Energy absorbing impact attenuating highway safety systems

Claim 1

A reusable impact attenuating barrier system for decelerating an errant vehicle as it approaches a fixed object comprising an array of individual hollow cells positioned adjacent said object, each cell being formed of a flexible rupture-resistant sheet material, a light-weight flexible spacer filling the lower portion of each cell, the upper portion of each cell containing a high density dispersable mass, said spacers being of sufficient height to dispose the center of gravity of the cells substantially at the center of gravity of said vehicle, and a flexible belt encircling said cell array, whereby upon normal impact by a vehicle, said cells are deformed without rupture to expel and displace said mass to decelerate said vehicle by momentum exchange, and said barrier may be readied for reuse by restoring said cells to their original configuration and replacing said mass.