Patent ID: 8074761

Claim:
A crash cushion comprising: a first end; an impact member movably located at a second end and longitudinally spaced from said first end, said impact member comprising at least one deflecting member having an input portion and an output portion; an energy absorbing member disposed between said second end and said first end, and configured to absorb energy when said impact member is moved from a pre-impact position to an impact position located toward said first end, said energy absorbing member comprising at least one deformable attenuator member extending in a longitudinal direction, wherein said deformable attenuator member moves along said at least one deflecting member from said input portion to said output portion as said impact member is moved from said pre-impact position to said impact position; and an impact surface located on said impact member, wherein said impact surface comprises a substantially central portion lying substantially in a laterally extending vertical plane, and opposite side portions extending laterally outward and longitudinally toward said first end from said central portion such that each of said side portions is non-parallel to said vertical plane; wherein said deflecting member comprises a continuously smoothly curved surface configured to engage said deformable attenuator member when said impact member is moved from said pre-impact position to said impact position.