The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Jul. 20, 2004
Filed:
Sep. 11, 2002
Timothy A. DePottey, Flint, MI (US);
David W. Schneider, Waterford, MI (US);
Charles J. Sherwin, Mayville, MI (US);
Autoliv ASP, Inc., Ogden, UT (US);
Abstract
An active bumper assembly for mounting to a vehicle is disclosed. The active bumper assembly includes a bumper that may be hingedly connected to a vehicle. When the bumper is in the inactivated position it is disposed behind the outer edge of the vehicle. When activated, the bumper is moved to an activated position, which is lower with respect to the inactivated position and extends below the outer edge of the vehicle. A sensing system detects an impending collision and generates a signal to which an actuator responds, moving the bumper from the inactivated position to the activated position. A locking member, configured to be interconnected between the bumper and the vehicle frame, then secures the bumper in the activated position.