US 12,065,094 B2
Object-sensing bumper extension
Tanner Reese Dendy, Greenville, NC (US); Matthew Hoffman, Greenville, NC (US); and Justin Lancaster, Pikeville, NC (US)
Assigned to Hyster—Yale Materials Handling, Inc., Fairview, OR (US)
Filed by Hyster—Yale Group, Inc., Fairview, OR (US)
Filed on Jan. 21, 2022, as Appl. No. 17/581,112.
Prior Publication US 2023/0234525 A1, Jul. 27, 2023
Int. Cl. B60R 19/48 (2006.01); B60R 19/03 (2006.01); B60R 19/44 (2006.01); B60W 30/09 (2012.01)
CPC B60R 19/483 (2013.01) [B60R 19/03 (2013.01); B60R 19/44 (2013.01); B60W 30/09 (2013.01); B60W 2300/121 (2013.01); B60W 2420/403 (2013.01); B60W 2720/10 (2013.01)] 20 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. An object-sensing bumper extension for a lift truck, the object-sensing bumper extension comprising:
a bumper extension configured to physically connect to a bumper of the lift truck;
a non-contact sensor arranged to detect an encroachment within an impact danger zone immediately in front of the bumper extension by an operator of the lift truck and to send an encroachment signal to a control system in response to the encroachment; and
a contact sensor configured to detect a physical impact with the bumper extension and to send an impact signal to the control system in response to the physical impact,
wherein the control system is configured to initiate a reaction operation of the lift truck in response to the encroachment signal, the impact signal, or both, and wherein the reaction operation comprises one or more of braking the lift truck and reversing a direction of travel of the lift truck.