ZA201004288B

ZA201004288B - Bull bar

Info

Publication number: ZA201004288B
Application number: ZA2010/04288A
Authority: ZA
Inventors: Cameron Dudley-Owen
Original assignee: Cameron Dudley-Owen
Priority date: 2009-07-14
Filing date: 2010-06-17
Publication date: 2011-10-26

Description

EE i.

IIHT . 2090/ 04288

EN

BULL BAR

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

This invention relates to a bull bar, and more specifically, but not exclusively, to a bull bar for use on a truck.

BACKGROUND TO THE INVENTION

A bull bar is a device which is fitted to the front of a vehicle to protect the vehicle and its passengers from collisions with cattle, pedestrians and other vehicles. The use of bull bars on trucks is known in the art.

A problem with the bull bars currently being used on trucks is that a bull bar sustains damage during an accident which cannot be easily repaired as the integrity thereof is compromised. The damaged bull bar is then disposed of and replace with a new one.

Another difficulty is that bull bars may have bars at their ends with protruding and angled adjacent surfaces that may get stuck to an object in case of a collision and drag the object causing greater damage.

OBJECT OF THE INVENTION

It is an object of this invention to provide a bull bar that, at least partially, alleviates some of the problems associated with the prior art.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In accordance with this invention there is provided a bull bar comprising:

: : 2010/ 04288 an attachment plate; x attachment means for attaching the attachment plate to a truck; and a collision frame removably attached to the attachment plate.

There is provided for the attachment plate to include an aperture.

There is provided for the attachment means to include a support.

There is further provided for the support to include a threaded protrusion.

There is further provided for the support to include a flange.

There is provided for the collision frame to be removably attached to the : attachment plate with bolts and nuts.

There is provided for the collision frame to be made of tubular elements.

There is further provided for the tubular elements to be curved.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

One embodiment of the invention is described below by way of example only : and with reference to the drawings in which:

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Figure 1 is an exploded perspective view of a bull bar;

Figure 2 is a perspective view of the assembled bull bar; ©

Figure 3 is an exploded perspective view of a plate and attachment means;

Figure 4 is a front vies of the bull bar; :

: EY2010/ 04288

Figure 5 is a perspective view of the bull bare attached to a truck; and

Figure 6 is a perspective front view of an attachment plate and an attachment means attached to a truck.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

With reference to the drawings, in which like features are indicated by like numerals, a bull bar is generally indicated by reference numeral 1.

A bull bar has an attachment plate 1a and attachment means (21, 22, 23 and 12) for attaching the plate to a truck. The bull bar has a collision frame 3 removably attached to the attachment plate 1. :

The attachment plate 1 has a locating aperture 11 to receive a threaded protrusion of a support 2. The attachment plate 1 further has securing apertures 12 to secure the support 2, through flange slots 24, to the attachment plate 1 with bolts and nuts 23. The attachment plate 1 has attachment apertures 13 to removably attach a collision frame 3 thereto. : The support 2 has two threaded protrusions 21 and a flange 22, including flange slots 24. One threaded protrusion protrudes in an operatively rearward direction and screws into the tow bar attachment element of the truck to secure the support to the truck. Another protrusion protrudes in an operatively forward direction. This protrusion extends through the locating aperture 11 of the attachment plate 1. The support is then secured to the attachment plate 1 with bolts and nuts 23 through the flange slots 24 and securing apertures 12.

Optionally, an internally threaded sleeve can be screwed onto the frontal protrusion extending through the locating aperture 11 to allow a tow bar to be attached thereto.

The collision frame 3 is made of tubular members, which may be curved to be substantially frontally convex. The curved nature of the collision frame may decrease the damage caused to a pedestrian or another object in the event of a collision as it has now sharply angled surfaces of hook-like formations to hook and drag such an object. The collision frame 3 is made of metallic material to sustain the impact of a collision.

The collision frame 3 has protrusions with attachment apertures 31. The attachment apertures 31 are positioned to align with the position of the attachment apertures 13 of the attachment plate 1, through which the collision frame 3 may be removably attached thereto with bolts and nuts.

If the collision frame 3 is damaged in a collision. The collision frame 3 can be removed by removing the bolts and nuts from the attachment apertures (31 and 13) and the collision frame can be replaced. The plate and the attachment means remains attached to the vehicle.

It is envisaged that the invention will provide a bull bar, which allows easy and cost effective replacement of a damaged collision frame, without having to remove the attachment mans or attachment plate. It also includes only one plate as opposed to two used in most prior art bull bars.

The invention is not limited to the precise details as described herein. For example, instead of using bolts and nuts any locking mechanism or similar device may be used to secure the collision frame to the attachment plate.

Also, the collision frame need not be tubular and may have a polygonal or any other cross-section.

Claims

CLAIMS: o

1. A bull bar comprising: an attachment plate; attachment means for attaching the attachment plate to a truck; and : a collision frame removably attached to the attachment plate.

2. A bull bar as claimed in claim 1 in which the attachment plate includes an aperture.

3. A bull bar as claimed in any one of the preceding claims in which the attachment means includes a support.

4. A bull bar as claimed in claim 3 in which the support includes a threaded protrusion.

5. A bull bar as claimed in claim 3 or 4 in which the support includes a flange.

6. A bull bar as claimed in any one of the preceding claims in which the collision frame is removably attached to the attachment plate with bolts and nuts.

7. A bull bar as claimed in any one of the preceding claims in which the collision frame is made of tubular elements.

8. A bull bar as claimed in claim 7 in which the tubular elements are curved.

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9. A bull bar substantially as herein described with reference to and as illustrated in the accompanying drawings. th Dated this | cay of June 8010 6 ne / Agent for the Applicant