US3845936A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Modular crash cushion
Assignee: CONTAINER PRODUCTS Inc A MI CORP
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Filing: 1973-07-16
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Granted: 1974-11-05
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Expires: 1993-07-16
Abstract
Abstract A modular crash cushion is disclosed for a rigid roadside obstacle located on or beside a highway and having a contact surface facing the vehicular traffic. The modular crash cushion has a first line of drums extending forward from one side of the contact surface and a second line of drums extending forward from the other side of the contact surface and adjacent the first line of drums. Connector means connect together either adjacent drums in the first line of drums and in the second line of drums or adjacent drums in one line of the first line of drums and the second line of drums. The first line of drums and the second line of drums are connected at one end to the rigid roadside obstacle. Skid means are between the first line of drums and the highway and the second line of drums and the highway to permit the other end of the first line of drums and the second line of drums to move on impact between a vehicle and the modular crash cushion. The connector means is also a part of this invention.
Inventors
- 👤 K Boedecker
- 👤 C Gibson
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-02 22:05
CPC Classifications
E; E01; E01F; E01F15/00; E01F15/14; E01F15/145; E01F15/146
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 28
Claim 1
Independent Claim
300 words
For a rigid roadside obstacle located beside or on a highway and having a contact surface facing the vehicular traffic, a modular crash cushion having: a. a first line of drums extending forward from one side of said contact surface; b. a second line of drums extending forward from the other side of said contact surface and adjacent said first line of drums; c. spacer means for connecting together adjacent drums in said first line of drums and in said second line of drumS in spaced relation; d. said first line of drums and said second line of drums being connected at one end to said rigid roadside obstacle; e. skid means between said first line of drums and said highway and said second line of drums and said highway to permit the other end of said first line of drums and said second line of drums to move on impact with a vehicle; and f. a pair of adjacent drums in one line of said first line of drums and said second line of drums each having a drum body and a drum head and a chime defined by the ends of said drum body and said drum head and said spacer means has: 1. a mounting member connected to one drum of said first drum and said second drum; 2. a channel slidable in said mounting member, projecting from said mounting member and connected at its projecting end to the other drum of said first drum and said second drum; and 3. fastener means for securing said channel to said mounting member; 4. said channel having a track, a nut disposed in said track, biasing means engaging said nut to maintain said nut in said track, and said fastener means extending through said mounting member into said nut.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
300 words
For a rigid roadside obstacle located beside or on a highway and having a contact surface facing the vehicular traffic, a modular crash cushion having: a. a first line of drums extending forward from one side of said contact surface; b. a second line of drums extending forward from the other side of said contact surface and adjacent said first line of drums; c. spacer means for connecting together adjacent drums in said first line of drums and in said second line of drumS in spaced relation; d. said first line of drums and said second line of drums being connected at one end to said rigid roadside obstacle; e. skid means between said first line of drums and said highway and said second line of drums and said highway to permit the other end of said first line of drums and said second line of drums to move on impact with a vehicle; and f. a pair of adjacent drums in one line of said first line of drums and said second line of drums each having a drum body and a drum head and a chime defined by the ends of said drum body and said drum head and said spacer means has: 1. a mounting member connected to one drum of said first drum and said second drum; 2. a channel slidable in said mounting member, projecting from said mounting member and connected at its projecting end to the other drum of said first drum and said second drum; and 3. fastener means for securing said channel to said mounting member; 4. said channel having a track, a nut disposed in said track, biasing means engaging said nut to maintain said nut in said track, and said fastener means extending through said mounting member into said nut.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
44 words
The modular crash cushion recited in claim 1 wherein one of said drums has a drum head, said drum head being provided with a hole to facilitate the uniform cushioning collapse of said drum on impact between said vehicle and said modular crash cushion.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
31 words
a channel slidable in said mounting member, projecting from said mounting member and connected at its projecting end to the other drum of said first drum and said second drum; and
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
31 words
a channel slidable in said mounting member, projecting from said mounting member and connected at its projecting end to the other drum of said first drum and said second drum; and
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
10 words
fastener means for securing said channel to said mounting member;
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
10 words
fastener means for securing said channel to said mounting member;
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
46 words
The modular crash cushion recited in claim 1 and having a sheet-like nose portion extending around said other end of said first line of drums and said second line of drums to warn a driver of a vehicle of the presence of the rigid roadside obstacle.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
66 words
The modular crash cushion recited in claim 1 and having sheet-like fish scales extending along the side portions of one line of said first line of drums and said second line of drums to divert said vehicle upon impact with said modular crash cushion and to prevent pocketing of said vehicle in said one line and the resultant spinning around of said vehicle after said pocketing.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
35 words
said channel having a track, a nut disposed in said track, biasing means engaging said nut to maintain said nut in said track, and said fastener means extending through said mounting member into said nut.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
35 words
said channel having a track, a nut disposed in said track, biasing means engaging said nut to maintain said nut in said track, and said fastener means extending through said mounting member into said nut.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
58 words
The modular crash cushion recited in claim 1 wherein another pair of adjacent drums in one line of said first line of drums and said second line of drums each have their bottom portions secured together by a connector means and a Z-chair is connected to said connector means and disposed between said connector means and said highway.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
69 words
The modular crash cushion recited in claim 1 wherein said skid means has a beam secured to a drum in one line of said first line of drums and said second line of drums, said beam extending beyond the bottom of said drum to elevate said drum from said highway, and said beam having a skid member on the bottom of said beam and in engagement with said highway.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
73 words
The modular crash cushion recited in claim 1 and having a cable fastened to one line of said first line of drums and said second line of drums to integrate said modular crash cushion and to hold it together, said cable being anchored to said highway at one end of said one line to anchor said other end of modular crash cushion in a predetermined position with respect to said rigid roadside obstacle.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
49 words
The modular crash cushion recited in claim 1 and having a guard rail extending from said rigid roadside obstacle along a portion of one line of said first line of drums and said second line of drums, said guard rail having its forward end buried behind said one line.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
87 words
The modular crash cushion recited in claim 1 and having connector means for connecting together another pair of adjacent drums in said first line of drums and in said second line of drums, said connector means having: a. a block adapted to receive one end of said adjacent chimes in spaced relation; b. a saddle adapted to engage the outside of said adjacent chimes; and c. fastener means extending through said block and said saddle between said adjacent chimes for securing said chimes in said connector means.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
22 words
The connecTor means recited in claim 9 wherein said block is provided with a shoulder for receiving the bottom of said chimes.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
17 words
The connector means recited in claim 9 wherein said fastener means is a bolt and a nut.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
19 words
The connector means recited in claim 9 wherein said fastener means is a threaded member threaded into said block.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
23 words
The connector means recited in claim 9 wherein said block is provided with a V-shaped shoulder for receiving one end of said chimes.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
17 words
The connector means recited in claim 9 wherein said block is a resilient hollow sheet metal member.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
147 words
For a modular crash cushion having a first drum and a second drum disposed in spaced relation with respect to each other, each of said drums having a drum body and a drum head and a chime defined by the ends of said drum body and said drum head, spacer means having: a. a mounting member connected to one drum of said first drum and said second drum; b. a channel slidable in said mounting member, projecting from said mounting member and connected at its projecting end to the other drum of said first drum and said second drum; c. fastener means for securing said channel to said mounting member; and d. said channel having a track, a nut disposed in said track, biasing means engaging said nut to maintain said nut in said track, and said fastener means extends through said mounting member into said nut.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
147 words
For a modular crash cushion having a first drum and a second drum disposed in spaced relation with respect to each other, each of said drums having a drum body and a drum head and a chime defined by the ends of said drum body and said drum head, spacer means having: a. a mounting member connected to one drum of said first drum and said second drum; b. a channel slidable in said mounting member, projecting from said mounting member and connected at its projecting end to the other drum of said first drum and said second drum; c. fastener means for securing said channel to said mounting member; and d. said channel having a track, a nut disposed in said track, biasing means engaging said nut to maintain said nut in said track, and said fastener means extends through said mounting member into said nut.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
27 words
The spacer means recited in claim 15 wherein said channel has stop means on the end of said channel to prevent said nut from leaving said channel.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
15 words
The modular crash cushion recited in claim 1 wherein said mounting member is a tube.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
15 words
The modular crash cushion recited in claim 1 wherein said mounting member is a channel.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
14 words
The spacer means recited in claim 15 wherein said mounting member is a tube.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
14 words
The spacer means recited in claim 15 wherein said mounting member is a channel.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1977-11-04 | 1978-05-06 | 1978-11-05 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1981-11-04 | 1982-05-06 | 1982-11-05 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1985-11-04 | 1986-05-06 | 1986-11-05 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |