US5199755A — Vehicle impact attenuating device

Claim 1

Independent Claim 147 words

An impact attenuating device comprising: a deformable energy absorbing element; a mounting arrangement coupled to the energy absorbing element and configured to mount the energy absorbing element on a vehicle; and a collapsible element mounted to an end of the energy absorbing element to extend away from the mounting arrangement; said collapsible element having a foldable configuration which defines an end portion spaced from the energy absorbing element such that the end portion is movable toward the energy absorbing element by a selected amount in an impact without damaging the deformable energy absorbing element; said collapsible element being formed of a resilient material adapted to deform and then recover after a low energy impact; said collapsible element comprising a plurality of side surfaces which intersect at corners, wherein the side surfaces define generally parallel pleats, and wherein the corners define recesses that are deeper than the pleats.

Claim 2

Dependent Claim 147 words

An impact attenuating device comprising: a deformable energy absorbing element; a mounting arrangement coupled to the energy absorbing element and configured to mount the energy absorbing element on a vehicle; and a collapsible element mounted to an end of the energy absorbing element to extend away from the mounting arrangement; said collapsible element having a foldable configuration which defines an end portion spaced from the energy absorbing element such that the end portion is movable toward the energy absorbing element by a selected amount in an impact without damaging the deformable energy absorbing element; said collapsible element being formed of a resilient material adapted to deform and then recover after a low energy impact; said collapsible element comprising a plurality of side surfaces which intersect at corners, wherein the side surfaces define generally parallel pleats, and wherein the corners define recesses that are deeper than the pleats.

Claim 3

Dependent Claim 38 words

The impact attenuating device of claim 1 wherein the side surfaces comprise an upper surface, a lower surface, and two edge surfaces, and wherein each of the edge surfaces extends between the upper surface and the lower surface.

Claim 4

Dependent Claim 45 words

The impact attenuating device of claim 2 wherein the collapsible element defines an array of folds extending between the upper and lower surfaces and situated in a central part of the end portion to extend away from the end portion toward the energy absorbing element.

Claim 5

Dependent Claim 17 words

The impact attenuating device of claim 3 wherein the collapsible element is formed of a thermoplastic material.

Claim 6

Dependent Claim 134 words

In an impact attenuating device of a type comprising an energy absorbing element and a mounting arrangement coupled to the energy absorbing element and configured to mount the energy absorbing element on a vehicle, the improvement comprising: a first cartridge included in the energy absorbing element, said first cartridge comprising upper and lower sheets which define outer surfaces of the first cartridge; upper and lower flanges defined by the upper and lower sheets, respectively, to extend outwardly from the first cartridge, said flanges defining first openings; upper and lower backing plates, each aligned with a respective one of the flanges, said backing plates defining second openings aligned with the first openings; and a plurality of fasteners positioned to pass through the first and second openings to mount the first cartridge to a supporting structure.

Claim 7

Dependent Claim 134 words

In an impact attenuating device of a type comprising an energy absorbing element and a mounting arrangement coupled to the energy absorbing element and configured to mount the energy absorbing element on a vehicle, the improvement comprising: a first cartridge included in the energy absorbing element, said first cartridge comprising upper and lower sheets which define outer surfaces of the first cartridge; upper and lower flanges defined by the upper and lower sheets, respectively, to extend outwardly from the first cartridge, said flanges defining first openings; upper and lower backing plates, each aligned with a respective one of the flanges, said backing plates defining second openings aligned with the first openings; and a plurality of fasteners positioned to pass through the first and second openings to mount the first cartridge to a supporting structure.

Claim 8

Dependent Claim 36 words

The invention of claim 5 wherein the cartridge defines a width, and wherein the upper and lower sheets, the upper and lower flanges, and the upper and lower backing plates extend over substantially the entire width.

Claim 9

Dependent Claim 49 words

The invention of claim 5 wherein each of the backing plates comprises first and second portions disposed at an angle to one another, wherein the first portions are oriented alongside the respective flanges and define the second openings, and wherein the second portions are secured to the respective sheets.

Claim 10

Dependent Claim 126 words

The invention of claim 5 wherein the energy absorbing element additionally comprises a second cartridge comprising: additional upper and lower sheets which define outer surfaces of the second cartridge; additional upper and lower flanges defined by the additional upper and lower sheets, respectively, to extend outwardly from the second cartridge, said additional flanges defining additional first openings; additional upper and lower backing plates, each aligned with a respective one of the additional flanges, said additional backing plates defining additional second openings aligned with the additional first openings; and wherein the second cartridge is included in the supporting structure and the fasteners pass through the first openings, the additional first openings, the second openings, and the additional second openings to secure the first and second cartridges together.

Claim 11

Dependent Claim 38 words

The invention of claim 8 wherein each of the cartridges further comprises an end wall adjacent the respective flanges, and wherein the end walls define third openings aligned with the first and second openings to receive the fasteners.

Claim 12

Dependent Claim 19 words

The invention of claim 9 further comprising an elastomeric sheet interposed between the end walls and between the flanges.

Claim 13

Dependent Claim 17 words

The invention of claim 8 further comprising an elastomeric sheet interposed between the first and second cartridges.

Claim 14

Dependent Claim 132 words

In an impact attenuating device of a type comprising an energy absorbing element comprising at least first and second bays, and a mounting arrangement coupled to the energy absorbing element and configured to mount the energy absorbing element on a vehicle, wherein the first bay is farther from the mounting arrangement than is the second bay, the improvement comprising: a plurality of first deformable elements disposed in the first bay and a plurality of second deformable elements disposed in the second bay; said first deformable elements comprising upper and lower first deformable elements having a maximum separation equal to a first distance; said second deformable elements comprising upper and lower second deformable elements having a maximum separation equal to a second distance; and said first distance being greater than said second distance.

Claim 15

Dependent Claim 132 words

In an impact attenuating device of a type comprising an energy absorbing element comprising at least first and second bays, and a mounting arrangement coupled to the energy absorbing element and configured to mount the energy absorbing element on a vehicle, wherein the first bay is farther from the mounting arrangement than is the second bay, the improvement comprising: a plurality of first deformable elements disposed in the first bay and a plurality of second deformable elements disposed in the second bay; said first deformable elements comprising upper and lower first deformable elements having a maximum separation equal to a first distance; said second deformable elements comprising upper and lower second deformable elements having a maximum separation equal to a second distance; and said first distance being greater than said second distance.

Claim 16

Dependent Claim 47 words

The invention of claim 12 wherein the first and second bays define respective forward and rearward ends, and wherein the upper and lower first and second deformable elements each comprise a respective metal plate oriented to extend between the forward and rearward ends of the respective bay.

Claim 17

Dependent Claim 37 words

The invention of claim 12 further comprising a plurality of stiffening elements situated at least in part beneath the second deformable elements to deflect an impacting vehicle upwardly, toward a central portion of the energy absorbing element.

Claim 18

Dependent Claim 39 words

The invention of claim 14 wherein the first and second bays define respective forward and rearward ends, and wherein the stiffening elements are oriented parallel to an axis extending between the forward and rearward ends of the first bay.

Claim 19

Dependent Claim 124 words

In an impact attenuating device of a type comprising an energy absorbing element comprising at least first and second bays, and a mounting arrangement coupled to the energy absorbing element and configured to mount the energy absorbing element on a vehicle, wherein the first bay is farther from the mounting arrangement than is the second bay, wherein the first and second bays define upper and lower surfaces, and wherein each bay comprises at least one energy absorber, the improvement comprising: means, situated in the first bay, for upwardly urging an impacting vehicle having a tendency to move under the first bay toward a vertically centered portion of the first bay and into contact with the at least one energy absorber of the first bay.

Claim 20

Dependent Claim 124 words

In an impact attenuating device of a type comprising an energy absorbing element comprising at least first and second bays, and a mounting arrangement coupled to the energy absorbing element and configured to mount the energy absorbing element on a vehicle, wherein the first bay is farther from the mounting arrangement than is the second bay, wherein the first and second bays define upper and lower surfaces, and wherein each bay comprises at least one energy absorber, the improvement comprising: means, situated in the first bay, for upwardly urging an impacting vehicle having a tendency to move under the first bay toward a vertically centered portion of the first bay and into contact with the at least one energy absorber of the first bay.

Claim 21

Dependent Claim 67 words

The invention of claim 16 wherein the urging means comprises upper and lower deformable elements having forward and rearward ends, wherein the forward ends are farther from the second bay than are the rearward ends; and wherein the deformable elements are positioned to diverge from one another in a vertical direction such that the forward ends are separated by a greater vertical distance than the rearward ends.

Claim 22

Dependent Claim 39 words

The invention of claim 16 wherein the urging means comprises at least one stiffening element positioned at the lower surface of the first bay to deflect an impacting vehicle upwardly, toward the vertically centered portion of the first bay.

Annuity Stage	Window Opens	Payment Deadline	Surcharge Period Until	Estimated Fee	Status
3.5 Years (Year 4)	1996-04-05	1996-10-05	1997-04-06	$2000.00	Window Closed / Lapsed
7.5 Years (Year 8)	2000-04-05	2000-10-05	2001-04-06	$3760.00	Window Closed / Lapsed
11.5 Years (Year 12)	2004-04-05	2004-10-05	2005-04-06	$7700.00	Window Closed / Lapsed

Vehicle impact attenuating device

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