CRASH ATTENUATOR
First Claim
1. A crash attenuator comprising:
- a first end adapted to be releasably secured to a vehicle;
a second end longitudinally spaced from said first end and including an impact member moveable in said longitudinal direction from a pre-impact position to an impact position; and
spaced apart first and second pairs of deformable attenuator members extending in a longitudinal direction, each of said deformable attenuator members having a proximal end and a distal end, wherein said proximal ends of said second pair of said deformable attenuator members are staggered downstream from said proximal ends of said first pair of said deformable attenuator members when said impact member is in said pre-impact position, and wherein said proximal ends of said first and second pairs of said deformable attenuator members are successively deformed as said impact member is moved to said impact position.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A crash attenuator for decelerating an impacting vehicle includes a first end that can be releasably secured to a vehicle, and a second end that is longitudinally spaced from the first end. The second end includes an impact member that is movable in the longitudinal direction from a pre-impact position to an impact position. At least a pair of spaced deformable attenuator members extend in a longitudinal direction and have a proximal end and a distal end. The proximal ends are staggered downstream from the impact member in the pre-impact position. At least a portion of the deformable attenuator members are bent in a non-outboard direction as the impact member is moved from the pre-impact position to the impact position.
8 Citations
17 Claims
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1. A crash attenuator comprising:
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a first end adapted to be releasably secured to a vehicle; a second end longitudinally spaced from said first end and including an impact member moveable in said longitudinal direction from a pre-impact position to an impact position; and spaced apart first and second pairs of deformable attenuator members extending in a longitudinal direction, each of said deformable attenuator members having a proximal end and a distal end, wherein said proximal ends of said second pair of said deformable attenuator members are staggered downstream from said proximal ends of said first pair of said deformable attenuator members when said impact member is in said pre-impact position, and wherein said proximal ends of said first and second pairs of said deformable attenuator members are successively deformed as said impact member is moved to said impact position. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12)
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13. A crash attenuator comprising:
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a first end; an impact member located at a second end longitudinally spaced from said first end; an energy absorbing member disposed between said second end and said first end and configured to absorb energy when said impact member is moved toward said first end from a pre-impact position to an impact position; and at least a pair of deforming members coupled to said impact member, said pair of deforming members comprising an inboard deforming member positioned adjacent to an inboard side of said energy absorbing member and an outboard deforming member positioned adjacent to an outboard side of said energy absorbing member, wherein said deforming members are configured to engage said energy absorbing member as said impact member is moved from said pre-impact position to said impact position, and wherein said outboard deforming member is positioned longitudinally downstream from said inboard deforming member.
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14. A method of decelerating a vehicle with a crash attenuator, said method comprising:
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providing a crash attenuator comprising an impact member, spaced apart first and second pairs of deformable attenuator members extending in a longitudinal direction, each of said deformable attenuator members having a proximal end and a distal end, wherein said proximal ends of said second pair of said deformable attenuator members are staggered downstream from said proximal ends of said first pair of said deformable attenuator members; impacting said impact member with a vehicle; deforming said first pair of deformable attenuator members; and deforming said second pair of deformable attenuator members, wherein said deforming said second pair of deformable attenuator members is initiated after onset of said deforming of said first pair of deformable attenuator members. - View Dependent Claims (15)
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16. A method of decelerating a vehicle with a crash attenuator, said method comprising:
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providing a crash attenuator comprising an impact member, at least a pair of laterally spaced deformable attenuator members, a deflecting member, wherein proximal ends of said deformable attenuator members are spaced downstream from said deflecting member; impacting said impact member with a vehicle and moving said impact member and deflecting member downstream toward said deformable attenuator members without immediately engaging said deformable attenuator members with said deflecting member; and subsequently engaging said deformable attenuator members with said deflecting member and deforming said deformable attenuator members with said deflecting member. - View Dependent Claims (17)
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Specification