Retractable energy absorbing system

• US 20060104713A1
• Filed: 11/17/2004
• Published: 05/18/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 11/17/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Global GRAB Technologies Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Universal Safety Response Incorporated
• Inventors: Hugghins, Joel F., Gelfand, Matthew A.
• Granted Patent: US 7,530,759 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 404/6
• CPC Class Codes: E01F 13/085 specially adapted for individual parking spaces

Abstract

An energy absorbing system. The energy absorbing system includes a supporting member, a barrier mechanically coupled to the supporting member, the barrier pivotable between a substantially horizontal position and a predetermined angle, and an energy absorber mechanically coupled to the supporting member, wherein the energy absorber absorbs energy when the supporting member travels from a first position to a second position.

Claims

1. An energy absorbing system, comprising:

a supporting member;

a barrier mechanically coupled to the supporting member, the barrier pivotable between a substantially horizontal position and a predetermined angle; and

an energy absorber mechanically coupled to the supporting member, wherein the energy absorber absorbs energy when the supporting member travels from a first position to a second position.

2. The energy absorbing system of claim 1, wherein the barrier is mechanically coupled to the supporting member by a hinge.

3. The energy absorbing system of claim 1, wherein the energy absorber is arranged such that the energy absorber expands when the supporting member travels from the first position to the second position.

4. The energy absorbing system of claim 1, wherein the energy absorber is arranged such that the energy absorber compresses when the supporting member travels from the first position to the second position.

5. The energy absorbing system of claim 1, further comprising:

a second energy absorber mechanically coupled to the supporting member.

6. The energy absorbing system of claim 5, wherein the first energy absorber and the second energy absorber are arranged on either side of the supporting member.

7. The energy absorbing system of claim 5, wherein the first energy absorber and the second energy absorber are arranged such that the first energy absorber expands and the second energy absorber compresses when the supporting member travels from the first position to the second position.

8. The energy absorbing system of claim 1, wherein the energy absorber is within a housing.

9. The energy absorbing system of claim 1, wherein the barrier and the supporting member are atop a housing.

10. The energy absorbing system of claim 1, wherein the energy absorber is immovably fixed substantially below ground level.

11. The energy absorbing system of claim 1, wherein the energy absorber is immovably fixed at or substantially above ground level.

12. The energy absorbing system of claim 1, wherein the energy absorber is a shock absorber.

13. The energy absorbing system of claim 12, wherein a piston of the shock absorber attaches to a flange of the supporting member.

14. The energy absorbing system of claim 1, wherein the predetermined angle is between approximately 45 degrees and approximately 90 degrees from ground level.

15. The energy absorbing system of claim 1, wherein the barrier includes at least two deployment arms mechanically coupled to a net.

16. The energy absorbing system of claim 15, wherein, when the barrier is in a substantially horizontal position, the net rests within a net pit.

17. The energy absorbing system of claim 16, wherein the net pit is mechanically coupled to and travels with the supporting member.

18. The energy absorbing system of claim 1, wherein the barrier is one of raised and lowered using a motor.

19. The energy absorbing system of claim 1, wherein the supporting member has one or more rails which fit into one or more channels.

20. The energy absorbing system of claim 19, wherein the channels are immovably fixed.

21. The energy absorbing system of claim 19, wherein the one or more channels are located in a housing.

22. The energy absorbing system of claim 19, wherein at least one of the one or more channels has one or more drainage holes.

23. The energy absorbing system of claim 19, further comprising:

one or more frangible members arranged within the one or more channels,

wherein the one or more frangible members break when the supporting member moves from the first position to the second position.

24. The energy absorbing system of claim 23, wherein the rail breaks the one or more frangible members when the supporting member moves from the first position to the second position.

25. The energy absorbing system of claim 1, further comprising:

a guide mechanically coupled to the supporting member and arranged such that the guide causes the supporting member to move in a direction of the guide when the supporting member moves from the first position to the second position.

26. The energy absorbing system of claim 25, further comprising:

one or more frangible members arranged within the guide,

wherein the one or more frangible members break when the supporting member moves from the first position to the second position.

27. The energy absorbing system of claim 26, wherein a connecting member mechanically couples the energy absorber to the supporting member and breaks the one or more frangible members when the supporting member moves from the first position to the second position.

28. The energy absorbing system of claim 1, further comprising:

a first rotation limiter mechanically coupled to one of the barrier and the supporting member that limits the barrier from pivoting beyond the predetermined angle.

29. The energy absorbing system of claim 28, further comprising:

a rotation limiter energy absorber mechanically coupled to the first rotation limiter and that resists the barrier from pivoting.

30. The energy absorbing system of claim 28, further comprising:

a second rotation limiter mechanically coupled to the other of the barrier and the supporting member that contacts the first rotation limiter and limits the barrier from pivoting beyond the predetermined angle.

31. The energy absorbing system of claim 30, further comprising:

a rotation limiter energy absorber mechanically coupling the first and second rotation limiters and that resists the barrier from pivoting.

32. The energy absorbing system of claim 1, further comprising:

a barrier cover covering at least a portion of the barrier.

33. The energy absorbing system of claim 1, further comprising:

two or more wheels located beneath the supporting member.

34. The energy absorbing system of claim 1, further comprising:

two or more treads located beneath the supporting member and driven by sprockets.

35. The energy absorbing system of claim 1, wherein the supporting member has a ramp shape.

36. The energy absorbing system of claim 1, wherein the barrier has a ramp shape.

37. The energy absorbing system of claim 1, wherein the supporting member has a flat shape.

38. The energy absorbing system of claim 1, wherein the barrier has a flat shape.

39. The energy absorbing system of claim 1, wherein the energy absorber is mechanically coupled to a proximal portion of the supporting member.

40. The energy absorbing system of claim 1, wherein the energy absorber is mechanically coupled to a distal portion of the supporting member.

41. The energy absorbing system of claim 1, wherein the energy absorber is mechanically coupled to a hinge mechanically coupling the supporting member to the impact barrier.

42. An energy absorbing system, comprising:

a supporting member;

a barrier hingably coupled to the supporting member, the barrier pivotable between a substantially horizontal position and a predetermined angle;

an energy absorber mechanically coupled to the supporting member, wherein the energy absorber absorbs energy when the supporting member travels from a first position to a second position; and

a guide mechanically coupled to the supporting member and arranged such that the guide causes the supporting member to move in a direction of the guide when the supporting member moves from the first position to the second position.

43. An energy absorbing system, comprising:

a supporting member;

a barrier hingably coupled to the supporting member, the barrier pivotable between a substantially horizontal position and a predetermined angle;

an energy absorber mechanically coupled to the supporting member, wherein the energy absorber absorbs energy when the supporting member travels from a first position to a second position; and

a rotation limiter mechanically coupled to one of the barrier and the supporting member that limits the barrier from pivoting beyond the predetermined angle.