Bumper lift to eliminate body gap

[duffymahoney]

Let me start by saying I have your Bumperlifts, and they are an excellent product that I would recommend to anyone!

That said, there are a few things to consider in this situation. While I believe your design is the best, similar approaches have likely existed for a while. For example, in photo #149 of that listing, it’s clear they’re using spacer tubing with a longer bumper bolt—a completely different approach from your solid-piece design. Additionally, the second Bronco with the 2” bumper lift uses a distinct design involving rectangular tubing with a spacer to contain the bolt, further differentiating it.

I’m sure this is frustrating, but it might be worth evaluating how distinct their design truly is from yours. From what I’ve seen, I seriously doubt a patent expert would classify this as copying.

On another note, I’m pretty sure the seller is an active member of this forum under a different username than the BaT listing. From what I’ve seen, they seem to put out a couple of builds a year at most, rather than operating as a full-fledged build shop.

Thanks for the suggestion.

I hold a design and utility patent on any BumperLift. Not just a bronco one. So all of their designs violate my patent.

That being said. I don’t think they directly sell them so it’s probably legal.

 

[ntsqd]

I'd consult a patent attorney. It may be worth pursuing and it may not. Really depends on how the patents were written. As I'm sure that you know, the patent only means something if you back it up in Court. The gumberment isn't going to do anything about it.

 

[duffymahoney]

I am overall too nice most of the time.

Lawyers love to send notices. Since they get paid for them.

Again, I 50/50if he is breaking any laws since he isn’t selling them directly. But is using them in his builds which he sells. So it’s an odd one.

 

[ntsqd]

Being nice is one thing, making sure that you're not getting walked on is another thing entirely. Technically he IS selling them. I'm not sure that the conditions of the sale matter, but I'm not an attorney.

I knew a gal who had a small business that made women's specific surfing gear. Yves St. Laurent decided they liked the name of her trademarked business name, so they just used it. She didn't have the $$$ to fight them for it, YSL played dirty, and due to YSL deliberately created customer confusion her business went under. As you might guess, this sort of thing gets under my skin.

 

[Brush Hog]

Maybe the builder didn’t realize there was a product available. Can’t tell you how many great ideas or inventions I’ve thought of just to find out 10 minutes later someone had already done it/made one. Reach out to them. It’s probably more cost effective for them to buy a tested product from you than it is it re-invent the wheel (bumper lift).

 

[duffymahoney]

Maybe the builder didn’t realize there was a product available. Can’t tell you how many great ideas or inventions I’ve thought of just to find out 10 minutes later someone had already done it/made one. Reach out to them. It’s probably more cost effective for them to buy a tested product from you than it is it re-invent the wheel (bumper lift).

haha, so true! My biggest issue is stopping myself from designing more crap and starting more companies. I cannot handle anymore companies!

 

[JGO]

Duffymahoney, I tried to be polite but I really do not like you going online and making false statements. Nobody "copied" your design or idea for that matter. I've been correcting bumper gaps this way long before your product came to market, and probably before you had the idea. I don't see how I can be in violation of any patent. If I'm incorrect please educate me. Otherwise, please apologise and take down your disparaging comments everywhere you have posted them.

Jim Goguen

 

[ngsd]

I have several patents as well and they are only as good as what you are willing to spend to defend. That being said, I really doubt that a bumper lift would ever make as much as you would spend on fighting it or that you would really win that one. The reality is that all of us garage mechanics have tried one idea or another to acheive the same results. While some do their own, other cant be bothered and gladly pay your fee. I tried a few things in the past but liked yours enough to buy them. I like them they work and I am not going to use any of my valuable time to make my own. The ones that do, are not your audience and I really dont think Jim is intending to go into competition with you anyway. Good luck.

 

[duffymahoney]

Duffymahoney, I tried to be polite but I really do not like you going online and making false statements. Nobody "copied" your design or idea for that matter. I've been correcting bumper gaps this way long before your product came to market, and probably before you had the idea. I don't see how I can be in violation of any patent. If I'm incorrect please educate me. Otherwise, please apologise and take down your disparaging comments everywhere you have posted them.

Jim Goguen

PM Sent

 

[duffymahoney]

I have several patents as well and they are only as good as what you are willing to spend to defend. That being said, I really doubt that a bumper lift would ever make as much as you would spend on fighting it or that you would really win that one. The reality is that all of us garage mechanics have tried one idea or another to acheive the same results. While some do their own, other cant be bothered and gladly pay your fee. I tried a few things in the past but liked yours enough to buy them. I like them they work and I am not going to use any of my valuable time to make my own. The ones that do, are not your audience and I really dont think Jim is intending to go into competition with you anyway. Good luck.

Well said, lawyers always win!

Also you never know how deep someone else's pockets are and again, the last thing I want to do is be a jerk about something that I do mostly for fun.

 

[JGO]

PM Sent

Duffymahoney,
You didn't offer me the courtesy fo a private conversation, you posted to three different platforms so I'm sorry but think this should be discussed on the public forum that you chose to disparage me on. Your PM reads

"Jim,

You reached out to the post and tried to be polite? I don't think I ever got a message? This is the only time I have ever posted about it, a few people sent me your BAT listing and it was the first time I have ever seen any build with any sort of device to raise a bumper outside of my own.

I have a design patent and a patent pending on the utility aspect of the Bumperlift product. Our designs are very similar/ identical and the utility is identical.

That being said, I don't want or need to be a jerk about any of this. This company is more for fun then it is about making money. I also hate lawyers and dealing with lawyers. I sell a decent amount of these lifts, so I want to protect my patent as much as I can.

Since you are a build shop, using them on your own builds, I don't think I will pursue it any further than this message.

I offer build shops 20% off, most major builds shops buy from me, just FYI.

Cheers

Duffy Mahoney
Bumperlift LLC"

So yes I'm upset about this and looking for an apology. If I'm wrong I'll apologise to you. If you want to direct me to your patent's or just post them here I can take a look. I will never understand how you can patent a washer or simple spacer which is what I've been using to restore bumpers to the correct height for more than 20 years. In my BAT history there are two previously sold Bronco's with lifted bumpers. Simply put, bumper lifts have been around as long as body lifts.

Jim Goguen

 

[duffymahoney]

So yes I'm upset about this and looking for an apology. If I'm wrong I'll apologise to you. If you want to direct me to your patent's or just post them here I can take a look. I will never understand how you can patent a washer or simple spacer which is what I've been using to restore bumpers to the correct height for more than 20 years. In my BAT history there are two previously sold Bronco's with lifted bumpers. Simply put, bumper lifts have been around as long as body lifts.

Jim Goguen

JGO

You are absolutely right, I should have reached out prior to posting. I have removed my post with your pictures and I did make a comment on a Facebook post of yours, I will delete that as well. Last thing I want is to upset anyone, so I am sorry that I have.

It looks like you build some nice broncos. I hope your Bronco does well on BAT.

Cheers

 

[73azbronco]

Beer time.

 

[duffymahoney]

Beer time.

Cheers to that