Energy-absorbing bumper system

Claim 1

An energy-absorbing bumper system adapted to be mounted on a support structure, comprising: a deformable hollow longitudinally extending bumper member; means defining an elongated chamber adapted to be fixedly mounted on the support structure, said chamber having a fixed member disposed therein; a piston head reciprocatively mounted within said chamber and adapted to move forwardly toward and rearwardly away from said structure; mounting means fixedly connecting said head and said bumper member; spring means extending between said fixed member and said piston head for urging resiliently said head toward said bumper member; head retaining means for maintaining releasably said head against the force of said spring means to compress it between said head and said fixed member to store energy in said spring means and for releasing said head in response to at least a predetermined amount of impact acting toward said head on said hollow member to enable said spring means to exert said energy forwardly; releasing means for causing said head retaining means to release said head upon said predetermined amount of impact being applied to said head in opposition to said force of said spring means via said bumper member and said mounting means to commence moving said head toward said fixed member; said bumper member including an elongated gas-tight chamber extending the length of said bumper member and being oval-shaped in cross-section, said chamber being filled with a gas under pressure; said means defining a chamber including a hole communicating with said chamber, said head including an opening therein, said head retaining means including a pin extending through said hole in said means defining a chamber and into said opening; and said releasing means further including second spring means for ejecting said pin from said opening.