Patent ID: 6533495
Filing Date: 2003-03-18
Classification: E01F

Abstract:
An apparatus to be mounted to a rigid member for absorbing the energy of a moving object impacting the apparatus, the energy absorbing apparatus comprising:a panel member formed of an elastically deformable material, the panel member having a front wall, a rear wall and first and second side walls extending between and interconnecting the front and rear walls, the side walls adapted to be angled relative to the rigid member in a direction of travel of the moving object when the panel member is mounted to the rigid member such that impact of the panel member by the moving object will tend to deform the panel member toward the rigid member in the direction of movement of the object along the rigid member to absorb the energy of and decelerate the object and redirect the object subsequent to impact at a low angle relative to the rigid member; wherein the front, rear and side walls define a cavity and the panel member further comprises a support wall extending between and interconnecting two of the front, rear, and side walls for partitioning the cavity and providing support to the panel member; and means for mounting the panel member to the rigid member wherein the panel member has a plurality of longitudinal ridges formed on the outer surface of the rear wall and the mounting means comprises a mounting bracket having a front surface and a rear surface, the mounting bracket adapted to be attached to the rigid member so that the rear surface abuts the rigid member, the front surface of the bracket having a plurality of longitudinal channels for receiving the correspondingly-shaped ridges on the panel for coupling the panel member to the bracket.