Patent ID: 11885084
Assignee: nan
Field: Civil engineering (Other fields)
Classification: CPC E | IPC E

Claim 14:
15. A crash cushion for absorbing energy when impacted by a vehicle, the crash cushion comprising:
a front anchor structure;
a rear anchor structure spaced from the front anchor structure;
a plurality of supports positioned between the front anchor structure and the rear anchor structure, each support including—
a central frame,
a ground engaging component connected to the central frame and oriented to engage a ground surface,
a left side cable guide positioned at least 20″ above the ground surface and attached to the central frame,
a right side cable guide positioned at least 20″ above the ground surface and attached to the central frame,
a left hinge assembly attached to the central frame, and
a right hinge assembly attached to the central frame;

a plurality of energy absorbing modules disposed between the supports;
a plurality of side panels that interconnect the supports and envelop the energy absorbing modules;
a left side cable affixed to the front anchor structure and the rear anchor structure and extending through the left side cable guides so that a portion of the left side cable is at least 20″ above the ground surface; and
a right side cable affixed to the front anchor structure and the rear anchor structure and extending through the right side cable guides so that a portion of the right side cable is at least 20″ above the ground surface,
wherein a width between the left and right hinge assemblies of successive supports increases in a direction from the front anchor structure to the rear anchor structure,
wherein the left side cable passes through the left side cable guide but is not clamped to or otherwise affixed to the left side cable guide, and
wherein the right side cable passes through the right side cable guide but is not clamped to or otherwise affixed to the right side cable guide.