Patent ID: 8276956
Filing Date: 2012-10-02
Classification: B60D,B60R,B62D,E01F,G08G

Abstract:
1. A crash impact attenuator for attachment to a host vehicle, comprising: an attachment system having an inner support tube and a plurality of outer support tubes, the inner support tube having a connector on a front end thereof for attachment to a receptacle on the host vehicle and the plurality of outer support tubes each having an anti-rotation support pad on a front end thereof, wherein at least one of the support tubes is comprised of a telescoping construction, having an internal tube and an external tube, capable of telescoping movement relative to one another, and further wherein the at least one telescoping support tube is longer, in an operational mode, than the remaining support tubes; a backup frame disposed on a rear end of said attachment system; a crash attenuator unit, said crash attenuator unit being disposed on an axle and pair of wheels for mobility; and a shear pin disposed in the at least one support tube having a telescoping construction, said shear pin being adapted to break upon the application of a predetermined force because of an impact on the crash impact attenuator by an errant vehicle, thus releasing the telescoping support tube to telescope to a collapsed orientation, wherein the at least one telescoping support tube is shorter than the remaining support tubes.