Patent ID: 6481920
Filing Date: 2002-11-19
Classification: B60R,E01F

Abstract:
A highway crash cushion comprising,a frame forming at least first and second bays arranged one behind another in an anticipated impact direction, said frame comprising; at least first, second and third transverse frames spaced from one another along the anticipated impact direction such that the first bay is between the first and second transverse frames and the second bay is between the second and third transverse frames; at least first, second, third and fourth side elements, said first and second side elements extending between the first and second transverse frames on respective sides of the first bay, and said third and fourth side elements extending between the second and third transverse frames on respective sides of the second bay; at least one energy absorbing element disposed in at least one of the bays; in an initial condition each of said side elements bowing outwardly from the respective bay; in a collapsed condition after an impact of sufficient severity, at least some of the side elements bowing outwardly to a greater extent than in the initial condition to accommodate movement of the respective transverse frames toward one another; said side elements limiting collapse of the bays until a minimum level of impact severity is reached; said frame, at least one energy absorbing element, and minimum level of impact severity cooperating to provide a system response profile comprising an initial portion, an intermediate portion, and a final portion, wherein said response profile comprises a peak in the initial portion, falls substantially below the peak in the intermediate portion, and rises from the intermediate portion to the final portion.