Title: Transport Platform Bumper assembly

Field of the invention

[0001] The present invention relates to vehicle safety devices and, in particular, to a transport platform bumper assembly.

Background of the Invention

[0002] Most transportation vehicles, for example trailers, cars and trucks, are equipped with a transport platform (surface) on which a load is stowed. Many of these transport platforms protrude over and are unprotected from the rear of the transportation vehicle (as seen in driving direction). In case of a rear-end collision, a rear edge of the transport platform can become a serious threat for the vehicle or person(s) colliding with the rear sector of the transportation vehicle. These accidents can occur whilst both driving and parking of the transportation vehicle (e.g. bicycle riders can collide with the rear edge of the transport platform).

Summary of the Invention

[0003] The transport platform bumper assembly of the disclosure comprises at least one pivotable bumper bar and a pivot mechanism. The pivot mechanism is attached to the at least one pivotable bumper bar, wherein the at least one pivotable bumper bar is pivotable by means of the pivot mechanism around at least one pivot axis between at least a cover position and a loading position and covers, in the cover position, an edge of a transport platform of a transport vehicle.

[0004] According to one aspect of the present disclosure, the at least one pivot axis is substantially a perpendicular transverse axis with respect to a longitudinal middle axis of the transport vehicle. [0005] According to another aspect of the present disclosure the at least one pivot axis is substantially a perpendicular vertical axis with respect to a longitudinal middle axis of the transport vehicle. [0006] According to another aspect of the present disclosure, the at least one pivotable bumper bar comprises two independently pivotable bars. The at least one pivot axis comprises two substantially perpendicular vertical axes about which the two independently pivotable bars are pivotable. [0007] According to another aspect of the present disclosure, the at least one pivotable bumper bar further comprises a carrying structure and a resilient covering. The resilient covering covers at least partially the carrying structure. The material for the resilient covering is to be chosen with respect to the climatic conditions of the region in which the transportation vehicle is used. It is know that the rigidity of resilient materials is influenced by changes of temperatures in general. One non-limiting example of a material that can be used is rubber.

[0008] According to another aspect of the present disclosure, the at least one pivotable bumper bar is fixable at least in the cover position.

[0009] According to another aspect of the present disclosure, the at least one bumper bar is manually pivotable between the cover position and the loading position.

[0010] According to another aspect of the present disclosure, the at least one bumper bar is power-driven pivotable between the cover position and the loading position.

[0011] According to another aspect of the present disclosure, the transport platform bumper assembly comprises two pivot axes and the bumper bar comprises two bumper bar parts. The first bumper bar part pivots about one pivot axis and the other bumper bar part pivots about the other pivot axis. The position of the other pivot axis is consequently dependent on the pivotal movement of the one bumper bar part about the one pivot axis.

[0012] According to another aspect of the present disclosure, the at least one bumper bar is attached to the transport platform without a pivot mechanism. In this case the bumper bar is, for example, connected to the transport platform by bolts, form fit structures, or adhesive structures (for example chemical adhesives or hook- and -pile).

[0013] All above features can be present in the various embodiments of the invention. The above features can freely be combined with each other. The application relates to all kinds of transport vehicles (e.g. cars, trucks, trailers).

Brief description of the Drawings [0014] Referring now to the attached drawings which form part of this original disclosure which are to be understood as schematic diagrams:

[0015] Figure 1 is a schematic view comprising two detail views Kl and K2 of a transport platform bumper assembly according to one aspect of the present disclosure.

[0016] Figure 2 is a schematic view comprising two detail views LI and L2 of a transport platform bumper assembly according to another aspect of the present disclosure.

[0017] Figure 3 is a schematic view comprising two detail views Nl and N2 of a transport platform bumper assembly according to another aspect of the present disclosure.

[0018] Figure 4 is a schematic view of another alternative transport platform bumper assembly. [0019] Figure 5 is a schematic view of two transport vehicles equipped with the platform bumper assemblies according to the present application.

Detailed Description of the Invention [0020] Selected embodiments will now be explained with reference to the drawings. It will be apparent to those skilled in the art from this disclosure that the following descriptions of the embodiments are provided for illustration only and not for the purpose of limiting the invention as defined by the appended claims and their equivalents. Throughout the following description, same or similar parts are referenced with the same reference signs in the descriptions of the embodiments and figures. [0021] Initially referring to Fig. 1, a transport platform bumper assembly 10 is disclosed. A transportation vehicle 1 comprises a transport platform bumper assembly 10 and a transport platform 50 having a rear edge 40. The rear edge 40 and the rear parts 40a of the side edges of the transport platform 50 form a rear sector R (corresponding to area X in fig. 5) of the transport platform 50. A bumper bar 20 is arranged at the rear edge 40 of the transport platform. The bumper bar 20 comprises a carrying structure 23 and a resilient covering 24 covers the rear edge 40 of the transport platform 50. The bumper bar 20 is connected to a pivot mechanism 30, which function will be described later. [0022] In this aspect, the transport platform 50 has a substantially rectangular shape and a longitudinal middle axis M. The longitudinal middle axis M is arranged substantially parallel to a vehicle middle axis stretching from the rear end of the transportation vehicle to the front end of the transportation vehicle. The expressions "rear" and "front" in this disclosure relate to the conventions as commonly used in conjunction with the expression "driving direction" of the transportation vehicle.

[0023] A pivot axis X is substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal middle axis M, but does not necessarily intersect the longitudinal middle axis M, as depicted in the detail views Kl and K2. The detail views Kl and K2 of figure 1 are views parallel to the direction of the pivot axis X as indicated in the figure 1 by the arrow K. The bumper bar 20 is pivotable about the pivot axis X using the pivot mechanism 30.

[0024] In a first detail view Kl, the bumper bar 20 of the transport platform bumper assembly 10 is pivoted to a cover position Al, It will be seen that the bumper bar 20 covers the rear edge 40 of the transport platform 50. In case of an accident, an impacting object will not directly contact the rear edge 40 of the transport platform 50 but will impact the bumper bar 20 and, in particular, the resilient covering 24.

[0025] As noted above, the bumper bar 20 is pivotable by means of a pivot mechanism 30 with respect to the pivot axis X. The bumper bar 20 can therefore be pivoted from the position should in the detail view Kl to the position shown in the detail view K2. In detail view K2 the bumper bar 20 of the transport platform bumper assembly 10 is pivoted to a loading position A2 in which the bumper bar 20 does not cover the rear edge 40 of the transport platform 50, thus allowing free access to the transport platform 50 during for example a loading procedure. In the loading position, the bumper assembly 10 pivoted back, such that the rear edge 40 of the transport platform 50 can touch the ground. [0026] It is possible, but not necessary to design the bumper bar 20, with a U-shape configuration, such as to cover the entire rear sector R of the transport platform 50. In other words, the u-shaped configuration would have the bumper bar 20 covering the rear parts of the side edges 40a together with the rear edge 40. This improves the protection with respect to impacts following a path that come partially from a side of the vehicle and are not substantially parallel to the longitudinal middle axis M.

[0027] With reference to figure 2, an alternative aspect of the transport platform bumper assembly 10 will be described. A pivot axis Y is, in this alternative aspect, arranged perpendicular to the longitudinal middle axis M. The transport platform bumper assembly 10 pivots not in a substantially horizontal direction, as illustrated in figure 1, but in a vertical direction, i.e. in a door-like manner. The pivot axis Y intersects a plane in which the transport platform 50 lies. As seen from the detail views LI and L2, the pivot axis Y is offset to one side of the transport platform 50. [0028] It is possible to incline the angle of the pivot axis Y with respect to the longitudinal middle axis M to a non-perpendicular angle. This inclination results in an additional safety feature, since the bumper bar 20 will then naturally, due to the effect of gravity, pivot to a cover position Al as depicted in in detail view LI. Both detail views LI and L2 are views arranged parallel to the pivot axis Y as indicated in figure 2.

[0029] In the detail view LI, the bumper bar 20 of the transport platform bumper assembly 10 is pivoted to the cover position Al in which the bumper bar 20 covers the rear edge 40 of the transport platform 50, similar to the detail view Kl of figure 1. [0030] In the detail view L2, the bumper bar 20 of the transport platform bumper assembly 10 is pivoted to a loading position A2 in which the bumper bar 20 does not cover the rear edge 40 of the transport platform 50, thus allowing free access to the transport platform 50 during, for example, a loading procedure. [0031] It is also possible, in this aspect, to provide the bumper bar 20 with the U-shape configuration, as described above.

[0032] With reference to figure 3, another aspect of the transport platform bumper assembly 10 will be described. The aspect of figure 3 is similar to the aspect of figure 2, but, in this aspect, the bumper bar 20 comprises two separate bumper bars 21 and 22 that independently pivot with respect to two separate pivot axes Yl and Y2.

[0033] The two separate pivot axes Yl and Y2 are arranged substantially parallel to the pivot axis Y of figure 2. In this non-limiting aspect, however, the pivot axes Yl and Y2 are mirror images of each other, with the longitudinal middle axis M as an axis of symmetry. In other words, the aspect of figure 3 is derived from the aspect of figure 2 by mirroring the pivot axis Y at the longitudinal middle axis M as the axis of symmetry in order to derive the pivot axis Y2. In this depicted axis, the transport platform bumper assembly 10 works in a manner similar to a door of a saloon bar.

[0034] In the detail view Nl, the bumper bars 21 and 22 of the transport platform bumper assembly 10 are pivoted to their corresponding cover positions Al in which the bumper bars 21 and 22 cover the rear edge 40 of the transport platform 50, as known from the aspects of figure 1 and 2. In the aspect of figure 3, the partitioning of the bumper bars 21 and 22 is symmetric - both of the bumper bars 21 and 22 are equally long- but the transport platform bumper assembly 10 is not limited to such equally long partitioning. Other forms of partitioning are possible. One option is to shorten the length of the bumper bar on the driver's side that usually has to be moved out towards a roadway. On transportation vehicles with a left hand drive, this would be the bumper bar on the left hand vehicle side.

[0035] In the detail view L2, the bumper bars 21 and 22 of the transport platform bumper assembly 10 are individually pivoted to their loading positions A2 in which the bumper bars 21 and 22 do not cover the rear edge 40 of the transport platform 50, thus allowing free access to the transport platform during, for example, a loading procedure.

[0036] With reference to figure 4, another aspect of the transport platform bumper assembly 10 will be described. The alternative transport platform bumper assembly 10 comprises two pivot axes Yl l and Y12. Only one corner of the rear portion 40 of the transport platform 50 is schematically depicted in figure 4. The depicted configuration is applicable to the aspects described with respect to figures 2 and 3. [0037] The bumper bar 20 comprises, in this aspect, two bumper bar parts 20a and 20b. A first bumper bar part 20a pivots about a first pivot axis Yl l as indicated in figure 4. A second bumper bar part 20b pivots itself about a second pivot axis Y12 and further pivots together with the second pivot axis Y12 and the first bumper bar part 20a about the first pivot axis Yl 1. In this aspect, only the position of the first pivot axis Yl 1 is stationary with respect to the transport platform 50. The position of the second pivot axis Y12 is dependent on the pivotal movement of the first bumper bar part 20a.

[0038] With the arrangement described with reference to figure 4, the U-shaped configuration covering not only the rear edge 40 but, more broadly, the rear sector R of the can be achieved (see area 4a in fig. 4). The first bumper part 20a and the second bumper part 20b can have the same or different designs with respect to each other. For example, the second bumper bar part 20b can comprise the carrying structure 23 and the resilient covering 24 and the second bumper bar part 20b only comprises the carrying structure 23. This is not limiting of the invention and any combination is possible.

[0039] The range of pivotal movement of the bumper bar 20 is only limited by abutment to a structure of the transportation vehicle 1. In case of the aspects described with regard to figures 2, 3 and 4 this relevant structure is substantially the transport platform 50. This leads to two limitations of the pivotal movement. The first limitation of the pivotal movement of the transport platform bumper assembly 10 is an abutment against the rear edge 40 of the transport platform 50. The second limitation of the pivotal movement is an abutment against one of the side edges 40a, 40b of the transport platform 50. In case of the aspect described with respect to figure 1 the first limitation of the pivotal movement of the transport platform bumper assembly 10 is also an abutment against the rear edge 40 of the transport platform 50. The second limitation of the pivotal movement is in this case an abutment against a structure arranged below the transport platform 50. The bumper bars depicted in figures 2, 3 and 4 are arranged substantially parallel to the transport platform 50 / side edges 40a, 40b such that they do not obstruct a loading / unloading process of the transport platform 50 when the rear edge 40 touches the ground. For this reason, the bumper bars depicted in figures 2, 3 and 4 may be pivoted back or slid along into their loading positions. For a pivotal movement, the bumper bars depicted in figures 2, 3 and 4 may be pivoted into an upright position (90°) substantially parallel to the pivot axes Y, Yl, Y2, Yl l and Y12.

[0040] The bumper bars 20 or the first bumper bar part 20a and the second bumper bar part 20b have a shape to at least partially the rear edge 40 if the bumper bars 20 or the first bumper bar part 20a and the second bumper bar part 20b are in the cover position Al. Examples of this shape include, but are not limited to, L-shapes or U-shapes.

[0041] The bumper bars 20 or the first bumper bar part 20a and the second bumper bar part 20b comprise, in the depicted aspects, the carrying structure 23 and the resilient covering 24. The design of the bumper bars 20 or the first bumper bar part 20a and the second bumper bar part 20b is, however, not limited to this configuration. The bumper bars 20 or the first bumper bar part 20a and the second bumper bar part 20b can exclusively be made from a suitably rigid but still resilient material without a carrying structure.

[0042] In the aspects depicted in figures 2, 3 and 4, at least one of the pivot axes Yl can be arranged at an angle (inclined), as described above, in order to move, under the effects of gravity, one or more of the bumper bars 20 or the first bumper bar part 20a and the second bumper bar part 20b into a desired one of the positions Al or A2. The transport platform bumper assembly 10 may comprise more than four pivot axes, as depicted in figure 4.

[0043] It is further possible to bias the bumper bars 20 or the first bumper bar part 20a and the second bumper bar part 20b into a desired one of the positions Al or A2, for example by at least one device, such as but not limited to mechanical devices, springs, liquid fluidic or hydraulic devices, gas pressure. The movement of the bumper bars 20 in the depicted aspects may be carried out manually or powered and/or remote controlled.

[0044] All of the bumper bars 20 in the depicted aspects have to be moved into such a loading position, that the rear edge 40 of the transport platform 50 can touch the ground for loading /unloading the transport platform 50. The attachment of all of the depicted transport platform bumper assemblies to the vehicle may be achieved by directly bolting/welding one or more hinges providing for the pivot axes (axis) to the transportation vehicle. [0045] Figure 5 illustrates two transportation vehicles, a transport truck and a transport trailer equipped with any of the above transport platform bumper assemblies 10 (in the area marked X) described above.