WO2007015119A1 - A bumper device - Google Patents
A bumper device Download PDFInfo
- Publication number
- WO2007015119A1 WO2007015119A1 PCT/IB2005/002307 IB2005002307W WO2007015119A1 WO 2007015119 A1 WO2007015119 A1 WO 2007015119A1 IB 2005002307 W IB2005002307 W IB 2005002307W WO 2007015119 A1 WO2007015119 A1 WO 2007015119A1
- Authority
- WO
- WIPO (PCT)
- Prior art keywords
- formation
- trailer
- bumper
- bumper device
- trailer hitch
- Prior art date
Links
Classifications
-
- B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
- B60—VEHICLES IN GENERAL
- B60D—VEHICLE CONNECTIONS
- B60D1/00—Traction couplings; Hitches; Draw-gear; Towing devices
- B60D1/58—Auxiliary devices
- B60D1/60—Covers, caps or guards, e.g. comprising anti-theft devices
-
- B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
- B60—VEHICLES IN GENERAL
- B60D—VEHICLE CONNECTIONS
- B60D1/00—Traction couplings; Hitches; Draw-gear; Towing devices
- B60D1/24—Traction couplings; Hitches; Draw-gear; Towing devices characterised by arrangements for particular functions
- B60D1/36—Traction couplings; Hitches; Draw-gear; Towing devices characterised by arrangements for particular functions for facilitating connection, e.g. hitch catchers, visual guide means, signalling aids
- B60D1/363—Hitch guiding or catching elements, e.g. V-shaped plates partially surrounding a coupling member for guiding the other coupling member
-
- B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
- B60—VEHICLES IN GENERAL
- B60D—VEHICLE CONNECTIONS
- B60D1/00—Traction couplings; Hitches; Draw-gear; Towing devices
- B60D1/58—Auxiliary devices
-
- B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
- B60—VEHICLES IN GENERAL
- B60R—VEHICLES, VEHICLE FITTINGS, OR VEHICLE PARTS, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
- B60R19/00—Wheel guards; Radiator guards, e.g. grilles; Obstruction removers; Fittings damping bouncing force in collisions
- B60R19/02—Bumpers, i.e. impact receiving or absorbing members for protecting vehicles or fending off blows from other vehicles or objects
- B60R19/48—Bumpers, i.e. impact receiving or absorbing members for protecting vehicles or fending off blows from other vehicles or objects combined with, or convertible into, other devices or objects, e.g. bumpers combined with road brushes, bumpers convertible into beds
Definitions
- THIS INVENTION relates to a bumper device for use with a trailer.
- a bumper device for use with a trailer, the bumper device including:
- the mounting means which is connected to the bumper formation, for releasably mounting the bumper formation to the trailer in an arrangement wherein the bumper formation is disposed operatively in front of the trailer hitch of the trailer, thereby to prevent impact between the trailer hitch and a vehicle to which the trailer is to be hitched when hitching the trailer to the vehicle.
- the mounting means may include a mounting formation which can be releasably mounted to the trailer hitch.
- the bumper device may be configured for use with a trailer having a trailer hitch of a ball-and-socket type, wherein the trailer hitch defines a socket for receiving the ball of a tow bar, the mounting formation may define a ball formation that is securely locatable in the socket of the trailer hitch of the trailer.
- the ball formation may define a recess in which a pawl of the trailer hitch is receivable to locate the ball formation in the socket of the trailer hitch and orientate the bumper device relative to the trailer hitch.
- the bumper device may be configured so that a vehicle-contacting face of the bumper formation is spaced a predetermined distance from the mounting formation, thereby permitting the bumper device to be used as a spacer for optimally spacing the socket of the trailer hitch of the trailer behind the vehicle when hitching the trailer to the vehicle, in use.
- the bumper formation and the mounting formation may be integrally formed.
- the bumper formation may be of impact absorbing material.
- the bumper device may be of plastics material.
- Figure 1 shows a schematic perspective view of a bumper device in accordance with the invention
- Figure 2 shows a schematic top plan view of the bumper device of Figure 1;
- Figure 3 shows a schematic rear side view of the bumper device of Figure 1 ;
- Figure 4 shows a schematic end view of the of the bumper device of Figure 1 ;
- Figure 5 shows a schematic perspective view of the underside of the bumper device of Figure 1 ;
- Figure 6 shows a schematic perspective view of the bumper device of Figure 1 , mounted to the trailer hitch of a trailer, in use;
- Figure 7 shows a cross-sectional view of the ball formation of the bumper device of Figure 1 mounted in the socket of the trailer hitch viewed from the underside of the trailer hitch.
- a bumper device in accordance with the invention is designated generally by reference numeral 10.
- the bumper device 10 comprises a bumper formation 12 and mounting means in the form of a mounting formation 14 for releasably mounting the bumper formation to a trailer.
- the bumper device 10 is of plasties material, and more specifically, the bumper device 10 is of Polyvinyl Chloride (PVC) material.
- PVC Polyvinyl Chloride
- the bumper formation 12 is in the form of a generally rectangular plate 16 having two sides 18 and 20.
- the side 20 defines a convexly-curved vehicle- contacting face 22.
- the plate 16 defines an elongate recess 24 therein which extends from the underside of the plate 16 into the plate. The recess 24 allows the side 20 of the plate 16 to flex, thereby absorbing impact, when impacted.
- the mounting formation 14 comprises a horizontally projecting base formation 26, and a ball formation 32.
- the base formation 26 projects substantially perpendicularly with respect to the plate 16 from a lower portion of the side 18 of the plate 16 and defines a distal end 34.
- the base formation 26 has an upper side 36 and a lower side 38.
- the ball formation 32 comprises a dome 54 and a curved wall formation 56 which projects upwardly from the upper side 36 of the base formation 26 and extends between the base formation and the dome 54.
- the ball formation is located near the distal end 34 of the base formation 26.
- the ball formation 32 is spaced a predetermined distance from the vehicle-contacting face 22.
- the ball formation 32 defines a curved recess 44 in the wall formation 56 at the distal end 34 in which a pawl 52 of the trailer hitch 46 is receiveable, in use. Walls 50 define sides of the recess 44.
- the material-saving cavity 42 is defined in the ball formation 32.
- the cavity 42 opens into the lower side 38 of the base formation 26.
- the base formation defines two finger holes 40 therethrough at opposite lateral sides of the ball formation 32.
- the bumper device 10 is releasably attached, in use, to a ball-and-socket type trailer hitch 46 of a trailer 48, in an arrangement wherein the bumper formation 12 is disposed operatively in front of the trailer hitch 46.
- the bumper device 10 is releasably attached to the trailer hitch 46 by locating the ball formation 32 in the socket of the trailer hitch 46.
- the pawl 52 of the trailer hitch is received in the recess 44, thereby securing the ball formation 32 in the socket of the trailer hitch 46 and orientating the bumper device 10 relative to the trailer hitch 46.
- the walls 50 prevent the ball formation 32 from rotating in the socket of the trailer hitch 46 when the pawl 52 is received in the recess 44.
- the wall formation 56 of the ball formation 32 prevents tilting of the bumper device 10 in the trailer hitch 46.
- the bumper device 10 is removed by inserting a finger into each of the finger holes 40 and the cavity 42, from the lower side of the base formation 26, to grip the bumper device 10 and pull the ball formation 32 from the socket of the trailer hitch 46.
- the cavity 42 in the ball formation 32 also provides for limited deformation of the ball formation for assisting inserting and removing the ball formation 32 of the bumper device 10 from the socket of the trailer hitch 46.
- the bumper device 10 protects the bodywork of the towing vehicle when coupling the trailer to the towing vehicle by providing a large impact absorbent surface area, in the form of the vehicle-contacting face 22. This prevents impact between the trailer hitch 46 and the vehicle when hitching the trailer 48 to the vehicle.
- the bumper device 10 is used as a spacer for optimally spacing the socket of the trailer hitch 46 of the trailer behind the vehicle when hitching the trailer to the vehicle. In order to hitch the trailer 48 to the towing vehicle, the towing vehicle is reversed towards the trailer until the vehicle- contacting face 22 of the bumper device 10 contacts the rear bumper or tailgate of the towing vehicle.
- the Applicant envisages that the towing vehicle will be reversed so that the bumper device 10 contacts the rear bumper or tailgate to a side of the tow ball of the towing vehicle.
- the trailer hitch 46 and the towing vehicle will then be spaced the correct distance apart for hitching the trailer to the towing vehicle.
- use of the bumper device 10 obviates the need to align the tow ball of the towing vehicle and the trailer hitch.
- the bumper device 10 is then removed, the trailer hitch is swung across to a position above the tow ball of the towing vehicle and the trailer hitch is dropped onto the tow ball and hitched thereto.
- the bumper device 10 can also be used as a plug by locating the ball formation 32 in the socket of a trailer hitch to prevent foreign objects, such as sand, to enter into the socket of the trailer hitch 46 when the trailer is unhitched.
Landscapes
- Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
- Mechanical Engineering (AREA)
- Transportation (AREA)
- Vibration Dampers (AREA)
Abstract
A bumper device (10) comprising a bumper formation (12) and a mounting formation (14) for releasably mounting the bumper device (10) to a ball-and-socket type trailer hitch of a trailer, in an arrangement wherein the bumper formation (12) is disposed operatively in front of the trailer hitch. The mounting formation (14) comprises a horizontally projecting base formation (26), and a ball formation (32). The bumper device (10) is releasably attached to the trailer hitch by locating the ball formation (32) in the socket of the trailer hitch. The bumper device (10) protects the bodywork of the towing vehicle when coupling the trailer to the towing vehicle by providing a large impact absorbent surface area that prevents impact between the trailer hitch and the vehicle. The bumper device (10) can also be used as a spacer for optimally spacing the socket of the trailer hitch of the trailer behind the vehicle when hitching the trailer to the vehicle.
Description
A BUMPER DEVICE
FIELD OF INVENTION
THIS INVENTION relates to a bumper device for use with a trailer.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
According to the invention there is provided a bumper device for use with a trailer, the bumper device including:
a bumper formation; and
mounting means which is connected to the bumper formation, for releasably mounting the bumper formation to the trailer in an arrangement wherein the bumper formation is disposed operatively in front of the trailer hitch of the trailer, thereby to prevent impact between the trailer hitch and a vehicle to which the trailer is to be hitched when hitching the trailer to the vehicle.
The mounting means may include a mounting formation which can be releasably mounted to the trailer hitch.
The bumper device may be configured for use with a trailer having a trailer hitch of a ball-and-socket type, wherein the trailer hitch defines a socket for receiving the ball of a tow bar, the mounting formation may define a ball formation that is securely locatable in the socket of the trailer hitch of the trailer.
The ball formation may define a recess in which a pawl of the trailer hitch is receivable to locate the ball formation in the socket of the trailer hitch and orientate the bumper device relative to the trailer hitch.
The bumper device may be configured so that a vehicle-contacting face of the bumper formation is spaced a predetermined distance from the mounting formation, thereby permitting the bumper device to be used as a spacer for optimally spacing the socket of the trailer hitch of the trailer behind the vehicle when hitching the trailer to the vehicle, in use.
The bumper formation and the mounting formation may be integrally formed.
The bumper formation may be of impact absorbing material.
The bumper device may be of plastics material.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
Further features of the invention are described hereinafter by way of a non- limiting example of the invention, with reference to and as illustrated in the accompanying diagrammatic drawings. In the drawings:
Figure 1 shows a schematic perspective view of a bumper device in accordance with the invention;
Figure 2 shows a schematic top plan view of the bumper device of Figure 1;
Figure 3 shows a schematic rear side view of the bumper device of Figure 1 ;
Figure 4 shows a schematic end view of the of the bumper device of Figure 1 ;
Figure 5 shows a schematic perspective view of the underside of the bumper device of Figure 1 ;
Figure 6 shows a schematic perspective view of the bumper device of Figure 1 , mounted to the trailer hitch of a trailer, in use; and
Figure 7 shows a cross-sectional view of the ball formation of the bumper device of Figure 1 mounted in the socket of the trailer hitch viewed from the underside of the trailer hitch.
DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENT
With reference to the drawings, a bumper device in accordance with the invention is designated generally by reference numeral 10. The bumper device 10 comprises a bumper formation 12 and mounting means in the form
of a mounting formation 14 for releasably mounting the bumper formation to a trailer.
The bumper device 10 is of plasties material, and more specifically, the bumper device 10 is of Polyvinyl Chloride (PVC) material.
The bumper formation 12 is in the form of a generally rectangular plate 16 having two sides 18 and 20. The side 20 defines a convexly-curved vehicle- contacting face 22. The plate 16 defines an elongate recess 24 therein which extends from the underside of the plate 16 into the plate. The recess 24 allows the side 20 of the plate 16 to flex, thereby absorbing impact, when impacted.
The mounting formation 14 comprises a horizontally projecting base formation 26, and a ball formation 32. The base formation 26 projects substantially perpendicularly with respect to the plate 16 from a lower portion of the side 18 of the plate 16 and defines a distal end 34. The base formation 26 has an upper side 36 and a lower side 38. The ball formation 32 comprises a dome 54 and a curved wall formation 56 which projects upwardly from the upper side 36 of the base formation 26 and extends between the base formation and the dome 54. The ball formation is located near the distal end 34 of the base formation 26. The ball formation 32 is spaced a predetermined distance from the vehicle-contacting face 22. The ball formation 32 defines a curved recess 44 in the wall formation 56 at the distal end 34 in which a pawl 52 of the trailer hitch 46 is receiveable, in use. Walls 50 define sides of the recess 44. A
material-saving cavity 42 is defined in the ball formation 32. The cavity 42
opens into the lower side 38 of the base formation 26. The base formation defines two finger holes 40 therethrough at opposite lateral sides of the ball formation 32.
With reference to Figures 6 and 7 of the drawings, the bumper device 10 is releasably attached, in use, to a ball-and-socket type trailer hitch 46 of a trailer 48, in an arrangement wherein the bumper formation 12 is disposed operatively in front of the trailer hitch 46. The bumper device 10 is releasably attached to the trailer hitch 46 by locating the ball formation 32 in the socket of the trailer hitch 46. The pawl 52 of the trailer hitch is received in the recess 44, thereby securing the ball formation 32 in the socket of the trailer hitch 46 and orientating the bumper device 10 relative to the trailer hitch 46. The walls 50 prevent the ball formation 32 from rotating in the socket of the trailer hitch 46 when the pawl 52 is received in the recess 44. The wall formation 56 of the ball formation 32 prevents tilting of the bumper device 10 in the trailer hitch 46. The bumper device 10 is removed by inserting a finger into each of the finger holes 40 and the cavity 42, from the lower side of the base formation 26, to grip the bumper device 10 and pull the ball formation 32 from the socket of the trailer hitch 46. The cavity 42 in the ball formation 32 also provides for limited deformation of the ball formation for assisting inserting and removing the ball formation 32 of the bumper device 10 from the socket of the trailer hitch 46.
The bumper device 10 protects the bodywork of the towing vehicle when coupling the trailer to the towing vehicle by providing a large impact absorbent surface area, in the form of the vehicle-contacting face 22. This prevents
impact between the trailer hitch 46 and the vehicle when hitching the trailer 48 to the vehicle. The bumper device 10 is used as a spacer for optimally spacing the socket of the trailer hitch 46 of the trailer behind the vehicle when hitching the trailer to the vehicle. In order to hitch the trailer 48 to the towing vehicle, the towing vehicle is reversed towards the trailer until the vehicle- contacting face 22 of the bumper device 10 contacts the rear bumper or tailgate of the towing vehicle. The Applicant envisages that the towing vehicle will be reversed so that the bumper device 10 contacts the rear bumper or tailgate to a side of the tow ball of the towing vehicle. The trailer hitch 46 and the towing vehicle will then be spaced the correct distance apart for hitching the trailer to the towing vehicle. It will be appreciated that use of the bumper device 10 obviates the need to align the tow ball of the towing vehicle and the trailer hitch. The bumper device 10 is then removed, the trailer hitch is swung across to a position above the tow ball of the towing vehicle and the trailer hitch is dropped onto the tow ball and hitched thereto. The bumper device 10 can also be used as a plug by locating the ball formation 32 in the socket of a trailer hitch to prevent foreign objects, such as sand, to enter into the socket of the trailer hitch 46 when the trailer is unhitched.
Claims
1. A bumper device for use with a trailer, the bumper device including:
a bumper formation; and
mounting means which is connected to the bumper formation, for releasably mounting the bumper formation to the trailer in an arrangement wherein the bumper formation is disposed operatively in front of the trailer hitch of the trailer, thereby to prevent impact between the trailer hitch and a vehicle to which the trailer is to be hitched when hitching the trailer to the vehicle.
2. A bumper device as claimed in Claim 1 , wherein the mounting means includes a mounting formation which is releasably mountable to the trailer hitch.
3. A bumper device as claimed in Claim 2, which is configured for use with a trailer having a trailer hitch of a ball-and-socket type, wherein the trailer hitch defines a socket for receiving the ball of a tow bar, the mounting formation defining a ball formation that is securely locatable in the socket of the trailer hitch of the trailer.
4. A bumper device as claimed in Claim 3, wherein the ball formation defines a recess in which a pawl of the trailer hitch is receivable to locate the ball formation in the socket of the trailer hitch and orientate the bumper device relative to the trailer hitch.
5. A bumper device as claimed in Claim 2, wherein the bumper device is configured so that a vehicle-contacting face of the bumper formation is spaced a predetermined distance from the mounting formation, thereby permitting the bumper device to be used as a spacer for optimally spacing the socket of the trailer hitch of the trailer behind the vehicle when hitching the trailer to the vehicle, in use.
6. A bumper device as claimed in Claim 2, wherein the bumper formation and the mounting formation are integrally formed.
7. A bumper device as claimed in Claim 1 , wherein the bumper formation is of impact absorbing material.
8. A bumper device as claimed Claim 1 , wherein the bumper device is of plastics material.
Priority Applications (2)
Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
---|---|---|---|
PCT/IB2005/002307 WO2007015119A1 (en) | 2005-08-03 | 2005-08-03 | A bumper device |
ZA2007/10816A ZA200710816B (en) | 2005-08-03 | 2007-12-12 | A bumper device |
Applications Claiming Priority (1)
Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
---|---|---|---|
PCT/IB2005/002307 WO2007015119A1 (en) | 2005-08-03 | 2005-08-03 | A bumper device |
Publications (1)
Publication Number | Publication Date |
---|---|
WO2007015119A1 true WO2007015119A1 (en) | 2007-02-08 |
Family
ID=35241223
Family Applications (1)
Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
---|---|---|---|
PCT/IB2005/002307 WO2007015119A1 (en) | 2005-08-03 | 2005-08-03 | A bumper device |
Country Status (2)
Country | Link |
---|---|
WO (1) | WO2007015119A1 (en) |
ZA (1) | ZA200710816B (en) |
Cited By (2)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
JP2012521553A (en) * | 2009-03-24 | 2012-09-13 | コーニンクレッカ フィリップス エレクトロニクス エヌ ヴィ | Heart segmentation in cardiac rest and stress imaging |
US10384500B2 (en) | 2017-06-22 | 2019-08-20 | Douglas Birch | Hitch cushion system |
Citations (4)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
US3780546A (en) * | 1972-11-10 | 1973-12-25 | E Longenecker | Trailer hitch lock |
US4854604A (en) * | 1988-05-19 | 1989-08-08 | Stallsworth Bradley E | Self-centering hitch |
GB2260303A (en) * | 1991-09-26 | 1993-04-14 | John Patrick Buckley | Mounting |
US5794961A (en) * | 1996-07-15 | 1998-08-18 | Blaylock Industries, Inc. | Anti-theft device for trailer |
-
2005
- 2005-08-03 WO PCT/IB2005/002307 patent/WO2007015119A1/en active Application Filing
-
2007
- 2007-12-12 ZA ZA2007/10816A patent/ZA200710816B/en unknown
Patent Citations (4)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
US3780546A (en) * | 1972-11-10 | 1973-12-25 | E Longenecker | Trailer hitch lock |
US4854604A (en) * | 1988-05-19 | 1989-08-08 | Stallsworth Bradley E | Self-centering hitch |
GB2260303A (en) * | 1991-09-26 | 1993-04-14 | John Patrick Buckley | Mounting |
US5794961A (en) * | 1996-07-15 | 1998-08-18 | Blaylock Industries, Inc. | Anti-theft device for trailer |
Cited By (2)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
JP2012521553A (en) * | 2009-03-24 | 2012-09-13 | コーニンクレッカ フィリップス エレクトロニクス エヌ ヴィ | Heart segmentation in cardiac rest and stress imaging |
US10384500B2 (en) | 2017-06-22 | 2019-08-20 | Douglas Birch | Hitch cushion system |
Also Published As
Publication number | Publication date |
---|---|
ZA200710816B (en) | 2014-10-29 |
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