages .

(10) The words TRACKING SYSTEM INSIDE GUARD located in the box in the upper center of the diagram with an arrow pointing to the inside of the main bumper guard indicate the area used for the insertion of advertising media and^'or safety o r other informational messages .

(11) The words CLEAR PLASTIC located in the upper right hand corner of the diagram indicate the method of and materials used i on the frontal surface of the bumper guard allowing the viewing of advertising media and'or safety or other informal ional messages . DIAGRAM 3 (SIDE VIEW)

Diagram 3 is a descriptive diagram of a parking bumper guard with a curved surface . it is designed to

fit onto bumpers that have a curved surface and protect them from premature destruction due to the

repeated impact of vehicle tires and the destructive erosion caused from harsh climatic conditions .

(12) The words located in the box at the lower right hand comer of the diagram reading CURVED

BUMPER GUARD: with an arrow pointing to the main portion of the illustration depict a view from the frontal side of the parking bumper guard .

(13) The words CLEAR PLASΗC: located under the box located in the upper right hand comer of

the diagram indicate the type of material proposed for the parking bumper guard to allow for the

display of advertising media and/or safety or other informational messages in a secure and

weatherproof environment .

14. The box in the upper left hand comer of the diagram contains the words CURVED LOCKING DEVICE: and has an arrow pointing to the locking device .

15. The two small arrows pointing from the locking device as described in the last paragraph point to

the main body of the curved parking bumper cover and also serve to indicate the slot in the device

that allows for the insertion of advertising media and/or safety or other informational messages into

the curved parking bumper cover .

16. The box in the lower left hand comer of the diagram contains the words TAMPER RESISTANT SCREW: along with an arrow pointing to the location of the tamper resistant crew in the locking device DIAGRAM 4 (FRONT VIEW)

Tl s diagram depicts a frontal view of the cuived parking bumper cover and in the view it shows the

location of advertising media and'or safety or other informational messages along with the locking device used to secure the messages from weather and vandalism along with theft .

17. Witliin the main body of the diagram is the drawing of the frontal portion of the parking bumper guard and showing the insertion of advertising media the word ADVERTISEMENT: appears in this area .

18. The box in the lower center of the diagram contains the words CURVED BUMPER GUARD: and an arrow pointing to the main body of the curved bumper guard showing the transparency of the frontal portion of the curved bumper guard .

19. The box in the lower left hand comer of the diagram contains the words CURVED LOCKING DEVICE: along with an arrow pointing to the curved locking device used to act as both a weather protector and a theft deterrent device for the curved bumper guard .

20. The box in the upper left hand co er of the diagram contains the words TAMPER RESISTANT SCREW: and an arrow pointing to the location of the tamper resistant screw that is used as a theft deterrent device as well as a method of securing the locking device in place preventing weather extremes from .affecting the advertising media and/or safety or other informational messages.

21. The arrows pointing from the curved locking device described in description (3) indicate the final position of the locking device as it is designed .

22. The box in the upper right hand comer of the diagram with the words CLEAR PLASTIC: below it indicate the type of materials used in the construction of the curved bumper guard as shown . DIAGRAM 5 BUMPER GUARD WITH OPΗONAL SAFETY LIP FRONT VIEW

23 . Shows the bumper guard .

24 . In box showing rabber lip

DIAGRAM 6 OPTIONAL SAFETY LIP SIDE VIEW

25. Bumper guard .

26 . optional rubber lip .

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

The invention being detailed and described in this Application for Patent is designed to and for the

purposes of creating a safe and effective means of providing protective surfaces for Parking Bumpers

(a) Causing the Parking Bumper to last longer

(b) Become more visible .

(c) Allow the usage of various types of messages which are protected from the environment by means of being contained in a sealed and locking type of containment .

(d) Providing a means of protective surface upon which the undertrimmings of automobiles and other veliicles would be less apt to become entangled ,

(e) Providing a safer surface without the rougliness that the concrete bumper now has that the inadvertent pedestrian , skateboarder, and cyclist could fall upon in the event that they inadvertently should come in contact with the Parking Bumper Guard .

SECTION 1 DESCRIPTION OF MATERIALS USED IN THE CONSTRUCTION

OF THE PARKING BUMPER GUARD

The preferred listing of tvpes of materials to be used in the construction of the PARKING BUMPER GUARD are as follows .

(a) Exposed surfaces consisting of Plastics preferably polycarbonate , or other such flexible yet

tempered and heat resistant resin types of materials as are deemed suitable for the effective temperature and impact needs of the PARKING EUMPER GUARD .

(b) The FRONT PANEL consisting of a clear or transparent type of material of a thickness of not

less than 1/8 of an inch and not more than 1 inch of the variety deemed both flexible and durable affording the shock absorption factors needed to cushion the impact of repeated pressures derived

from the repeated striking of vehicle tires , and having the ability to become sealed together as a single sealed weatherproof unit .

(c) The CENTER PORTION containing messages and safety and'or advertising media should be

acrylic or plastics such as suitable for the secure and weatherproof nature of the messaging area

allowing the entire unit to become sealed together as a single scaled unit the thickness of which should not be less that 1/8 inch not thicker that 1 inch .

(d) Rear Panels consisting of Plastics such as Polycarbonate . or other tvpes of resins suitable for

providing support and flexibility of the Parking pumper Guard and having the ability to be sealed

together as to form a single unit when applied to the other surfaces of the PARKING BUMPER

GUARD and having a thickness of not less than l/8th inch and not more than 1 inch . (e) The LOCKING DEVICE is to be constructed as to form a weatherproof seal when inserted into

the end of the main portion to the PARKING BUMPER GUARD thus allowing for the insertion of

messages , safety devices , advertising and or other media as needed in the application of the

PARKING BUMPER GUARD and having a surface on the outer portion of the LOCKING

DEVICE of not less than 3/8ths of an inch and not more than 3 inches and the inserted portion

having a thickness of not less than l/8th of an inch and not more than 1 inch .

(f) The upper protective surface consists of a rounded or bulleted lip on the top portion of the

PARKING BUMPER GUARD rising not more thin 1 and 1/2 inch but not necessarily to tltis exact

specification .

(g) The tamper resistant screw is used to secure the locking device to the bumper guard and thus

make it less apt to be vandalized or the insert defact-d or stolen .

(h) The advertising media or safety and/or informational messages are to be made of silk screen .

printed , or computer generated printing processes located on plastic , paper , cardboard , or whatever

suitable materials are deemed to be usable for this purpose when they are inserted into the

weatherproof interior portion of the parking bumper guard .

(I) The length of and the heiglit of the parking buraper guard will be determined by the length and

height of the parking bumper or curbside area that ihey are being applied to and shall be sufficient as

necessary to provide both the effective protective and advertising value for wiiich it was designed .

Claims

CLAIMSI claim:

1. A guard for a parking bumper having a configuration similar to that of the size

and shape of the front face and'or bac;c face of the said parking bumper , and

being comprised of said quantity of material being high impact resistant , UV and

weather resistant . and having a waterproof seal . said guard also comprising of

an enclosed housing or holder providing a protected environment for an inserted

message to slide into the body of the guard by the means of a tracking device

inside the guard , and also provided is a locking device that is able to be inserted

into the end portion of the main body .if the guard which completely seals and

discourages theft of the inserted messages , and a means of securing the said

guard to the parking bumper to disc ourage theft of the said guard . also

comprising of an optional safety lip/pad attached to the upper portion of the said

guard which is a method of protection for the undercarriage of said vehicles

forward of the front wheels . and further aids in the event of pedestrians that

might fall upon the said guard .

2. The guard of claim 1 wherein having a quantity of materials consisting of

but not limited to polycarbonates , acrylics , and. 'or various forms of plastics

and sealants .

3. The guard of claim 1 hav ing a UV coating and a transparent appearance

allowing for the viewing of messages . advertising media , and safety warnings

etc.

4. The guard of claim 1 having an enc╧èosed housing allowing for the viewing of

messages . advertising media , and safety warnings .

5. The guard in claim 1 having a locking device that is inserted into the main

body of said guard .

6. The guard in claim 1 having a waterproof seal achieved after insertion of the

locking device .

7. The guard in claim 1 having an open area within to allow for the insertion of

messages , advertising media , and safet warnings .

8 The guard in claim 1 having a means of securing the guard to the parking

bumper consisting of screws and/or glues and other types of adhesives and

sealants as required .

9. The guard in claim 1 having an optional lip comprised of rubber or rubber

like materials or p╧àlyurethane tvpes of materials or other suitable materials

applied to the upper surface as a safety device offering a degree of protection to

vehicles and pedestrians .

10. The guard in claim 4 havin g a tracking device in the imerior of the guard

tor the insertion of messages , advertising media . and safetv warnings .

11. The guard in claim 7 refers to messages . safetv- warnings . advertising

media . etc. Placed on suitable surfaces as to be inserted into the body of the

guard .