Underride protection bumper for a trailer

1. An underride protection bumper for a trailer comprising:

first and second substantially parallel, elongated trailer attachment members, each having a proximal portion adapted for connection to the trailer and a distal portion laterally extending from said proximal portion;

an impact member spanning between and connected to said distal portions; and

said distal portions being substantially horizontal and relatively outboard of said proximal portions in one of a substantially rearward and a substantially lateral direction when said attachment members are connected to the trailer such that said impact member is presented at a level for energy-absorbing contact with an impacting vehicle; and said trailer attachment members being pivotable to move said impact member to a position in which said distal portions are substantially vertical and said impact member continues to be presented at said level for energy-absorbing contact with the vehicle.

2. The underride protection bumper of claim 1 , further comprising:

a brace member connected between said trailer attachment members.

3. The underride protection bumper of claim 2 , wherein said brace member is an elongated member positioned substantially parallel with said impact member.

4. The underride protection bumper of claim 2 , wherein said brace member includes a pair of cross member supports arranged with respect to one another in a general X-shape and connected between said distal portions to prevent substantial lateral movement of said distal portions relative to said proximal portions.

5. The underride protection bumper of claim 2 , wherein said brace member includes first and second corner elements each spanning between and connected to said impact member and a respective one of said distal portions to provide additional structural stability therebetween.

6. The underride protection bumper of claim 1 , wherein said proximal portion and distal portion of each of said trailer attachment members are positioned with respect to one another such that each of said trailer attachment members is generally L-shaped.

7. The underride protection bumper of claim 1 , further comprising:

an elongated, supplemental impact member connectable to said impact member and adjustable to extend therefrom, thereby effectively increasing potential contact with the impacting vehicle when said attachment members are connected to the trailer.

8. The underride protection bumper of claim 7 , wherein said supplemental impact member is positioned at least partially within said impact member when it is connected thereto and extends telescopically therefrom when adjusted.

9. The underride protection bumper of claim 1 , wherein at least one of said proximal portion and said distal portion of each said trailer attachment members is tapered from a wide end to a narrow end, said wide end providing increased energy-absorbing capability.

10. A truck trailer in combination with an underride protection bumper comprising:

trailer structure;

an elongated, substantially horizontal impact member;

first and second substantially parallel, energy-absorbing structures, each having a substantially vertical upper portion and a substantially horizontal lower portion extending outboard from said upper portion in one of a substantially rearward and a substantially lateral direction; said upper portion being operatively connected to said trailer structure and extending downward therefrom; said lower portion being operatively connected to said impact member such that said impact member is presented in a first position at a level for engagement with an impacting vehicle; wherein said upper portion and said lower portion are a substantially similar length and are arranged in an L-shape; and

said energy-absorbing members absorbing impact energy and being pivotable upon an amount of impact energy to move said impact member to a second position in which said lower portion is substantially vertical, is substantially inboard of said upper portion in one of a substantially forward and a substantially lateral direction, and remains substantially at said level due to said substantially similar length and in engagement with said impacting vehicle to continue absorbing impact energy.

11. The trailer and bumper combination of claim 10 , further comprising:

a brace member connected between said energy-absorbing structures.

12. The trailer and bumper combination of claim 11 , wherein said brace member is an elongated member positioned substantially parallel to said impact member such that said brace member functions to stop pivoting of said energy-absorbing members when said impact member is at said second position.

13. The trailer and bumper combination of claim 10 , further comprising:

first and second diagonal supports extending between said trailer structure and said upper portion of said respective energy-absorbing structures to provide additional energy absorption capability.

14. The trailer and bumper combination of claim 10 , further comprising:

a cable connected at a first end to said upper portion of said first energy-absorbing structure and at a second end to said upper portion of said second energy-absorbing structure, said cable being restrained between said first and second ends by a structural member positioned at the trailer such that first and second portions of said cable extend diagonally inboard between said structural member and said first and second ends respectively;

said cable responding in tension to an inboard-directed force of the impacting vehicle upon said impact member to allow transfer of deformation energy from one of said first and second energy-absorbing structures to the other of said first and second energy-absorbing structures in the event of an offset impact.

15. The trailer and bumper combination of claim 10 , further comprising:

a first pivot element connecting said upper portion of said first energy-absorbing structure to said trailer structure; and

a second pivot element connecting said upper portion of said second energy-absorbing structure to said trailer structure; said energy-absorbing structures being pivotable about said pivot element.