Apparatus for protecting structural supports

An apparatus for protecting structural supports from damage when impacted by an object such as a moving vehicle is provided. The apparatus has a shaped component which in the preferred embodiment is a semi-cylindrical component having a body defined by a wall, a top, and a base. The wall has at least one flat wall face and surrounds a hollow interior. An indentation for receiving a structural support is present in at least one flat wall face. A device for securing the shaped component to the structural support and for firmly seating one component at its flat wall face against the second component at its flat wall face when two components are present. Preferably, each component has a plurality of impact absorbing indentations, each having an aperture, a base and a wall extending from the base to an aperture mouth. These indentations function to re-distribute the energy of impact when a collusion occurs between the apparatus and a moving object. Preferably, each component is formed by rotational molding from a plastic resin.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION Referring now to FIG. 1 which illustrates a first embodiment of the inventive apparatus 10 seated about an I beam structural support 12 , the apparatus has a first semi-cylindrical component 14 and a second semi-cylindrical component 16 held in place by a means for securing the shaped components 14 and 16 to the structural support. The means for securing the shaped component to the structural support 12 illustrated is a belt or a strap 18 having a first end 20 and a second end 22 . In the open position, the first end 20 and the second end 22 extend from either side of the apparatus 10 at an indentation 30 for seating the means for securing the shaped components 14 and 16 to the structural support 12 . The first end 20 is shown to have a hooked surface 32 on a first face. The second end 22 has a napped surface on a second face (not shown). When the ends 20 and 22 are mated at the aforementioned faces, the hooked surface 32 engages the napped surface, thereby making a closed loop 34 . Tension is applied when mating the hooked and the napped surfaces to secure the two semi-cylindrical components 14 and 16 at their respective exterior flat wall surfaces one to the other in position around the structural support 12 at the indentation 40 for receiving the structural support. The means for securing the shaped components 14 and 16 to the structural support 12 is preferably made of a strong, flexible, material belt such as a nylon fabric and a fastener such as Velcro.™. However, other materials such as leather or another type of fabric may be used and other fasteners such as buckles may be used as should be apparent to one skilled in the art. A seam, generally referenced as 42 , is created between the two semi-cylindrical components 14 and 16 when the components 14 and 16 are mated at their respective edges. The seam 42 is closely sealed by the means for securing the shaped components 14 and 16 to the structural support. Preferably, air vents, generally referenced as 46 , holes which extend from the interior face through to the exterior face of the rounded wall of the body are present in each semi-cylindrical component 14 and 16 . The two vents 46 in the first embodiment have differing locations on the two components 14 and 16 , as seen by comparison of FIGS. 1 and 2 . The apparatus 10 is preferably comprised of a UV stabilized resilient plastic. Referring now to FIG. 2A which is a cross-section of FIG. 2 in the plane indicated, each semi-cylindrical component 14 and 16 has a plurality of discontinuous indentations, generally referenced by the number 50 ; a rounded exterior wall face 52 ; a flat exterior wall face 54 ; and a hollow interior space 56 . Each discontinuous indentation 50 has an aperture mouth 60 , an aperture base 62 having a variable width, and a plurality of aperture walls 64 extending from the aperture base 62 to the aperture mouth 60 . These discontinuous indentations 50 function to redistribute impact energy when the apparatus 10 is struck. Each air vent 46 functions to vent air from the hollow interior 56 of the respective component 14 or 16 when the apparatus 10 is seated around the structural support 12 and is impacted at the respective component 14 or 16 . Conversely, air returns through each air vent 46 to the respective hollow interior 56 after impact when the resilient material regains its former shape. Each semi-cylindrical component 14 and 16 may have a foot 68 at the base or the base may be directly in contact with the floor surface. Referring now to FIG. 3 , one of the pair of semi-cylindrical components 16 is illustrated in a rear isometric view. The semi-cylindrical component 14 has a top surface 80 and an exterior flat wall face 82 having a substantially flat surface. The flat surface 82 has at its center an indentation 84 defining one half of the indentation 40 ( FIG. 1 ) for receiving the structural support 12 . At the rounded exterior face 52 ( FIG. 2 ) of the component 14 the continuous indentations 30 , an indentation for receiving a means for securing the shaped component to the structural support 12 extend fully to the flat rear wall surface 82 . At the base of the semi-cylindrical component 14 is the optional foot 68 . Referring now to FIG. 4 which illustrates a front view of a second embodiment of the instant invention and which indicates the plane in which the cross-sectional view shown as FIG. 4A is taken, the discontinuous indentations 100 at the rounded exterior face 102 of the semi-cylindrical component 104 have a round shaped aperture 106 . As is illustrated in FIG. 4 A, the walls 108 of the indentations 100 slant inwardly to provide a cone-shaped indentation 100 . The indentation 110 for receiving a structural support 112 is rounded when the components 104 and 114 are juxtaposed one to each other. However, it may also be shaped to receive an I beam or other structural support. The wall thickness may vary from use to use. Preferably, for use in a warehouse where structural supports are to be protected from impact from tow motors, the wall thickness ranges from about 1 inches to about 3 inches. The base of the discontinuous indentations is distanced from the flat interior wall surface by about 2 inches. The preferred method of forming the semi-cylindrical components of the instant invention is by rotational molding from a UV stabilized rotational grade molding resin such as for example a polyethylene LLDPE resin, NRA-235 (available from Mobil Polymers, Norwalk, Conn.) which forms a resilient product after molding. As a result of the rotational molding process, the stress crack resistant surface is formed. However, the exterior face of each component may be provided with a coating of a second plastic material. Biocidal agents may be incorporated into the second plastic coating to prevent or retard growth on the apparatus especially in, for example, aquatic environments. The instant invention may be stacked one apparatus on top of the other to provide greater protection at a height above the first apparatus for protecting a structural support. While the apparatus has been described as comprised of two semi-cylindrical components, rotational molding also allows for the formation of other shapes, such as triangular, rectangular and so on, depending upon the shape of the structural to be protected and the direction of expected impact. Further, the body itself absorbs impact and does not require discontinuous indentations for low energy impact uses. For example, should the structure be an overhanging one, such as for example a drive through at a restaurant, a body having a top, a base, a wall and a hollow interior may be formed. When the body is mounted at the under-surface of the overhang, impact results in air release from the hollow interior and in impact absorption. Another embodiment of the present invention is illustrated in FIG. 5 . As shown in FIG. 5 , the chamber defining the hollow interior space 56 is filled with a material 70 . Although it is desirable for the chamber to be completely filled with the material 70 , this is not required. Only a portion of the chamber needs to be filled. The material may be a compressible and/or elastic material such as foam, but not limited thereto. What is meant by the term “elastic material” is that after having a force applied thereto, the material has the ability to substantially return to its original configuration with the same material properties. The material may also be a liquid or gel material. Any material may be chosen in accordance with sound engineering judgment provided that the components 14 , 16 can effectively protect the structural support. The foregoing is considered only illustrative of the currently preferred embodiments of the invention presented herein. Since numerous modifications and changes will occur to those skilled in the art, it is not desired to limit the invention to the exact construction used to illustrate the various means comprising this invention.