Rear impact guard for a vehicle
A vehicle includes a frame and a bumper pivotally connected to the frame. A step is attached to the bumper so that the step is pivotal between a storage position and a step position. An actuator is mounted to the frame and coupled to the bumper, and is operable to pivot the bumper relative to the frame between a substantially vertical position and an angled position.
1. A rear impact guard for a vehicle comprising:
a bumper including side members connected to the vehicle and extending downwardly therefrom and a bottom member extending between the side members, wherein the bumper is pivotally attached to the vehicle and is pivotal between a substantially vertical position and angled position in which the bumper is folded under the vehicle; and
a step including a step surface and pivotally attached between the side members so that the step is movable between a storage position and a step position in which the step surface is substantially parallel to the ground.
2. The rear impact guard of claim 1 , wherein the step surface is substantially parallel to the side members when in the storage position.
3. The rear impact guard of claim 1 , wherein the bumper further includes a bracket attached to one of the side members and engageable with the step to prevent pivoting of the step beyond the step position.
4. The rear impact guard of claim 3 , wherein bracket is L-shaped and includes a side plate attached to one of the side members and a back plate engageable with a surface of the step.
5. The rear impact guard of claim 4 , wherein the surface is substantially perpendicular to the step surface.
6. The rear impact guard of claim 1 , wherein the step further includes a side panel pivotally attached to one of the side members by a pin.
7. The rear impact guard of claim 1 further comprising:
a spring engaging between the bumper and the step and configured to urge the step to the step position.
8. The rear impact guard of claim 1 further comprising:
a second step including a second step surface and pivotally attached between the side members so that the second step is movable between a storage position and a step position in which the step surface is substantially parallel to the ground.
9. The rear impact guard of claim 8 , wherein the second step surface is wider than the step surface.
10. The rear impact guard of claim 1 further comprising:
an actuator mounted to the vehicle and coupled to the bumper, and operable to pivot the bumper between the substantially vertical position and the angled position.
11. A vehicle comprising:
a frame;
a bumper pivotally connected to the frame;
a step attached to the bumper so that the step is pivotal between a storage position and a step position; and
an actuator mounted to the frame and coupled to the bumper, and operable to pivot the bumper relative to the frame between a substantially vertical position and an angled position.
12. The vehicle of claim 11 wherein the actuator is configured to absorb impact energy during a collision allowing the bumper to pivot towards the angled position.
13. The vehicle of claim 11 , wherein the actuator further includes a cylinder body mounted to the frame and a slidable rod connected to the bumper.
14. The vehicle of claim 13 , wherein the actuator is configured to absorb impact energy during a collision by receiving the rod into the cylinder body allowing the bumper to pivot towards the angled position.