Protective crash barrier for locomotives and highway construction vehicles
First Claim
1. A protective crash barrier for vehicles including railroad locomotives and trailers used with highway service vehicles comprising:
- means attachable to an end of the vehicle which may either crash into another vehicle or be crashed into by the other vehicle;
an inflatable boot rapidly inflatable when an impact occurs between the vehicle on which the crash barrier is installed and the other vehicle, the boot, when inflated, absorbing a substantial amount of the impact energy created by the two vehicles striking each other, thereby to lessen the resulting damage to the vehicles and injury to an occupant of either vehicle; and
, pressurization means for inflating the boot.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A crash boot attaches to the front of the locomotive. When inflated, the boot provides a shock absorber for absorbing the impact energy produced when the locomotive collides with another object. By absorbing this energy, the boot protects both the locomotive and its crew, and the other object such as a vehicle and its occupants from severe injury or harm. In a highway environment, a trailer is towed behind a vehicle to a work site. The trailer is parked with one end facing on-coming traffic. This end of the trailer has an inflatable boot which is inflated while the crew is at work. If an on-coming vehicle now collides with the boot, it absorbs the impact of the collision and lessens the damage resulting therefrom.
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Citations
13 Claims
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1. A protective crash barrier for vehicles including railroad locomotives and trailers used with highway service vehicles comprising:
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means attachable to an end of the vehicle which may either crash into another vehicle or be crashed into by the other vehicle;
an inflatable boot rapidly inflatable when an impact occurs between the vehicle on which the crash barrier is installed and the other vehicle, the boot, when inflated, absorbing a substantial amount of the impact energy created by the two vehicles striking each other, thereby to lessen the resulting damage to the vehicles and injury to an occupant of either vehicle; and
,pressurization means for inflating the boot. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13)
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Specification